Commonwealth PhD Scholar, Charity from Nigeria, Completes Her Doctorate in Public Health & Health Promotion at Brunel University London

My name is Charity A. Aienobe-Asekharen, and I'm originally from Nigeria. I’ve spent over five years working as a researcher, health promoter, and project facilitator in both academic and third sector environments. My professional background has been focused on working with key communities for preventing non-communicable diseases.

I hold a Master of Public Health in Health Promotion & Education from the University of Ibadan. Recently, I successfully defended my thesis for a PhD in Public Health & Health Promotion Research at Brunel University of London. I chose to further my education to deepen my expertise in working with key groups with the aim of designing health promotion interventions using participatory methods.

Commonwealth PhD Scholarship Details

I was awarded the Commonwealth PhD Scholarship worth over £100,000 by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the United Kingdom in 2020. This fully funded, three-year scholarship covered tuition, living expenses and research-related expenditure. I did my doctoral research at Brunel University of London in Public Health & Health Promotion.

Educational Background

• Master of Public Health (Health Promotion & Education) – University of Ibadan (CGPA: 5.9/7.0)
• BSc in Anatomy & Cell Biology – Delta State University, Abraka (CGPA: 4.20/5.0)

My qualifications, especially my master of Public Health degree, equipped me with a strong foundation in research methodology, community engagement, and health behaviour theory, which are essential for designing and conducting participatory public health interventions. My educational experience, born out of a willingness and drive to learn and do more with what I had been taught, shaped my career trajectory in the field of tobacco control. I practiced what I had been taught and engaged with school communities to promote the health of young people by preventing smoking through health communication. In doing so, I liaised with school authorities, community groups, charity & health promotion groups, government parastatals, and funders. This enabled me to position myself as not just an academic but someone who understood the people and community I was planning to work with, and eventually earned me a national and international award.

How I Prepared to Apply to Brunel University of London

I began by mapping my academic interests (Public Health, Health Promotion, Tobacco Control, and Participatory Research) and researching universities with strengths in these areas. Once I had my list of potential schools, I took steps to learn more. Prior to doing my master's degree and applying to institutions or scholarship bodies, I worked as an education consultant. This role prepared me to seamlessly research schools, academic staff profiles, and their publication history to enable me to assess their fit. I also leveraged my networks, Twitter (X), and LinkedIn to enable me to get a good picture of the school’s culture and goals, and to connect with potential supervisors.

How I Prepared for Standardized Tests

As an educational consultant, I had access to materials to enable me to prepare for the IELTS exam, but I also took a paid class because I wanted tailored preparatory sessions. I also set aside my Saturdays to practice mock IELTS tests as I was working during weekdays.

How I Prepared to Apply for the Commonwealth Ph.D. Scholarship

My application strategy included:

• Reading to Understand: I read to understand what the Commonwealth Scholarship was looking for in their candidates
• Deep research alignment: I framed a PhD proposal to center on participatory design and youth engagement in tobacco smoking prevention
• Strong academic record: Emphasizing my MPH achievements, peer-reviewed publications, and awards (e.g. Nigeria Tobacco Control Champion Award 2017; WHO World No Tobacco Day Award 2018)
• Referee selection: Choosing strong academic referees from the University of Ibadan and tobacco control groups who could attest to my research potential and leadership.
• Personal statement: Articulating my career vision of working with key communities through co-designed public health interventions to facilitate the achievement of the SDGs
• Strong Support Group: I leveraged the support of personal, professional, and academic groups to enable me prepare my personal statement and research proposal

Your Experience at Brunel University

My experience at Brunel University has been phenomenal, and I think I owe it to the fact that I had an excellent supervisory team who were always supportive. At Brunel, I won the Three Minute Thesis competition twice (people’s choice in 2022, first prize in 2023), which speaks to the university’s supportive environment for student development. I’ve worked in mentorship roles, study group facilitation, student representation, and as a Student Quality Advisor, which broadened my research, academic, and leadership skills.

How Do You Rate Brunel University Academically and Why?

Brunel offers a highly collaborative, research-rich environment. The Department of Health Sciences encourages varied research methods like creative and participatory research methods, which are intrinsic to my approach. The supportive network of supervisors and peers has been instrumental in strengthening my research.

What Made Your Application Stand Out?

• A focused, innovative PhD proposal using participatory design with youth in an LMIC context.
• Strong academic track record: MPH, peer-reviewed publications, and conference participation.
• Recognized leadership: Awards within Nigeria and in Africa, evidencing my input as a change agent
• Clear career trajectory and impact-driven research agenda focused on tobacco control and the health and well-being of young people

What Would You Do Differently Next Time?

I would also join academic writing groups sooner to strengthen grantsmanship and research communication skills. These are skills that are needed not just for a scholarship application, but for anyone who wants to build a career in research

Advice for Future Applicants

• Be bold: Explain your unique background, it must not be an academic one, especially if your focus is public health promotion
• Start early: map out scholarship timelines and required documents.
• Be strategic: align your research interests with your preferred institutions and scholarship goals.
• Leverage networks: engage mentors and critical friends. Don’t be shy to ask for help! No one knows it all.
• Showcase your impact potential: highlight how your work benefits communities and contributes to global health priorities.
• Prepare well for tests (IELTS, etc.) and sharpen your personal statements through feedback and editing.
• Pray: Pray like you have not prepared and prepare like you have not prayed.