Students from Commonwealth countries (excluding South Africa), an opportunity is now available for you to apply for the Commonwealth Doctoral Scholarship in the University of Pretoria.

South Africa would like to contribute to the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan, and it’s using this opportunity to grant three doctoral scholarships to qualified individuals through a competition

Check below for more information:

Eligibility Requirements:

• Must be a citizen of a Commonwealth country, excluding South Africa.
• Must commence studies at the University of Pretoria in 2025.
• Must have submitted an application to study at the University of Pretoria for the 2025 academic year.
• Must have identified a potential supervisor at UP.
• Must have submitted academic records to the South African Qualification Authority (SAQA).
• Must have completed a postgraduate/Master’s degree no less than two years prior to applying.
• Must be under the age of 40.
• Current or former PhD and Master’s students of the University of Pretoria are ineligible.

Value of the Doctoral Scholarship:

The scholarship is valued at R184,000 per annum, covering:

• Accommodation and living costs.
• Fees.
• Medical aid.
• Books and stationery.

Additional Costs Covered by the University:

• Flight ticket to South Africa from the home country upon proof of a study permit.
• Return flight ticket to the home country upon program completion.
• Shuttle service from OR Tambo International Airport to Pretoria upon arrival and return at completion.
• UP application fee, medical aid fee, and study visa costs, reimbursed upon proof of receipts.

Costs Not Covered:

• Family expenses.
• Additional baggage expenses.

Supplementary Funds:

The scholarship holder may receive supplementary external bursaries/grants/scholarships, with a maximum total value of R300,000 per annum. The UP PhD Commonwealth Scholarship must be the primary award.

Application Procedure:

To be considered for the scholarship, candidates must submit the UP PhD Commonwealth Scholarship application form along with the following documents:

• UP Online application Ref “T” number or 2025 student number.
• Written motivation from the identified UP Doctoral supervisor confirming the availability of research funding.
• An outline (one A4 page) of the proposed research work.
• Curriculum Vitae (CV) – no more than 3 pages.
• Proof of study leave (if applicable) from the current employer.
• Copy of a valid passport.
• Full academic transcripts of all qualifications obtained (not certificates).
• Two completed reference forms from two different academics/supervisors familiar with the applicant’s academic performance (reference form attached).

All documents should be combined into a single PDF and emailed to pgbursary@up.ac.za with the subject heading “UP Commonwealth 2025”.

Application Deadline: August 31, 2024

For more information, visit the Official Webpage of the University of Pretoria Commonwealth Doctoral Scholarship.