The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the United Kingdom (CSC) is inviting applications from South Africa for the Commonwealth Masters Scholarships tenable from September/October2021.
The Commonwealth Scholarship in the United Kingdom is one of the largest and most prestigious international scholarship schemes in the world. The CSC awards over 700 scholarships and fellowships for postgraduate study and professional development to Commonwealth citizens each year.
The purpose of the CSC is to contribute to the development needs of Commonwealth countries by providing training for skilled and qualified professionals and academics, and to contribute to UK higher education and foreign policy aims by encouraging collaboration and links.
Funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships enable talented and motivated individuals to gain the knowledge and skills required for sustainable development, and are aimed at those who could not otherwise afford to study in the UK.
The Department of Higher Education and Training (the Department) is the Nominating Agency for South African citizens who wish to apply for the Commonwealth Scholarship for Candidates from Low and Middle Income Commonwealth Countries tenable in the UK for the academic year 2021. Final selection of candidates and host institutions will be made by the CSC based on the nominations.
Degree level
Master’s Degree
Deadlines
All applicants must have submitted their applications through the CSC’s online application system by 18 January 2021. Information on how to use the online application system is available on the CSC website.
All required supporting documentation including proof of citizenship or refugee status in Commonwealth country, university academic transcripts and at least two references should be submitted by no later than Monday, 1 February 2021.
Who can apply?
Applicants must:
- 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 2021.
- By September 2021, hold a first degree of at least upper class (2:1) honours standard or a second-class degree (2:2).
- NOT be registered for an MPhil leading to a PhD, at a UK university or in South Africa before September/October 2021.
- Have provided all supporting documentation in the required format.
- Be unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship.
Full details of the scholarships eligibility criteria is available on the CSC website: https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/scholarships/commonwealth-masters-scholarships/.
Fields of Study
Commonwealth Master’s 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
Scholarship offer
- A round-trip airfare ticket;
- Approved tuition fees;
- Living allowance;
- Warm clothing allowance, if applicable;
- Thesis grant towards the cost of preparing a thesis or dissertation, where applicable;
- Study travel grant towards the cost of study-related travel within the UK or overseas;
- A child allowance of £480 per month for the first child, £118 per month for the second and third child under the age of 16, if you are married, divorced, or a single parent living at the same address in the UK with your children.
Application process
The Department is the Nominating Agency for South African citizens who wish to apply for the Commonwealth Scholarships tenable in the UK for the academic year commencing in September/October 2021.
Applications are strictly online via the CSC’s online application system. The CSC and the Department will
not accept any applications that are not submitted via the online application system.
The Department does not require any additional application documents to be submitted, and will only review applications submitted on the Commonwealth Scholarship online system.
Contact
All information on the scholarship is available on the CSC website: https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/scholarships/commonwealth-masters-scholarships/, however, if you have a question that is not covered by the information available, you may send an email enquiry to
For more information on scholarships and other awards available from the CSC please visit:
https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/about-us/scholarships.
Please note the Department does not nominate candidates for other CSC awards.
Documents and links
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. 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.
