The King's Commonwealth Fellowship Programme (KCFP) is run by the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU). This FAQs page is for applicants applying for a KCFP PhD Fellowship using the ACU application system (myACU).
Any professional and/or academic employed in a SIDS Commonwealth country who is interested in studying towards a PhD in:
- climate change/environment
- health
- engineering
- education
Yes, you have to have citizenship or refugee status in a SIDS Commonwealth country. The following countries are eligible:
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 Grenadines, The Cayman Islands, Trinidad and Tobago
Pacific
Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea PNG, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu
You will need to ensure your contract covers the full time that your PhD will run for.
No, there is no upper-age limit for KCFP.
You either have to be accepted for a PhD programme that starts no later than February 2026 OR be in the 1st or 2nd year of your PhD.
You must have attained a Master’s degree, or equivalent experience. In the application form, you will be asked to upload your undergraduate certificate and transcript, and your postgraduate certificate and transcript. If you did not complete a postgraduate degree, please ensure you indicate in your CV what equivalent experience you have to replace the postgraduate degree.
The KCFP provides opportunities for academics and professionals to undertake a PhD programme in:
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climate change/environment
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education
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engineering
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health
No, this is not an eligibility criterion, meaning, those who are not from indigenous communities will also be eligible.
Members of the Association of Commonwealth universities (ACU) based in Commonwealth Small Island Developing States (SIDS) can put forward and enrol KCFP PhD candidates and will be termed SIDS home university. In most cases the SIDS home university will confer the PhD degree. A list of eligible SIDS home universities is on the ACU website and in the Application Guidance . If your university is based in a Commonwealth SIDS country, but is not an ACU member, they are not eligible to enrol a KCFP fellow. However, ACU is welcoming new members to enable universities to take part in the programme. Please contact us at (info-kcfp@acu.ac.uk) if you would like to discuss ACU membership.
SIDS home universities can enrol more than one KCFP Fellow provided a match with a partner university can be made and the SIDS home university is able to cover tuition fees and field a PhD supervisor.
Each partner university has committed to support one KCFP PhD candidate as part of the programme. There is a total of 24 partner universities.
You will be receiving your PhD degree from the SIDS Home University, where you will be based. You will have the opportunity to spend up to 6 months as a visiting researcher at the selected partner university. In some exceptional circumstances, the partner university might award a degree, but this will not be the case for most partners.
The KCFP fellowship scheme will provide buy-out costs to your employer to cover replacement of your professional activities. This will be provided at 20% of your salary over the whole duration of your studies (e.g. 6 years).
You will also receive GBP 30,000 over 6 years (equivalent to GBP 5,000 per year) to spend up to 6 months in the selected Partner University. This could be made up of more than one visit. This amount will cover flights, accommodation, subsistence, visas and any other relevant expenses while in the Partner University.
You will also receive GPB 12,000 to cover research expenses over the 6 years (equivalent to GBP 2,000 per year). This can cover a variety of research related costs such as:
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Consumables,
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Technical and computing costs and services (subscription to databases, software licences, data preservation costs, publication costs),
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Travel and subsistence for work undertaken directly related to data collection and analysis, such as field work including compensation for research participants
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Cost for small equipment
No, the ACU will only provide 20% employer buy out costs. This amount can also be used to cover PhD tuition fees where necessary. In some circumstances, the SIDS home university might waive tuition fees.
No, the fellowship will not include a stipend. It is expected that all applicants will either be employed or self-employed while pursuing the part-time PhD and will therefore be able to cover living expenses from their salaries/earnings.
You can study at a university based in Commonwealth SIDS countries that are ACU member universities. The relevant SIDS home universities are listed on the website and in the Application Guidance. If successful, you will be matched to a Partner University. The relevant Partner Universities are listed on the KCFP homepage, and in the drop-down menu in the application system. You will be able to choose Partner Universities depending on the research theme of your PhD project.
Yes, you can. However, the fellowship will not include a living stipend. Therefore, it is advised that you apply to study in a SIDS country where you are currently employed.
The full list of partner universities contributing to the KCFP programme are listed on the KCFP homepage, and in the drop-down menu in the application, depending on what subject area you choose. Supervisors will be based at partner universities and either be from Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the United Kingdom.
The applications will close at 13:00 (UTC) on 25th April 2025. We will not be accepting any applications in 2025 after this closing date.
This will be determined at a later date.
Yes, you can.
If the direct link does not take you to the application form, please use https://crm.acu.ac.uk/user/login to access the myACU portal. Once you log in you will be able to access the application form through the link in the 'KCFP applications open' announcement.
You will need to upload your supporting documents before submitting your application.
No. It is not possible to make any amendments, such as uploading any further documentation, once your application has been submitted. Therefore, it is extremely important that you check your application before it is submitted.
No. Applications must be submitted online through Online Application System. This system will be used throughout the selection process.
You will need click on the “Forgot password?” link. This will send an email to reset your password, to the email address that you used for your application. Please check your junk/spam mail to ensure that the email has not been sent there.
Yes, you can submit your application without a valid passport. Instead, you can provide your National ID or current invalid passport within the application form. However, if you are selected for an award you will need to ensure that a copy of your passport is valid for enabling you to travel to your HIC host university.
Your application must be written in English throughout, and any supporting documentation that you submit (i.e. academic transcript, degree certificate, reference letters) must also be in English.
Whoever provides your reference should address their letter as 'Dear Sir or Madam' and send it to the following address:
Kings Commonwealth Fellowship Programme
The Association of Commonwealth Universities
Woburn House, 20-24 Tavistock Square
London
WC1H 9HF
United Kingdom
Please do not send hard copies to the above address. Instead, upload a digital copy of your reference letters to the application form when prompted. Only PDF, JPG, and PNG file types are accepted.
No, you do not need to submit a separate application to the chosen partner university. You will be able to identify in the application form up to 3 partner universities you would like to be placed in. During the selection process you will be matched with one partner university including a PhD supervisor should your application be successful.
You will be matched to a partner university and a PhD supervisor based at this university through the KCFP selection process.
You should receive an outcome by the end of July 2025.
Due to the expected large number of applications, we are unfortunately unable to provide detailed feedback.
No. Extensions will not be granted under any circumstances.