Commonwealth Medical Fellowships are for mid-career medical staff from low and middle income countries, to enhance their clinical skills.

Funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID), Commonwealth Medical Fellowships enable talented and motivated individuals to gain the knowledge and skills required for sustainable development. These fellowships are offered under the second of the CSC’s six themes:

1. Science and technology for development
2. Strengthening health systems and capacity
3. Promoting global prosperity
4. Strengthening global peace, security and governance
5. Strengthening resilience and response to crises
6. Access, inclusion and opportunity

Information on other scholarships offered by the CSC

Eligibility

To apply for these fellowships, you 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
• Be employed by a hospital affiliated to a university
• Be available to start your fellowship in the UK in January 2019
• Have qualified as a doctor between 1 October 2008 and 30 September 2011, or before 1 October 2003
• Have qualified at a medical school recognised by the World Directory of Medical Schools
• Have met the English language requirements of the General Medical Council (GMC) by 31 August 2018

You will be expected to participate in clinical practice during your fellowship, and to register with the General Medical Council (GMC). If your proposed programme does not require this registration, your application will be considered ineligible.

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. For further information on the support available to candidates with a disability, see the CSC disability support statement.

The CSC is committed to administering and managing its scholarships and fellowships in a fair and transparent manner. For further information, see the CSC anti-fraud policy and the DFID guidance on reporting fraud.

Eligible Commonwealth countries

Bangladesh
Cameroon
The Gambia
Ghana
India
Kenya
Malawi
Mozambique
Nigeria
Pakistan
Papua New Guinea
Rwanda
Samoa
Sierra Leone
South Africa
Sri Lanka
Tanzania
Uganda
Vanuatu
Zambia

Terms and conditions

For full terms and conditions – including value of the scholarship, and general conditions of award – see the Commonwealth Medical Fellowships 2018 terms and conditions

Selection process

Each year, the CSC invites each nominating body to submit a specific number of nominations. The deadline for nominating bodies to submit nominations to the CSC is 4 June 2018.

The CSC invites around three times more nominations than fellowships available – therefore, nominated candidates are not guaranteed to be awarded a fellowship.

Each nominated candidate’s application will be considered firstly by an academic adviser with expertise in the subject area concerned, and then by the CSC selection committee in competition with other candidates.

Applications will be considered according to the following selection criteria:

• Academic merit of the candidate
• Quality of the proposal
• Potential impact of the work on the development of the candidate’s home country

For further details, see the Commonwealth Medical Fellowships 2018 selection criteria

How to apply

You must apply to one of the following nominating body in the first instance – the CSC does not accept direct applications for these fellowships:

• Selected universities/medical colleges
• In Bangladesh, India, and Sri Lanka, the national University Grants Commission
• In Pakistan, the Higher Education Commission

All applications must be made through a nominating body in your home country. Each nominating body is responsible for its own selection process. You must check with your nominating body for their specific advice and rules for applying, and for their own closing date for applications.

You must make your application using the CSC’s application system. Your application must be submitted to and endorsed by one of the eligible nominating bodies listed above. The CSC will not accept any applications that are not submitted via the CSC’s application system to a nominating body in your home country.

All applications must be submitted by 23.59 (BST) on 21 May 2018 at the latest.

You must provide the following supporting documentation, which must be received by the CSC by 23.59 (BST) on 28 May 2018 in order for your application to be eligible for consideration:

• Academic references from at least two individuals

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Enquiries?

All enquiries about these fellowships should be directed to your nominating body in your home country.

Enquiries about the CSC’s application system only – including feedback – should be sent to eas@cscuk.org.uk

Please note that the CSC does not charge candidates to apply for any of its scholarships or fellowships, and it does not charge organisations to nominate candidates.