The 2024 UK Commonwealth Scholarship, generously funded by the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), stands as a beacon of educational opportunity. This remarkable scholarship initiative extends its benevolent reach to aspiring scholars hailing from the diverse tapestry of low and middle-income Commonwealth nations. It empowers them with the chance to embark on an enriching academic journey, encompassing both a one-year master’s degree program and a three-year Ph.D. scholarship.
The Commonwealth Scholarship, a distinguished member of the illustrious league of UK scholarships that includes the prestigious Chevening and Gates Cambridge awards, holds a position of utmost significance. It symbolizes a commitment to fostering global talent and nurturing the intellectual prowess of promising individuals, ensuring they have access to world-class education and research opportunities.
Prospective applicants are required to submit their applications online for the CSC Scholarship, along with the imperative step of applying through a nominating agency. These dedicated agencies play a pivotal role in the selection process, meticulously curating a pool of candidates who are subsequently presented to the esteemed Commonwealth committee.
These coveted scholarships are tailored for those embarking on their academic journey in the United Kingdom, commencing in the vibrant months of September or October in the year 2024. Below, you will find a comprehensive breakdown of the step-by-step application process for the highly anticipated UK Commonwealth Scholarship 2024/25.
Details About UK Commonwealth Scholarship 2024/25 (Masters, PhD)
- Host Country: UK
- Scholarship Name: Commonwealth Scholarship Commission
- Who can Apply: For Master, and PhD
- Financial Coverage: Fully Funded
- Deadline for Commonwealth Masters Scholarship: 17:00 hours BST (16:00 GMT) on 17 October 2023.
- Deadline for Commonwealth PhD Scholarship: 17:00 hours BST (16:00 GMT) on 17 October 2023
How to Apply for the UK Commonwealth Scholarship?
The journey towards securing the Commonwealth Scholarship 2024 unfolds through a dynamic two-stage process:
1) Commonwealth Online Application System
To apply for the CSC, you must utilize the CSC’s cutting-edge online application system, the portal to your academic aspirations. Please be aware that the CSC exclusively entertains applications and accompanying documentation that have been channeled through this secure online platform. Your pathway to opportunity awaits in this digital realm.
We strongly recommend that applicants promptly complete the application form without delay. Waiting until the final date is not advisable, as the online application system experiences heightened activity during the closing days, which may lead to potential complications and delays. Your proactive approach to this process will ensure a smoother experience and greater peace of mind.
2) Apply to the Nominating Agency
In addition to completing the CSC application, applicants are required to initiate the application process with a nominating agency, a key educational institution representing your nation’s higher education sector.
There are two types of nominating agencies for Master’s scholarships. Check your country name in the links below.
- National nominating agencies – this is the main route of application
- Selected non-governmental organisations and charitable bodies
There are three types of nominating agencies for PhD Scholarships:
- National nominating agencies – this is the main route of application
- Selected universities/university bodies – which can nominate their own academic staff
- Selected non-governmental organisations and charitable bodies
The esteemed nominating agency assumes the pivotal role of channeling deserving scholarship candidates towards the discerning eyes of the CSC for thorough evaluation and consideration. It is important to note that the CSC does not entertain direct applications for these highly sought-after scholarships, emphasizing the significance of the nominating agency’s intermediary function in this transformative process.
Applicants must check the additional eligibility criteria by the nominating agency when they announce the Commonwealth scholarship on their website.
Nominating agencies reserve the prerogative to establish their own deadlines for application submissions.
The designated agencies will duly put forth their selected scholarship candidates to the CSC, a pivotal step scheduled for the month of December in the year 2023.
Outcome of Application
Applicants can get the result by July 2024.
Financial Coverage
The Commonwealth Scholarship will provide each scholarship holder:
- Return Air Ticket
- Covers Full Tuition Fee
- Monthly stipend of £1,347 per month, or £1,652 per month.
- Also covers the warm clothes allowance.
- Thesis Allowance
- Additional Study Travel Grants
- If the candidates are widowed, divorced, or single parents, the scholarship pays the child £576.61 for the first child and £143 per month for the second and third child under the age of 16.
- Additional allowance for a disabled person.
Supporting Documents
Applicants must upload the following documents with the application:
- Proof that they are a citizen of a commonwealth-eligible country.
- A Copy of a Valid Passport
- Full transcripts detailing all higher education qualifications, including to-date transcripts for any courses currently being studied, with certified translations if not in English. Where any transcripts are missing or do not include all pages, the application will be considered ineligible.
- References from at least two individuals, in PDF format, signed and on institutional letterhead or an email clearly showing the sender’s details.
- Advice for Applicants
Applicants may find general information for a Commonwealth Scholarship on the advice for applicants page.
Choosing a University/Course
Applicants have to choose their choice of University and course. Below are the links that will be helpful in choosing the university and course for yourself.
- 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
- Discover Uni– 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
Advice for low CGPA/Academic applicants: If you have a low CGPA then go for the universities that are in smaller cities. You may check our detailed blog on study in UK With Low CGPA in 2023.
Eligible countries for the Commonwealth UK Scholarship 2024
- 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 Applicants
- Be a citizen of or have been granted refugee in the above-mentioned country.
- Permanent resident of one of the above-mentioned countries.
- Be available to start academic studies in September 2024.
- By September 2024, hold a first degree of at least upper second-class (2:1) honors standard, or a lower second-class degree and a relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a Master’s degree).
- Be unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship.
- Have provided all supporting documentation in the required format.
Scholarship Tenure
- One Year taught Master’s programmes
- Three Years of full-time study
Application Deadline
Please submit your application to the Commonwealth Scholarship 2024/25 via the CSC online application before 17 October 2023.
Commonwealth Scholarship Website Link
To Apply for the Commonwealth Master Scholarship: