Fully Funded Commonwealth Shared Scholarships
  • Full Scholarship

Commonwealth Shared Scholarships are for candidates from least developed and lower middle income Commonwealth countries, for full-time Master’s study on selected courses, jointly supported by UK universities.

The CSC aims to identify talented individuals who have the potential to make change. They are committed to a policy of equal opportunity and non-discrimination, and encourage applications from a diverse range of candidates and are aimed at those who could not otherwise afford to study in the UK.

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The purpose of the scholarships is to contribute to development needs of Commonwealth countries by providing training for skilled and qualified professionals and academics and to contribute to UK higher education and foreign policy aims by encouraging collaboration and links. These scholarships are offered under six themes:

  1. Science and technology for development – Develop knowledge and/or skills that are directly related to the specific needs of a low or lower middle income country
  2. Strengthening health systems and capacity – Develop knowledge to improve health provision or outcomes for disadvantaged groups in low and lower middle income countries
  3. Promoting global prosperity – Support economic prosperity in low and lower middle income countries.
  4. Strengthening global peace, security and governance – Develop knowledge to promote peace and security at national, regional, or international levels
  5. Strengthening resilience and response to crises – Develop skills to help low and middle countries adapt to changing contexts, withstand sudden shocks, or increase capacity to preserve the continuity of operations following such events.
  6. Access, inclusion and opportunity – Develop knowledge and/or skills to promote opportunity amongst historically disadvantaged groups in low and lower middle income countries

Selection Criteria

Each participating UK University will conduct its own recruitment process to select a specified number of candidates to be awarded Commonwealth Shared Scholarships. Applications will be considered according to the following selection criteria:

  • Academic merit of the candidate
  • Potential impact of the work on the development of the candidate’s home country

Location:

United Kingdom

Benefits

Shared Scholarships are jointly funded by the CSC and participating UK universities. Each scholarship provides:

  • Approved airfare from your home country to the UK and return at the end of your award (the CSC will not reimburse the cost of fares for dependants, nor the cost of journeys made before your award is confirmed) –
    arranged by the university; funded by the CSC
  • Approved tuition fees – funded by the CSC
  • Stipend (living allowance) at the rate of £1,084 per month, or £1,330 per month for those studying at universities in the London metropolitan area (rates quoted at 2019-20 levels) – paid and funded by the university
  • Warm clothing allowance, where applicable – paid and funded by the university
  • Thesis grant towards the cost of preparing a thesis or dissertation, where applicable – claimed from and paid by the university; funded by the CSC
  • Study travel grant towards the costs of study-related travel within the UK or overseas – claimed from and paid by the university; funded by the CSC
  • Excess baggage allowance, up to an annual approved limit, when returning home – claimed from and paid by the university; funded by the CSC
  • Reimbursement of the cost of a mandatory tuberculosis (TB) test, where required for a visa application (receipts must be supplied) – claimed from and paid by the university; funded by the CSC
  • If you are widowed, divorced, or a single parent, child allowance of £465 per month for the first child, and £114 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 (rates quoted at 2019-20 levels)

Eligibilities

Applicants are required to meet the following eligibility requirements.

  • 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 his/her academic studies in the UK by the start of the UK academic year in September/October 2020
  • By September 2020, hold a first degree of at least upper second class (2:1) standard, or a second class degree and a relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a Master’s degree). The CSC typically does not fund a second UK Master’s degree. If applying for a second UK Master’s degree, one will need to provide justification as to why he/she wishes to undertake this study.
  • Not have studied or worked for one (academic) year or more in a high income country
  • Be unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship
Eligible Regions: Bangladesh, Cameroon, Eswatini, The Gambia, Ghana, India, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia.

Application Process

  • You must make your application using the CSC’s online application system, in addition to any other application that you are required to complete by your chosen university. The CSC will not accept any applications that are not submitted via the online application system.
  •  You can apply for more than one course and/or to more than one university, but you may only accept one offer of a Shared Scholarship.

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Application Deadline: December 18, 2019

Application ClosedOfficial link
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