Application is now open for the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission. Interested candidates are encouraged to send their applications in before the deadline date.
About Commonwealth Scholarships
The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) oversees the main UK government scholarship program, which focuses on objectives for global development. The Department for International Development (DFID) sponsors the CSC, an executive non-departmental public entity. The CSC is a striking illustration of the UK’s ongoing dedication to the Commonwealth and operates under the parameters of the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP).
The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission offers three Master’s degree programs, one of which was recommended by the agency. The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) oversees the scholarship program for the UK government, which focuses on objectives for global development. It operates within the confines of the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP) and offers an arresting example of the UK’s continuous commitment to the Commonwealth. By drawing individuals from all backgrounds with exceptional talent and discernible potential and helping them develop into leaders and innovators once they return to their home nations, the CSC’s work combines sustainable development with the UK national interest and opens up possibilities for global partnerships and collaboration.
Purpose: The Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships are intended for candidates who would not otherwise be able to afford to study in the UK and are funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). These brilliant and motivated students can acquire the information and skills necessary for sustainable development through these scholarships.
Intended Beneficiaries: Candidates from qualifying low- and middle-income Commonwealth nations may apply for a Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship to pursue full-time taught Master’s studies at a UK university.
These grants are provided by the CSC development themes.
Details about the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission:
Scholarship Sponsor: Commonwealth Scholarships, UK
Scholarship Value: Fully Funded
Number of awards: N/A
Study level: Masters
Host Institution(s): Commonwealth Scholarships, UK
Benefits:
Each award comes with:
- Flights from the Scholar’s home country to the UK and back after the award has been approved (the CSC will not cover the cost of flights for dependents or trips taken before the award is confirmed).
- Approved tuition costs: The CSC and the UK institution have an agreement that covers all costs; Students are not required to pay any portion of the tuition costs.
- Stipend (living allowance) of £1,347 per month or, for students attending institutions in the London metropolitan region, £1,652 per month (rates indicated at current levels).
- if appropriate, a clothing allowance for warmth.
- Grant for study-related travel to pay for domestic or international travel expenses.
- If a Scholar has children and is widowed, divorced, or a single parent, they are eligible for a child allowance of £576.61 for the first child and £143 for each additional kid under the age of 16 who lives with them at the same UK location.
The CSC will offer a complete assessment of a Scholar’s needs and eligibility for additional financial help if they disclose they have a handicap. The family allowances provided by the CSC are only meant to cover a portion of the expense of supporting a scholar’s family while they are studying in the UK. The actual expenses would most certainly be far greater, thus scholars must be prepared to supplement these allowances to help any family members they bring to the UK.
See the most recent edition of the Handbook for Commonwealth Scholars for further details. Please be aware that the guidelines in the Handbook might change.
Eligibility Criteria for Commonwealth Scholarship Commission
Applicants are advised to meet the following prerequisites to be qualified Commonwealth Scholarship Commission:
- Having citizenship in, or refugee status from, a Commonwealth country that qualifies, or being a British Protected Person.
- Get a permanent address in a Commonwealth country.
- Be eligible to begin academic courses in the UK by September 2024, the commencement of the UK academic year.
- Possess a first degree with at least an upper second-class (2:1) honors standard by September 2024, or a lower second-class degree plus an appropriate postgraduate degree (often a Master’s degree)*. A second Master’s degree would not typically be funded by the CSC. Candidates who are requesting a second Master’s degree must explain why they want to pursue this course of study.
- If not for this scholarship, be unable to pay to attend school in the UK.
- Have delivered the necessary supplementary materials in the proper format.
*The CSC acknowledges that along their educational journey, handicapped persons have frequently encountered and overcome obstacles that have prevented them from meeting the academic requirements for a Commonwealth Scholarship. Without a 2:1 undergraduate degree but with the ability to demonstrate their capacity to contribute to international development, disabled applicants may be considered for a contextualized nomination through the Commonwealth Disabled People’s Forum nominator. Please get in touch with CDPF directly using the information on its NGOs and charitable body nominators page if you want additional information.
