Applications for Commonwealth Shared Scholarships for the 2023/24 academic year are currently open.
Commonwealth Shared Scholarships, which are funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), is aimed at those who would not otherwise be able to afford to study in the UK and allow gifted and motivated people to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary for sustainable development.
The Commonwealth Shared Scholarships are intended for applicants from qualifying low- and middle-income Commonwealth nations who wish to pursue full-time taught Master’s studies 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 Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP) framework 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 upon returning to their home countries, the CSC’s work combines sustainable development with the UK national interest. It provides opportunities for international partnerships and collaboration.
Benefits
Each scholarship provides:
- Approved airfare from the Scholar’s home country to the UK and return at the end of their Scholarship
- Approved tuition fees
- 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
- 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
- Contribution towards the cost of mandatory tuberculosis (TB) test, where required for a visa application (receipts must be supplied)
- If Scholars share that they have a disability, a full assessment of their needs and eligibility for additional financial support will be offered by the CSC.
Eligibility
To apply for the Commonwealth Shared 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
- Not have studied or worked for one (academic) year or more in a high-income country
- Be available to start their 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) honors standard, or a lower second-class degree (2:2) and a relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a Master’s degree)
- Be unable to afford to study in a UK university without this Scholarship
- Have provided all supporting documentation in the required format
Selection Process
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
Application Process
Candidates must upload the following with their application:
- Proof that the applicant is a citizen or has refugee status in an eligible Commonwealth country: a copy of a valid passport (or national ID card) showing a photograph, date of birth, and country of citizenship
- Full transcripts detailing all higher education qualifications, including to-date transcripts for any courses currently being studied, with certified translations if not in English
- two PDF letters of support sent directly to the CSRS at csrs@uvic.ca.
To apply for Commonwealth Shared Scholarships 2023, click here.
Application Deadline: December 13, 2022.
For more information visit the official site.
