Deadline: 18-Oct-22

The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (CSCUK) is offering Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships.

The agency-nominated Master’s programme is one of three Master’s programmes offered by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission. The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (CSC) provides the UK government scholarship scheme led by international development objectives.

It operates within the framework of the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP) and offers a vivid demonstration of the UK’s enduring commitment to the Commonwealth. By attracting individuals with outstanding talent and identifiable potential from all backgrounds and supporting them to become leaders and innovators on returning to their home countries, the CSC’s work combines sustainable development with the UK national interest and provides opportunities for international partnerships and collaboration.

Aims

The CSC aims to identify talented individuals who have the potential to make change. CSC is committed to a policy of equal opportunity and non-discrimination, and encourage applications from a diverse range of candidates.

Purpose

Funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships enable talented and motivated individuals to gain the knowledge and skills required for sustainable development, and are aimed at those who could not otherwise afford to study in the UK.

Themes

• Science and technology for development
  • Commonwealth Scholarships are offered in any area of science or technology (including, for example, agriculture, veterinary science, or forestry), to develop knowledge and/or skills that are directly related to the specific needs of a low or middle-income country. Where possible, applications should cite expressed national or local priorities.
• Strengthening health systems and capacity
  • In order to improve health provision or outcomes for disadvantaged groups in low and middle income countries, Commonwealth Scholarships support the development of knowledge and/or skills across a range of approaches. These approaches include training staff to fill critical shortage areas; establishing better systems, processes, or management; health promotion and improving understanding of non-take up; and developing new treatments.
• Promoting global prosperity
  • Commonwealth Scholarships help to support economic prosperity in low and middle-income countries. The knowledge and/or skills gained could lead to, for example, enhanced trade capacity; improved economic understanding or decision-making by business or government; new products and services; or long-term capacity building, for example through the development of entrepreneurial skills.
• Strengthening global peace, security and governance
  • Commonwealth Scholarships develop knowledge and/or skills that will strengthen peace and security at national, regional, or international levels. Multiple approaches are studied and implemented by our Scholars, such as strengthening open and transparent governance; improving mutual understanding within and between societies; or building systems that reduce the potential for conflict or encourage its resolution.
• Strengthening resilience and response to crises
  • Commonwealth Scholarships are awarded in subjects that address a broad range of threats, including natural and physical disasters; long-term threats such as climate change; interruptions to the supply of key resources; and sudden economic or technological disruption and developing new treatments.
• Access, inclusion and opportunity
  • Commonwealth Scholarships help to promote opportunity amongst historically disadvantaged groups in low and middle-income countries. Our Commonwealth Scholars expand educational opportunities; conduct community outreach; enhance access to decision-making; and increase understanding of the barriers faced. A range of disadvantage is addressed through our Commonwealth Scholars’ work – including social, economic, gender, ethnic, regional, and political.

Benefits

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).
• Approved tuition fees: full fees are covered by agreement between the CSC and the UK university, and scholars are not liable to pay for any part of the tuition fee.
• Stipend (living allowance) at the rate of £1,236 per month, or £1,516 per month for those at universities in the London metropolitan area (rates quoted at current levels).
• 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 have children and are widowed, divorced, or a single parent, child allowance of £529 per month for the first child, and £131 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 current levels).
• If you share that you have a disability, a full assessment of your needs and eligibility for additional financial support will be offered by the CSC.

Tenure and placement

• Scholarships are tenable at any approved UK university or higher education institution with which the CSC has a part funding agreement (as mentioned previously) for a specific programme of study. Scholarships are to obtain one degree; funding will not be extended to enable candidates to complete a qualification in addition to or higher than that for which the selection was made.
• Scholarships 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 programmes only and does not fund MBAs.

Eligibility Criteria

• Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships are for candidates from eligible low and middle income Commonwealth countries (Bangladesh, Belize, Botswana, Cameroon, Dominica, Eswatini, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Montserrat, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Saint Helena, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and The Grenadines, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, The Gambia, Togo, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia) to undertake full-time taught Master’s study at a UK university.
• To apply for these scholarships, candidates 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 academic studies in the UK by the start of the UK academic year in September 2023.
  • By September 2023, hold a first degree of at least upper second class (2:1) honours standard, or a second class degree (2:2) and a relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a Master’s degree). 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.

For more information, visit https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/scholarships/commonwealth-masters-scholarships/