The Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP) is one of the largest and most prestigious international scholarship schemes in the world. The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the United Kingdom (CSC-UK) awards over 800 scholarships and fellowships for postgraduate study and professional development to Commonwealth citizens each year.
The CSC aims to contribute to the UK’s international development aims and wider overseas interests, support excellence in UK higher education, and sustain the principles of the Commonwealth. Candidates are selected on the basis of merit and their potential to contribute to the needs of their home countries.
Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships are for candidates from low and middle income Commonwealth countries, to undertake full-time taught Master’s study at a UK university. The Department of Higher Education and Training (the Department) is the Nominating Agency for South African citizens who wish to apply for this scholarship. Final selection of candidates and host institutions will be made by the CSC-UK based on the nominations.
Applications for 2021/22 are not yet open, but are expected to open in January 2021.
The Commonwealth Scholarship Alumni of South Africa hosted an online application advice event on 7 December 2020. The presentation can be accessed here and the Facebook live stream here.
Degree Level
Taught Master’s (one year) excluding MBA
Field of Study
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
Who can apply?
- Be a citizen and resident of South Africa
- Be available to start academic studies in the UK by the start of the UK academic year in September/ October 2021
- Hold an honours degree with at least upper second class (2:1) / 70%
- The CSC would not normally fund a second UK Master’s degree. If you are applying for a second UK Master’s degree, you will need to provide justification as to why you wish to undertake this study
- Be unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship.
- For more detailed information please refer to https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/scholarships/commonwealth-masters-scholarships/
- Additional requirements may be added when the call is opened for applications.
Scholarship offer
- For Master’s degree, the scholarship will be granted for a duration between 10 and 22 months;
- The scholarship will only be granted for the periods spent in France;
- Social security, priority for accessing student housing, visa fee exemption and assistance offered by Campus France Paris;
- Annual tuition fees, not exceeding €5 000 per year;
- A round-trip airfare ticket;
- A monthly stipend towards living expenses;
- Accommodation aid;
- Co-funding opportunities are strongly encouraged to strengthen the collaboration between South African and French institutions and public and private sector.
Application process
Applicants must submit an online application through the Commonwealth system. The link will be posted here when the call is opened.
No application documents should be sent to the Department (nominating agency)
Deadline
To be confirmed
Contact
All availlable information can be viewed at: https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/scholarships/commonwealth-masters-scholarships/
Should you need to make contact with the Department, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Note
Please note that this opportunity is not offered by the Department of Higher Education and Training. Applicants are required to undertake their own research into programmes and institutions and are responsible for ensuring that the qualifications will be recognised in South Africa. If there are any discrepancies in the details provided, the information given by the sponsor supersedes the details provided above. No additional financial support will be provided by the Department of Higher Education and Training.