The Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship is a fantastic opportunity for students from the Commonwealth to gain a world-class education from the UK, without the need to leave their home country. Administered by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC), this scholarship aims to promote access to quality education and foster international collaboration.
Apply: 2024 Higher School of Economics Russian Government Scholarship
By fostering collaboration across Commonwealth nations, this scholarship contributes to building a global community of scholars committed to positive change.
Scholarship Details
This scholarship covers tuition fees and study grants where required. Other scholarships, awards, or bursaries that cover the same costs may not be held concurrently. These scholarships support distance learning Master’s degree courses offered in partnership with local providers in eligible countries, as well as courses delivered directly by UK universities.
For the 2024/25 academic year, applications are now open and the deadline for submission is 16:00 GMT on Thursday, 28 March 2024. The scholarships are intended for study beginning in September/October 2024.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants must be citizens of a Commonwealth country.
- They should hold a first degree of at least upper second-class (2:1) standard or a second-class degree and a relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a Master’s degree).
- Candidates must demonstrate proficiency in English (usually through an IELTS or TOEFL score).
Fields of Study
The scholarship covers a wide range of disciplines, including but not limited to:
- Health and Medicine
- Education
- Agriculture
- Environmental Studies
- Engineering
- Social Sciences
- Information Technology
Scholarship Benefits
- Full tuition fees for the chosen distance learning program.
- A stipend to cover study-related expenses (books, internet, etc.).
- Support for research costs and fieldwork (if applicable).
- The scholarship covers the entire duration of the chosen program, which can be up to 3 years.
Application Process
- The application process requires supporting documentation, including
- proof of citizenship or refugee status in an eligible Commonwealth country,
- full transcripts detailing all higher education qualifications, and
- references from at least two individuals.
Apply now: 2024 Imperial College London Shawki Saad Scholarship
These documents must be uploaded to the application system by the deadline.
Once applications are submitted, they will be shared with UK universities, who will nominate their chosen applicants to receive a Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship in May 2024. The CSC will then check that the nominated applicants meet the CSC’s eligibility criteria. Universities will inform applicants if they have successfully been awarded a Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship in July 2024.
Selection Criteria
Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed by the CSC on
- Academic merit
- Relevance of the chosen course to development goals
- Potential impact on the candidate’s home country
How to Apply
To apply, candidates must use the CSC’s online application system. It’s important to note that the CSC will not accept any applications or documentation not submitted via this system.
- Interested candidates should apply directly to their chosen university offering eligible distance learning courses.
- applicants must also secure admission to study an approved Master’s course at a participating UK university.
- Applicants can apply for more than one course and to more than one university, but they may only accept one offer of a Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship.
