Spotlight On: Commonwealth Masters Scholarships

This blog was originally published in 2018. We've checked and updated it for current readers. Commonwealth Scholarship applications for the 2023-24 academic year are now closed, but are expected to reopen for 2024-25 in September 2023.

As someone who runs a funding advice clinic at our postgraduate study events, I know that finding support for international study in the UK can be tricky. Whilst government loans and scholarships are available, many are restricted to UK and EU students. There are some exceptions to that rule though. And one of them is accepting applications now.

The Commonwealth Masters Scholarships are awarded by the UK Department for International Development specifically for international students who want to make a difference in their home country.

They provide generous funding during your course, plus the recognition and respect that come with winning a prestigious international scholarship. In fact, the Commonwealth Scholarships are one of the most high-profile postgraduate funding programmes in the world: alumni have gone on to become leading politicians, academic researchers and Nobel Prize winners.

All scholarship winners have the full cost of their Masters paid. You'll also recieve other financial support, including:

• A living allowance of £1,256 per month (£1,516 in London)
• Airfare to and from the UK at the beginning and end of your Masters

Money is also be available to help you purchase warm clothes (the weather here in the UK is famously unpredictable!) and cover other course costs such as study travel or thesis printing.

Once you graduate you'll be part of the Commonwealth Scholars alumni network, with opportunities to join local associations and share in their reputation and connections.

The scholarships are open to applicants from 44 different Commonwealth countries.

You must be resident in your home country when you apply (no the UK) and you must not already be able to afford to come to the UK and study a Masters through your own means.

To be successful you'll also need to demonstrate strong academic ability and the potential to use your degree to help develop your home country:

• You'll need to hold a Bachelors degree with a 2.1 or higher (or the equivalent in your home country) - or expect to achieve one before your Masters starts.
• You'll need to have a plan for returning home after your Masters and helping to support the scholarships' aims by contributing to governance, healthcare, science, technology and other areas.

The Commonwealth Masters Scholarships I'm covering in this blog are only for students who want to study in the UK.

The scholarships are organised by the Commonwealth Scholarships Commission (CSC). But you don't actually apply directly to the CSC or your university for funding. Instead you apply to a nominating agency in your home country. Normally this will be your own Ministry of Education (or similar).

(Note that you'll still need to apply for a Masters at your university. But you don't apply to them for the Commonwealth Scholarship.)

Once you've been nominated by your agency you should make your own application online.

Your application will also need some supporting materials:

• Proof of citizenship (demonstrating that you are a citizen of an eligible Commonwealth country, or have refugee status there)
• Academic transcripts detailing your undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications
• Two references (your referees will need to upload these themselves, so make sure you give them plenty of time)

This is just a quick summary of the main application process. I'd suggest you also read the full details on the Commonwealth Scholarships Commission website.

The Commonwealth Scholarships are competitive and only the best applicants are successful. But there's no reason why that can't be you - particularly if you bear the following in mind:

#1 Remember what these scholarships are for

These scholarships will cover the cost of your degree in the UK (quite generously) but they don't just exist to fund Masters degrees.

The CSC is looking to support students who are going to use a postgraduate qualification to make a difference at home. By demonstrating that clearly and convincingly you can give yourself a potential advantage - even if your academic grades aren't as strong as some other applicants'.

#2 Theme your application

This is connected to the first point. The CSC awards scholarships with six development 'themes' in mind:

1. Science and technology for development
2. Strengthening health systems and capacity
3. Promoting global prosperity
4. Strengthening global peace, security and governance
5. Strengthening resilience and response to crisis
6. Access, inclusion and opportunity

As you can probably see, these themes actually have a lot in common, but it's worth thinking about which are best suited to your course and career plans. An application that can explain which theme or themes it fits under is going to be more impressive than one that looks like it's ignored them.

#3 Be clear on eligibility

I've summarised the key eligibility criteria in this blog, but make sure you check the specifics for yourself before you put time and effort into your application. Be sure that your country (and your intended university) are part of the scheme.

#4 Look at alumni

Want to know what a winning Commonwealth Scholarship application looks like? Take a look at some previous Commonwealth Scholars. The topics they've studied and the careers they've gone on to will help you decide what to focus on and emphasise.

Most alumni associations have their own websites and networks.

#5 Don't use unofficial application services

Perhaps my most important piece of advice is to be wary of whose advice you accept - especially if it costs money.

This blog is just here to help explain the scholarships and draw your attention to important details. Some other websites may sell application processing services or offer to serve as agencies. The official CSC system will never charge you for your application.

#6 Be realistic about your chances

The CSC typically receives around three times as many applications as there are available scholarships. That means you definitely shouldn't rely on a Commonwealth Scholarship as your only international funding option for a UK Masters.

But, compared to some competitive scholarship awards, a one-in-three chance isn't actually that low. Don't be put off applying must because success isn't guaranteed.

Be realistic, but believe in yourself too. Good luck!

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