UK COMMONWEALTH SCHOLARSHIPS 2016
General Information
IMPORTANT DEADLINES:
Electronic application date at SU:
Thursday, 22 October 2015
Closing date for submission of hard copy at the Postgraduate & International Student Funding Office: Friday, 23
October 2015
Closing date for online REFEREE REPORTS: before 18 November 2015
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The University has been invited to nominate a maximum of TEN (10) students who are currently registered at Stellenbosch
University and who are South African citizens. These may be in either of the following categories:
• One year taught masters courses or equivalent degrees (excluding MBA)
• Doctoral degrees, up to three years of duration (UK institution)
The Commission will not offer awards to scholars already close to completing a doctorate in their own country, though awards
may be tenable to complete doctoral studies already underway in the UK.
Eligibility
 The commission will look for evidence of the high academic quality expected of Commonwealth scholars; intellectual
and academic excellence will be paramount in all selections. Candidates studying a first degree are expected to hold
at least an upper second class honours (i.e. 70%+) by October 2016.
 Candidates should be able to take up the award in October 2016 as deferments are granted in the most exceptional
circumstances, and in any event will not be considered for start dates beyond January 2017.
 Please note that if candidates for Master’s awards have undertaken any of their university education outside their
home country, they will be asked to state how it was funded and how the education differed from that in their home
country.
 All PhD candidates must provide a supporting statement from a named supervisor from at least one of the UK
universities to which they are applying.
Applications which do not meet the academic criteria and applications received after the closing date will not be considered
at all.
Awards are tenable at any UK institution of higher education with whom the Commission has a part-funding agreement. A list of
these institutions can be found at http://bit.ly/cscuk-uk-universities. Candidates are expected to state at least one and up to
three preferred institutions on the application form. The final decision on a host institution will be made by the
Commission. Candidates are strongly advised to submit independent applications for admission directly to their
chosen institutions in the UK, prior to, or at the time of, their nomination, without waiting for the result of the
scholarship selection procedures.
Selection criteria
Final selection of candidates and host institutions will be made by the UK Commission based on the nominations received from
the South African Agency. The main selection criteria are the academic merit of the candidate, the quality of the study plan
and the likely impact of the scholarship on national development.
Please note that all applications must be submitted complete and in the requested manner. Applications that are submitted in
an incomplete state will be rendered ineligible and will not be considered by the committee.
Application Process
Please note that the application should be completed on-line using the “Electronic Application System”. However, once
applicants have completed the form as instructed, they should print one (1) copy along with the supporting documents -reference letters , certified academic transcripts , passport-size photograph and certified ID
 All applicants for a Commonwealth Scholarship should use the Electronic Application System (EAS) – see
www.dfid.gov.uk/cscuk and click on apply. CHOOSE THE “UNIVERSITY OF STELLENBOSCH” option,

NOTE: Please click on the submit button after completing the online application
otherwise the application will be invalid.
The following information should be noted by ALL applicants:
 The EAS asks each applicant to upload a scanned passport-size photograph, scanned transcripts, a scanned ID
certificate and a scan of any letters received from a UK institution listed in your application form.
 References: The EAS will send an e-mail to each referee with a link to the applicants application form to write a
reference. The e-mail is only sent when the application is submitted and therefore candidates are encouraged to do
this well in advance in order for the referees to have time to submit their references before the closing date of
18 November 2015.
NOTE: Irrespective of the above (email alert to referees), the onus is on the applicant to ensure that references are
available and submitted on time. Applications received without the requested references will not be considered.
A complete application package should consist of the following:
 Completed EAS Application Deadline: Thursday, 22 October 2015
 One (1) hard copy of electronic application with all supporting documents
(A certified copy of the candidate’s Identity Document, certified copy of academic transcripts, Passport-size
Photograph, copies of letters from UK institutions listed in application form) submitted at the Postgraduate &
International Student Funding Office, Wilcocks Building, Room 3015, Third floor.
 Reports from referees – References (not testimonials) specifically related to the candidate’s suitability for the planned
studies. It is the responsibility of the candidates to approach referees and to ensure that these references are
submitted in the correct format and on time. The Postgraduate & International Student Funding Office will not
follow-up on any outstanding referee reports.
Please do not submit applications in binders of any kind and not doublesided printed pages
YOU MAY FIND SOME USEFUL FEEDBACK FROM PREVIOUS SELECTIONS AT http://cscuk.dfid.gov.uk/apply/feedback
Closing date for submission of hard copy at the Postgraduate & International Student Funding Office:
FRIDAY, 23rd OCTOBER 2015
CONTACT: Chantal Swartz, cswartz@sun.ac.za, tel. 021-808 2957
Postgraduate & International Student Funding, Wilcocks Building, 3rd Floor, Room 3015