Commonwealth Professional Fellowships: An Overview

Commonwealth Professional Fellowships: An Overview

Commonwealth Professional Fellowships offer mid-career professionals from low and middle-income countries the chance to spend time at a UK host organisation, enhancing their skills and knowledge through a structured programme of professional development.

Each fellowship provides £11,809 to cover living expenses, travel, conferences, and clothing for the duration of the programme.

This post details the Commonwealth Professional Fellowship program, including a step-by-step guide on how to apply.

Commonwealth Professional Fellowship Summary

Host Country: United Kingdom
Study Abroad: Study in the UK
Category: Fellowships
Eligible Countries: Developing Countries
Reward: Full Sponsorship | £11,809 Stipends | Travel Costs
No IELTS Required
Deadline: Not Specified

Commonwealth Professional Fellowship 2025 Details

The Commonwealth Professional Fellowship aims to enhance professionals’ knowledge and skills in their sectors, creating a catalytic impact on their workplaces. The CSC seeks individuals with the potential to drive change. Fellowships are offered under six development themes:

Science and technology for development
Strengthening health systems and capacity
Promoting innovation and entrepreneurship
Strengthening global peace, security, and governance
Strengthening resilience and response to crises
Access, inclusion, and opportunity

Commonwealth Professional Fellowships: An Overview

Eligibility Requirements for Commonwealth Professional Fellowship 2025

To be eligible for the Commonwealth Professional Fellowship 2025, applicants must:

Be a citizen of or have refugee status from an eligible Commonwealth country, or be a British Protected Person.
Be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country.
Have at least five years’ full-time or equivalent part-time relevant work experience in a profession related to the fellowship programme by the start date of the fellowship. Voluntary work is not counted.
Be employed at the time of application and return to the same organisation after the fellowship.
Provide at least two references, one from their current employer. Applications without references by the closing date will be ineligible.
Not have undertaken a Commonwealth Professional Fellowship in the last five years.
Not seek to undertake an academic research or study programme. Academics can apply but only for academic management programmes, not research.
Be available for the fellowship from the prescribed start date.

Benefits of Commonwealth Professional Fellowship 2025

Fellowships will last between six weeks and three months starting from February 2025. Each fellowship includes:

Approved return airfare from the Fellow’s home country to the UK.
Reimbursement of the standard visa application fee.
Monthly stipend of £2,057, or £2,553 for those in the London metropolitan area (rates as of 2023/24).
Arrival allowance up to £1,156.60, including an element for warm clothing.
Up to £3,000 per Fellow for short courses/conferences and travel to other UK organisations as part of the programme.

Required Documents for Commonwealth Professional Fellowship 2025

Applicants must submit the following documents:

A scan of their passport or national identity card.
A personal statement (up to 500 words) on how their background has motivated them to make an impact in their home country.
A summary (up to 500 words) of their voluntary activities and leadership experiences.

How to Apply for Commonwealth Professional Fellowship 2025 (Step by Step)

To apply for the Commonwealth Professional Fellowship 2025, follow these steps:

Click the button below to visit the fellowship webpage.
Apply for the Commonwealth Professional Fellowship using the online form.

In the application form, candidates must:

List all undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications (if applicable).
List up to 10 publications and prizes (if applicable).
Provide details of employment history and explain the relevance to the programme.
Provide a statement (up to 300 words) on the relevance of previous work experience to the proposed fellowship.
List names and positions of up to three referees qualified to comment on the candidate’s capacity to benefit from the fellowship and deliver development impact. One referee must be the current employer.