Federal Ministry of Education Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship 2024 / 2025

The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (CSC) provides the UK government scholarship scheme led by international development objectives. It operates within the framework of the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP) and offers a vivid demonstration of the UK’s enduring commitment to the Commonwealth.

Sponsor:The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK
Deadline : 15th October, 2024

Selection Process and Criteria

Applications will be considered according to the following selection criteria:

• Academic merit
• Quality of research proposal
• Potential impact on the development of the candidate’s home country.

Purpose

• Funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships enable talented and motivated individuals to gain the knowledge and skills required for sustainable development, and are aimed at those who could not otherwise afford to study in the UK.

Beneficiaries

• Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships are for candidates from eligible low and middle income Commonwealth countries, to undertake full-time taught Master’s study at a UK university.

Eligibility

To be considered for this scholarship, applicants 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 2025.
• By September 2025, hold a First Degree of at least upper second-class (2:1) honours standard, or a lower second-class Degree and a relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a Master’s Degree)*.
• The CSC would not normally fund a second Master’s Degree. If applying for a second Master’s degree, applicants must provide justification as to why they wish to undertake this study.
• Be unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship.
• Have provided all supporting documentation in the required format.
• The CSC recognises that disabled people have often faced and overcome challenges or barriers in their education journey which have prevented them achieving the academic requirement for a Commonwealth Scholarship.
• Disabled applicants who can demonstrate their potential to contribute to international development but who do not hold a 2:1 Undergraduate degree may be considered for a contextualised nomination through the Commonwealth Disabled People’s Forum nominator. For more information, please contact CDPF directly using the details on our NGOs and charitable body nominators page.
• The CSC aims to identify talented individuals who have the potential to make change. We are committed to a policy of equal opportunity and non-discrimination and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants. For further information on the support available to scholars who share that they have a disability, see the CSC disability support statement.
• There is no age limit for CSC applications. Applicants are advised to confirm with their employers any age restrictions on leave entitlement they may have in place.

Tenure and Placement

• Scholarships are tenable at any approved UK university or higher education institution with which the CSC has a part-funding agreement for a specific programme of study. For the full list, see here: cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/uk-universities
• Scholarships are to obtain one degree; funding will not be extended to enable candidates to complete a qualification in addition to or higher than that for which the selection was made.
• Scholarships are made in respect of full-time study only and no other course of study may be undertaken at the same time.
• The CSC does not provide new direct financial or promotional support for the fossil fuel energy sector overseas, defined as the extraction, production, transportation, refining and marketing of crude oil, natural gas or thermal coal, as well as any fossil-fuel fired power plants.
• The CSC funds one-year taught Master’s programmes only and does not fund MBA degrees.
• Applicants must make clear in the application which qualification they are applying for. This will enable the CSC to consider the application in the correct category. Applications which do not make this clear may be considered ineligible.
• Applicants are advised to list three universities and courses that they think are the most appropriate for their study, in order of preference, and to explain their reasons. This is important because the CSC will not change the university or course (or the order of preference) of a provisionally selected candidate after the point of selection, unless exceptional information becomes available that could not have been foreseen at the time of application.
• The CSC will make the final decision on institution of study, and reserves the right to overrule any preferences indicated by the applicant. The CSC will consider the suitability of the course and its value for money when deciding on any overrule.
• Applicants must take the necessary steps to apply for admission to their preferred universities in advance of their scholarship application. Many courses have strict admission deadlines and candidates should check admission requirements carefully when applying.
• If an applicant is selected for a scholarship and has not applied and been accepted for a course, it may not be possible to proceed with the scholarship.