Handbook

End of your scholarship

Completion of tenure

Your Commonwealth Scholarship aims to equip you with the knowledge and skills to contribute to the development of your home country. Commonwealth Scholarships are awarded for the completion of one course of study only. When you accept your scholarship, you commit to return to your home country after the end of your scholarship.

Master’s Scholars

You must leave the UK before the end of your visa (but not within the week before your visa expires). The CSC cannot pay stipend, fees or any other costs for any time beyond the agreed tenure period, and if a scholar chooses to remain in the UK beyond their tenure end date it is at their own expense. Homeward flights will only be booked once, and you will need to meet the cost of any changes you want to make to a booked fight, including any need to pay for a new flight and you will need to arrange this directly through the CSC’s Travel Agency.

You must book your flight at least eight weeks before the end of your tenure. If you fail to do so, your airfare and excess baggage entitlements may be withdrawn. You cannot remain in the UK to attend graduation ceremonies that take place after this point and the CSC does not support Scholars remaining in the UK under the Graduate Immigration Route or any other type of work or study visa with the exception of Master’s Scholars who have an offer to take up a fully funded PhD in the UK, as detailed below.

PhD Scholars and Split-site Scholars

PhD Scholars must return home within one month of the end of your programme, or any agreed deferment period.

Split-Site Scholars must return home within one month of the end of your Programme in order to continue work on your PhD Programme in your home institution as your selection for this Scholarship has been based on your study plan for this PhD.

You must inform your Programme Officer of your proposed departure date at least eight weeks in advance or when the CSC request for this information, so that a suitable flight can be arranged, and your allowances continue to be paid correctly. Your stipend and any allowances will stop on the last day of your scholarship tenure, or on the day that you leave the UK, whichever is earlier.

Your final quarter’s stipend will be held and will not be released until you confirm your homeward flight booking.

PhD Scholars: If you are a PhD Scholar and you need to remain in the UK longer than the end of your Scholarship tenure, then you can request a deferment of your homeward airfare.

Master’s Scholars: If you are a Master’s Scholar and have received an offer to undertake a PhD at a UK institution with full funding to cover tuition fees and maintenance, please see the CSC Policy on Requests to Enter or Remain in the UK for Further Study

Travel from the UK

Travel arrangements