If you are considering applying for the commonwealth shared scholarship then there are certain factors you need to consider to win the scholarship. The first is to check out the eligibility criteria. You also need to check the course you want to study whether it’s among courses covered by the shared scholarship and the universities. All these and more are discussed in detail below.
The commonwealth shared scholarship program is specifically designed for applicants from the least and lower middle income commonwealth countries. These are countries formerly colonized by the British. The scholarship opportunity is for those that want to go for a full time masters program in a few selected courses of study by some UK universities.
The program is jointly covered and funded by Commonwealth Scholarship Commission and participating UK universities for students who are unable to afford it. It covers airfare, full tuition fees and a monthly stipend of £1,347 above depending on the university.
As an Applicant, you have the opportunity to apply to more than one course and more than one university but only be allowed to accept one shared scholarship offer.
It covers six core areas: Science and Technology Development, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Global Peace and Governance, healthcare system and capacity, resilience/response to crisis and access and access inclusion and opportunity.
The scholarship scheme is very competitive. Therefore, for you to stand a greater chance of being accepted, you must ensure to have the necessary documents to be able to meet all requirements.
The full details on how you can become a bona fide benefactor of the program will be made known to you as you read this content till the end.
Requirements for Commonwealth Shared Scholarships
For you to qualify for this scholarship program, you must meet the following criterias and conditions
- Citizenship: You must be a citizen or someone who has been granted refugee status by an eligible commonwealth country. You must also be a permanent resident of an eligible commonwealth country.
- Enrollment: Must hold a first degree certificate before September with at least an upper second class or a lower second class grade. He/ she must be fully ready to start up the academic studies on resumption.
- Work Experience: For applicant to be eligible, he or she must not have studied or worked for a period of one year in high income countries
- Financial Limitations: Must show signs of not being able to study in any of the Uk universities due to financial constraints and needs this scholarship offer as opportunity.
- Possess Relevant Documents: Must provide and upload relevant documents when filling the application form. This means that you must have acquired relevant postgraduate qualification.
Vital Documents need for the scholarship program
- Proof of identity showing you are a citizen or have a refugee status in an eligible commonwealth countries
- Fully up-to-date educational transcripts showing all your qualifications for the course you have studied. The documents must be translated to English language for non English speaking countries.
- Two Reference Letters: If you’re applying, I highly recommend you learn how to write a good reference letter.
- Degree certificate
- Personal statement: This is an essay about you. Consider see this other publication on how to write a winning personal statement.
Recommended: How to Write Personal Statement for Commonwealth Scholarship
How to Apply for Commonwealth Shared Scholarship 2024
To register for the commonwealth scholarship program in 2024, here is a guideline on how you can kick start the application process.
- Check for Application Date: carry out to know the application date and deadline, You can visit any of the university websites or subscribe to their newsletters to get relevant information about the program.
- Online Registration: once the application date is fully confirmed, you are to visit the CSC online application portal to create an account and start the registration process.
- Fill in personal Details: fill in your personal details/ information and upload the documents listed above.
- Select Approved Course of Study: select your desired course of study from the approved courses for the master program offered by the participating UK universities. Check below for a list of available courses for the Commonwealth shared scholarship and universities.
- Select Universities: Go through and select the desired universities of your choice that offer the course you intend studying.
- Nomination stage: after a successful registration, your application details will be sent to your registered universities. These universities will contact you if you are qualified and nominated.
Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Courses
The Commonwealth scholarship program focuses on six major areas which covers the following approved courses.
