Commonwealth Professional Fellowships

The Commonwealth Professional Fellowships are a competitively selected professional development programme for mid-career professionals from eligible Commonwealth countries to undertake a six-week to three-month placement at a UK host organisation. The programme is offered under thematic areas including science and technology for development, improving population health, innovation and entrepreneurship, peace, security and governance, resilience and crisis response, and access, inclusion and opportunity. The scheme supports UK-based placements only, does not support formal academic research or full-time study, and includes both a Professional strand (for mid-career professionals) and an Academic strand (for university academic staff holding a PhD).

Six-week to three-month UK placement; travel, visa and living cost coverage; access to suitable accommodation arranged by host; professional development, networking and collaboration opportunities.

Open to mid-career professionals from eligible Commonwealth countries; Professional Fellowships require at least five years of relevant experience. Academic Fellowships are for academic staff employed at a university in an eligible Commonwealth country and holding a PhD. Candidates undertaking full-time study at the time of application are ineligible.

Host organisations submit applications to the CSC via the online portal; successful host programmes are published and prospective fellows apply to specific programmes via the CSC online application form; hosts nominate shortlisted applicants and the CSC makes final selections.