Application Deadline: 29 March 2017 23.59 (BST)
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.
Commonwealth Scholarships for Master’s and PhD study in the UK are offered for 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 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.
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 (for a full list of eligible countries, see the terms and conditions)
- Be available to start your academic studies in the UK by the start of the UK academic year in September/October 2017
- By August 2017, hold a first degree of either first or upper second class (2:1) classification, or lower second class (2:2) classification plus a relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a Master’s degree)
- 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
Scholarship Worth:
Shared Scholarships are jointly funded by the CSC and participating UK universities. Each Scholarship provides:
- Approved airfare from your home country to the UK and return at the end of your award (arranged by the university; funded by the CSC)
- Approved tuition and examination fees (funded by the CSC)
- Stipend (living allowance) at the rate of £1,043 per month, or £1,279 per month for those studying at universities in the London metropolitan area (rates quoted at 2016-2017 levels) (paid and funded by the university)
- Warm clothing allowance (paid and funded by the university)
- Study travel grant towards the costs of study-related travel within the UK or overseas (claimed from and paid by the university; funded by the CSC)
- Excess baggage allowance, up to an annual approved limit, when returning home (claimed from and paid by the university; funded by the CSC)
Additional allowances for spouses or other dependants are not usually available.
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. For a full list of participating universities, see pages 6-7. For a full list of eligible courses, visit http://bit.ly/cscuk-shared-scholarship-courses
- You must make your application using the CSC’s Electronic Application System (EAS) – information on how to use the EAS, including detailed guides, is available at http://bit.ly/cscuk-shared-scholarship
- Before applying, you must check with your UK university for their specific advice, admission requirements, and rules for applying. Some universities may require you to complete their own admissions application form as well, which may have a separate closing date.
- You must take the necessary steps to secure admission to your chosen course(s) at your preferred university/universities at the same time as applying for a Shared Scholarship. For a full list of contact details, visit http://bit.ly/cscuk-shared-scholarship-courses
- 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.
- All applications must be submitted by 29 March 2017 at the latest. Each university has its own closing date for applications, and most are before 29 March 2017.
- The CSC will not accept any applications that are not submitted via the EAS to your UK university or applications directly from individuals; such applications will not be acknowledged.
For More Information:
Visit the Official Webpage of the Commonwealth Shared Scholarships 2017