Application for British Commonwealth Scholarships is now open for Masters and PhD students from developing Commonwealth countries to study in the UK funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID).
NEW APPLICATIONS OPEN SEPTEMBER 2022
Deadline: November 1, 2021 4:00 PM (GMT)
Offered annually? Yes
Eligible Countries: Commonwealth Developing Countries
Subject areas: All subject areas are eligible, although the CSC’s selection criteria prioritize applications that demonstrate strong development relevance.
About Scholarships: Every year British Commonwealth Scholarships for Masters and PhD studies in the UK are offered to citizens of developing Commonwealth countries. These scholarships are funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID), with the aim of contributing to the UK’s international development goals and wider overseas interests, supporting excellence in UK higher education and upholding Commonwealth principles.
Be sure to watch this video on Commonwealth Scholarship application requirements and how to submit your application before applying
Offered since: 1959
Type: Master, PhD
Who is authorized to apply? To apply for these scholarships, you must:
PhD
To apply for UK Commonwealth Scholarships you must:
Be a citizen of or have been granted refugee status from an eligible Commonwealth country, or be a British Protected Person Permanently reside in an eligible Commonwealth country Be available to start your academic studies in the UK at the start of the UK academic year in September 2022 By September 2022, hold a first degree of at least upper second class (2:1) honors standard, or a second class degree (2:2) and a relevant postgraduate qualification (a master’s degree)NOT enrolled in a PhD, or MPhil leading to a PhD, at a UK university before September 2022.NOT commenced and currently registered for a PhD, or MPhil leading to a PhD, in your home country or elsewhere Have the support of a potential supervisor from at least one UK university listed in your application formHave all supporting documentation in place iste format providedMake sure you can’t afford to study in the UK without this scholarship
masters
To apply for UK Commonwealth Scholarships you must:
Be a citizen of or have been granted refugee status from an eligible Commonwealth country, or be a British Protected Person Permanently reside in an eligible Commonwealth country Be available to start your academic studies in the UK at the start of the UK academic year in September 2022 By September 2022, hold a first degree of at least an upper second class (2:1) honors 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 masters degree in the UK you must motivate why you want to do this study NOT be registered for a PhD, or an MPhil leading to a PhD, at a UK university or in your home country before September 2022 Cannot afford to study in the UK without this scholarshipHave provided all supporting documentation in the required format
The CSC promotes equal opportunities, gender equality and cultural exchange. Applications are encouraged from a wide range of candidates.
Selection criteria: Applications will be assessed based on the following selection criteria:
Academic merit of the candidateQuality of the proposalPotential impact of the work on the development of the candidate’s home country
Selection process
Each year, the CSC invites selected nomination bodies to submit a specified number of nominations.
The CSC invites approximately three times more nominations than available scholarships – therefore, nominees are not guaranteed to receive a scholarship. There are no scholarship quotas for each individual country. Candidates nominated by National Nominating Agencies compete with candidates nominated by other nomination bodies, and the same standards will be applied to applications submitted through both channels.
Number of Scholarships: About 300 scholarships are awarded each year. The CSC invites approximately three times more nominations than available scholarships – therefore, nominees are not guaranteed to receive a scholarship. There are no scholarship quotas for each individual country. Candidates nominated by National Nominating Agencies compete with candidates nominated by universities/university bodies, and the same standards will be applied to applications submitted through both channels.
Duration of Scholarships: 12 months for Masters and up to 36 months for PhD
Value of Scholarships: Each scholarship offers:
Approved airfare from your home country to the UK and return at the end of your award (the CSC does not reimburse the cost of dependent fares, nor usually the cost of travel incurred prior to final confirmation of your award) Approved tuition and fees examination costs Allowance (living allowance) Thesis grant towards the cost of preparing a thesis or dissertation, if applicable Allowance for warm clothing, if applicable Study trip grant towards the cost of study related travel within the UK or overseas For PhD students, fieldwork grant towards the costs from fieldwork abroad (usually the cost of a return flight in economy class to your fieldwork location), if approved. have received child support during your scholarship, or a return flight to your home country for field work) Family allowances, as follows (rates quoted at 202 1-2022 levels): If you are accompanied by your spouse but no children: spouse allowance of £244 per month
for a maximum period of nine months, if you and your spouse live together
UK address (unless your spouse is also receiving a scholarship; other conditions
also applicable) If accompanied by your spouse and children: spouse allowance of £244 per month
and child benefit of £244 per month for the first child and £120 per month for the second
and a third child younger than 16, if your spouse and children live with you
UK address (unless your spouse is also receiving a scholarship; other conditions
also applicable) If you are accompanied by your children but no spouse: child benefit of £465 per month for
the first child, and £120 per month for the second and third child under 16, if your
children live with you at the same address in the UK
To be followed at: UK Universities
How to Apply for UK Commonwealth Scholarships: You must initially apply to one of the following nominating bodies – the CSC will not accept direct applications for these scholarships:
National Nominating Agencies – this is the main application route Selected universities/universities, who can nominate their own academic staff Selected non-governmental organizations and charities
All applications must be submitted through one of these nominating bodies. Each nominating body is responsible for its own selection process and may have additional eligibility criteria. You should contact your nominating body for their specific advice and application rules, their own eligibility criteria and their own closing date for applications.
You must submit your application through the CSC’s online application system, in addition to any other application your nominating body is required to complete. The CSC will not accept applications that have not been submitted through the online application system.
You are advised to complete and submit your application as soon as possible as the online application system will be very busy in the days leading up to the application deadline.
The CSC will not accept supporting documentation submitted by nominating bodies or outside of the online application system.
Visit the PhD Scholarship webpage for more information. Read carefully for guidance.
Visit the Masters Scholarship webpage for more information. Read carefully for guidance.
