Scholarship details
The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the United Kingdom offers Masters Scholarships for Low-middle-income Commonwealth Countries for the academic year of 2024. The scholarship will be administered by the United Kingdom Government with an initiative aligned to the international development goals. The program initiatives operate under the system of the CSFP Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan in the UK and serve as a clear manifestation of the country’s commitment to the Commonwealth countries.
The scholarship attracts exceptional and talented students with potential from diverse backgrounds and supports their development with the UK’s interest while fostering international collaboration and partnerships. The scholarships are funded by the Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), and the UK Foreign which aim to provide an educational opportunity for driven and capable students who want to develop their knowledge and skills which are essential for sustainable development. The scholarship targets those individuals who otherwise lack the means to further their higher education in the UK.
Source: Commonwealth Scholarships
Today, there are more than 30,000 individuals have benefited from the Commonwealth Scholarships since its official cohort of 175 scholars arrived in the United Kingdom in 1960. Over six decades the scholarship has continually evolved, adjusting to 56 Commonwealth nations. The Commonwealth Scholarships plays an important role in fostering sustainable development by actively assisting students who are motivated to pursue their academics and career goals.
Scholarship Provider: Commonwealth Scholarship Commission
About the Provider
Commonwealth Scholarship Commission also known as CSC in the United Kingdom is administered by the UK Government academic initiatives are guided by international development goals. CSC facilitates collaborative efforts in innovations, research, and solutions to address sustainable developments for the Commonwealth Countries and the global context.
CSC’s Mission is to advance the global agenda to sustainable development by supporting future leaders and innovators. Their goal encompasses three key areas:
- To establish a world-class scholarship program that actively supports the Commonwealth Countries.
- Ensure the initiatives they foster are fair and recognize merits, providing broad access, particularly to individuals with disadvantaged backgrounds.
- Facilitate and promote cutting-edge research, innovations, and developments of knowledge and skills for the entire Commonwealth community.
The commission is dedicated to enhancing and refining the process of providing a scholarship program that will cater to every student, accessible requirements, and including the number of individuals who are from marginalized communities.
Scholarship Summary
- Applicant’s Nationality: Commonwealth Countries
- Degree Level: Master’s Degree
- Number of Awards: NA
- Duration: NA
- Scholarship Awards: Fully funded
- Scholarship Country: United Kingdom
- Renewable: Yes
- Offered Annually: Yes
Scholarship Eligibility
Before proceeding with the application, the students must meet the eligibility criteria for the scholarship.
- Interested applicants must be national or have been granted refugee status in any of the eligible Commonwealth Countries, or be British-protected individuals.
- Must be a permanent resident in any of the eligible countries.
- Candidates must be available to commence their master’s degree in the United Kingdom by the start of the academic year in September 2024.
- Applicants must be able to demonstrate their financial incapability to afford their academic degree in the United Kingdom without the help of the scholarship program.
- The applicants must be holding a first degree or at the upper-class level in honors standard; a lower 2nd-class degree in a relevant master’s degree qualification by the month of September 2024. If you are applying for the second year of a master’s degree, you must provide information on why you wish to undertake the study.
- Must be able to provide all necessary requirements needed for the application.
Important Note
- The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission will acknowledge the individuals with disabilities who have encountered obstacles or hindrances to achieving their academic pursuits, which may have hindered them from meeting the academic criteria for a Scholarship.
- The disabled applicants must demonstrate their potential to make a meaningful contribution to international development.
- Undergraduate degrees may be eligible in a customized application or nomination process through the Commonwealth Disabled People’s Forum nominator.
- All applicants must be able to agree to the terms and conditions applied to the scholarship program.
Application Process
The application for the scholarship can be completed in an online portal provided by the CSC. Keep in mind that all applications not submitted in an online portal will not be considered. All applicants are encouraged to complete and submit their application as early as possible, and the portal may be busy in the days before the application deadline.
All applications will be reviewed and the outcome will be notified through email by July 2024.
Application Form Completion
In the application form, all candidates will be asked for the following:
- Undergraduate and postgraduate list of university qualifications obtained.
- Detail up to 10 publications and awards
- Explain employment history and its relevance to the chosen UK program
- Names and positions of three referees
- Development Impact Statements in four parts.
- Career plans
- Plan of study
- Personal Statements
- Provide a summary of ways to engage in any voluntary activities and leadership skills.
Scholarship Selection Process and Criteria
All applicants will be considered according to the following criteria:
- Academic Merit
- Research Proposal
- Leadership potential
Scholarship Awards
- Airfare from the successful student’s home country to the United Kingdom and return tickets after the award.
- Tuition fee cover
- Living allowance amounting to up to £1,347 monthly or £1,652 monthly for the students who are admitted to any of the universities in the London Metropolitan Area. The rates will be quoted depending on the levels.
- Warm Clothes Allowance
- Educational Travel Grants
- For students who are widowed, single mothers, or divorced they will be provided with a child allowance amounting to up to £576.61 per month.
Scholarship Deadline
The application starts September 5, 2023, and the deadline to complete and submit the application is until October 17, 2023.
