The Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office sponsors the CSC, which is an executive non-departmental public organization (FCDO). The Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP) is the structure within which the CSC operates, and it is a clear example of the United Kingdom’s long-term commitment to the Commonwealth. Their work integrates sustainable development with the UK national interest by helping innovators and future leaders from around the Commonwealth and drawing excellent talent to Britain’s institutions.
They follow strict protocols to guarantee that their programs promote equity and inclusion, reward merit, and provide widespread access, particularly to individuals from underserved communities.
Goals of the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships
The CSC aims to identify talented individuals who have the potential to make a change. They are committed to a policy of equal opportunity and non-discrimination and encourage applications from a diverse range of candidates.
The CSC is committed to administering and managing its scholarships and fellowships in a fair and transparent manner.
The CSC is also committed proactively to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our beneficiaries, and to protecting its staff, commissioners, beneficiaries, and all those with whom the CSC comes into contact.
Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships Details
Scholarship type
Awards are made in respect of full-time study only and no other course of study may be undertaken at the same time.
The CSC funds one-year taught Master’s programs only and does not fund MBAs.
Value
Each scholarship provides:
- Approved airfare from your home country to the UK and return at the end of your award
- Approved tuition fees.
- Stipend (living allowance) at the rate of £1,133 per month, or £1,390 per month for those at universities in the London
- Warm clothing allowance, where applicable.
- Thesis grant towards the cost of preparing a thesis or dissertation, where applicable.
- Study travel grant towards the cost of study-related travel within the UK or overseas.
- If you are widowed, divorced, or a single parent, a child allowance of £485 per month for the first child, and £120 per month for the second and third child under the age of 16, if you are accompanied by your children and they are living with you at the same address in the UK.
Eligibility
To apply for these scholarships, you 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 your academic studies in the UK by the start of the UK academic year in September 2022
- By September 2022, hold a first degree of at least upper second class (2:1) honors standard, or a second class degree (2:2) and relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a Master’s degree). If you wish to study for a Ph.D., you will need an appropriate master’s degree too.
- The CSC would not normally fund a second UK Master’s degree. If you are applying for a second UK Master’s degree, you will need to provide justification as to why you 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
- Finally, you must be unable to afford to study in the UK without a scholarship.
Eligible countries
Please note that only candidates from the eligible countries listed below can apply for Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships in 2022.
Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Belize, Botswana, Cameroon, Dominica, Eswatini, Fiji, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Maldives, Mauritius, Montserrat, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, St Helena St, Lucia, St Vincent and Grenadines, Tanzania, The Gambia, Tonga, Tuvalu Uganda, Vanuatu, and Zambia.
Application
To begin your online application, you’ll need a scanned copy of your passport, your academic transcript, your existing university degree certificate, two references, and, if you have one, your admission letter.
How to apply
Applications for Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships for the academic year 2022/23 are now closed. Applications for 2023/24 will open in September 2022.
Candidates must apply to one of the following nominating bodies in the first instance the CSC does not accept direct applications for these scholarships:
National nominating agencies – this is the main route of applications
Selected non-governmental organizations and charitable bodies
Candidates must apply using the CSC’s online application system, in addition to any other application required to be completed by the nominating body. The CSC is unable to accept any applications that are not submitted via the online application system.
Candidates are advised to complete and submit applications as soon as possible, as the online application system is very busy in the days leading up to the application deadline.
Supporting documentation
You must submit a list of supporting documentation to ensure that your application is eligible. You must have:
Proof that you are a citizen or have refugee status of an eligible Commonwealth country: a copy of your valid passport (or national ID card) showing your photograph, date of birth, and country of citizenship uploaded to the online application system
Full transcripts detailing all your higher education qualifications including to-date transcripts for any qualifications you are currently studying (with certified translations if not in English) – uploaded to the online application system
References from at least two individuals – submitted directly by the referees to the online application system (referees will be sent an email request to submit online)
If any of the required documentation is not provided by the dates specified above, your application will be considered ineligible.
You must make clear in your application which qualification you are applying for.
You are advised to list three universities and courses that you think are the most appropriate for your study, in order of preference, and to explain your reasons.
Selection process
Each year, the CSC invites selected nominating bodies to submit a specific number of nominations. The deadline for nominating bodies to submit nominations is 22 December 2021.
Applications will be considered according to the following selection criteria:
Academic merit of the candidate
Quality of the plan of study
Potential impact on the development of the candidate’s home country
The CSC will make the final decision on the institution of study and reserves the right to overrule any preferences indicated by the candidate.
You must take the necessary steps to apply for admission to your preferred universities in advance of your scholarship application.
The CSC’s family allowances are intended to only be used as a contribution towards the cost of maintaining your family in the UK.
A Commonwealth Scholarship covers fees, approved fares, and personal maintenance. Other scholarships, awards, or bursaries that cover the same costs may not be held concurrently.
If your application is successful, the CSC will notify you via email that you have been provisionally selected.
The CSC does not require any candidates to take an IELTS (English language) test. You should note, however, that, as a further condition of your scholarship, you may be required by your university to provide evidence of a particular level of English language proficiency.
The CSC will not be able to offer you a scholarship if it would contravene the terms and conditions of another scholarship that you have previously held.
When terms of admission to the university have been agreed upon, the CSC will send you a Notification of Award (formal offer of a scholarship).
When all conditions of the Notification of Award have been met, the CSC will send you a formal Confirmation of the Award.
You will be required to submit a Health and Disability Form before your Confirmation of Award can be issued.
You will be required to sign an undertaking to return to your home country as soon as possible after the end of your award.
You are expected to start your award on the date stated in your Notification of Award.
If you require a Student visa to come to the UK to study, you must meet all relevant immigration requirements set by UK Visas and Immigration.
Other information
You will be selected for an award based on the plan of study outlined on your application form, which is not expected to change significantly during your award. Any such changes must be agreed upon by the CSC.
You are expected to reside in the UK throughout your award, and to seek approval from the CSC in advance for any overseas travel.
You must not undertake paid employment during your award without approval from the CSC in advance.
The CSC will consider a request to extend your leave to remain in the UK after your award only if you wish to move from Master’s to Ph.D. study.
The CSC cannot provide a letter of support or permission for you to remain in or return to the UK after your award to enable you to work
Scholars will be expected to abide by the Commission’s Code of Conduct for Award Holders and Disciplinary Policy and Procedure.
In line with the UK Bribery Act 2010, any applicant convicted of bribery will be banned from reapplying for a Commonwealth Scholarship or Fellowship for a period of up to five years.
Applicants are expected to adhere to the CSC’s Code of Conduct for award holders.
The CSC is committed to administering and managing its scholarships and fellowships in a fair and transparent manner. For more information, see the CSC anti-fraud policy and procedure and the FCDO guidance on reporting fraud.
The CSC does not charge candidates to apply for any of its scholarships or fellowships through its online application system, and it does not charge organizations to nominate candidates.
All terms and conditions of the award are subject to UK local law and practices and are subject to change by the CSC.
For more information:
Visit the official webpage of Commonwealth Masters Scholarship
