The King’s Commonwealth PhD Fellowship is a powerful chance for talented individuals from Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to grow as researchers and leaders. Supported by His Majesty King Charles III, this program helps future changemakers improve life in their home countries by solving big challenges in climate, health, education, and engineering.

What makes this The King’s Commonwealth Fellowship Program PhD Fellowships special is that it allows scholars to study for a PhD in their own country while staying active in their careers. At the same time, they’ll be connected with expert supervisors from top universities in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, or the United Kingdom. This setup builds strong local research while offering global learning experiences.

The commonwealth fellowship is designed to build long-term solutions for SIDS communities. With research funding, international training, and professional development, this program gives fellows the tools to grow academically, support their countries, and become leaders of change. If you have a master’s degree (or similar experience), are passionate about solving real issues in your community, and want to earn a PhD while working, this opportunity might be the perfect fit.

King’s Commonwealth PhD Fellowship | Paid Fellowship:

Program Location:

•PhD studies in home country (SIDS) with short research visits to Australia, Canada, New Zealand, or UK.

KCFP PhD Fellowship Programs:

•Climate change/environment.
•Education.
•Engineering.
•Health.

List of ACU Member Universities in Commonwealth SIDS:

•Fiji National University.
•The University of Fiji.
•The University of the South Pacific.
•Divine Word University.
•Papua New Guinea University of Technology.
•University of Papua New Guinea.
•National University of Samoa.
•American University of Barbados School of Medicine.
•Galen University.
•University of Belize.
•University College of the Cayman Islands.
•Texila American University.
•University of Guyana.
•Caribbean Maritime University.
•The University of the West Indies.
•Saint James School of Medicine.
•University of Medicine and Health Sciences (UMHS).
•Avid College.
•Maldives National University.
•Villa College.
•Open University of Mauritius.
•University of Mauritius.
•University of Technology Mauritius.
•University of Seychelles.

List of KCFP Partner Universities:

•University of Edinburgh (UK)
•University of Glasgow (UK)
•University of Southampton (UK)
•University of the West of Scotland (UK)
•Heriot Watt University (UK)
•University of Bristol (UK)
•University of Oxford (Kellogg College, UK)
•SOAS University of London (UK)
•University of Birmingham (UK)
•Cardiff University (UK)
•King’s College, London (UK)
•Lancaster University (UK)
•Newcastle University (UK)
•Swansea University (UK)
•University of Liverpool (UK)
•University of Bath (UK)
•Macquarie University (AUS)
•Griffith University (AUS)
•University of New South Wales (AUS)
•University of Sydney (AUS)
•Murdoch University (AUS)
•Western University (CAN)
•Lincoln University (NZ)
•University of Canterbury (NZ)

Financial Support of the King’s Commonwealth PhD Fellowship:

If you are selected for the King Commonwealth PhD Fellowship, you will get many types of support during your 6-year PhD journey. Here’s what’s included:

•GBP 30,000 total funding over six years (that’s GBP 5,000 each year) to help with your research
work and visits to your partner university in countries like Australia, Canada, New Zealand, or the UK.
•If your partner university usually charges international tuition fees during your visit, these fees will be waived, so you don’t have to pay them.
•Access to helpful resources, like the partner university’s library and online research databases, when available.
•An extra GBP 12,000 research grant over six years (GBP 2,000 per year) to support your project needs.
•Your current employer will receive a salary contribution equal to 20% of your salary, which helps you stay employed while doing your PhD.
•You will be guided by two supervisors — one from your home university and one from the partner university — throughout your entire PhD.
•You will also become part of the King’s Fellows group, where you’ll get training in important skills like public speaking, working with policymakers, communication, entrepreneurship, and applying for research grants.

Eligibility Criteria of the King’s Commonwealth PhD Fellowship:

•You must have a master’s degree or have experience that is equal to a master’s level.
•You should be starting or already enrolled in a PhD program at an approved university in a Small
Island Developing State (SIDS) for the academic year.
•Your PhD topic must be related to one of these four fields:
•Climate Change/Environment.
•Education.
•Engineering.
•Health.
•You must be a citizen or have refugee status in one of the eligible Commonwealth SIDS countries listed below:
•Africa: Mauritius, Seychelles.
•Asia: The Maldives.
•Caribbean and Americas: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Cayman Islands,
Trinidad and Tobago.
•Pacific: Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea (PNG), Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu.