Sponsor

UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) 

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Commonwealth Rutherford Fellowships [1]

Selection Criteria [2] for the Commonwealth Rutherford Fellowships 2017-2018

Description

Commonwealth Rutherford Fellowships are for highly skilled researchers from other Commonwealth countries to spend one or two years at an eligible UK university or higher education institution conducting postdoctoral research.

These fellowships are funded by the UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) [3] through the Rutherford Fund, with the aim of attracting global talent and supporting the UK’s research base. Up to 50 fellowships are available.

Purpose: To support world-class research and innovation, and to contribute to the UK’s research base by attracting high-calibre international candidates and encouraging links and collaboration

Intended beneficiaries: Highly skilled and highly motivated PhD graduates whose proposed research topic is innovative, timely, and likely to lead to wider impact beyond the academic community and build research collaboration between the UK and other Commonwealth countries

Eligibility

To apply for these fellowships, you must:

• Be a citizen of or have been granted refugee status by a Commonwealth country other than the United Kingdom, or be a British Protected Person
• Be permanently resident in a Commonwealth country other than the UK, and not based in the UK at the time of application
• Be available to start your fellowship in the UK before 31 March 2018
• Have been awarded your PhD no more than ten years prior to 1 November 2017
• Not have previously held a Commonwealth Scholarship or Fellowship awarded by the CSC

Funding Availability

You may apply for support for postdoctoral research for one or two years.

Maximum Project Value

Each fellowship provides:

• Approved airfare from your home country to the UK and return at the end of your award (the cost of journeys made before your award is finally confirmed will not usually be reimbursed)
• Research support grant of £2,500 per annum
• Stipend (living allowance) at the rate of £1,627 per month, or £2,019 per month for those at universities in the London metropolitan area (rates quoted at 2017-2018 levels)
• Study travel grant of £1,000 per award towards the costs of approved travel within the UK or overseas 

Indirect Costs

Not applicable.

Special Notes

In your application, you are expected to identify one institution that you think is the most appropriate to host your fellowship, and to explain your reasons. You must also provide evidence of agreement to host your fellowship from an academic at your chosen institution.

How to Apply

For information on how to apply please visit the Commonwealth Scholarships website [1].