Online application is invited from Indian national for the ‘2018 COMMONWEALTH SCHOLARSHIP TENABLE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM’ for the Master’s & Doctoral degree programme. The study will commence in September/October 2018.
The candidates are also advised to read the public notice on Commonwealth site url:
Master’s:
PhD:
Number of nomination and award:
Nomination: Maximum 65 nominations, out of which, 26 nomination would be for PhD.
Online applications:
Candidates are required to apply online at the following portals:
Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) portal by 7th February, 2018 (till 3:00 PM).
Link for online application:
http://proposal.sakshat.ac.in/scholarship/
Commonwealth Scholarship Commission’s Electronic Application System (EAS)
by 22.02.2018.
Link for EAS: https://csc.do-it-online.org.uk/csc/electronicapplicationsystem.htm
Note:
It is compulsory for the applicant to apply in the above portals before the cut-off
date, failing which would make his/her candidature ineligible.
Since the cut-off date for MHRD portal is prior to EAS cut-off date, it is advised
that the candidates adhere to the respective cut-off date.
Level of course:
(i) Master’s Course (one year)
(Note: Master Degree programs which are less than 2 years in duration, are not
equivalent to Master Degree in India.)
(ii) Doctoral degree (up to three/four years’ duration)
(Note: CSC would fund only few candidates for 4-year PhD programme. The
candidates are advised to choose at least one 3-year PhD option also).
Scholarship would be offered under following development themes and all candidates
must apply under one of the 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.
Note: More than one application would lead to disqualification of the candidature.
Eligibility:
(i) AGE: The age of the candidate must not exceed 40 years (as on 7th February, 2018).
(ii) Minimum qualifications
(iii) Academic merit
(a) For Master’s course:
One should have completed or is expected to complete the Bachelor Degree by October, 2018. The academic qualification must have direct and applied relevance to the development theme selected by the candidate. Minimum eligibility is 60% or above marks in Social Science subjects and 65% or above marks in Science subjects.
(b) For Ph.D. degree:
One should have completed or is expected to complete the Master Degree/Qualifying Exam, by October, 2018. The academic qualification must have direct and applied relevance to the development theme selected by the candidate. Minimum eligibility is 60% or above marks in Social Science subjects and 65% or above marks in Science subjects.
The minimum prescribed eligibility percentage does not guarantee short listing for interview in any particular theme.
Others:
i) Candidates who have already been abroad for studies/training/ specialization either on scholarships or on their own, for a period exceeding six months are eligible to apply, if they have been in India for at least two consecutive years as on 7th February, 2018
after returning from abroad.
ii) Applications of candidates who are staying abroad will not be considered.
iii) Candidates must not be registered for a PhD, or an MPhil leading to a PhD, at a UK university before September/October 2018.
(iv) Candidates are compulsorily required to sign a declaration that they do not have access to sufficient funds to study in the UK.
Requirement of English language proficiency:
The Ministry of Human Resource Development and CSC does not require any candidates to take an IELTS (English language)test. However, as a further condition of award, the university may ask the candidate to provide evidence of a particular level of English language proficiency.
Participating universities/institutions: Awards are tenable at any approved UK university or higher education institution with which the CSC has a part-funding agreement. A list of these institutions can be found at: http://cscuk.dfid.gov.uk/apply/uk-universities/part-funding/
Preference for universities/institutions: Candidates are expected to give preference for at least one UK institution/university in their application form. The final decision on host institution will be made by the CSC.
Application to preferred universities: Candidates are advised to submit applications directly to their preferred institutions in advance. Many courses have strict admission deadlines. Candidate must check admission requirements carefully when applying. Where formal offer of admission has been obtained, the same should be mentioned in the application.
Supporting statement from supervisor:
All PhD candidates must provide a supporting statement from a named supervisor from at least one of the UK universities to which they are applying. If a supporting statement is not provided for their first choice university, the CSC reserves the right to place the candidate at another institution for which they have a supporting statement. The candidates are required to submit such statement to Ministry of Human Resource Development at the time of interview.
No candidate, for PhD, will be interviewed without such supporting statement/letter.
Candidates are required to give a write up of their Plan of Study (for Masters)
/Research Proposals (for PhD). The Plan of Study/ Research Proposal should have maximum of 300 words and 750 words respectively.
