The Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP) is one of the oldest and most prestigious schemes of its kind in the world.

The scheme for following programs in different fields:
PhD Scholarship Program
Split-Site Doctoral Research Scholarship Program
Eligibility Criteria of PhD Scholarship Scheme:
Must have at least 50% marks in entire academic career,

Must have obtained at least 60% marks in degree

Be available to join the scholarship program in United Kingdom

Applicants having completed M. Phil will be preferred.

Selection is to be made on the basis of following criteria:
The academic record
Potential of the candidate
The quality of the proposal
Development impact of work proposed in Pakistan
Commonwealth fellowship for post doctorate
Commonwealth Scholarships for PhD, Split PhD & Post Doctoral
Introduction:
The Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP) is one of the oldest and most prestigious schemes
of its kind in the world. It was established at the first Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers in
1959. Over 25,000 Commonwealth citizens have held awards - many going on to reach the very highest levels
of their profession.
The scheme envisages the following programs in different fields:
• PhD Scholarship Program
• Split-Site Doctoral Research Scholarship Program
Applications are invited, through HEC, from Pakistani/AJK nationals, fulfilling eligibility criteria on or before
close of the deadlines etc.
Other Related Information:
In case you need additional information, you may contact on our e-mail: smanthar@hec.gov.pk or cwuk@
hec.gov.pk
However, before sending your query, kindly make sure that you have gone through the information, uploaded
here.
Incomplete applications will NOT be accepted. Phone calls to know about status or receipt of applications and
personal visits are not welcomed.
Further details can be obtained from commonwealth application form and web-pagebit.ly/cscuk-apply
However while routing application through HEC you are required to follow the instructions, as appearing on
HEC’s website.
Objectives
The objectives of the scheme are:
• To combine academic excellence with the desire to make a real difference in some of the world's poorest
countries.
• To establish the standards for selection of scholars between the developing and developed countries by
involving both home and host country.
• To stimulate research and development activities in developing countries of the world.
• To provide the highly professional environment to the scholars from all over the world.
How to Apply
Instructions:
1. You are required to submit two types of application forms to HEC, as described below
2. Fill the Commonwealth application form online, through Electronic Application System (EAS), and
apply for your required program, from cscuk.dfid.gov.uk/apply/ OR CSC Online web(for PhD &
Split PhD).
3. For Academic Staff Fellowship/ Post Doctoral Fellowship Click this click here for online
Application Submission
How to Fill Online Application Form:
Click here to download the Guidelines for filling Commonwealth Online Application
How to Send Application Form:
• Select Higher Education Commission as your nominating agency while filling Online Commonwealth
application Form.
• Donot forget to properly submit your application after filling it online.
• Download HEC Application Form (1. Application form for PhD )( 2. Application form for Splitsite
PhD ) ( 3. Application form for Post-Doc )
Attach attested copies of all the documents and Annexure, as mentioned in the Application Form,
available on the above referred website. All bachelors and above level degrees obtained from Pakistani
Universities and foreign universities MUST be verified by Accreditation and Attestation (A&A)
Division of HEC. Click here to see the Link to concerned website.
• All payments are to be made to HEC through HBL online facility. This facility is available in all
branches of Habib Bank Ltd. A separate bank Account No. 17427900133401 is being maintained for the
purpose.
• Attach portion of payment receipt (in Original), of HBL online payment facility of amount Rs. 300/-
non-refundable, made in favor of HEC, Islamabad.
• Applicants are advised to initiate their admission process simultaneously and to start making
communication with UK universities/supervisors, now.
• Applicants are advised, while filling Commonwealth Online application, an automatic email is sent to
the VC/Registrar or Equivalent (which the applicant mention). That authority will reply to that email
with His/Her comments and the applicant will either get a copy of it or his/her online application form
will be updated. That copy of email or comments is also required to be attached with the hard copy of
the Commonwealth Application Form.
• Attach one (01) print of online Commonwealth application Form, along with all the annexure, as
described in the form.
• Attach one (01) copy of respective HEC application Form (for use by HEC), with all annexure.
• Attach Two (2) Copies of Research proposal.
• Incomplete forms will NOT be accepted.
How to prepare Application Package?
Kindly read each and every instruction very carefully to prepare a good application package.
• Fill online Commonwealth Application form, through Electronic Application System (EAS), and then
take a print of it, after getting it signed by the Vice Chancellor / Head of the University then make a
copy of it. Retain one copy with you, alongwith photocopies of supporting documents to be attached
with, and send remaining (the orignally signed) one (01) copy alongwith supporting documents to HEC,
each set properly should be properly binded.
• Fill one (01) HEC Application Form in original using computer typing and send to HEC alongwith
