APPLY: 2023 Commonwealth Masters Scholarships for Developing Countries

Applications for Commonwealth Masters scholarships for the 2023/24 academic year are now open for students from less developed countries.

The agency-nominated commonwealth Masters scholarship program which is one of the three scholarships offered by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission is NOW available for interested applicants to study in the United Kingdom.

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 upon 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.

About the Commonwealth

The Commonwealth of Nations, simply referred to as the Commonwealth, is a political association of 56 member states, the vast majority of which are former territories of the British Empire.

Headed by Queen Elizabeth II, member states have no legal obligations to one another but are connected through their use of the English language and historical ties.

Commonwealth Masters Scholarships Summary

• Host Country: United Kingdom (UK)
• Category: Masters Scholarships
• Eligible Countries: All Developing Countries
• Reward: Full Scholarship | £1,516 Monthly Stipend | Airfare Tickets | Accommodation
• Deadline: October 18, 2022

Scholarships Details:

Applications for the Commonwealth Masters scholarships will be considered according to the following selection criteria:

• Academic merit of the candidate
• Quality of the plan of study
• Potential impact on the development of the candidate’s home country

Scholarship Requirements:

To apply for the Commonwealth Masters 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) honors standard, or a second class degree (2:2) and 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 justify 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

Scholarship Duration and Reward

Each of the Commonwealth Masters scholarships provides the following benefits:

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 an 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, a  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.

Documentation & Submission

Applications for the Commonwealth Masters scholarships must be made using the CSC’s online application system.

In the Commonwealth Masters scholarships application form, candidates will be asked to:

• List all undergraduate and postgraduate university qualifications obtained
• List up to 10 publications and prizes
• Provide details of employment history and explain how each job is relevant to the program to be undertaken in the UK
• Provide a statement on the relevance of previous work experience to the proposed Scholarship
• List names and positions of three referees who are qualified to comment on both their capacity to benefit from the proposed Scholarship in the UK and the candidate’s ability to deliver development impact afterward. One of your referees must be a current employer (if applicable)
• Provide a Development Impact statement in 4 parts.

In the first part, you should explain

1. development issues at the global, national, and local level
   b. development issues connected to your chosen CSC development theme and the wider sector.

• In the second part, you should explain how you intend to apply your new skills once your Scholarship ends
• In the third part, you should outline what you expect will change in development terms following your Scholarship, including:

1. a) the outcomes that you aim to achieve
   b) the timeframe for their implementation
   c) who the beneficiaries will be

• In the fourth part, you should write about how the impact of your work could be best measured
• Confirm what your award objectives are and how each of them will be met by the Scholarship program
• Confirm what your career plans are for the 5 years following your Scholarship
• Confirm your long-term career plans
• Provide a personal statement to summarise how your background has encouraged you to want to make an impact in your home country. You should indicate areas in which you have already contributed, such as having overcome any personal or community barriers to your chosen career
• Summarise how you have engaged in voluntary activities and the opportunities you have had to demonstrate leadership (up to 500 words).
• Provide a scan of your passport or national identity card.

Method of Application

As stated above, applications for the Commonwealth Masters scholarships must be made using the CSC’s online application system.

Candidates must apply to one of the below-nominating agencies as well as to the CSC. Nominating agencies will then put forward candidates to the CSC. The CSC does not accept direct applications for these scholarships.

• National nominating agencies – this is the main route of applications
• Selected non-governmental organizations and charitable bodies

Each nominating agency oversees its selection process and may have additional eligibility criteria. Candidates must check with the nominating agency for their specific advice and rules for applying, and their eligibility criteria. Nominating agencies may set their closing date for applications.

Candidates must complete the Commonwealth Masters scholarships application using the CSC’s online application system, in addition to any other application required to be completed by the nominating agency. The CSC is unable to accept any applications that are not submitted via the online application system.

Agencies will nominate candidates to the CSC by December 2022.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY