Commonwealth Master's Scholarships

Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships

The Commonwealth Scholarship council (CSC), sponsored by the Department for International Development (DFID), runs all the UK government scholarship schemes. These schemes are based on international development objectives.
Scholarships offered by CSC usually target individuals from low and middle-income countries.

Scholarship Overview

The Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships enable motivated and talented individuals the opportunity to gain the skills and knowledge necessary for sustainable development.
Through this scholarship scheme, students from low and middle-income Commonwealth countries who would not normally be able to afford to study in the UK are able to pursue full-time master’s courses at UK universities.

Host School(s)

Fields of Study

How many scholarships are given?

What does the scholarship cover?

Recipients of this scholarship receive:

Approved airfare from one’s home country to the UK and back at the end of the award period
A warm clothing allowance (where applicable)
Approved tuition fees
A living allowance (stipend) of £1110 per month, or £1362 per month for those studying in the London metropolitan area
A thesis grant covering the cost of preparation of a thesis or dissertation, where applicable
A study travel grant towards the cost of study-related travel within the UK or overseas
Individuals who are widowed, divorced or single parents receive a child allowance of £476 per month for the first child and £117 per month for the 2^nd and 3^rd child. This applies to children under the age of 16 who are accompanying the scholarship recipient to the UK and living at the same address.

Which countries are targeted?

Am I Eligible to Apply?

To qualify for this scholarship, you must:

Be a permanent resident of an eligible commonwealth country.
Be a citizen of or have already received refugee status from an eligible Commonwealth country, or be a British Protected Person.
Hold a first degree of at least an upper 2^nd class (2:1) honors, or a second class degree (2:2) and a relevant postgraduate qualification. Note that the CSC does not usually fund a 2^nd master’s degree undertaken in the UK.
Be available to start the study program at the start of the UK academic year in September/October 2020.
Not be in a position to fund your studies in the UK without this scholarship
Have provided all the supporting documents in the required format.

How do I Apply – Next Steps

Applications are made through any one of the nominating bodies indicated below.
National nominating agencies (the main application route)
Selected non-governmental organizations and charitable bodies
Each nominating body is responsible for its own selection process, and as such, may have additional eligibility criteria.
After applying to the nominating body, all applicants must make their application through the CSC’s online application system.
It is advisable to complete applications early, as the system may get clogged closer to the deadline.

Supporting Documents

Proof of citizenship or refugee status uploaded directly onto the online application system
Full transcripts indicating your higher education qualifications. These should include the most recent transcripts for any qualifications you currently study. Upload everything into the online application system.
References from at least 2 people. These are submitted by the referees, onto the online application portal.

Closing Date

How do I get more information?