Study Plan:
The students applying for Master’s are required to submit plan of study highlighting:
(i) “Statement of what you want to learn
(ii) Extent to which the proposed course and institution of study have been well researched (including specific options and dissertation topics, where appropriate) and presented”
The above conditions are prescribed by the Commonwealth Commission.
Research Proposal:
The students applying for Ph.D. are required to submit research proposal highlighting:
(i) Clear abstract of the research proposal.
(ii) The work programme should be well researched, and consultation made with the hostsupervisor.
(iii) Innovation and relevance to current research in the chosen field.
The above conditions are prescribed by the Commonwealth Commission.
Nomination and final selection:
Only shortlisted candidates would be called for interview and the Selection Committee consisting of experts will interview the candidates. Nominations would be made purely on merit. The nominations will be sent to Commonwealth Scholarship Commission for the final selection.
Nomination of a candidate by the Government of India does not, in any way, guarantee final selection or placement. The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission will make its own selection from the list of recommended candidates.
Note: Candidates are advised to go through the CSC’s selection criteria. The specific link has been provided at the end.
Important dates:
Closing date of online application in the Ministry of Human Resource Development portal 07.02.2018 (till 3 PM)
Closing date of online application through CSC’s Electronic Application System (EAS) 22.02.2018
Names of the shortlisted candidates (development theme wise) called for the interview 15.02.2018 (tentative)
Tentative dates for the Interview (development theme wise) First week of March onwards
Documents required:
Scanned copy of the following documents are required while applying to the Ministry of Human Resource Development online portal:
i) Marks sheet and certificate for Secondary Examination
ii) Marks sheet and certificate for Higher Secondary Examination
iii) Transcript in respect of the candidate’s higher qualification(s)
iv) Bachelor’s/Master’s degree
Note:
In case where grades are awarded, the candidates are required to furnish exactpercentage of marks and its conversion formula.
Candidates who fail to upload the mark sheets and transcripts (provided by the university/institution) with their application, will not be considered.
Candidates, shortlisted for interview, are required to bring the following documents at the time of interview:
i) Original Certificates along with mark sheets of Class X, XII & Transcripts and degree (if awarded) in respect of their higher qualification(s).
ii) NOC/ Cadre clearance (in case of Government Servant).
iii) In case applying for PhD, candidate must provide evidence of support from a prospective supervisor.
General Instructions:
1. Candidates who do not possess the essential eligibility criteria need not apply.
2. Canvassing in any form will lead to disqualification.
3. Candidate will not be allowed to appear for interview if he/she does not submit NOC
from the Employer. In case of Government Servant, clearance of the Cadre
Controlling Authority is mandatory.
4. Candidates are expected to have the knowledge of the donor country.
5. All announcements will be available on the Ministry of Human ResourceDevelopment website i.e. www.mhrd.gov.in/scholarships .
6. The shortlisted candidates will be informed through the mail and public notice on the MHRD website. THE DECISION OF THE SELECTION COMMITTEE SHALL BE FINAL.
No correspondence will be entertained in this regard.
7. No TA/DA would be provided for attending the interview.
o Mere fulfillment of above eligibility conditions does not qualify a candidate for interview. Only shortlisted candidates would be called for interview.
Important links:
For applying online to the Ministry of Human Resource Development:
http://proposal.sakshat.ac.in/scholarship/ (link would be opened from 28.12.2017)
Links for Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC)
2018 Commonwealth Scholarship terms and conditions:
Master’s:
http://cscuk.dfid.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/terms-conditionsmasters-scholarships-2018.pdf
PhD:
http://cscuk.dfid.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/terms-conditions-phdscholarships-low-middle-income-countries-2018.pdf
The list of UK universities:
http://cscuk.dfid.gov.uk/apply/uk-universities/part-funding/
Details of the CSC’s selection criteria:
Master’s:
http://cscuk.dfid.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/selection-criteriamasters-scholarships-2018.pdf
Ph.D.:
http://cscuk.dfid.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/selection-criteria-phdscholarships-low-middle-income-countries-2018.pdf
Guidelines for applying in the Electronic Application System (EAS application) on
Commonwealth Scholarship Commission(CSC) site:
Master’s: http://cscuk.dfid.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/eas-guidemasters-scholarships.pdf
Ph.D.: http://cscuk.dfid.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/eas-guide-phdscholarships-low-middle-income-countries.pdf
For applying to Electronic Application System(EAS) on CSC :
https://csc.do-it-online.org.uk/csc/electronicapplicationsystem.htm.
