Applications are now open for the Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships (QECS). QECS offers a unique opportunity to study for a two-year Master’s degree in a low or middle-income Commonwealth country.
Aimed at students who are committed to creating change in their communities, the scholarships are a life-changing opportunity to experience a new country and culture, broaden horizons, and build a global network that will last a lifetime.
Looking for fully-funded opportunities, install the Youth Opportunities Android or iOS App here.
The QECS awards are only hosted by low and middle income countries. Therefore these awards will not be hosted in Canada, the UK or Australia.
The current hosts of the QECS awards are only those listed on the website. If a country/university is not on the website, it means that they are not a host for the current cycle of awards. In some cases this may be due to the timing of the application cycle, for example some institutions have an academic year starting in January/February therefore they would be included in the second cycle of awards. So, applicants must keep an eye on their website for more details on those institutions/countries that will be included in the second application cycle.
The country that you wish to study in will determine when you need to submit an application. Keep an eye on their website for further details.
Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships sponsor Master’s Degrees in a broad range of subject areas. The subject areas available differ according to the Host University and/or Country.
As QECS awards can be held in a variety of Commonwealth Countries, you can submit more than one application as long as they are for different host countries/universities. However if you submit two applications for one host country/university only the first application submitted will be considered.
Benefits
Award recipients receive:
- Access to fully funded two year Masters Courses.
- Living expenses allowance (stipend) for duration of award
- Return economy flights to their host country
- An arrival allowance
- Research support grant – on request only; subject to approval
Eligibilities
- Citizens (or those who hold refugee status) in a Commonwealth country.
- There is no upper age limit to be eligible for a QECS Award.
- QECS are available for master’s degrees only.
- You must have already completed your degree and have graduated with an equivalent of a 2:1 at the time of application.
- The requirement for English language testing depends on the university that you are intending to study at. Therefore you will need to look at your chosen university’s admissions website to determine whether English language results are required for your admission.
Application Process
- Applications must be submitted online through the Online Application System.
- Before submitting an application, please review the available courses and entry requirements.
- Visit your chosen university’s website for more information on their admissions procedures and when their applications open.
- Applicants must first register for an account at https://crm.acu.ac.uk/ssp/register
- Then follow the instructions in the registration email to log in to the system before accessing the application form.
The application form consists of the following sections:
- Eligibility
- Personal Details
- Academic & Employment Record
- Course at host university details
- Statements. The statement section is formed of three main statements that applicants need to provide.
- Statement 1: Plan of study (200-400 words).
- Statement 2: Development impact and post-study outreach (300-500 words).
- Statement 3: Creating networks (200-400 words).
- Upload supporting documents (including references)
Plagiarism is not allowed. Applications shown to be plagiarised will not be considered.
The selection committee assesses applications using four key criteria: academic history/references, plan of Study, development Impact and Post Study Outreach, creating Networks.
For an application to be considered for selection, applicants must ensure that:
- Their personal statement is written clearly so that a non-specialist can understand what the aims of the research are and how they will be implemented
- They clearly outline why they are applying to the courses and institutions listed on their application form. You must tailor these answers to each institution – if you write the same answer for each course/institution or copy and paste text from university websites, then your application will not be considered.
- They meet all the eligibility requirements for their chosen university course, including having the necessary work experience
- Two referees are identified and references are provided– references should be detailed and include the content outlined on the application form
- Include full details about marks/grades gained for particular degrees. Applicants are strongly encouraged to ensure that full supporting documentation is provided at the time of application, in the form of an official transcript.
Looking for fully-funded opportunities, install the Youth Opportunities Android or iOS App here.
Application Deadline: May 24, 2022
Application ClosedOfficial link
