Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship for Developing Countries
Commonwealth Scholarship: The application is currently ongoing for the 2024/2025 Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships for Developing Countries. The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission offers three Master’s programs, one of which was nominated by the agency. The Commonwealth Scholarship allows you to travel with a family member abroad.
Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships, funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), enable outstanding and motivated students to achieve the knowledge and skills essential for sustainable development and are aimed at those who would not be able to study in the UK otherwise.
Table of Contents
- About the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships
- Brief Program Details
- Full Benefits of the Commonwealth Scholarship
- Eligibility Requirements for the CSC Scholarships
- Required Documents
- Selection Process and Criteria
- How to Apply
About the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships
The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) of the United Kingdom (UK) administers the UK government scholarship program that is guided by worldwide development goals. It operates within the framework of the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP) and serves as a vivid example of the United Kingdom’s long-standing commitment to the Commonwealth.
The CSC’s work combines sustainable development with UK national interest and provides opportunities for international partnerships and collaboration by attracting individuals with outstanding talent and identifiable potential from all backgrounds and supporting them to become leaders and innovators upon their return to their home countries.
Brief Program Details
Sponsor(s): Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC)
Type: Master’s Scholarship
Benefits: Air Ticket | Tuition Fees | Accommodation | Living Stipends
Eligible Fields: All fields
Eligible Countries: Developing Countries
Application Deadline: 17 October 2023
Full Benefits of the Commonwealth Scholarship
Each scholarship provides:
- Approved airfare from the Scholar’s home country to the UK and return at the end of the award (the CSC will not reimburse the cost of fares for dependants, nor the cost of journeys made before the award is confirmed).
- Approved tuition fees: full fees are covered by an agreement between the CSC and the UK university, and Scholars are not liable to pay for any part of the tuition fee.
- Stipend (living allowance) at the rate of £1,347 per month, or £1,652 per month for those at universities in the London metropolitan area (rates quoted at current levels).
- Warm clothing allowance, where applicable.
- Study travel grant towards the cost of study-related travel within the UK or overseas.
- If a Scholar has children and is widowed, divorced, or a single parent, a child allowance of £576.61 per month for the first child, and £143 per month for the second and third child under the age of 16 if their children are living with them at the same address in the UK.
If a Scholar shares that they have a disability, a full assessment of their needs and eligibility for additional financial support will be offered by the CSC.
The CSC’s family allowances are intended to be only a contribution towards the cost of maintaining a Scholar’s family in the UK. The true costs are likely to be considerably higher, and Scholars must be able to supplement these allowances to support any family members who accompany them to the UK.
Eligibility Requirements for the CSC Scholarships
To be considered for these scholarships, applicants must:
- Be a citizen of or have been granted refugee status by an eligible Commonwealth country, or be a British Protected Person.
- Be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country.
- Be available to start academic studies in the UK by the start of the UK academic year in September 2024.
- By September 2024, hold a first degree of at least upper second-class (2:1) honors standard, or a lower second-class degree and a relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a Master’s degree) *. The CSC would not normally fund a second Master’s degree. If applying for a second Master’s degree, applicants must provide justification as to why they wish to undertake this study.
- Be unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship.
- Have provided all supporting documentation in the required format.
Required Documents
Applicants must upload the following documents with the application:
- Proof that they are a citizen or have refugee status in an eligible Commonwealth country: a copy of a valid passport (or national ID card) showing a photograph, date of birth, and country of citizenship.
- Full transcripts detailing all higher education qualifications, including to-date transcripts for any courses currently being studied, with certified translations if not in English. Where any transcripts are missing or do not include all pages, the application will be considered ineligible.
- References from at least two individuals, in PDF format, signed and on institutional letterhead or an email clearly showing the sender’s details.
Applications will be considered ineligible if any of the required documentation is not included by the closing date.
Also Apply: 2024/2025 Chevening UK Fully Funded Scholarships to Study in the United Kingdom
Selection Process and Criteria
Applications will be considered according to the following selection criteria:
- Academic merit
- Quality of research proposal
- Potential impact on the development of the candidate’s country
For further details, see the Commonwealth Scholarships selection criteria.
How to Apply
Applications to the CSC must be made using the CSC’s online application system.
The CSC is unable to accept any applications or documentation not submitted via the online application system.
Applicants are advised to complete and submit applications as early as possible, as the online application system will be very busy in the days leading up to the application deadline.
As well as applying to the CSC, applicants must apply to a nominating agency.
There are two types of nominating agency for Master’s scholarships:
- National nominating agencies – this is the main route of application
- Selected non-governmental organisations and charitable bodies
Nominating agencies put forward scholarship candidates to the CSC for consideration. The CSC does not accept direct applications for these scholarships.
Each nominating agency oversees its own selection process and may have additional eligibility criteria. Applicants must check with the nominating agency for their specific advice and rules for applying, and their own eligibility criteria.
Visit the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) Official Website for More Information