Science and Technology for Development for Development:
The courses in this category includes:-
- MRes parasite control
- Conservation and land management
- Renewable Energy Engineering
- Water and Environmental Engineering
- Environmental Engineering
- Geographical information Management,
- Renewable Energy
- Sustainability, Energy and development
- Civil Engineering
- Energy Management
- Data science
- Cybersecurity
- Construction project Management
- Urban spatial science
- Geographical information systems
- Integrated Petroleum Geoscience
- Geophysics
- Water and Environmental Management
- Global Development and environment
- Public policy
- Advanced Computer Science
- Biotechnology
- Stem cell and regenerative medicine
- GeoEnergy
- Sustainability
- Low carbon just transition
- Global sustainability Solutions
- Food security
- Advanced civil Engineering
- Environmental process Engineering
- Crisis and Disaster Management
- Food Science
- Food Technology – Quality Assurance
- Electrochemistry and Battery Technologies
- Oceanography
- Aquatic Veterinary Studies
- Sustainable Aquaculture
- Data Science for Business
- Sustainable Engineering – Chemical Processing
- Sustainable Engineering – Renewable Energy Systems and the Environment
- Sustainable Engineering – Renewable Energy Systems and the Environment
- Renewable Energy and Decarbonisation Technologies
- Food and Development
- Analytical Science and Instrumentation
- Humanitarian Engineering
- Advanced Technology Management
Promoting Innovation and Entrepreneurship:
The courses in this category includes:-
- Environmental and Business Management
- Future Food Sustainability
- Local Economic Development
- Development Management
- Primate Conservation
- Innovation and Entrepreneurship
- Sustainability Transitions
- Africa and Development
- Development Studies
- MBA Global
- Africa and International Development
- Sustainable Business Management
- Economics
- Economics for Development
- International Relations
- Energy Policy and Finance
- MLitt Publishing Studies
- Heritage
- Investment Analysis
- Applied Economics
- Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Technology
- Poverty and Development
- Globalization, Business and Development
- Economics and International Financial Economics
- MBA International
Strengthening Global Peace, Security and Governance:
The courses in this category are as follows:
- Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding
- Defence, Development and Diplomacy
- Understanding and Securing Human Rights
- Development Policy and Politics
- Conflict, Security and Development
- LLM Law
- Global Crime, Justice and Security
- Future Governance
- Human Rights
- LLM International Law (Conflict, Security and Human Rights)
- Public Policy
- International Security and Terrorism
- Diplomatic Studies
- International Law and Human Rights
- Terrorism and Political Violence
- International Conflict and Cooperation
- Diplomacy and International Security
- Governance, Development and Public Policy
Strengthening Health Systems and Capacity
Courses over here are as follows:
- Public Health and Health Promotion
- Medical Imaging with Management
- Public Health and Health Promotion
- Mechanisms and Therapy in Cancer
- Global Mental Health
- Health Psychology
- Global Health Policy
- Health and International Development
- Public Health for Eye Care
- Public Health for Development
- Global Health
- Global Health Human Health and the Environment
- One Health – ecosystems, humans, and animals
- with Obesity and Weight Management
- Chronic Disease Management
- Clinical and Public Health Nutrition
- Global Health and Development
- Human Nutrition
- Clinical Oncology
- Medical Statistics and Health Data Science
- Digital Health
- Population Health Sciences
- International Social Work and Community Development
- Applied Food Safety and Innovation
- Cardiovascular Health and Rehabilitation
- Public Health Nutrition
- Medical Education
- Global Health Policy
- Planetary Health
- Biomedical Engineering
- Cancer Cell and Molecular Biology
- Medical Statistics
- Healthcare Management
- Immunity, Infection and Chronic Disease
- Global Health Science and Epidemiology
- Health Data Science
- Health Analysis and Policy Management
- Development Studies
- Healthcare Leadership and Management
Access, Inclusion and opportunity
The courses over here includes:
- International Human Rights Law
- Mathematics
- World Theatres
- Disability Studies
- Gender, Development and Globalisation
- City Planning and Design
- Education
- Gender Studies
- Jewellery and Metalwork
- Education, Gender and International Development
- Social Development Practice
- Museum Studies
- Education (Education, Globalisation and International Development)
- Reparatory Justice
- Gender and Development
- Power, Participation and Social Change
- Applied Theatre – Arts, Action, Change
Strengthening resilience and response to crisis
Below are the courses in this category
- Agroforestry and Food Security
- Disaster Management
- Advanced Water Management
- Environmental and Natural Resource Economics
- Climate, Risk and Society
- International Development and Humanitarian Emergencies
- Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security
