FCDO Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships for International Students

Eligibility Criteria

• Eligible Countries: Low and middle-income Commonwealth 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
• Eligible Course or Subjects: The scholarship will be awarded for Full-time taught Master‡s study in any subject offered by the university. These opportunities are offered under the six CSC development themes.
• 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
• Eligibility Criteria: To apply for these endowments, candidates must:
• Be a citizen of or have been granted refugee status by an eligible Commonwealth country, or be a British Protected Person.
• Be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country.
• Be available to start academic studies in the UK by the start of the UK academic year in September 2023
• By September 2023, hold a first degree of at least upper second class (2:1) honours standard or a second class degree (2:2) and relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a Master‡s degree). Applicants applying for a second UK Master’s degree must justify their wish to undertake this study. The CSC would not normally fund a second UK Master‡s degree.
• Be unable to afford to study in the UK without this application
• Have provided all supporting documentation in the required format

Offered Benefits

Each scholarship provides the following:

• Approved airfare from your home country to the UK and return at the end of your award (the CSC will not reimburse the cost of fares for dependants, nor the cost of journeys made before your award is confirmed)
• Approved tuition fees: full fees are covered by the agreement between the CSC and the UK university, and scholars are not liable to pay for any part of the tuition fee
• Stipend (living allowance) at the rate of £1,236 per month, or £1,516 per month for those at universities in the London metropolitan area (rates quoted at current levels)
• Warm clothing allowance, where applicable
• Thesis grant towards the cost of preparing a thesis or dissertation, where applicable
• Study travel grant towards the cost of study-related travel within the UK or overseas
• If you have children and are widowed, divorced, or a single parent, a child allowance of £529 per month for the first child, and £131 per month for the second and third child under the age of 16, if you are accompanied by your children and they are living with you at the same address in the UK (rates quoted at current levels)
• If you share a disability, the CSC will offer a full assessment of your needs and eligibility for additional financial support.

Application Process

The mode of application is online.

• How to Apply: Applications must be made using the  CSC‡s online application system. Candidates must apply to one of the below-nominating agencies and the CSC. Nominating agencies will then put-forward candidates to the CSC.
• The CSC does not accept direct applications for these endowments.
• National nominating agencies–the main route of applications.
• Selected non-governmental organizations and charitable bodies
• Supporting Documents: Candidates must upload the following documents with the application:
• Proof that the applicant is a citizen or has refugee status in an eligible Commonwealth country: a copy of a valid passport (or national ID card) showing a photograph, date of birth, and country of citizenship.
• Full transcripts detailing all higher education qualifications, including to-date transcripts for any courses currently being studied, with certified translations if not in English.
• References from at least two individuals on institutional letterhead or an email clearly show the sender’s details.
• Admission Requirements: Entry requirements for University courses vary from country to country.
• Admission Requirements: University courses’ admission requirements vary from country to country.
• Language Requirement: If applicants’ English is not their first language, they will need to submit proof of English proficiency at a university in the UK.