Commonwealth Professional Fellowships 2024 (Fully-Funded) | Apply Now

The Commonwealth Professional Fellowships offer a remarkable opportunity for mid-career professionals from low- and middle-income countries to enrich their knowledge and skills within their respective sectors while making catalytic contributions to their workplaces.

What are Commonwealth Professional Fellowships?

Sponsored by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission, UK, these fellowships allow mid-career professionals to work in a UK host organization for a designated period, engaging in a comprehensive program of professional development. The fellowships are fully-funded, and several awards are available for eligible candidates.

Thematic Area: Clean Energy, Air, and Oceans

The 2023/24 round of Commonwealth Professional Fellowships focuses on the thematic area of Clean Energy, Air, and Oceans. The primary purpose is to empower professionals with the expertise needed to drive positive change within their sectors, fostering lasting impacts on their workplaces.

Eligibility Criteria

To be considered for the Commonwealth Professional Fellowships, international applicants must meet the following conditions:

1. Citizenship: Applicants must be citizens of an eligible Commonwealth country or have been granted refugee status. British Protected Persons are also eligible.
2. Residency: Applicants should be permanent residents of an eligible Commonwealth country.
3. Work Experience: A minimum of five years’ full-time or equivalent part-time, relevant work experience in a profession related to the subject of the Fellowship program is required. Voluntary work experience will not be counted toward this minimum.
4. Employment: Applicants must be currently employed by an organization to which they will return upon completing the Fellowship.
5. References: Provide at least two references, with one from their current employer.
6. Previous Fellowships: Applicants should not have undertaken a Commonwealth Professional Fellowship within the last five years.
7. Academic Programs: The Fellowship is not intended for academic research or study. However, academics are eligible to apply for academic management programs relevant to their research subjects.
8. Availability: Fellows should be available to start and complete their fellowship within the prescribed dates.

Eligible Countries

Citizens of the following countries are eligible for the Commonwealth Professional Fellowships:

Bangladesh, Belize, Botswana, Cameroon, Dominica, Eswatini, Fiji, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Montserrat, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, St Helena, St Lucia, St Vincent and The Grenadines, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia.

Application Procedures

To apply for the Commonwealth Professional Fellowships, interested applicants must complete an online application form and provide all required information before the application deadline. The fellowships will be tenable for a period of six weeks to three months, starting from February 2024.

Application Requirements:

1. Academic Qualifications: List all undergraduate and postgraduate university qualifications obtained, where applicable.
2. Publications and Prizes: List up to 10 publications and prizes, if applicable.
3. Employment History: Provide details of employment history and explain the relevance of each job to the proposed fellowship in the UK (up to 100 words per employment).
4. Relevance Statement: Furnish a statement on the relevance of previous work experience to the proposed fellowship (up to 300 words).
5. Referees: List names and positions of up to three referees who can comment on your capacity to benefit from the proposed fellowship in the UK and your ability to deliver development impact afterwards. One of the referees must be your current employer.
6. Development Impact Statement: Provide a Development Impact statement in four parts:a. Explain how your proposed Fellowship relates to reducing reliance on fossil fuels, lowering rates of air pollution, or promoting marine conservation in accordance with the aims of COP 26 and SDGs 7, 13, and 14 (up to 200 words).

   b. Describe how your fellowship will address development issues at the global, national, and local levels.

   c. Highlight the development issues connected to the theme of climate change and the wider sector.

Application Deadline

The deadline for submitting applications for the Commonwealth Professional Fellowships is 16th August 2023.

For further details and to apply, visit the Official Website.

Conclusion

The Commonwealth Professional Fellowships present an excellent opportunity for mid-career professionals from eligible countries to broaden their horizons, acquire new skills, and create a lasting impact on their respective workplaces. By focusing on the thematic area of Clean Energy, Air, and Oceans, these fellowships align with the global efforts to address climate change and achieve sustainable development goals. If you meet the eligibility criteria, take advantage of this prestigious fellowship and embark on a transformative journey to advance your career and contribute to positive change in your community and beyond.