Best Commonwealth Scholarships 2023/2024 Full List and Websites

Best Commonwealth Scholarships 2021: Are you interested in Commonwealth Scholarships 2023/2024?

I will give you in detail the best Commonwealth Scholarships for 2023/2024, how to apply, and everything you need to know about its eligibility.

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How to Apply For the Commonwealth Scholarship 2021

The applicant should know that the application for the 2021 Commonwealth Scholarships occurs during the November period yearly. The application period is only different when the Commonwealth scholarship is an affiliate to some international Institution.

The application period for these may vary within the midyear. Thus, to apply for any of the commonwealth scholarships below, check out for their deadlines.

What do I stand to get from a commonwealth scholarship?

Commonwealth Scholarships are Fully Funded Scholarships in the UK. The UK government sponsors these Commonwealth scholarships.

Also, This helps students from the Commonwealth Region achieve their dreams educationally. With the 2021 Commonwealth scholarships, you’re entitled to:

• Tuition Fees
• Accommodation fees
• Books Allowance
• VISA and Travel fees
• Feeding Allowance
• Any other Expenses

The Commonwealth Scholarships Application Portal

You must make your application using the CSC’s online application system, in addition to any other application that you are required to complete by your nominating body. The CSC will not accept any applications that are not submitted via the online application system.

Below is the official Commonwealth portal for all country applications. Through this portal, one can choose his/her country and then get the eligibility criteria for their country.

Tap on the button below to explore your country’s eligibility criteria. Meanwhile, you may like to check out our top Commonwealth scholarship before visiting the Commonwealth application portal.

Application Portal

1. Commonwealth Ph.D. Scholarships (for least developed countries and fragile states)

Applications for Commonwealth Ph.D. Scholarships (for least developed countries and fragile states) are now closed.

All supporting documentation must be submitted by 16:00 (GMT) on 20 November 2019 for your application to be eligible for consideration.

Please note that only candidates from the eligible countries listed below can apply for the 2021 Commonwealth Ph.D. Scholarships.

The CSC will not be offering Doctoral Scholarships to countries classified as upper or middle income for receipt of Official Development Assistance (ODA). The CSC will focus doctoral funding on countries classified as least developed and fragile.

Any other doctoral candidates who are interested in a 2021 Commonwealth Scholarship may also be interested in applying directly to the CSC for a Commonwealth Split-site Scholarship (applications will be opening soon).

Commonwealth Ph.D. Scholarships are for candidates from least developed countries and fragile states in the Commonwealth, for full-time doctoral study at a UK university.

Funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID), Commonwealth Ph.D. 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. These scholarships are offered fewer than six themes:

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 crises
6. Access, inclusion, and opportunity

Eligibility:

To apply for these scholarships, you 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 your academic studies in the UK by the start of the UK academic year in September/October 2021
• By September 2021, hold a first degree of at least upper second class (2:1) honors standard, or a second class degree (2:2) and relevant postgraduate qualification (a Master’s degree)
• NOT be registered for a Ph.D., or an MPhil leading to a Ph.D., at a UK university before September/October 2021
• NOT have commenced and been currently registered for a Ph.D., or an MPhil leading to a Ph.D., in your home country or elsewhere
• Have the support of a potential supervisor from at least one UK university listed in your application form
• Have provided all supporting documentation in the required format
• Be unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship

The CSC aims to identify talented individuals who have the potential to make a change. They are committed to a policy of equal opportunity and non-discrimination and encourage applications from a diverse range of candidates. For further information on the support available to candidates with a disability, see the CSC disability support statement.

The CSC is committed to administering and managing its scholarships and fellowships fairly and transparently. For further information, see the CSC anti-fraud policy and the DFID guidance on reporting fraud.

Eligible Commonwealth Countries:

• Bangladesh
• Cameroon
• The Gambia
• Kenya
• Kiribati
• Lesotho
• Malawi
• Mozambique
• Nigeria
• Pakistan
• Rwanda
• Sierra Leone
• Solomon Islands
• Tanzania
• Tuvalu
• Uganda
• Vanuatu
• Zambia

Terms and Conditions:

For full terms and conditions – including further details of the scholarship themes, tenure and placement, value of the scholarship, and general conditions – see the Commonwealth Ph.D. Scholarships 2021 terms and conditions

You should apply to study at a UK university that has a part funding agreement with the CSC. View a full list of UK universities with part funding agreements

Selection Process:

Each year, the CSC invites selected nominating bodies to submit a specific number of nominations. The deadline for nominating bodies to submit nominations to the CSC is 18 December 2021.

The CSC invites around three times more nominations than scholarships available – therefore, nominated candidates are not guaranteed to be awarded a scholarship.

There are no quotas for scholarships for any individual country. Candidates nominated by national nominating agencies compete with those nominated by other nominating bodies, and the same standards will be applied to applications made through either channel.