supporting documents.
• Properly bind each set of application form. Lose papers or untidy application package should be
avoided. Applications with loose papers / not in properly binding will not be entertained.
• Avoid sending lose documents / Annexure(s), after sending application package, hence one complete in
all respect set of application be sent.
• Do not forget to attach the print of email mentioned above at point number 7 i.e., Applicants are
advised, while filling Commonwealth Online application, an automatic email is sent to the VC/Registrar
or Equivalent (which the applicant mention). That authority will reply to that email with His/Her
comments and the applicant will either get a copy of it or his/her online application form will be
updated. That copy of email or comments is also required to be attached with the hard copy of the
Commonwealth Application Form.. This is a MANDATORY condition, while sending application to
HEC.
Order of forms and papers:
 HEC Application Form with all academic documents in ascending order, starting from
10th grade
 One Originally singed (01) online Commonwealth UK Application form with all
academic documents in ascending order, starting from 10th grade. Attach HEC and IBCC
attested photocopies of the academic documents with Commonwealth Online
Application's Print.
 IELTS Result can be submitted after the deadline. However, registration certificate
should be attached with application package.
(Please be noted that preparing an appropriate application package, neatly as per instructions, is the first step
towards your journey for higher studies)
Deadline: 20th October, 2012
Eligibility Criteria of PhD Scholarship Scheme:
1. Should not have obtained below 50% marks in their entire academic career, however Should have
obtained at least 60% marks in Masters (e.g. MA/ MSc i.e. 18 years of education).
2. Be available to join the scholarship program in United Kingdom by September / October, 2013.
3. Must hold a full-time university teaching post, which he/she will rejoin after completion of studies in
UK. The application form must be forwarded by Vice Chancellor / Head of the University, where the
applicant is employed.
4. Applicants having completed M. Phil will be preferred.
5. In the fields of medicine and dentistry, have qualified between 1st October, 2003 and 30th September,
2008.
6. Providing evidence of support from a prospective supervisor at least one of their chosen institutions.
7. For the fields of Medical and Dentistry, applicants are required to provide Academic IELTS (British
Council) score card with over all score of 7.0 and 7.0 in speaking and 6.0 in listening, reading and
writing and,
8. For the fields, other than Medical and Dentistry an overall score of 6.5 in Academic IELTS is
required. This is a mandatory condition without which no further processing is possible
Important Note: IELTS taken after 1st October, 2012 is valid only.
Note:
• Applicants must secure/confirm their admissions for the sesson starting September / October 2013 in
‘potential host university in the UK’. The outcome of all such communications should be reported to the
HEC. The copy of confirmed UK Univeristy Admission letter should reach to HEC before 20th October,
2012.
• Those Supervisors asking for Financial Details of the Scholarship. Send them the Prospectus of
Commonwealth Scholarship in which Value of Award is mentioned in Detail at 3rd Page. Click the
linkk mentioned below to see the Prospectus go to cscuk.dfid.gov.uk/wpcontent/
uploads/2011/03/prospectus-scholarships-2012.pdf
Selection is to be made on the basis of following criteria:
• Initially the shortlisting will be made the Commonwealth Commission UK (CSCUK) through EAS.
Later HEC will then nominate the applicants from the pool of the applicants shortlisted by CSCUK.
• The academic record.
• Potential of the candidate.
• The quality of the proposal
• Development impact of work proposed in Pakistan.
Details and Duration of PhD Scholarship Program:
Awards are tenable at any approved UK University or Higher Education institution for skill updating research
and academic collaboration, etc, for a period of twelve (12) to thirty six (36) months, only. The list of approved
UK universities is available at CSC website//bit.ly/cscuk-uk-universities
Eligibility Criteria for Pot Doctoral / Academic Staff Fellowship Program:
1. Holding a valid and authentic Doctorate degree.
2. Intended to do joint / collaborative / ongoing research project and publication with the Host University
in UK. Discrete / separate research will not be considered.
3. Must be employed for at-least five years, as an academic staff member, in a university, which he/she
must join back after completion of studies in UK. The application form must be forwarded by Vice
Chancellor / Head of the University, where the applicant is employed.
4. The Applicant should be nominated by their VCs (or equivalent) / their Executive heads of employing
University, which they will join back after completion of studies, etc.
5. Be available to join the scholarship program in United Kingdom by 1st October, 2013
6. A letter of acceptance from the UK host academic institution mentioned at the first choice must be
included with the application form and confirmed admission must be obtained by November 20th, 2012.
Further for Medical Doctors and Dentists:
1. In the fields of medicine and dentistry, have qualified as a Doctor or Dentist before 1st October 2002.
2. Applicants in medicine and dentistry whose programme requires them to practise clinically, or to work
in a laboratory department reporting on samples from patients, must state how the skills acquired by the
