Application Deadline: 28 March 2024 16:00 GMT on Thursday

Applications are now open for the 2024/2025 Commonwealth Distance Learning Masters Scholarships. The Commonwealth Distance Learning programme is one of three Master’s programmes offered by the Commonwealth Scholarships 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.

Purpose:

Funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships enable talented and motivated individuals to access training and skills required for sustainable development not available in their home countries.

Applicant Eligibility

To be eligible for a Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship, applicants should:

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 a developing Commonwealth country.
Hold a first degree of at least upper second class (2:1) standard. A lower qualification and sufficient relevant experience may be considered in certain cases.
Be unable to afford to study the programme without this scholarship.

Eligible countries

Please see list of eligible countries below as stated in the DAC list published in January 2022.

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

Benefits

A Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship covers tuition fees and study grants where required. Other scholarships, awards, or bursaries that cover the same costs may not be held concurrently.

Selection process

Each participating UK university will conduct its own recruitment process to select a specified number of applicants for Distance Learning Scholarships. Universities must put forward their selected applicants to the CSC in early May 2024. The CSC will then confirm that these applicants meet the eligibility criteria for this scheme and universities will inform applicants of their results in July 2024.

Selection criteria include:

Academic merit of the applicant
Potential impact of the work on the development of the applicant’s home country

Choosing a university/course

A list of eligible courses for 2024 can be found on the how to apply tab, sorted by CSC development theme.

Candidate’s may find the following resources useful when researching their choices of institution:

Study UK – British Council website, with guidance for international students and a course and institution search
Postgrad.com – information for postgraduate students, with a course search
Research Excellent Framework 2021 results – results of a system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions
UCAS Postgraduate – guidance on how to find and apply for a postgraduate course
Unistats – the official website for comparing UK higher education course data
UKCISA (UK Council for International Student Affairs) – advice for international students on choosing a course of study

How to apply

Applications for Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships for the 2024/25 academic year are now open. The deadline for submitting an application is 16:00 GMT on Thursday 28 March 2024. The scholarships are for study beginning in September/October 2024.

Applications to the CSC must be made using the CSC’s online application system.

The CSC is unable to accept any applications or documentation not submitted via the online application system.

Applicants must apply and secure admission to study an approved Master’s course at a participating UK university in addition to applying for a Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship via the CSC’s online application system.

View full list of approved courses and participating UK universities

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the Commonwealth Distance Learning Masters Scholarships

Application Deadline: Tuesday 28 March 2023 at 16:00 (GMT).

The Commonwealth Distance Learning Programme is one of three Master’s programmes offered by the Commonwealth Scholarships Commission.

Purpose: Funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships enable talented and motivated individuals to access training and skills required for sustainable development not available in their home countries.

Intended beneficiaries: Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships are for candidate from eligible low and middle income Commonwealth countries, to undertake part-time taught Master’s study with UK universities while remaining in their home countries.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for a Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship, candidates should:

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 a developing Commonwealth country
Hold a first degree of at least upper second class (2:1) standard. A lower qualification and sufficient relevant experience may be considered in certain cases.
Be unable to afford to study the programme without this scholarship.

Benefits

A Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship covers tuition fees and study grants where required. Other scholarships, awards, or bursaries that cover the same costs may not be held concurrently.

Selection Process:

Each participating UK University will conduct its own recruitment process to select a specified number of candidates for Distance Learning Scholarships. Universities must put forward their selected candidates to the CSC by 9 May 2023. The CSC will then confirm that these candidates meet the eligibility criteria for this scheme and universities will inform candidates of their results in July 2023.

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:

Applications for Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships for the 2023/24 academic year are now open.
The closing date for applications is Tuesday 28 March 2023 at 16:00 (GMT).
Candidates must apply and secure admission to study an approved Master’s course at a participating UK university in addition to applying for a Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship via the CSC’s online application system.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the Commonwealth Distance Learning Masters Scholarships 2023/2024

Commonwealth Distance Learning Masters Scholarships

Commonwealth Distance Learning Masters Scholarships 2024/2025 for developing Commonwealth countries

Eligible countries

How to apply

Commonwealth Distance Learning Masters Scholarships 2023/2024 for developing Commonwealth countries (Fully Funded)