A unique opportunity for academic staff and professionals from Commonwealth Small Island Developing States to undertake a PhD alongside work.
Upskilling future generations of researchers and key workers within private and public sectors is vital to the economies and future well-being, resilience, and prosperity of Small Islands Developing States (SIDS). It is also crucial for building long-term sustainable capacity in country and meeting local needs and priorities.
The King's Commonwealth Fellowship Programme PhD Fellowships, inspired by His Majesty King Charles III, offer a unique opportunity for fellows from Small Island Developing States to undertake a PhD in their home country alongside work.
In this KCFP Pathway, Fellows will enrol in a PhD programme in their home country in the SIDS alongside working, and receive joint supervision from a dedicated partner university elsewhere across the Commonwealth (mainly Australia, Canada, New Zealand, or United Kingdom), where they will attend periods of study and/or research methods training.
The Fellowships are open to academic staff and professionals with Master’s level or equivalent experience, who are committed to advancing engineering, education, health or climate resilience in their communities.
The King’s Commonwealth Fellowship will support PhD studies in the following subject areas:- Climate change/environment
- Education
- Engineering and
- Health
What does the fellowship include?
- The fellowship will support each successful recipient with the following: GBP 30,000 over 6 years (GBP 5,000 per year) to support research and research visits to a dedicated partner university (in Australia, Canada, New Zealand or United Kingdom). Waiver of international tuition fees if they would be charged for the visiting period(s).
- Where available and applicable, access to resources such as the library of the partner university or databases on a case-by-case basis.
- GBP 12,000 research support grant (GBP 2,000 per year).
- 20% salary contribution to the employer of the PhD candidate over the 6 years.
- Dedicated joint PhD supervisors from the partner university and SIDS home university for the whole duration of the 6-year long Fellowship.
- Access as a member of the ‘King’s Fellows cohort’ to training to support continued professional development and learn relevant skills, such as communication, engaging with policy makers, entrepreneurship, public speaking and applying for research funding.
Who can apply?
All of the below items must apply to be eligible:
- Applicants with a Master's degree or equivalent experience.
- Due to commence or already enrolled in a PhD research degree programme at a ACU SIDS member university in the 2025/26 academic year with an aim to complete the PhD degree (please see list of universities below).
- PhD subject area falls within one of the 4 KCFP research areas (Climate change/environment, Education, Engineering and Health).
- Applicants with citizenship or refugee status in a Commonwealth SIDS. 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 andTrinidad and Tobago
Pacific
Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea PNG, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu
Those belonging to indigenous communities are especially encouraged to apply. However, this is not an eligibility criteria, meaning, those who do not belong to indigenous communities will also be eligible.
Applications for a PhD Fellowship can be completed and submitted online using the link below.
We strongly advise applicants to read all of the application guidance and FAQs pages carefully before starting their application.
Application deadline: 13:00 (UTC) on 25 April 2025
With the generous support of KCFP Founding Member, the Khalili Foundation.
Over the past three decades, the Khalili Foundation has enabled peacebuilding through Art, Culture and Education and has become a global leader in promoting interfaith and intercultural relations. The Foundation has supported and driven a number of internationally recognised projects that use the power of art, culture and education to bring people together and to build harmonious societies.
