The Commonwealth Distance Learning Masters Scholarships are opened to applicants from the Commonwealth developing countries. The program is one of three Master’s initiatives by the Commonwealth Scholarships Commission. Funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), these scholarships aim to facilitate access to training and skills required for sustainable development, not available in the applicants’ home countries.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must be:
- A citizen or have been granted refugee status granted by an eligible Commonwealth country, or a British Protected Person.
- A permanent resident in a developing Commonwealth country.
- Hold a first degree of at least upper second class (2:1) standard. A lower qualification and sufficient relevant experience may be considered in certain cases.
- Unable to afford to study the program without this scholarship.
Eligible Countries
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.
Benefits
A Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship covers tuition fees and study grants where required. Other scholarships, awards, or bursaries covering the same costs may not be held concurrently.
Selection Process
Each participating UK University conducts its recruitment process to select applicants. The CSC confirms eligibility, and universities notify results to applicants in July 2024.
Choosing a University/Course
A list of eligible courses for 2024 can be found on the how to apply tab, sorted by CSC development theme. Candidates may find the following resources useful when researching their choices of institution:
How to Apply
Applications must be made through the CSC’s online application system. The deadline is March 28, 2024, 16:00 GMT. The scholarships are for study beginning in September/October 2024. Applicants must apply and secure admission to study an approved Master’s course at a participating UK university in addition to applying for the scholarship via the CSC’s online application system.
View full list of approved courses and participating UK universities.
For more information and to apply, visit the Official Webpage of the Commonwealth Distance Learning Masters Scholarships.
