DEADLINE: 18 OCTOBER 2022
The agency-nominated Master’s programme is one of three Master’s programmes offered by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission. Funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships enable talented and motivated individuals to gain the knowledge and skills required for sustainable development, and are aimed at those who could not otherwise afford to study in the UK. Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships are for candidates from eligible low and middle income Commonwealth countries, to undertake full-time taught Master’s study at a UK university.
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.
SCHOLARSHIP BENEFITS
Applications will be considered according to the following selection criteria:
Academic merit of the candidate
Quality of the plan of study
Potential impact on the development of the candidate’s home country
Scholarships are tenable at any approved UK university or higher education institution with which the CSC has a part funding agreement for a specific programme of study. Scholarships are to obtain one degree; funding will not be extended to enable candidates to complete a qualification in addition to or higher than that for which the selection was made. Scholarships are made in respect of full-time study only and no other course of study may be undertaken at the same time. The CSC funds one-year taught Master’s programmes only and does not fund MBAs.
You must take the necessary steps to apply for admission to your preferred universities in advance of your scholarship application. If you are selected for a Scholarship and have not applied and been accepted for the course(s) for which you are selected it may not be possible to proceed with your Scholarship.
Each scholarship provides:
Approved airfare from your home country to the UK and return at the end of your award (the CSC will not reimburse the cost of fares for dependants, nor the cost of journeys made before your award is confirmed)
Approved tuition fees: full fees are covered by agreement between the CSC and the UK university, and scholars are not liable to pay for any part of the tuition fee
Stipend (living allowance) at the rate of £1,236 per month, or £1,516 per month for those at universities in the London metropolitan area (rates quoted at current levels)
Warm clothing allowance, where applicable
Thesis grant towards the cost of preparing a thesis or dissertation, where applicable
Study travel grant towards the cost of study-related travel within the UK or overseas
If you have children and are widowed, divorced, or a single parent, child allowance of £529 per month for the first child, and £131 per month for the second and third child under the age of 16, if you are accompanied by your children and they are living with you at the same address in the UK (rates quoted at current levels)
If you share that you have a disability, a full assessment of your needs and eligibility for additional financial support will be offered by the CSC
NOMINATING AGENCY
Applications must be made using the CSC’s online application system. Candidates must apply to one of the below nominating agencies as well as to the CSC. Nominating agencies will then put forward candidates to the CSC. The CSC does not accept direct applications for these scholarships.
Candidates must also complete an application using the CSC’s online application system, in addition to any other application required to be completed by the nominating agency. The CSC is unable to accept any applications that are not submitted via the online application system.
National Nominating Agencies
Ms Senza Bhembe
Under Secretary - Human Resource Development
Office 211, Second Floor, Finance Building
Department of Human Resource Development
Ministry of Public Service
Tel: +268 2404 3521/5
Email: senzabhembe@gmail.com
NGO Nominating Agencies:
The Knowledge Institute (through HALI): this is ONLY for students who have previously volunteered with TKI or completed one of our programs
Cannon Collins Education
Commonwealth Disabled Peoples Forum: this application route is for disabled candidates only. Candidates must also be able to demonstrate how their studies will lead to an improvement in the position of disabled people in their country.
Forum for African Women Educationalists: this is for female candidates only
Each nominating agency oversees its own selection process and may have additional eligibility criteria. Candidates must check with the nominating agency for their specific advice and rules for applying, and their own eligibility criteria. Nominating agencies may have set their own internal closing date for applications.
ELIGIBILITY
To apply for these scholarships, candidates must:
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 an eligible Commonwealth country
Be available to start academic studies in the UK by the start of the UK academic year in September 2023
By September 2023, hold a first degree of at least upper second class (2:1) honours standard, or a second class degree (2:2) and a relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a Master’s degree)*. The CSC would not normally fund a second UK Master’s degree. If you are applying for a second UK Master’s degree, you will need to provide justification as to why you wish to undertake this study
Be unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship
Have provided all supporting documentation in the required format
The CSC does not require any candidates to take an IELTS (English language) test. You should note, however, that, as a further condition of your scholarship, you may be required by your university to provide evidence of a particular level of English language proficiency.
HOW TO APPLY
Applications must be made using the CSC’s online application system.
In the application form, candidates will be asked to:
List all undergraduate and postgraduate university qualifications obtained
List up to 10 publications and prizes
Provide details of employment history and explain how each job is relevant to the programme to be undertaken in the UK
Provide a statement on the relevance of previous work experience to the proposed Scholarship
List names and positions of three referees who are qualified to comment on both capacity to benefit from the proposed Scholarship in the UK and the candidate’s ability to deliver development impact afterwards. One of your referees must be a current employer (if applicable)
Provide a Development Impact statement in 4 parts:
In the first past, development issues at the global, national, and local level, and development issues connected to your chosen CSC development theme and the wider sector.
In the second part you should explain how you intend to apply your new skills once your Scholarship ends
In the third part you should outline what you expect will change in development terms following your Scholarship
In the fourth part you should write about how the impact of your work could be best measured
CHOOSING A COURSE
You are advised to list three universities and courses that you think are the most appropriate for your study, in order of preference, and to explain your reasons. This is important because the CSC will not change the university or course (or the order of preference) of a provisionally selected candidate after the point of selection, unless exceptional information becomes available that could not have been foreseen at the time of application.
The CSC will make the final decision on institution of study, and reserves the right to overrule any preferences indicated by the candidate. The CSC will consider the suitability of the course and its value for money when deciding on any overrule.
You may find the following resources useful when researching your choices of institution and course of study in the UK:
Study UK – British Council website, with guidance for international students and a course and institution search
Steps to Postgraduate Study – a guide to asking the right questions about taught postgraduate study in the UK
Postgrad.com – information for postgraduate students, with a course search
Prospects – information on postgraduate study in the UK
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
The CSC is not responsible for the content of external sites.