Applications are invited for Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships to study for a UK
Master’s degree while living and working in home country. Students from developing commonwealth countries can apply for these scholarships.
Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship aims to contribute to
development needs of Commonwealth countries by providing training for
skilled and qualified professionals in key development areas.
Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship is one of the largest and
most prestigious scholarship schemes for international study in the
world. These scholarships are funded by the UK Department for
International Development (DFID), with the aim of contributing to the
UK’s international development aims and wider overseas interests,
supporting excellence in UK higher education, and sustaining the
principles of the Commonwealth.
Applicants must hold a first degree of at least upper second class
(2:1) standard. A lower qualification and sufficient relevant experience
may be considered in certain cases. Candidate must provide a
certificate confirming an overall score of at least 6.5, with no less
than 5.5 in each band.
Course Level: Scholarships are available for pursuing Masters Degree courses.
Study Subject(s): Scholarships are awarded to study following programs:
List of Subjects:
MSc Palliative Medicine and Care (available to
citizens of Bangladesh, India, and Sri Lanka only) at Cardiff
University, MSc Tropical Forestry at Bangor University, MSc
Environmental Management (available to citizens of Kenya only), MA
Online and Distance Education at Open University, MSc Burn Care, MSc
Endocrinology and Diabetes, MSc Gastroenterology, MSc Orthopaedic Trauma
Science, MSc Trauma Sciences at Queen Mary, University of London, MSc
Veterinary Epidemiology and Public Health (available to citizens of Sri
Lanka only) at Royal Veterinary College, MSc Public Financial Management
(available to citizens of Malawi and Tanzania only) at SOAS, University
of London, MA Education and International Development (available to
citizens of Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda only), MA Education,
Gender and International Development (available to citizens of Kenya,
Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda only), MA Education, Health Promotion and
International Development (available to citizens of Kenya, Rwanda,
Tanzania, and Uganda only) at UCL Institute of Education, MSc
International Development (Conflict, Security and Development) at
University of Birmingham, MSc Biodiversity, Wildlife and Ecosystem
Health, MSc Clinical Education, MVetSci Conservation Medicine, MSc
Family Medicine, MSc Global Challenges, MSc Global eHealth, MSc Global
Health and Infectious Disease, MSc International Animal Health, MSc One
Health, MSc Paediatric Emergency Medicine, MPH Public Health at
University of Edinburgh, MSc Risk, Crisis and Disaster Management at
University of Leicester, MPH Public Health at University of Liverpool,
MSt International Human Rights Law at University of Oxford, MSc Global
Ageing and Policy, MSc Gerontology at University of Southampton, MSc
Dementia Studies (available to applicants from Bangladesh, India,
Pakistan, and Sri Lanka only) at University of Stirling, MSc Finance
(available to applicants from Kenya, Malawi, and Tanzania only), MSc
Hydrogeology (available to applicants from Botswana, Kenya, Lesotho,
Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania,
Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe only) at University of Strathclyde, MSc in
Sustainable Aquaculture at University of St Andrews, MA Public Policy
and Management at University of York.
Scholarship Award: UK Department for International Development (DFID)
Scholarship can be taken at: Commonwealth Distance
Learning Scholarships for individuals to study for a UK Master’s degree
while living and working in their home country.
Eligibility: To be eligible for a Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship, candidates should:
-Be a citizen of a developing Commonwealth country, refugee, or British protected person
-Be permanently resident in a developing Commonwealth country
-Hold a first degree of at least upper second class (2:1) standard. A
lower qualification and sufficient relevant experience may be considered
in certain cases.
Nationality: Students from following developing commonwealth countries can apply for these Commonwealth Distance Learning scholarships.
List of Countries: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh,
Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Botswana, Cameroon, Cayman Islands, Dominica,
Falkland Islands, Fiji, Ghana, Gibraltar, Grenada, Guyana, India,
Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives,
Mauritius, Montserrat, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nigeria, Pakistan,
Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn Islands, Rwanda, St Helena, St Kitts and
Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and The Grenadines, Samoa, Seychelles,
Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Swaziland,
Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos, Tuvalu, Uganda,
Vanuatu, Virgin Islands (British), Zambia and Zimbabwe
Details about the countries can be found here.
Scholarship Description: The Commonwealth
Scholarship and Fellowship Plan is one of the largest and most
prestigious scholarships schemes for international study in the world.
Since it was established in 1959, around 30,000 individuals have
benefited – 24,000 of them have held awards funded by the United
Kingdom, managed by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the
United Kingdom (CSC). This prospectus describes the Commonwealth
Distance Learning Scholarships offered by the CSC in 2015-2016.
Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships provide the opportunity for
individuals to study for a UK Master’s degree while living and working
in their home country. The scheme was established in 2002, as a direct
response to the measures taken by our funder, the UK Department for
International Development (DFID), to explore new methods of delivery as
part of the drive for poverty reduction. To date, over 2,000
Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships have been awarded.
College Admission Requirement
Entrance Requirement: Applicants must hold a first
degree of at least upper second class (2:1) standard. A lower
qualification and sufficient relevant experience may be considered in
certain cases.
Test Requirement: No
English Language Requirements: Candidates may be
required to take the academic IELTS English language test as a condition
of eligibility. It is the candidate’s responsibility to check with
their UK university whether this requirement applies to them. If
selected, the candidate must provide a certificate confirming an overall
score of at least 6.5, with no less than 5.5 in each band. An IELTS
test will be considered valid only if it is taken up to one year prior
to the start date of the course.
Supporting Material: Required documents are:
-Photograph
-Certificate Certified by the awarding body
-Page of Passport showing Date of birth and citizenship or Birth certificate
-Certificate of English language proficiency
How to Apply: The application cycle for Distance Learning Scholarships has three stages:
-The CSC invites expressions of interest from UK universities for Distance Learning Scholarships (AugustSeptember).
-The CSC invites formal proposals from shortlisted universities,
deciding which courses to select and how many scholarships to allocate
to each course (November-January).
-The CSC selects candidates for Distance Learning Scholarships from a
shortlist of candidates nominated by each university following its own
recruitment process (February-July) Expressions of interest and
proposals from universities and applications from candidates must be
made using the CSC’s Electronic Application System (EAS).
Electronic Application System
Application Deadline: The deadline for applications is 3 May 2016.
Important: All students must check the university course website for detailed application.