- Environmental Management
- Applied Infectious Disease Epidemiology
- Environment, Development and Politics
- Climate Change Science and Policy
- Public Policy
- Conservation Leadership
- Engineering for Sustainable Development
- Family and Child Psychology
- International Development
- Flood Risk Management
- Sustainable Water Environments
- Transport Planning and Engineering
- Environmental Leadership and Management
- Water Science, Policy and Management
- Climate Change, Development and Policy
Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Universities
Here are the list of universities participating in the commonwealth shared scholarship
- Brunel University London
- Durham University
- Goldsmiths, University of London
- Liverpool Hope University
- London School of Economics and Political Science
- Oxford Brookes University
- Queen’s University Belfast
- Royal Holloway, University of London
- Sheffield Hallam University
- University College London
- University of Aberdeen
- University of Bristol
- University of Cambridge
- University of Glasgow
- University of Sussex
- University of Warwick
- Bangor University
- Cranfield University
- University of Birmingham
- University of Derby
- University of Edinburgh
- University of Exeter
- University of Leeds
- University of Nottingham
- University of Reading
- University of Oxford
- University of St Andrews
- University of Stirling
- University of Strathclyde
- University of Wolverhampton
- Aberystwyth University
- Robert Gordon University
- University of Chester
- University of Derby
- University of Dundee
- University of Portsmouth
- University of Southampton
- Queen’s University Belfast
- School of Advanced Study (Institute of Commonwealth Studies)
- University of Hull
- King’s College London
- London School of Economics and Political Science
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
- Royal Holloway, University of London
- Royal Veterinary College
- Sheffield Hallam University
- St. Mary’s University
- University of Central Lancashire
- University of Chester
- University of Leicester
- University of Chester
- University of Worcester
- Bournemouth University
- Royal Agricultural University
How Many Universities Can You Choose for Commonwealth Shared Scholarships
You are allowed to select up to three different universities and courses in order to increase your chances of winning the scholarship.
However you are only allowed to accept an offer from only one university in cases of multiple offers of admission being issued to you.
FAQS on Commonwealth Shared Scholarship 2024
Who Is Eligible for the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship?
A citizen or someone who has been given a refugee profile by an eligible commonwealth country. He must also be a permanent resident of an eligible commonwealth country
How Many University Choices Are There in Commonwealth Shared Scholarship
Candidates are allowed to apply to three different universities of their choice during the application process
How Much Is the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Stipend?
Commonwealth shared scholarship is fully funded and covers airfare, full tuition fees and a monthly stipend of £1,347 above depending on the university.
Can I Stay in UK After Commonwealth Shared Scholarship?
You are expected to return back to your country of residence at the end of the scholarship program but will only be allowed to stay if you want to continue with the PhD program.
Does Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Cover Accommodation?
The scholarship does not cover accommodation expenses
How Many Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Can I Apply For?
You can submit more than one application to different participating scholarship universities but you’re allowed to select one admission offer.
Final Thought
The commonwealth shared scholarship program is basically for a period of one academic year.
Individuals seeking to be part of the scholarship offer but still undergoing their first degree program can still apply.
All you need to do during the application process is to enter your current study and the completion date. However, you must make sure your study period is completed on time before UK academic year so as to enable you to upload your degree and transcript before the study period begins.
Individuals with disabilities will be required to submit a health and disability form inorder for them to be fully catered for and given preferential treatment when selected.
Apart from applying at the CSC platform online, candidates can also register for the scholarship program through the nominating agency in his/her country of residence.
There two categories of the nominating agency:- the national nominating agency and non governmental organization/ charitable bodies
Each Nominating Agency has their application date which is different from the one in the CSC application portal.
The nominating agency sends applicants’ names to the CSC for consideration and selection. Applicant’s scholarship offer will be withdrawn if he/she fails to respond to the email acceptance offer send within a specific period of time.
You might also see how to write Development Impact Statement for Commonwealth Scholarship.
