The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (CSC) is offering scholarships to candidates from eligible low and middle-income Commonwealth countries to undertake part-time taught Master’s study with UK universities while remaining in their home countries. The Commonwealth Distance Learning programme is one of three Master’s programmes offered by the CSC.
Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships enable talented and motivated individuals to access training and skills required for sustainable development not available in their home countries.
For more information on the Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship, please visit: https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/scholarships/commonwealth-distance-learning-scholarships-candidates/
Degree level
The Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships are only for Master’s courses and not for undergraduate or PhD study.
Deadlines
28 March 2024 at 16:00 Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
Who can apply?
To apply for these scholarships, candidates must:
- Be citizens of or have been granted refugee status by an eligible Commonwealth country, or be a British Protected Person;
- Be permanently resident in a developing Commonwealth country.;
- Be available to start your academic studies in the UK by the start of the UK academic year in September 2024;
- Hold a first degree of at least upper second class (2:1) honours standard. A lower qualification and sufficient relevant experience may be considered in certain cases;
- Be unable to afford to study the programme without this scholarship.
Please read and complete the Distance Learning Scholarships eligibility checklist before submitting your application.
Note: Please note that all candidates are recruited in line with the CSC's anti-fraud policy and procedure which can be viewed here.
Fields of Study
A list of approved courses and participating UK universities for 2024 sorted by CSC development themes.
Visit https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/csc-development-themes/ to read more about the development themes.
Please read and complete the Distance Learning Scholarships eligibility checklist before submitting your application.
What the scholarship offers
Each scholarship provides:
- tuition fees; and
- study grants where required
Application process
Candidates must apply using the CSC’s online application system which can be found on the CSC website. The CSC is unable to accept any applications that are not submitted via the online application system or after the closing date listed above.
Applicants can apply for more than one course and to more than one university, but they may only accept one offer of a Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship.
Please check with the chosen university for their specific advice on when to apply, admission requirements, and rules for applying.
Applicants must apply and secure admission to study an approved Master’s course at a participating UK university in addition to applying for a Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship via the CSC’s online application system.
Selection process
- Applications will be shared with UK universities, who will nominate their chosen applicants to receive a Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship in May 2024.
- The CSC will then check that the applicants who have been nominated meet the CSC’s eligibility criteria.
- Universities will inform applicants if they have successfully been awarded a Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship in July 2024.
Contact
For general information about applying for Commonwealth Scholarships or Fellowships, please see FAQs page.
For queries not covered on the website, please use the CSC contact us form.
Documents and links
Commonwealth Distance Learning programme Page
Handbook for Commonwealth Scholars
Distance Learning Scholarships eligibility checklist
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 by contacting the South African Qualifications Authority and the relevant professional bodies. 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.
