Commonwealth Professional Fellowships are for mid-career professionals from low and middle-income countries to spend a period of time at a UK host organization working in their sector for a program of professional development.
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 organizations in low and middle-income Commonwealth countries.
These fellowships are offered under six development themes:
Science and technology for development
Strengthening health systems and capacity
Promoting global prosperity
Strengthening global peace, security, and governance
Strengthening resilience and response to crises
Access, inclusion, and opportunity
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
Eligibility
To be eligible for these Fellowships, prospective Fellows must:
Be a citizen of or have been granted refugee status by an eligible Commonwealth country, or be a British Protected Person
Be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country
Have at least five years’ full-time, or equivalent part-time, relevant work experience, in a profession related to the subject of the fellowship program, by the proposed start of the fellowship – voluntary work experience will not be counted towards this minimum
Be in employment at the time of application at an organization that they will return to upon completion of the fellowship
Provide at least two references, one of which must be from their current employer. Any applications for which references are not received by the reference closing date will be considered ineligible
Not have undertaken a Commonwealth Professional Fellowship within the last five years (at the time of taking up the award)
Not be seeking to undertake an academic program of research or study. 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
Be available to undertake their fellowship from the prescribed start date
In addition to the above, prospective fellows must ensure they meet any eligibility criteria set out by each individual host organization.
Benefits
Each Fellowship provides:
Approved return airfare from the Fellow’s home country to the UK.
Reimbursement of the standard visa application fee.
Stipend (living allowance) payable monthly (or pro rata) for the duration of the award at the rate of £1,944 per month or £2,397 per month for those at organizations in the London metropolitan area (rates quoted at 2022/23 levels).
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 £1,061.10 (rates quoted at 2022/23 levels), including an element for warm clothing.
A maximum of £3,000 per Fellow can be agreed by host organizations for short courses/conferences as well as travel to visit other UK organizations where this forms an integral part of the program. Host organizations should bear in mind the restrictions set out in our guidance on claimable costs.