Applications will be considered according to the following selection criteria:

• Academic merit of the candidate
• Quality of the plan of study
• The potential impact on the development of the candidate’s home country

For further details, see the Commonwealth Ph.D. Scholarships 2021 selection criteria

How to Apply:

You must apply to one of the following nominating bodies in the first instance – the CSC does not accept direct applications for these scholarships:

• National nominating agencies – this is the main route of application
• Selected universities/university bodies, which can nominate their academic staff
• Selected non-governmental organizations and charitable bodies

All applications must be made through one of these nominating bodies. Each nominating body is responsible for its selection process and may have additional eligibility criteria. You must check with your nominating body for their specific advice and rules for applying, their eligibility criteria, and their closing date for applications.

You must make your application using the CSC’s online application system, in addition to any other application that you are required to complete by your nominating body. The CSC will not accept any applications that are not submitted via the online application system.

All applications must be submitted by 16:00 (GMT) on 30 October 2021 at the latest.

You are advised to complete and submit your application as soon as possible, as the online application system will be very busy in the days leading up to the application deadline.

Your application must include the following supporting documentation, by 16:00 (GMT) on 20 November 2021 for your application to be eligible for consideration:

• Proof of citizenship or refugee status – uploaded to the online application system
• Full transcripts detailing all your higher education qualifications including to-date transcripts for any qualifications you are currently studying (with certified translations if not in English) – uploaded to the online application system
• References from at least two individuals – submitted directly by the referees to the online application system (referees will be sent an email request)
• Supporting statement from a proposed supervisor in the UK from at least one of the institutions named on your application form -– submitted directly by your proposed supervisor to the online application system (supervisors will be sent an email request).

It is your responsibility to ensure that your referees and proposed supervisor(s) can complete the references and supporting statements by the deadline and that they receive the reference and statement requests.

The CSC will not accept supporting documentation submitted by nominating agencies or outside the online application system.

Scholarship Link

2. Commonwealth Split-site Scholarships (for low and middle-income countries)

Commonwealth Split-site Scholarships are for Ph.D. candidates from low and middle-income Commonwealth countries, to spend up to 12 months at a UK university as part of their doctoral studies in their home country.

Funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID), Commonwealth Split-site 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. These scholarships are offered fewer than six themes:

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 crises
6. Access, inclusion, and opportunity

Split-site Scholarships are now open

These scholarships are for:

• 12 months study at a UK university as part of an applicant’s doctoral studies in their home country, starting in October 2021
• Applicants who are registered (or will be registered by September 2021) for a Ph.D. at a university in an eligible Commonwealth country
• Study at a UK university with which your home university has an established institutional or departmental link
• Study at a UK university that has a part funding agreement with the CSC. View a full list of UK universities with part funding agreements

Eligible Commonwealth Countries:

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Bangladesh
• Belize
• Botswana
• Cameroon
• Dominica
• Eswatini
• Fiji
• The Gambia
• Ghana
• Grenada
• Guyana
• India
• Jamaica
• Kenya
• Kiribati
• Lesotho
• Malawi
• Malaysia
• Mauritius
• Montserrat
• Mozambique
• Namibia
• Nauru
• Nigeria
• Pakistan
• Papua New Guinea
• Rwanda
• Samoa
• Sierra Leone
• Solomon Islands
• South Africa
• Sri Lanka
• St Helena
• St Lucia
• St Vincent and the Grenadines
• Tanzania
• Tonga
• Tuvalu
• Uganda
• Vanuatu
• Zambia

Terms & Conditions:

Full eligibility criteria are included in the terms and conditions. Please read all sections of the terms and conditions before applying.

How to Apply:

You must make your application directly to the CSC using CSC’s online application system. The CSC will not accept any applications that are not submitted via the online application system. You are not required to apply via a nominating body for these scholarships.

Only one application per applicant for these scholarships will be accepted.

Application deadline: Your application must be submitted by 16:00 (GMT) on 06 November 2021 at the latest.

You are advised to complete and submit your application as soon as possible, as the online application system will be very busy in the days leading up to the application deadline.

Supporting documentation: Your application must include the following supporting documentation by 16:00 (GMT) on 27 November 2021

• Proof of citizenship or refugee status: a copy of your valid passport (or national ID card) showing your photograph, date of birth, and country of citizenship or refugee status– uploaded to the online application system
• Full transcripts detailing all your higher education qualifications including to-date transcripts for any qualifications you are currently studying (with certified translations if not in English) – uploaded to the online application system
• Supporting statement from your supervisor at your home country university, including details of current institutional links, submitted directly by your supervisor to the online application system (supervisors will be sent an email request).
• Supporting statements from your proposed supervisor at a UK university, including details of current institutional links, submitted directly by your supervisor to the online application system (supervisors will be sent an email request).
• Reference from at least one other individual – submitted directly by the referee to the online application system (referees will be sent an email request)

You can view a sample paper of the application form before you access the online application form.

The CSC aims to identify talented individuals who have the potential to make a change. They are committed to a policy of equal opportunity and non-discrimination and encourage applications from a diverse range of candidates. For further information on the support available to candidates with a disability, see the CSC disability support statement.

Please note that the CSC does not charge candidates to apply for any of its scholarships or fellowships through its online application system.

Selection Process:

Eligible applications will be considered in line with the CSC’s Split-site Scholarships Selection Criteria, including by the CSC selection committee in competition with other candidates.

