The United Kingdom Commonwealth Scholarship for the year 2024 stands as a fully funded educational initiative extended by the UK government, financially underwritten by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).
This prestigious academic grant presents prospective opportunities for scholars hailing from economically modest Commonwealth nations, encompassing both low and middle-income brackets.
Aspiring minds may opt for a one-year master's degree program or a three-year Ph.D. scholarship, making this scholarship scheme a beacon of academic excellence in the UK, sharing the limelight with renowned programs such as Chevening and Gates Cambridge.
Information on the UK Commonwealth Scholarship 2024/25 (Masters, PhD)
- Host Country: United Kingdom
- Scholarship Name: Commonwealth Scholarship Commission
- Eligibility: Open to Master's and PhD candidates
- Financial Coverage: Full funding provided
Application Deadlines:
- Commonwealth Masters Scholarship: The deadline is 17:00 hours BST (16:00 GMT) on October 17, 2023.
- Commonwealth PhD Scholarship: The deadline is 17:00 hours BST (16:00 GMT) on October 17, 2023.
The Commonwealth Scholarship application process unfolds through two pivotal stages
1. Commonwealth Online Application System
Mandatory adherence to the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) mandate requires all applicants to channel their submissions exclusively through the CSC's web-based application portal.
Prudence dictates that prospective candidates complete their submissions well in advance, as procrastination may trigger a surge in online traffic during the eleventh hour, potentially precipitating technical impediments.
2. Petitioning the Nominating Agency
In addition to the CSC application, candidates must also proffer their petitions to the nominating agency, typically the apex higher education authority within their nation's borders.
The dual tracks of master's and Ph.D. scholarships offer varying options for nominating bodies, including national nominating agencies, designated universities or academic institutions, as well as select non-governmental organizations and philanthropic entities.
It is incumbent upon applicants to acquaint themselves with their native nominating agency's specific guidelines and ascertain their eligibility criteria, which might encompass distinct application deadlines.
Typically, nominating agencies bear the responsibility of disseminating information about the Commonwealth scholarship opportunities via their official web domains, potentially stipulating unique submission cut-off dates. The agency's evaluation culminates in the nomination of deserving scholars to the esteemed Commonwealth Committee, slated for completion by December 2023.
Also Read: Top 10 Scholarships for Asylum Seekers in the UK in 2022
The outcome of the Application
By July 2024, applicants can anticipate receiving formal notifications detailing the outcome of their submissions.
Financial Coverage
The Commonwealth Scholarship program offers a comprehensive financial umbrella, encompassing:
- Facilitation of Return Airfare
- Full Tuition Fee Coverage
- A Monthly Stipend (amounting to either £1,347 or £1,652 per month, contingent on the specific scholarship)
- Provision for Cold-Weather Attire
- Allocation for Thesis-Related Expenses
- Facilitation of Supplementary Travel Grants
Additional allowances for individuals bereaved, separated, or single parents entrusted with offspring below the age of 16, encompassing financial support for child care.
Compulsory Supporting Documents
Applicants are under obligation to furnish a suite of essential documents in conjunction with their applications, encompassing:
- Proof of citizenship from a Commonwealth-eligible jurisdiction.
- A Photocopy of a Valid Passport.
- Complete transcripts detailing the entirety of their educational undertakings, including their current academic pursuits, furnished alongside certified translations if the documents are not in the English language.
- Endorsements from a minimum of two referees, presented in PDF format, featuring authentic signatures and affixed on institutional letterhead or within emails, prominently displaying the sender's pertinent contact information.
Guidance for Aspirants
Prospective candidates will unearth invaluable insights and counsel concerning Commonwealth Scholarships within the Advice for Applicants segment. Furthermore, when confronted with the pivotal choice of university and field of study, applicants can access a myriad of resources and hyperlinks to facilitate judicious decision-making.
Choosing a University and Course
Applicants are tasked with selecting both their preferred university and course of study. Below, we provide valuable links to aid you in making these important decisions.
1. Study UK – British Council Website**: This resource offers guidance tailored for international students and features a comprehensive search tool for courses and institutions.
2. Steps to Postgraduate Study: This guide is designed to help you ask the right questions when considering postgraduate studies in the UK.
3. Postgrad.com: Here, you'll find a wealth of information catering to postgraduate students, including a course search feature.
4. Prospects: This website provides extensive information about postgraduate study opportunities in the UK.
5. Research Excellence Framework 2021 Results: Access the results of a system that evaluates the quality of research in UK higher education institutions.
6. UCAS Postgraduate: Gain insights and guidance on how to locate and apply for postgraduate courses.
7. Discover Uni: Visit the official website for comparing data on higher education courses in the UK.
8. UKCISA (UK Council for International Student Affairs): This resource offers advice specifically aimed at international students who are in the process of choosing their course of study.
Additionally, for applicants with a low CGPA, it's advisable to consider universities located in smaller cities. You can explore more detailed information on this topic in our blog on studying in the UK with a low CGPA in 2023.
Eligible Nations for the Commonwealth UK Scholarship in 2024
The coveted Commonwealth UK Scholarship of 2024 extends its embrace to citizens and permanent residents emanating from the subsequent nations:
- 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
Eligibility Criteria for Aspirants
Prospective beneficiaries of the Commonwealth Scholarship must fulfill the ensuing prerequisites:
- Possess citizenship status or have obtained refugee status within the ambit of eligible nations.
- Stand available to embark upon their academic voyage
- Hold, by the stipulated timeline of September 2024, a primary degree boasting a minimum of an upper second-class (2:1) honors designation, or a lower second-class degree augmented by a pertinent postgraduate qualification, conventionally a Master's degree.
- Manifest financial exigency rendering them incapable of pursuing academic pursuits within the UK sans this scholarship.
- Tender all requisite supporting documentation, meticulously adhering to stipulated format criteria.
Scholarship Duration
The temporal span of the scholarship initiative fluctuates contingent on the chosen academic trajectory:
- A solitary year for master's degree courses with a didactic emphasis.
- A more protracted three-year duration for those embarking on full-time Ph.D. journeys.
Deadline for Application
Prospective applicants are enjoined to submit their applications for the Commonwealth Scholarship in the 2024/25 academic year via the CSC's online application gateway before the cut-off date of 17th October 2023.
Hyperlinks to the Commonwealth Scholarship Web Portals
To initiate the application process for the Commonwealth Master's Scholarship, please navigate to the following link: Commonwealth Master's Scholarship Application
Conversely, those with designs on the Commonwealth Ph.D. Scholarship can commence their journey through this portal: Commonwealth Ph.D. Scholarship Application
