Jamia PhD Student Awarded Prestigious Commonwealth Split-site Scholarship for UK Research 2025–26

Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) doctoral researcher Nitesh Dogne has been awarded the highly competitive Commonwealth Split-site Scholarship for the academic year 2025–26. The scholarship will allow Dogne to pursue part of his PhD research at the University of Bath in the United Kingdom, marking a significant milestone in his academic career and highlighting the international recognition of his research.

Jamia PhD student Nitesh Dogne awarded Commonwealth Split-site Scholarship 2025–26 for UK research on Bhil tribe’s Indigenous circularity practices.

Dogne is pursuing his doctoral studies under the Departments of Planning and Architecture at JMI, focusing on the Indigenous Knowledge Systems of Tribal Circularity, particularly studying the Bhil tribe. His work explores how the tribe manages essential resources such as water, energy, biomass, and waste through sustainable, community-driven practices. Faculty at JMI note that these traditional systems could provide valuable insights for India’s broader goals in clean water management, renewable energy, and climate resilience.

The research also documents fading practices as urbanisation expands, contributing to the preservation of indigenous knowledge and offering lessons for sustainable development in modern contexts. Dogne’s proposal attracted attention from several top UK institutions, including University College London, the University of Edinburgh, the University of Glasgow, and Newcastle University, before ultimately securing the scholarship.

About the Commonwealth Split-site Scholarship

The Commonwealth Split-site Scholarship, administered by the UK’s Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC), is designed to support PhD scholars enrolled in universities across Commonwealth countries to undertake a portion of their research in the UK. The programme is fully funded and highly selective, focusing on research that has strong developmental relevance and contributes to public good outcomes. In 2024, only 57 scholars from 40 countries were awarded the scholarship across all disciplines.

Eligibility and Selection Criteria

Applicants for the Split-site Scholarship must already be registered as PhD students in their home country and have commenced research work. Selection is based on:

• Academic excellence and research potential

• The relevance of the research to development in the scholar’s home country

• Strengthening collaboration between the UK host and home universities

  
  

Scholarship Benefits

The Commonwealth Split-site Scholarship provides comprehensive financial support, including:

• Full tuition fees at the UK host university

• Monthly living allowance

• Return airfare between the scholar’s home country and the UK

• Additional research or travel-related funding as approved by the CSC

• Support for study-related needs, including accessibility requirements

These benefits enable scholars to fully focus on research during their placement in the UK without financial concerns.

Programme Goals and Impact

Beyond funding, the scholarship aims to build international research partnerships and capacity within home institutions. Scholars are expected to apply their enhanced expertise to teaching, research, and development-focused projects upon returning to their home country, thereby amplifying the societal impact of their work.

Dogne’s selection underscores the growing prominence of Indian researchers on global academic platforms and demonstrates the increasing importance of indigenous knowledge in solving contemporary sustainability and development challenges.