Apply for Commonwealth Scholarships and enjoy all the benefits. Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowships are aimed at talented individuals who have the potential to make change. The Scholarships are awarded to deserving persons who have the ability to make a positive difference on the global stage.
Each year, the CSC offers around 800 awards for postgraduate study and professional development opportunity to students to pursue postgraduate degrees at UK universities as part of the United Kingdom’s continuous commitment to the Commonwealth.
A Commonwealth Scholarship may be the best option for you if you are from a Commonwealth country and think you may change the world, but lack the financial means to pay for your education in the UK.
What are Commonwealth Scholarships?
Students from all over the Commonwealth who would not otherwise be able to afford to study in the UK are the target audience for the Commonwealth Scholarships program. Future innovators and leaders are supported by the program by providing money for postgraduate courses in a variety of study modalities.
The UK’s main scholarship program, which supports British aims for overseas development, is this storied award. In addition to assisting sustainable development abroad, it aims to draw exceptional talent to UK universities.
What kinds of rewards are offered?
The Commonwealth Scholarships Commission provides the following:
-Commonwealth PhD Scholarships (for least developed countries and fragile states)
-Commonwealth Split-site Scholarships (for low and middle-income countries)
-Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships
-Commonwealth Shared Scholarships
-Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships
-Commonwealth PhD Scholarships (for high income countries)
-Commonwealth Medical Fellowships
-Commonwealth Professional Fellowships
Themes for CSC Development
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) funds all Commonwealth Scholarships, which are distributed in accordance with six CSC development themes.
-Science and technology for development
-Strengthening health systems and capacity
-Promoting global prosperity
-Strengthening global peace, security and governance
-Strengthening resilience and response to crises
-Access, inclusion and opportunity
-There is no restriction on what you can study but the Commonwealth Scholarships Commission gives priority to applicants whose studies are most relevant to their development criteria.
What financial support is available?
Most scholarships are fully financed, which means they will pay for your full tuition, travel expenses to and from the UK, and a stipend to help you live while you are there running the scholarship program.
Who can apply?
To apply for a Commonwealth Scholarship, You must be a citizen or legal resident of a Commonwealth nation in order to apply for a Commonwealth Scholarship. If you are a refugee or a British protected person, you will still be eligible.
A minimum upper second-class undergraduate honors degree is also required (2:1). You will also need the relevant master’s degree if you want to pursue a PhD.
Finally, without the scholarship, you must not be able to pay to attend school in the UK.
The requirements and eligibility criteria for each type of scholarship and fellowship vary. More information is available on the CSC website
How to apply
Depending on the scholarship you are applying for, you might have to do so through a University, a Non-Governmental Organization, or a National Nominating Agency.
To find out how to apply for each of the scholarships, please visit the CSC apply page.
What do I need to apply?
You will need a scanned copy of your passport, academic transcript, current university degree certificate, two references, and, if you have one, your admission letter to start your online application.
What is the application deadline?
The annual application deadline is typically around December. To find out when they are announced for 2023–24, visit the page of the scholarship you are interested in on the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission website.
