What is the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship?
The Commonwealth Shared Scholarship (CSSS) is a joint initiative between the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission and UK universities to support students from developing Commonwealth countries. The aim of the scheme is to assist students of excellent academic calibre who, for financial reasons, would not otherwise be able to afford to study in the United Kingdom. Awards are offered for taught Master’s programmes only, and the subjects must be related to the economic, social and technological development of a candidate’s country. The scholarship enables 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. The scholarships are offered under the CSC’s six 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, and Access, inclusion and opportunity.
What are the benefits of receiving a Commonwealth Shared Scholarship?
The benefits of receiving a Commonwealth Shared Scholarship include:
- The opportunity to study at some of the best universities in the United Kingdom.
- The chance to develop skills and knowledge in the chosen field of study, to help contribute to the development of the home country.
- Access to global networks and alumni, allowing recipients to build connections and gain knowledge from fellow Commonwealth scholars.
- A full tuition fee waiver and a generous monthly stipend to cover living costs including accommodation and meals.
- Training and development grants to attend conferences and workshops, as well as access to online resources.
- An allowance for approved study-related travel including flights and visa and health-related costs.
- A special allowance and help with settling in the UK.
- Advice, guidance, and support from the CSC throughout the duration of the scholarship.
Who can apply for a Commonwealth Shared Scholarship?
Candidates who are citizens of a low or middle income Commonwealth country and who have been accepted to study an approved Master’s course at a participating UK university can apply for a Commonwealth Shared Scholarship. The countries that are currently eligible for Commonwealth Shared Scholarships are: Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Cameroon, Dominica, Fiji, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tonga, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Candidates must apply and secure admission to an approved Master’s course before they can apply for a Commonwealth Shared Scholarship via the CSC’s online application system. The CSC is unable to accept any applications that are not submitted via the CSC’s online application system. Applications for Commonwealth Shared Scholarships for the 2023/24 academic year are now open and the closing date for applications is 13 December 2022 at 16:00 GMT.
How to apply for a Commonwealth Shared Scholarship?
Step 1: Check if you are eligible for the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship by going through the eligibility criteria and making sure that you have a bachelor’s degree and belong to one of the eligible Commonwealth countries.
Step 2: Select your desired course from the list of approved courses in six CSC development themes. Please note that you can apply for more than one course, but you will only be able to receive one scholarship for one course.
Step 3: Prepare the set of 10 documents required for the application.
Step 4: Sign up for the online application portal of the Commonwealth Shared Masters Scholarship.
Step 5: Plan to answer the essay questions carefully in the Commonwealth application form.
Step 6: Secure your admission to at least one of the eligible courses in the list of eligible UK universities.
Step 7: Once you have registered and submitted your application to the portal successfully, wait for the result.
Step 8: The UK universities will nominate candidates for the scholarship in March 2023 and the CSC will then check that the nominated candidates meet the CSC’s eligibility criteria. The universities will inform the candidates if they have been successfully awarded a Commonwealth Shared Scholarship in July 2023.
FAQs
What is the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship?
The Commonwealth Shared Scholarship is a joint initiative between the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission and UK universities that offers financial support to students from developing Commonwealth countries. The aim is to enable students of excellent academic calibre from financially disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue postgraduate study in the United Kingdom and contribute to the development of their home countries. Scholarships are for taught Master’s programmes only and are related to the economic, social and technological development of a candidate’s country. Funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), the scholarships are intended for candidates from eligible low and middle-income Commonwealth countries and enable them to gain the knowledge and skills required for sustainable development.
Who is eligible for the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship?
The Commonwealth Shared Scholarship programme is offered by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (CSC) and is open to citizens of, or those who have been granted refugee status by an eligible Commonwealth country, and are permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country. To be eligible for this scholarship, applicants must be available to start their academic studies in the UK by the start of the UK academic year in September 2023, have obtained a first degree of at least upper second-class (2:1) honours standard, or a lower second-class degree (2:2) and a relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a Master’s degree), and must not have studied or worked for one (academic) year or more in a high-income country and must demonstrate that they are unable to afford to study in the UK university without this scholarship. British Protected Persons are also eligible to apply.
What are the selection criteria for the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship?
The selection criteria for the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship are based on academic merit, quality of the plan of study, potential impact on the development of the candidate’s home country, and essay answers. The academic merit of the candidate will be assessed based on the candidate’s academic background and qualifications. The quality of the plan of study and research proposal (for Ph.D. applicants) will also be assessed. Additionally, the potential impact of the candidate’s studies on the development of their home country will also be taken into consideration. Finally, the essay answers provided in the application form will be assessed.
When is the deadline for the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship?
The deadline for the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship is 13 December 2022 at 16:00 GMT. Candidates are advised to complete and submit their applications as early as possible to avoid the rush leading up to the application deadline. For more details, applicants should visit the Commonwealth Scholarships Commission’s website and use the CSC’s online application system.
What are the benefits of the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship?
The Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme (CSSS) offers a range of benefits to students from developing Commonwealth countries. These include:
- Financial support: CSSS provides full tuition fees, a return airfare and a monthly stipend to cover living costs.
- Access to higher education: CSSS provides access to world-class postgraduate education for students from developing Commonwealth countries who might not otherwise be able to afford it.
- Professional development: The scheme helps students gain the knowledge and skills they need to drive economic, social and technological development in their home countries.
- Networking: CSSS provides the opportunity to build connections with other scholars and experts from around the world.
- Cultural exchange: CSSS provides the chance to experience life in the UK and to learn more about its culture and society.
How do I apply for the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship?
Applying for the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship for the 2023-24 academic year can be done by following these simple steps.
- Check the eligibility criteria to make sure you have the necessary bachelor’s degree and you belong to an eligible Commonwealth country.
- Select your desired course from the six CSC development themes available. You can apply for more than one course, but will only be granted a scholarship for one course.
- Prepare the set of 10 documents required for the application.
- Sign up for the online application portal of the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship.
- Plan to answer the essay questions carefully in the Commonwealth application form.
- Secure your admission in at least one of the eligible courses in the list of eligible UK universities.
- Submit the online application form and the required documents.
- Wait for the result.
What documents do I need to submit for the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship?
What documents are required for the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship? [Expanded list]
In order to apply for the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship 2023-24, applicants must submit a variety of documents in order to be considered eligible. These documents include: a valid passport, Europass CV, university unconditional letter, reference letters/recommendation letters, statement of purpose, equivalence certificate, research proposal, English proficiency exams, experience letter (additional document), voluntary work (essay about leadership), Commonwealth essay questions, proof of citizenship/refugee status, full transcripts detailing all higher education qualifications, and certified translations (if not in English). All documents must be submitted by the closing date to be considered eligible.
What is the visa requirement for the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship?
The visa requirement for the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship is that applicants must have a visa to study in the UK by the start of the UK academic year in September 2023.
What is the living allowance for the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship?
The living allowance for the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship is £1,236 per month, or £1,516 per month for those at universities in the London metropolitan area (rates quoted at current levels).
What is the tuition fee stipend provided by the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship?
The tuition fee stipend provided by the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship (CSC) is a payment made by the university to cover the cost of tuition fees for the Scholar. The CSC and the UK university have an agreement in place which means that the Scholar does not have to pay for any part of the tuition fee. The CSC also provides a 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). This payment is to cover the cost of living while studying in the UK.