The University of Pretoria Commonwealth Scholarship is a fully funded opportunity for students from Commonwealth countries, excluding South Africa, to pursue doctoral studies. This scholarship covers various expenses, including tuition fees, accommodation, living costs, medical aid, books, return flight tickets, and the study visa cost, for a duration of three years. Applicants need to start their studies in 2025 and secure a supervisor at UP to qualify.
About University of Pretoria (UP) Commonwealth Scholarship 2025
- Host Country: South Africa
- Name of Institute: University of Pretoria
- Sponsored by: UP Internal Bursary
- Eligible Countries: Commonwealth Countries
Eligibility Criteria for the University of Pretoria Scholarship
- Must be a resident of a Commonwealth country, excluding South Africa.
- Plan to begin studies at the University of Pretoria in 2025.
- Submit a separate application for admission to a UP doctoral program for the 2025 academic year.
- Secure a potential supervisor at UP.
- Have academic records evaluated by the South African Qualification Authority (SAQA).
- Completed postgraduate or Master’s degree within the past two years.
- Be under the age of 40 at the time of application.
- PhD and Master’s students currently registered at or who previously studied at the University of Pretoria are not eligible.
Required Documents for UP Commonwealth Scholarship
- A motivation letter from the supervisor at UP is required.
- Provide a one-page outline of the intended research work.
- Submit a CV (less than 3 pages).
- Include a certificate of study leave from your current employer.
- Provide a copy of your passport.
- Submit academic transcripts of all educational degrees.
- Provide two reference letters from two different supervisors who know you well.
Application Procedure:
- Download and complete the official UP Commonwealth Scholarship application form.
- Submit a separate application for admission to a doctoral program at the University of Pretoria for the 2025 academic year.
- Gather and prepare the required documents listed above, combining them into a single PDF file.
- Email your complete application package (scholarship application form and combined PDF of documents) to pgbursary@up.ac.za with the subject line “UP Commonwealth 2025”.
University of Pretoria Courses Offered in Scholarship
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Education
- Faculty of Humanities
- Faculty of Health Science
- Faculty of Theology and Religion
- Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and IT
- Faculty of Economic and Management Science
- Faculty of Veterinary Science
- Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences
Financial Coverage in University of Pretoria Scholarship
The University of Pretoria Commonwealth Scholarship 2025 covers various expenses for doctoral students, including return flight tickets, accommodation and living costs, tuition fees, medical aid, books and stationery, a shuttle service upon arrival, the application fee, and the study visa cost.
Scholarship Duration
The University of Pretoria Commonwealth Doctoral Scholarship lasts for three years, offering support for the entire duration of the doctoral program. This allows students to concentrate on their studies without worrying about money. Covering various costs for three years ensures a smooth and continuous academic experience.
List of Commonwealth Countries
Here is a list of Commonwealth countries:
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Australia
- Bahamas
- Bangladesh
- Barbados
- Belize
- Botswana
- Brunei Darussalam
- Cameroon
- Canada
- Cyprus
- Dominica
- Eswatini
- Fiji
- Ghana
- Grenada
- Guyana
- India
- Jamaica
- Kenya
- Kiribati
- Lesotho
- Malawi
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Malta
- Mauritius
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Nauru
- New Zealand
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Papua New Guinea
- Rwanda
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Samoa
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- Singapore
- Solomon Islands
- South Africa
- Sri Lanka
- Tanzania
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tuvalu
- Uganda
- United Kingdom
- Vanuatu
- Zambia
These countries are members of the Commonwealth of Nations, a political association of countries, most of which were former territories of the British Empire.