The CSC looks for talented people with the capability to affect change. They support a non-discrimination and equal opportunity policy and welcome applications from a wide spectrum of candidates. See the CSC disability support statement for further details on the assistance offered to students who disclose having a disability. For CSC applications, there is no upper age limit. Applicants should check any age limits on leave entitlement with their employers.
Eligible Countries
Please note that only applicants from the qualified countries listed below can apply for Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships.
Maldives, Mauritius, Montserrat, Mozambique, Namibia, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and The, Grenadines, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, The Gambia, Togo, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia, Nauru, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Bangladesh, Belize, Botswana, Cameroon, Dominica, Eswatini, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Rwanda, and Saint Helena.
Selection Criteria
The following selection factors will be considered when reviewing applications:
- Academic merit
- Rate of research proposal
- Potential impact on the development of the applicant’s country
For additional details, see the Commonwealth Scholarships selection criteria. Candidates should note the standards carefully and link their answers in the application form to each point listed.
Required Documents:
Applications must include supporting materials to be accepted.
Please be aware that candidates must get references from referees and upload them in PDF format to the application system with their other supporting documents. References must be on institution letterhead or an email that identifies the source.
They are unable to accept references in any other format or beyond the application deadline unless they are posted to the application system. The following files must be uploaded together with the application by applicants:
- A copy of a valid passport (or national ID card) with a photo, the applicant’s date of birth, and their place of citizenship is required as proof that they are a citizen or have refugee status in one of the qualifying Commonwealth nations.
- Full transcripts outlining all higher education credentials, up-to-date transcripts for any courses still being taken, and certified translations in cases where the transcripts are not in English. Any transcripts that are incomplete or don’t have all the pages will disqualify the application.
- References in PDF format, signed by two or more people, on institutional letterhead, or in an email with the sender’s information visible.
If any needed paperwork is not submitted by the deadline, applications will be deemed disqualified. Outside of the online application system, supporting documents cannot be sent to the CSC. Referees should be requested to provide as much information as possible about the applicant while filling out the reference form, bearing in mind the following details to provide, if necessary:
- How long the referee has known the applicant, and in what capacity?
- The referee’s assessment of the applicant’s eligibility for the suggested Scholarship and the necessity of studying that specific topic in the UK
- Information on how and how much the candidate has demonstrated aptitude in terms of their capacity to understand concepts and reason logically, their ability to think creatively, and their drive and tenacity in reaching goals.
- Evaluation of the applicant’s unique advantages and disadvantages.
- The ability of the applicant to influence domestic growth.
- Any other traits that the referee feels would make the applicant a strong candidate for a scholarship.
Please be aware that there is no fee to use the CSC’s online application system to apply for any of its fellowships or scholarships.
Application Procedure for Commonwealth Scholarship Commission
Interested and eligible applicants should fill out the scholarship application form. Scholarship applicants must start their studies in the UK in September or October 2024.
The CSC’s online application system must be used to submit applications. Any applications or supporting materials that are not submitted through the online application system cannot be accepted by the CSC. The online application system will be quite busy in the days leading up to the application deadline, therefore applicants are recommended to finish and submit applications as early as possible.
Applicants must submit an application to a nominating agency in addition to the CSC. For master’s scholarships, two categories of nominating agencies exist:
- National nominating agencies – this is the major route of application
- Selected non-governmental organisations and charitable bodies
Candidates for scholarships were submitted by nominating organizations to the CSC for review. Direct applications for these scholarships are not accepted by the CSC. Each nominated organization manages its selection procedure and can have further qualifying requirements. Candidates should consult the nominating agency for information on their individual application guidelines, recommendations, and rules.
The deadlines for submissions may be determined by nominating organizations independently. By December 2023, agencies will provide the names of CSC-nominated scholarship applicants. By July 2024, applicants may anticipate learning the results. All candidates should make sure to keep an eye on all email account folders, including junk mail and spam folders since they will be contacting them through email. If a scholarship candidate receives an email but doesn’t reply within a certain amount of time, the scholarship offer may be revoked.
You can also visit the CSC website for further details.
The Submission Deadline is: October 17, 2023
Not interested in this particular scholarship? See other UK scholarships here.
