Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship

Administered by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) in the UK, Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships are meant for students from developing countries. This scholarship is for meritorious students beginning their studies in the UK and have secured admission to a one-year master’s program.

Applications for the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship are accepted through a nomination process.
Eligible applicants must not be able to afford education in UK universities without financial support.
Selections are based on academic merit, personal statement, references, and interviews (if required).
There is no reservation system established by the commission.

The Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships cover the airfare, living costs, tuition fees, travel costs, and even thesis or dissertation preparation costs. Furthermore, recipients with children are provided with allowances in certain conditions and a certain amount for warm clothing if needed.
Note: Applications for Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship are closed for 2023/24 session. Checkout: Other Commonwealth Scholarships for 2023

Highlights

Scholarship Type	Merit-Based
Offered by	Trust
Organization	Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the United Kingdom (CSC)
Application Deadline	N/A
Number of Scholarships	N/A
Amount	Variable Amount
Renewability	No
International Student Eligible	Yes
Scholarship Website Link	https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/scholarships/commonwealth-masters-scholarships/

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants of the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship must fulfill the eligibility criteria mentioned below:

Citizens of an eligible Commonwealth country like India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, South Africa, Malaysia, etc.
Available to start your academic studies in the UK in September 2023.
Completed your undergraduate degree by September 2023.
Unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship
Submitted supporting documents in the required format.

Different UK universities and institutions have different requirements for admission to a particular course. These scholarships are for full-time taught courses only and are offered in six main subject matters which are:

Science and technology for development
Strengthening health systems and capacity
Promoting global prosperity
Strengthening global peace, security, and governance
Strengthening resilience and response to crises
Access, inclusion, and opportunity

Note: It may be possible that CSC does not require a particular qualification for eligibility but that is a must for seeking admission at a UK institution, in that case, the applicant has to fulfill the requirement of the institution as admission is mandatory for the scholarship.

For Example, an English proficiency test is not an eligibility criterion for the CSC but it is a criterion for most of the UK universities or institutions for admission.

Application Process

Applicants are required to submit a separate Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship form. However, CSC does not accept direct applications for these scholarships.

Prospective applicants must apply via one of the following nominating bodies:

National nominating agencies (main route of the application).
Selected non-governmental organizations

Once again, applicants must note that the applications made by one of the above options will be accepted.

Also, CSC specifies the documentation to be uploaded along with

Two reference forms, to be completed online only
Scanned copies of academic transcripts
Proof of citizenship
Scanned copy of the Passport
An Admission letter (optional)
A supporting statement from a professor (university you are enrolling into)

All these documents must be uploaded in a particular size and file type specifications. For Indian applicants, the address for the nominating agency:

Director
Ministry of Human Resource Development
Department of Higher Education
External Scholarships Division
West Block-1, 2nd Floor, Wing-6
R K Puram New Delhi 110066
India
Tel: +91 11 261 72492
Fax: +91 11 2338 1355
www.mhrd.gov.in

Selection Process

The nominating bodies have to submit the best applications by a specified timeline to the CSC. As the number of applications invited is manifold than the number of scholarships, the selections are made on certain preset criteria. However, there are NO reservations or country-preferences.

The Selection Committee selects the applicants based on their

Academic qualifications
Financial need
Personal statement, highlighting career goals and ability to contribute to the country’s progress.

As the applicants are from commonwealth countries which are also developing countries, one of the main considerations is to take one’s country on the road of development effectively with the education gained.

The Commission may wish to interview the candidates, before making the final call on selections of Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship. This is to ensure that the selected students are suitable for studies in the UK, such as pursuing a Masters of Finance in the UK.

Grant Details

The Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships are for one year’s Master programs undertaken at a UK University, listed by CSC as partner funding institution.

Benefits of Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship

The Commonwealth scholarship covers the following::

Airfare from Home Country to the destination institution in the UK and back (at the finish of the course)
Tuition Fee
Stipend to cover the living expenses at £1,236 per month, or £1,516 per month
Cost of thesis or dissertation preparation, if required in the course
Study or project-related travel expenses within the UK or overseas
Warm clothing if required

If the accompanying children are below 16 years of age then £529 for the first child and £131 for the second and third child is paid with a condition that the grantee is a single parent or a divorcee or a widow/widower. These children have to stay with the grantee during the term of the award to receive this maintenance.

Terms and Conditions for Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship

The commission has specific terms and conditions for the applicants and recipients of the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship. Everyone is must adhere to these terms:

Recipients must NOT combine this scholarship with any other scholarship to study in the UK.
Applicants are needed to provide an undertaking that they will return to their home country after completing the study program.
One of the bases of selection is the plan of study submitted at the time of admission and recipients are required to adhere to that plan.
Applicants should not undertake any paid employment during the study period.
They must travel and stay in the UK, maintaining full-time student status.
- In case of study-related travel within or outside the UK, prior approval of the CSC must be taken.
Any involvement in the unlawful acts may result in the cancellation of award and visa too.

The applicants selected by the CSC represent their own country as well as the world organizations associated with the scholarship program.

The Commonwealth Scholarships are mainly for those who have the potential to make a difference in their own country's growth but are not financially sound to take up higher degree programs in the UK.