training programme will be put into practice post-award. Such applicants can be considered only if they
are eligible for registration with the General Medical Council or the General Dental Council.
Information about current conditions for registration can be obtained from the GMC and GDC websites:
Please note that the GMC currently requires applicants for their
registration to obtain an overall score of 7.0 in the academic IELTS (From AEO or British Council) test,
with minimum scores of 7.0 in speaking and 6.0 in listening, reading and writing.
Note:
• Applicants must secure/confirm their admissions for the sesson starting September / October 2013 in
‘potential host university in the UK’. The outcome of all such communications should be reported to the
HEC. The copy of confirmed UK Univeristy Admission letter should reach to HEC before 20th
November, 2012.
• Those Supervisors asking for Financial Details of the Scholarship. Send them the Prospectus of
Commonwealth Fellowship in which Value of Award is mentioned in Detail at 3rd page. Click Here to
see the prospectus:
• Medical & dentistry related applicants must register for IELTS as soon as possible as due to load
of IELTS applications in British Council, the applicants would not be able to provide IELTS score
before 2oth November, 2012.
Selection is to be made on the basis of following criteria:
• Initially the shortlisting will be made the Commonwealth Commission UK (CSCUK) through EAS.
Later HEC will then nominate the applicants from the pool of the applicants shortlisted by CSCUK.
Details and Duration of the Post Doctoral Fellowship Program:
• Awards are tenable at any approved UK University or Higher Education institution for skill updating
research and academic collaboration, etc, for a fix period of three (03) months only and a very strong
justification will need to be given if any more than three (03) months duration is requested. The list of
approved UK universities is available at CSC website: bit.ly/cscuk-uk-universities
• Applicants must in advance of any fellowship application to the commission are advised to contact with
‘potential host university in the UK’. The outcome of all such communications should be reported to the
HEC.
Eligibility Criteria of Split PhD Scholarship Scheme:
1. Should be officially registered in a doctoral program, at a local Pakistani University, and intend to
undertake a period of research in a UK University, for a limited duration which will serve as an integral
part of their local PhD program in Pakistan. The application form must be forwarded by head of
University, where the applicant is enrolled in local Ph.D Program.
2. There must be an institutional link between the applicant's Local/Pakistani University and Host
University in UK.
3. Providing evidence of support from a prospective supervisor at least one of their chosen institutions.
4. Should not have obtained below 50% marks in entire academic career (SSC, HSC, BA/BSc, Masters)
5. Should have obtained at least 60% or above marks in Masters (MA/MSc or other 16 years of education)
or in professional degrees e.g. BE/B.Sc Engineering, MBBS, LLB, MBA or equivalent.
6. Should have an approved PhD research topic and synopsis by the Board of Advanced Studies and
Research (BASR) or Directorate of Advanced Studies and Research (DASR) or equivalent body of the
university.
7. In the fields of medicine and dentistry, have qualified between 1st October, 2002 and 30th September,
2007.
8. Be available to join the scholarship program in United Kingdom by September / October, 2013.
9. For the fields of Medical and Dentistry, applicants are required to provide Academic IELTS (From AEO
or British Council) score card by 2nd week of November 2012, with over all score of 7.0 and 7.0 in
speaking and 6.0 in listening, reading and writing and,
10. For the fields, other than Medical and Dentistry an overall score of 6.5 in Academic IELTS is required.
The IELTS test should be taken after 1st October 2012, hence you are strongly advised to get registered
for the IELTS test, now. This is a mandatory condition without which no further processing is possible.
Note:
• Applicants must secure/confirm their admissions for the sesson starting September / October 2013 in
‘potential host university in the UK’. The outcome of all such communications should be reported to the
HEC. The copy of confirmed UK Univeristy Admission letter should reach to HEC before 20th
November, 2012.
• Those Supervisors asking for Financial Details of the Scholarship. Send them the Prospectus of
Commonwealth Scholarship in which Value of Award is mentioned in Detail at 3rd Page. Click Here to
see the Prospectus.
• Applicants must register for IELTS as soon as possible as due to load of IELTS applications in British
Council, the applicants would not be able to provide IELTS score before 2oth November, 2012.
Selection is to be made on the basis of following criteria:
• Initially the shortlisting will be made the Commonwealth Commission UK (CSCUK) through EAS.
Later HEC will then nominate the applicants from the pool of the applicants shortlisted by CSCUK.
• The academic record.
• Potential of the candidate.
• The quality of the proposal.
• Development impact of work proposed in Pakistan
Details and Duration of Split-Site Doctoral Research Program:
• Awards are tenable at any approved UK University or Higher Education institution for skill updating
research and academic collaboration, etc, for a period of twelve (12) only. The list of approved UK
universities is available at CSC website: /bit.ly/cscuk-uk-universities
• Applications should be made in the context of department/institutional linkage of local Pakistani
University with a UK University, already in operation or under negotiation.