- 2012-2013 competition is now closed
Background
Since
the Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship Program’s inception in 1959, the
Government of Canada has provided scholarships of excellence to all
member countries of the Commonwealth. The goal of the CCSP is to promote
Canadian values and identity around the world and to help meet the
human capital needs of developing countries.
The Government of Canada has also played a leadership role in the establishment of the international Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan and is the largest contributor to this program following the United Kingdom.
Description
The
CCSP provides short-term exchange opportunities for candidates from
Commonwealth countries for study or research in Canada at the master’s
or doctoral level. The program is open to all disciplines including
interdisciplinary programs. Studies or research in science and
technology will be prioritized.
Scholarship Value and Duration
The scholarship value varies depending on the duration and level of study. The scholarship value is:
- $7,500 CAN for graduate students for a period of four months of study or research; or
- $10,000 CAN for graduate students for a period of five or six months of study or research.
Eligibility
Candidates must be citizens of one of the following eligible countries:
- Asia-Pacific: Bangladesh,
India, Kiribati, Malaysia, Maldives, Nauru, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea,
Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu;
or
- Africa: Botswana, Cameroon, Gambia, Ghana,
Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda,
Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda,
Zambia.
Candidates:
- who have obtained Canadian citizenship or who have applied for permanent residency in Canada are not eligible;
- already participating in an exchange program in Canada are not eligible;
- already enrolled in a degree or diploma program at a Canadian university or college are not eligible;
- must
be enrolled full-time at a post-secondary institution in an eligible
country and paying tuition fees at their home institution for the full
duration of the exchange; and
- must be proficient in either English or French.
Desired Qualifications
Priority will be given to candidates:
- undertaking study or research in science and technology; and
- who have not previously studied in Canada under a Canadian government scholarship.
Terms and Conditions
Canadian
postsecondary institutions must submit an application on behalf of each
candidate. An application submitted which does not meet the following
terms and conditions may not be considered for a scholarship.
- The Canadian postsecondary institution must be accredited by its provincial or territorial government.
- An
inter-institutional agreement is desirable but not mandatory. If there
is no existing exchange agreement, graduate applications which involve a
new or established collaboration between professors from a Canadian and
a student’s home institution university will be accepted.
- Tuition
or academic fees will be waived at the Canadian institution for
scholarship recipients, as recipients are registered full-time and
paying tuition to their home institution.
- A Canadian university
may submit more than one application and may be asked to rank their
applications based on their strategic priorities at the time of the
selection process.
- Applications submitted directly by a candidate or their home institution will not be accepted.
- A scholarship recipient may not normally hold any other major scholarship granted by the Government of Canada.
- Scholarship
recipients taking courses must be in Canada by September for the fall
semester or by January for the winter semester.
- Graduate students conducting research must arrive in Canada between August 2012 and March 15, 2013. Failure to arrive during this time will result in the cancellation of the scholarship.
- Scholarships are not renewable.
- Scholarships are not taxable for either the institution or the scholarship recipient.
- Financial reporting is not required from the institution or the scholarship recipient.
Application Process
Instructions
Applicants are encouraged to read the instructions below carefully before beginning the online application.
Canadian institutions:
- must
complete the online application form on behalf of each candidate.
Canadian faculty who are submitting applications must notify the
international office of their respective institution as institutions may
be requested to rank their applications;
- must verify the data prior to submission and check the declaration and permission boxes;
- must
enter the information directly into the field or copy and paste it from
another source. Applicants should refrain from using the tab keys when
entering the information directly. Certain web-based special characters
such as HTML tags may cause unpredictable results in the text, or
prevent successful submission of an application. The information will
appear as plain text;
- must enter data in the fields provided,
following instructions for each item (the official name of the student’s
home institution must be provided in their national language);
- can obtain a hard copy for record keeping by printing the form using the print function in the browser, prior to submitting; and
- must click SUBMIT for the online application. A confirmation page and reference number will appear after submission.
Supporting Documents
The
following documents must be uploaded and attached to the online
application form in one of the following formats: .pdf, .jpg, .doc,
.docx, .txt or .gif.
- Letter of intent: a
short letter in English or in French from the candidate describing the
nature of their research or studies to be undertaken and explaining the
rationale for study in Canada and for the choice of institution, program
and supervisor. The candidate must also indicate how the proposed
program of study or research will relate to their future career (maximum
one page).
- Privacy Notice Statement: a copy of the document signed by the candidate (view/download PDF* - 70 Kb).
- Proof of citizenship: a
copy of the candidate’s passport or national identity document with
valid dates; a baptism certificate is not accepted as proof of
citizenship.
- Proof of full-time enrolment: a
short letter in English or French from the home institution, on official
letterhead, dated within the last six months. This letter must confirm
that the candidate is currently enrolled in a full-time program and will
continue to be enrolled upon their return. Copies of transcripts, a
student card or letter of admission are not acceptable (maximum one
page).
- Letter of support from the home institution: a
short letter in English or in French from the candidate’s professor or
international director at the home institution explaining the nature of
study and how the candidate and the home institution will benefit from
this scholarship program (maximum one page).
- Memorandum of Understanding or agreement between the Canadian and the student’s home institution: a signed copy of this document should be included with the application if the exchange is made under a signed agreement.
- Letter of invitation: a short letter from the Canadian supervisor indicating their willingness to support and mentor the candidate (maximum one page).
Deadline
The 2012-2013 competition is now closed.
It
is the responsibility of the Canadian institution to ensure that
supporting documents are received by the deadline. Supporting documents,
other than those requested, will not be accepted.
Canadian
institutions are advised to establish an earlier deadline with the
student’s home institution to ensure timely receipt of supporting
documents.
Review Procedures and Conditions
Selection Process
All
online applications received by the deadline that meet the eligibility
requirements will be reviewed and evaluated for a scholarship. Should
there be a larger number of applications than funding available, the
Canadian institution may be asked to rank their eligible applications
based on their institutional strategic priorities.
Applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- academic merit of the proposed research or study that the candidate will undertake in Canada;
- benefit to the home institution, supervisor and peers;
- benefit to the Canadian institution, supervisor and peers; and
- strength of the linkages to be created through the proposed exchange.
Notification
Canadian
institutions will be notified by the end of June 2012 by the
scholarship administrator regarding the selection results. Successful
applicants will receive a grant agreement with further details and
conditions from the scholarship administrator.
Payment Procedure
The
scholarship will be disbursed by cheque in one instalment to the
Canadian institution following receipt of the following supporting
documents:
- signed grant agreement by the Canadian institution;
- proof of entry into Canada (copy of the passport page with an entry stamp, study permit or work permit); and
- proof of international or national medical coverage for the entire duration of the recipient’s stay in Canada.
A
cheque for the amount specified in the grant agreement will be sent to
the contact person responsible for the scholarship program as specified
on the application form at the Canadian institution. The Canadian
institution must ensure that the scholarship amount covers:
- visa and/or study/work permit expenses;
- funding for the most economical round trip economy class ticket;
- funding for health insurance;
- monthly living allowance; and
- required books, supplies, and equipment, not including computers.
The
Canadian institution may withhold $300 CAN to cover administration fees
once the scholarship recipient arrives in Canada. Any remaining amount
will be disbursed to the scholarship recipient to cover additional
costs. All funds, including the administrative fee, must be returned to
the scholarship program administrator if the scholarship recipient does
not take up the scholarship.
Conditions
The scholarship administrator is not able to provide feedback for unsuccessful candidates.
These scholarships are subject to the availability of funding from the Government of Canada.
