The Commonwealth Scholarships are prestigious awards that provide students from Commonwealth countries with the opportunity to pursue higher education in the United Kingdom. These scholarships are funded by the UK government and aim to promote educational exchange and collaboration among Commonwealth nations.
There are different types of Commonwealth Scholarships available, including Master’s and PhD scholarships. The selection process is highly competitive, and candidates are assessed based on their academic achievements, potential for impact in their home country, and the quality of their research proposal (for PhD applicants).
As part of the UK’s ongoing commitment to the Commonwealth, each year around 800 students are given the chance to undertake postgraduate degrees with UK universities.
If you are from a Commonwealth country and believe you could make a difference to the world but you can’t afford to fund your UK studies on your own, then you could be the ideal candidate for a Commonwealth Scholarship.
What are Commonwealth Scholarships?
The Commonwealth Scholarships scheme is aimed at students from across the Commonwealth who would not otherwise be able to afford to study in the UK. By funding postgraduate studies in a range of different study formats, the scheme helps to support future innovators and leaders.
This historic award is the UK’s primary scholarship scheme focused on supporting British international development goals. It is designed to attract outstanding talent to UK universities whilst also supporting sustainable development overseas.
Related Scholarships:
Who can apply for Commonwealth Scholarship 2024/2025?
To apply for a Commonwealth Scholarship, you must be a citizen or permanent resident of a Commonwealth country. You will still be eligible if you are a refugee or British protected person.
You also need to have an undergraduate honours degree of at least upper second class (2:1). If you wish to study a PhD, you will need an appropriate master’s degree too.
Finally, you must be unable to afford to study in the UK without the scholarship.
The eligibility criteria for each type of scholarship and fellowship vary. More information is available on the CSC website.
What type of awards are available?
The Commonwealth Scholarships Commission offers:
- 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
CSC Development Themes
All Commonwealth Scholarships which are funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) are offered under 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 funded which means that, as well as covering your tuition fees, you will also receive your airfare to and from the UK and a living allowance to support you while you are here.
How to apply for Commonwealth Scholarship 2024/2025
Depending on which scholarship you are applying for, you may need to apply through a National Nominating Agency, a university, or a Non-Governmental Organisation.
To find out how to apply for each of the scholarships, please visit the CSC apply page.
Also, to apply for a Commonwealth Scholarship, candidates need to follow a specific procedure. Firstly, they should visit the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission’s website and search for the available scholarships. They can then check the eligibility criteria and application deadlines for each scholarship. Once they have identified a suitable scholarship, candidates need to complete an online application form and submit the required documents, including academic transcripts, references, and a research proposal (for PhD applicants).
It is important for applicants to carefully read and understand the application guidelines provided by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission. They should ensure that they submit all the required documents within the specified deadlines. Incomplete or late applications may not be considered for the scholarship.
After the application deadline, the selection process begins. The applications are reviewed by a panel of experts who assess the candidates based on the eligibility criteria and the quality of their application. Shortlisted candidates may be invited for an interview or asked to provide additional information.
