information for candidates
Commonwealth
Scholarships for Master’s and PhD study in the UK are offered for citizens of developingCommonwealth countries. These scholarships are funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID), with the
aim of contributing to the UK’s international development aims and wider
overseas interests, supporting excellence in UK higher education, and
sustaining the principles of the Commonwealth.
Students from
developing countries who would not otherwise be able to study in the UK can
apply for Commonwealth Shared Scholarships for Master’s study, jointly
supported by UK universities.
Purpose: To contribute to development
needs of Commonwealth countries by providing training for skilled and qualified
professionals and academics who would not otherwise have been able to study in
the UK.
Intended
beneficiaries:
High-quality postgraduate students who have not studied extensively overseas
before, who would not otherwise have the opportunity to study in the UK, and
who have the potential to enhance the development of their home countries with
the knowledge and leadership skills they acquire.
Commonwealth Shared
Scholarships are offered for selected taught Master’s courses, and are usually
tenable for one year only. These scholarships do not cover undergraduate
courses, PhD study, or any pre-sessional English language teaching.
Eligibility
To apply for these
scholarships, you must:
- Be a
Commonwealth citizen, refugee, or British protected person - Be
permanently resident in a developing Commonwealth country - Be
available to start your academic studies in the UK by the start of the UK
academic year in September/October 2016 - By
August 2016, hold a first degree of at least upper second class (2:1)
honours standard - Not
have studied or worked for one (academic) year or more in a developed
country - Be
unable, either yourself or through your family, to pay to study in the UK
The CSC promotes
equal opportunity, gender equity, and cultural exchange. Applications are
encouraged from a diverse range of candidates. The CSC is committed to
administering and managing its scholarships and fellowships in a fair and
transparent manner – for more information, see the CSC anti-fraud policy.
Terms
and conditions
For full terms and
conditions, see the Commonwealth Shared Scholarships 2016 prospectus
Selection
process
Each participating
UK university will conduct its own recruitment process to select a specified
number of candidates for Shared Scholarships. Universities must put forward
their selected candidates to the CSC by 29 April 2016. The CSC will then
confirm that these candidates meet the eligibility criteria for this scheme.
Universities will inform candidates of their results by July 2016.
Selection criteria
include:
- Academic
merit of the candidate - Potential
impact of the work on the development of the candidate’s home country.
How
to apply
You should apply to
study an eligible Master’s course at a UK university that is participating in
the Shared Scholarship scheme. Click here for a list ofparticipating universities and eligible courses
You must make your
application using the CSC’s Electronic Application System (EAS). Click here for
fullinformation on how to use the EAS, including detailed guides.
Before applying, you
must check with your UK university for their specific advice and rules for
applying, and for their own closing date for applications. Click here for a list ofcontact details
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. The CSC will not accept any
applications that are not submitted via the EAS to your UK university or
applications directly from individuals.
All applications
must be submitted by 23.59
(BST) on 1
April 2016 at the latest. Each university has its own closing
date for applications, and most fall before 1 April 2016. You must submit your
application by the date advised by your UK university.
Enquiries?
All enquiries about
these scholarships should be directed to the university to which you wish to
apply.