We haven't confirmed this year's application window, and these dates move every cycle — so we won't print one. The official page is the only reliable source. Ask us and we'll track it for you and tell you when it opens.
Eligibility
You must be a citizen of — or hold refugee status granted by — an eligible Commonwealth country, or be a British Protected Person, and be permanently resident in one. Which countries are eligible depends on the scheme: the Commission runs separate PhD schemes for least developed countries and vulnerable states and for high income countries, and publishes the country list per scheme and per round. Read the list attached to the round you are applying to rather than assuming India is on it, because India does not appear on all of them.
The Commission does not accept direct applications under any circumstances — you have to be nominated. For India the national nominating agency is the Ministry of Education's Department of Higher Education, External Scholarships Division, and you apply through TWO systems: the Ministry's SAKSHAT portal and the Commission's own application system. The nominating agency's criteria and deadline may differ from the Commission's and you must satisfy both. Meeting one and missing the other ends it, and that is the usual way this is lost.
Major study and living support. Confirm the current value on the official page before you apply.
You must be a citizen of — or hold refugee status granted by — an eligible Commonwealth country, or be a British Protected Person, and be permanently resident in one. Which countries are eligible depends on the scheme: the Commission runs separate PhD schemes for least developed countries and vulnerable states and for high income countries, and publishes the country list per scheme and per round. Read the list attached to the round you are applying to rather than assuming India is on it, because India does not appear on all of them.
The Commission does not accept direct applications under any circumstances — you have to be nominated. For India the national nominating agency is the Ministry of Education's Department of Higher Education, External Scholarships Division, and you apply through TWO systems: the Ministry's SAKSHAT portal and the Commission's own application system. The nominating agency's criteria and deadline may differ from the Commission's and you must satisfy both. Meeting one and missing the other ends it, and that is the usual way this is lost.
It funds PhD study in UK. Confirm the eligible courses on the official page.
Yes — it recurs, so if you miss this cycle you can plan for the next one. We track the dates for you.
Yes — we check which scholarships you actually qualify for, help with the documents and the application, and it's free.
Want help winning Commonwealth PhD Scholarships? Free
A counsellor calls you back during office hours — 9am to 8pm IST, Mon to Sat. We are open now.
A senior Vibedu counsellor
Study-abroad expert
Optional — so a counsellor can send your shortlist and documents in writing.
