Scholarship Overview

  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Scholarship Type: Merit-based
  • Institutions: UK Universities
  • Funded by: Commonwealth Scholarships
  • Tuition Type: Full tuition
  • Degree Program: Masters and PhD
  • Scholarship Amount: Tuition fee and Study grants
  • Separate Application Required?: Yes
  • Deadline: 28 March, 2024.

Scholarship Benefits

A scholarship offered by the Commonwealth for distance learning includes the payment of tuition fees and study grants, if necessary. It is not permissible to concurrently hold any other scholarships, awards, or bursaries that cover the same expenses.

Eligibility

In order to meet the eligibility criteria for a Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship, applicants must fulfill the following requirements:

Citizenship: Applicants should be citizens of an eligible Commonwealth country or have been granted refugee status, or they should be British Protected Persons.

Residency: Applicants should be permanent residents of a developing Commonwealth country.

Academic Qualification: Applicants should hold a first degree of at least an upper second class (2:1) standard. In certain cases, a lower qualification along with significant relevant experience may be considered.

Financial Need: Applicants should demonstrate that they are unable to afford the program of study without the support of this scholarship.

How to apply

In the application form, applicants are required to complete the following sections:

Educational Qualifications: Provide a list of all undergraduate and postgraduate university qualifications obtained.

Publications and Prizes: List up to 10 publications and prizes that are relevant to your field of study.

Employment History: Provide details of your employment history and explain how each job is relevant to the program you intend to undertake.

Relevance of Previous Work Experience: Provide a statement outlining the relevance of your previous work experience to the proposed scholarship.

Referees: List the names and positions of two referees who are qualified to comment on your capacity to benefit from the proposed scholarship in the UK and your ability to deliver development impact afterwards. One referee must be a current employer (if applicable).

Development Impact Statement: Provide a Development Impact statement in four parts:

  1. Part 1: Explain how the proposed scholarship relates to development issues at the global, national, and local levels.
  2. Part 2: Describe how the proposed scholarship relates to development issues connected to your chosen CSC development theme and the wider sector.
  3. Part 3: Outline the expected changes in development terms following the scholarship, including the outcomes you aim to achieve, the timeframe for implementation, and the beneficiaries.
  4. Part 4: Discuss how the impact of your work could be best measured and evidenced.

Award Objectives and Career Plans: Confirm your award objectives and how each of them will be met by the scholarship program. Additionally, provide your career plans for the five years following the scholarship and your long-term career plans.

Plan of Study: Provide a detailed plan of study for the proposed program.

Personal Statement: Provide a personal statement summarizing how your personal background has motivated you to make an impact in your home country. You may highlight any significant contributions you have made, including overcoming personal or community barriers in accessing higher education or within your field.

Voluntary Activities and Leadership: Summarize your engagement in voluntary activities and any opportunities you have had to demonstrate leadership.

Additional Information

Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships are specifically designed for candidates from eligible low and middle income Commonwealth countries. These scholarships enable recipients to pursue part-time taught Master’s study with UK universities while residing in their home countries. The aim is to provide access to quality education and training opportunities to individuals who may not be able to study abroad full-time.

Official Website

https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/scholarships/commonwealth-distance-learning-scholarships-candidates/