Commonwealth Scholarships for students from the developing Commonwealth to study in the United Kingdom are funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID).
Please note that this page gives information on how to apply through a national nominating agency. However, candidates from developing Commonwealth countries can in some cases also apply for a Commonwealth Scholarship through certain developing country universities. For a list of universities who are invited to nominate for Scholarships, see Applying through universities in developing countries
There is a nominating agency for Commonwealth Scholarships in each Commonwealth country. Each year, the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission writes to each agency asking for a specific number of nominations to be sent to it by December 31st. Each agency is responsible for its own selection process, and in most cases will set a deadline date in the months preceding this. All applications should be made through a candidate's local Agency in their home country and you are advised to check with them before submitting an application to them in case they have eligibility criteria additional to the Commission's own criteria or any specific advice on how to make an application.
Contact details for these Agencies in the developing Commonwealth are listed here (PDF 115 KB)
Approximately 200-230 scholarships are awarded each year. Each year, the Commission seeks about three times more nominations than it has places available; therefore, candidates who are nominated are not certain to get a scholarship. There are no quotas for selections for any individual country.
Applications may be for study at Masters or doctoral level, and are tenable at any UK university. Candidates may also apply for Split-site doctoral awards, in which the Commission supports one year's study in the United Kingdom as part of a doctorate being taken in the home country. All subject areas are eligible, although the Commission selection criteria do give priority to those applications that demonstrate strong relevance to development. Candidates are in competition with those nominated by developing country universities and the same standards will be applied to applications through both procedures.
Terms and Conditions and Eligibility
Full details of the terms and conditions of Commonwealth Scholarships are included in the Prospectus (please note in particular the eligibility criteria):
- Prospectus (PDF 261 KB)
Please note that there are additional requirements for awards involving Clinical training in Medicine and Dentistry
Applications are considered according to the following selection criteria:
• Academic merit of the candidate
• The quality of the proposal
• The likely impact of the work on the development of the candidate's home country
For more details please see: Selection Criteria 2010 (PDF 128 KB)
Before making your application you are advised to have a look at the recently published DFID White Paper 'Building our Common Future' which can be viewed on the DFID Website at: www.dfid.gov.uk
Making an Application
Once you have confirmed eligibility and application procedure with the appropriate nominating Agency/University and if instructed by them, please make an application by following this link to our Electronic Application System to be submitted to the Nominating Agency as directed.
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