Applications will be considered according to the following selection criteria:

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

For further details, see the Commonwealth Split-site Scholarships 2021 selection criteria.

Scholarship Link

3. Commonwealth Shared Scholarships

Commonwealth Shared Scholarships are for candidates from least developed and lower-middle-income Commonwealth countries, for full-time Master’s study on selected courses, jointly supported by UK universities.

Funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID), Commonwealth Shared 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.

These scholarships are offered under six 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

For more information on other scholarships offered by the CSC, visit the CSC Apply page.

Eligibility:

To apply for these scholarships, you 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 your academic studies in the UK by the start of the UK academic year in September/October 2021
• By September 2021, hold a first degree of at least upper second class (2:1) standard, or a second class degree and a relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a Master’s degree). The CSC typically does not fund a second UK Master’s degree. If you are applying for a second UK Master’s degree, you will need to justify as why you wish to undertake this study.
• Not have studied or worked for one (academic) year or more in a high-income country
• Be unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship

The CSC aims to identify talented individuals who have the potential to make a change. They are committed to a policy of equal opportunity and non-discrimination and encourage applications from a diverse range of candidates. For further information on the support available to candidates with a disability, see the CSC disability support statement.

Eligible Commonwealth Countries:

• Bangladesh
• Cameroon
• Eswatini
• The Gambia
• Ghana
• India
• Kenya
• Kiribati
• Lesotho
• Malawi
• Mozambique
• Nigeria
• Pakistan
• Papua New Guinea
• Rwanda
• Sierra Leone
• Solomon Islands
• Sri Lanka
• Tanzania
• Tuvalu
• Uganda
• Vanuatu
• Zambia

Terms and Conditions:

For full terms and conditions – including further details of the scholarship themes, the value of the scholarship, and general conditions – see the Commonwealth Shared Scholarships terms and conditions 2021.

Selection Process:

Each participating UK university will conduct its recruitment process to select a specified number of candidates to be awarded Commonwealth Shared Scholarships.

Universities must put forward their selected candidates to the CSC in March 2021. The CSC will then confirm that these candidates meet the eligibility criteria for this scheme. Universities will inform candidates of their results by July 2021.

Applications will be considered according to the following selection criteria:

• Academic merit of the candidate
• The potential impact of the work on the development of the candidate’s home country

For further details, see the Commonwealth Shared Scholarships 2021 selection criteria.

How to Apply:

You can apply to study one of the taught Master’s courses offered in the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship scheme. These scholarships do not cover undergraduate courses, Ph.D. study, or any pre-sessional English language teaching, and are usually tenable for one year only. View a full list of eligible courses.

You must also secure admission to your course in addition to applying for a Shared Scholarship. You must check with your chosen university for their specific advice on when to apply, admission requirements, and rules for applying. View a full list of university contact details.

You must make your application using the CSC’s online application system, in addition to any other application that you are required to complete by your chosen university. The CSC will not accept any applications that are not submitted via the online application system.

You can apply for more than one course and/or to more than one university, but you may only accept one offer of a Shared Scholarship.

The CSC particularly welcomes applicants from the following countries:

• Eswatini
• Kiribati
• Lesotho
• Malawi
• Mozambique
• Papua New Guinea
• Rwanda
• Solomon Islands
• Tanzania
• The Gambia
• Tuvalu
• Vanuatu

All applications must be submitted by 16.00 (GMT) on 18 December 2019 at the latest.

You are advised to complete and submit your application as soon as possible, as the online application system will be very busy in the days leading up to the application deadline.

Your application must include the following supporting documentation by 16:00 (GMT) on 18 December 2021 for your application to be eligible for consideration:

• Proof of citizenship or refugee status – uploaded to the online application system
• Full transcripts detailing all your higher education qualifications including to-date transcripts for any qualifications you are currently studying (with certified translations if not in English) – uploaded to the online application system

You can view a read-only application form document before you start your online application form.

Scholarship Link

Other Reads:

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What do commonwealth scholarships cover?

Ans.: A Commonwealth Scholarship covers fees, approved fares, and personal maintenance. Other scholarships, awards, or bursaries that cover the same costs may not be held concurrently.

Q: What are commonwealth scholarships?

Ans.: The Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP) is an international program under which Commonwealth governments offer scholarships and fellowships to citizens of other Commonwealth countries.
Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowships are aimed at talented individuals who have the potential to make the change. The CSC offers around 800 awards for postgraduate study and professional development each year.

Q: How to apply for commonwealth scholarships?

Ans.: To apply for these scholarships, you 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.

Q: When do commonwealth scholarships open?

Ans.: Applications for 2023/2024 Commonwealth Shared Scholarships are likely to open in November 2021 and close by the third week of December 2021.

Q: Does VCU give merit scholarships?

Ans.: The VCU Office of Admissions offers a variety of merit-based, renewable four-year scholarships for incoming freshmen. Honors scholarships are awarded by the academic year, and Honors students may apply each year.

Make good use of this opportunity, read carefully, and pick out a desired Best Commonwealth Scholarship of your choice. You can also share this article with your friends on social media handles.

StudentsandScholarship Team.