Commonwealth Professional Fellowships 2020-2021 for Mid-Career Professionals (United Kingdom)

Commonwealth Professional Fellowships are for mid-career professionals from low and middle income Commonwealth countries to spend between six weeks and three months at a UK Host organisation working in their sector on a programme of professional development.

Funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID), Commonwealth Professional Fellowships provide talented and motivated professionals with the opportunity to enhance knowledge and skills in their given sector.

These Fellowships are offered under six development themes:

1.Science and technology for development
2.Strengthening health systems and capacity
3.Promoting global prosperity
4.Strengthening global peace, security and governance
5.Strengthening resilience and response to crises
6.Access, inclusion and opportunity

Purpose: To provide professionals with the opportunity to enhance knowledge and skills in their given sector, and to have catalytic effects on their workplaces.

Intended  beneficiaries: Mid-career  professionals  (with  five  years’  relevant  work  experience)  working  in development-related organisations in low and middle income Commonwealth countries.

The CSC aims to identify talented individuals who have the potential to make change. We are committed to a policy of equal opportunity and non-discrimination, and encourage applications from a diverse range of candidates. For further information on the support available to candidates with a disability, 

• Table of Content
• About Commonwealth Scholarships
• Commonwealth Professional Fellowships
• Aim and Benefits of Commonwealth Professional Fellowships
• Requirements for Commonwealth Professional Fellowships Qualification
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About Commonwealth Scholarships

The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (CSC) provides the main UK government scholarship scheme led by international development objectives. The CSC is an executive non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Department for International Development (DFID). The CSC operates within the framework of the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP) and is a vivid demonstration of the UK’s enduring commitment to the Commonwealth. By supporting innovators and leaders of the future from across the Commonwealth, and by attracting outstanding talent to Britain’s univer... continue reading

Commonwealth Professional Fellowships

Aim and Benefits of Commonwealth Professional Fellowships

Each fellowship provides:

1. Approved return airfare from the Fellow’s home country to the UK
2. Stipend (living allowance) payable monthly (or pro rata) for the duration of the award at the rate of £1,696 per month, or £2,104 per month for those at organisations in the London metropolitan area (rates quoted at 2019-2020 levels). Exceptionally, depending
   on the programme arranged, a peripatetic living allowance may be payable.
3. Further details if applicable will be given at the time of offer.
   If a Fellow declares a disability, a full assessment of needs and eligibility for additional financial support will be offered by the CSC.
   Arrival allowance of up to £953.45 at current rates, including an element for warm clothing
4. Reimbursement of the standard visa application fee

Requirements for Commonwealth Professional Fellowships Qualification

To be eligible for these fellowships, you must:

1. Be a citizen of or have been granted refugee status by an eligible Commonwealth country, or be a British Protected Person
2. Be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country
3. Have at least five years’ full-time, or equivalent part-time, relevant work experience, in a profession related to the subject of the Fellowships programme, by the proposed start of the fellowship – voluntary work experience will not be counted towards this minimum
4. Be in employment at the time of application that they will return to upon completion of the fellowship
5. Not have undertaken a Commonwealth Professional Fellowship within the last five years (at the time of application)
6. Not be seeking to undertake an academic programme of research or study in the UK. Academics are eligible to apply for the scheme, but only to undertake programmes of academic management, not research or courses relevant to their research subject
7. Be available to undertake the Fellowship between 1 February 2021 and 15 March 2021. You should check exact dates with the prospective Host.

Application Deadline

How to Apply

The closing date for the submission of references is 4pm (BST) on Monday 17th August 2020 Your application must include at least two references by this date, one of which must be from your current employer, otherwise it will be considered ineligible.

Once the closing date for Fellows’ applications and references has passed your application will be shared with the Host organisation you have applied to in order for them to review all applications and nominate the candidates they wish to put forward to the Commission. The Commission will make the final selections of individual Fellows.

If you have any queries about Commonwealth Professional Fellowships, please email [email protected]. General enquiries about applying for Commonwealth Scholarships or Fellowships sent to this email address will not be answered; please use the Contact us form instead.

For more details, visit commonwealth scholarships website