Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme (CSSS) - formerly DfID

Introduction

For the academic year 2010/11, the Department for International Development (DfID) in association with the University of Bristol and the ACU will be offering 5 awards at taught postgraduate level for students of high academic calibre who are not employed by government or state-funded organisations, and who would benefit from higher education in the United Kingdom but are unable to meet the costs themselves. Priority will be given by DFID to subjects relating to the economic, social and technological development of the student's home country. Awards are for one-year taught postgraduate courses.

What is covered by the Scholarship?

Fees; maintenance; return flights; thesis grant; study travel grant (if applicable) and departure allowance. The course fees are paid by the DfID, while the participating institution pays the maintenance allowance.

Eligibility

Applicants must be from a developing Commonwealth country (please see the information booklet issued by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) for a full list of eligible countries), not employed by the government or other state organisation, not have undertaken studies lasting one year or more in a developed country and be unable to meet the costs of the course themselves.

Only candidates who have received a formal offer of admission to a postgraduate course can be nominated by the Head of Department to be considered for these awards.

The following courses are included in the Scheme:

Faculty of Engineering

Faculty of Medical and Veterinary Sciences

Faculty of Science

Faculty of Social Sciences and Law

How to apply

Application for admission to a postgraduate course should be through the Postgraduate Admissions Co-ordinator in the appropriate Faculty of the University of Bristol. Only students nominated by the departments for consideration for an award will be asked to complete CSSS (formerly DfID) application forms, so you should contact your Departmental Admissions Co-ordinator in the first instance to inform them that you wish to be considered for an award.

In a change from previous years, the CSC has introduced an electronic application system.  This application system is time restricted and the University of Bristol is not able to amend the dates that have been set out by the CSC.  As in previous years, potential applicants will be nominated by their departments. 

Timetable

Please note that completing an online application does not necessarily mean you will be successful in the nomination process.

Please email Penny Rowe if you have any queries or speak to your Departmental Admissions Co-ordinator.