Commonwealth Scholarships for Citizens of Developing Commonwealth Countries

Scholarship Overview

Commonwealth Scholarships for students from developing Commonwealth countries are offered for Master’s, PhD, and split-site (PhD) study in the UK. These scholarships are funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID).

Host School(s)

Study in the UK at numerous eligible UK schools
for the complete list follow this link – http://cscuk.dfid.gov.uk/apply/uk-universities.

Field(s) of Study

You can apply for a Commonwealth Scholarship for the following levels of study:

Master’s (from 2013, the CSC funds one-year Master’s courses only)
PhD
Split-site, where the CSC supports one year’s study at a UK university as part of a PhD being undertaken in your home country

What does the scholarship cover?

12-36 months’ support towards completion of either a full-time taught or a doctoral post graduate qualification at an eligible UK institution. These awards are open to those candidates nominated either by the Vice Chancellor/Executive Head of their employing institution or by the appointed agency in their home country. Please note that the Commission offers awards for one-year Master’s programs only, and does not fund MBAs
12 months’ non-degree study in the United Kingdom on a Split-Site basis to aid the completion of a doctoral degree undertaken at a university in the candidate’s home country

This also includes

Student concessionary or other approved airfare to the United Kingdom and return on expiry of the Scholarship (the cost of journeys made before final award confirmation will not normally be reimbursed, nor can fares be paid for a Scholar’s dependents)
Approved tuition and examination fees
A personal maintenance allowance at the rate of £917 per month (£1,134 per month for those studying at institutions in the London Metropolitan area)
A grant towards the expenses of preparing a thesis or dissertation, where applicable
An initial arrival allowance, incorporating an initial clothing grant for Scholars from tropical countries
A grant for expenses for approved travel within the United Kingdom or overseas
A paid mid-term fare to their home country for Scholars on three year doctoral awards. Scholars for whom fieldwork fares are provided to their home country shall not be entitled to a mid-term fare home, nor Scholars who have claimed (or intend to claim) spouse or child allowances for more than 12 months during their award.

How many scholarships are given?

Approximately 300 scholarships are awarded each year. The CSC invites around three times more nominations than scholarships available – therefore, nominated candidates are not guaranteed to get a scholarship. There are no quotas for scholarships for any individual country.

Which countries are targeted?

Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Botswana, Cameroon, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Falkland Islands, The Gambia, Ghana, Gibraltar, Grenada, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Montserrat, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, St Helena, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and The Grenadines, Samoa, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Virgin Islands (British), Zambia

Am I Eligible to Apply?

To apply for the awards covered in this prospectus, candidates should:

Be Commonwealth citizens, refugees, or British protected persons
Be permanently resident in a Commonwealth country other than the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man
Be available to commence their academic studies in the United Kingdom by the start of the UK academic year in September/October 2013
Hold, by October 2013, a first degree of upper second class Honours standard (or above); or a second class degree and a relevant postgraduate qualification, which will normally be a Master’s degree.

How to I Apply – Next Steps

All applications must be made through your nominating agency (or university/university body, if applicable) in your home country. You must check with them in the first instance for specific advice on how to make an application and for their own closing date. The CSC cannot accept any applications direct from candidates.
START HERE – Read about Nominating Agency Details for your country – http://cscuk.dfid.gov.uk/apply/applicants/

Closing Date:

The EAS will close to applicants on 7 December 2012 and no further applications can be made after that date. The CSC will not accept any applications which are not submitted via the EAS to the nominating agency/university/university body in the candidate’s home country.

How do I get more information?

For info on the Scholarships – http://cscuk.dfid.gov.uk/apply/scholarships-developing-cw/