Commonwealth Scholarships are awarded to outstanding students who are talented in various disciplines and have the potential to make a positive impact in the world. 

The United Kingdom and commonwealth have agreed, in fulfilling the agreement, that every year more than 800 students are allowed to undertake a postgraduate degree at universities in the United Kingdom.

This scholarship is for students who are from a Commonwealth country and believe they can make an impact on the world but can’t afford to fund their educational studies on their own in the UK.

You can be the ideal candidate for a Commonwealth Scholarship.

What is the Commonwealth Scholarship?

The Commonwealth Scholarship grant was created to aim at students from Commonwealth countries who can not afford to study in the United Kingdom.

The commonwealth scholarship is awarded by funding postgraduate programs in different disciplines, this has helped to support future innovators and create world leaders. 

This scholarship is a UK scholarship scheme aimed at supporting British international development goals. 

Commonwealth is designed to attract outstanding performing students who are talented to study at UK universities whilst also supporting sustainable development overseas.

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What is the Commonwealth?

This is an association of countries across the world. 

Commonwealth is an organization connected to the British Empire.

any country that wants to belong can apply to be a member of the Commonwealth, regardless of the country’s intersection with Britain’s colonial past. 

The Commonwealth consists of over 54 countries, including the United Kingdom which is the founding country.

No government in the Commonwealth organization has power over another country.

Commonwealth is a recognized international organization that comprises countries with diverse social, political, and economic backgrounds that are regarded as equal in status, goals, and common values.

These values and goals include,

* Civil liberties

* Equality before the law

* Free trade

* Good governance

* Human rights

* Multilateralism

* Promotion of democracy

* The rule of law

* World peace

which has so far helped promote multilateral projects and meetings like Commonwealth Games.

Commonwealth countries 

Commonwealth countries include 

United Kingdom (founding country)

Australia

Antigua

Barbados

Bangladesh

Barbuda

Belize

Botswana

Brunei

Cameroon

Canada

Cyprus

Dominica

Fiji

Ghana

Grenadines

Grenada

Guyana

India

Jamaica

Kenya

Kiribati

Lesotho

Maldives

Malaysia

Malawi

Malta

Mauritius

Mozambique

Namibia

Nauru

New Zealand

Nigeria

Pakistan

Papua New Guinea

Rwanda

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Saint Lucia

Saint Vincent

Samoa

Seychelles

Sierra Leon

Singapore

Solomon Island

South Africa

Sri Lanka

Swaziland

Tanzania

The Bahamas

The Gambia

Tobago

Tonga

Trinidad

Tuvalu

Uganda

Vanuatu

Zambia

Who are qualified to apply for Commonwealth Scholarship?

Commonwealth scholarships are awarded to only students who are citizens or are permanent residents of a Commonwealth country. 

Please note

Applicants who are a refugee or British protected people are also qualified and eligible to apply

For you to be eligible you must have earned an undergraduate honors degree of at least upper second class to study a master’s degree program.

While applicants who wish to study for a Ph.D. must have earned an appropriate master’s degree.

All applicants must be able to demonstrate they are unable or can’t afford to study in the UK without the scholarship.

Please note that

The eligibility criteria for each type of commonwealth scholarship and fellowship vary.

Type of commonwealth scholarship awards available

The Commonwealth Scholarships Commission offers the following scholarship to students from commonwealth countries 

1. Commonwealth Ph.D. Scholarships:- This scholarship is for students who are from the least developed countries  

2. Commonwealth Split-site Scholarships:- This scholarship is for students from low- and middle-income countries 

3. Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships 

4. Commonwealth Shared Scholarships 

5. Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships 

6. Commonwealth Ph.D. Scholarships :- This scholarship is for students from high-income countries

7. Commonwealth Medical Fellowships:- This scholarship is for a student who wants to study medical courses.

•Commonwealth Professional Fellowships:- This scholarship is for students who want to undertake a professional course.

All Commonwealth Scholarships happen to be funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office and these scholarships are offered under six development themes which are namely 

– Science and technology development theme

– Strengthening health systems and capacity development theme

– Promoting global prosperity development theme 

– Strengthening global peace, security, and governance development theme 

– Strengthening resilience and response to crises development theme 

– Access, inclusion, and opportunity development theme

Commonwealth scholarship award has no restriction on what to can study but the Commission prioritizes applicants whose studies are more relevant to the development criteria listed above.

What financial support does the commonwealth scholarship gives?

Most commonwealth scholarships are always fully funded, meaning that, the scholarships will not only cover your tuition fees, but students also get to receive their airfare to and fro to the UK, and they also get a living allowance to support them in their stay in the United Kingdom.

Application procedure for commonwealth scholarship 

Upon finally deciding which scholarship to apply for, you will need to apply through the fill 

– A National Nominating Agency 

– A university, 

– Non-Governmental organization. 

What is needed for this application?

You need to start with your online application

Then you will have to send a scanned copy of your

* Passport

* Academic transcript

* Existing university degree certificate

* Two references 

And if you have been offered admission you will also need to send your admission letter.

When will the commonwealth scholarship close applications?

Commonwealth scholarship is made available every year, for each year the deadline for applications is usually in December but varies depending on the scholarships you choose.

But to get more information about the type of scholarship you need to apply for it is advisable that you check the page of the scholarship you are interested in on the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission website to see the particular dates when they are announced.