Commonwealth Scholarships

The Commonwealth scholarship is one of the enormous and most prestigious scholarships for students from developing countries on the global stage. Since the inception of the scholarship, many individuals have earned educational certificates especially if they are from a Commonwealth country. 

Since 1959, the scholarship has been awarded annually to over 35,000 individuals. Every year, the scholarship awards over 900 fully funded scholarships and fellowships for postgraduate (Master’s and Ph.D.) study in the UK. Bringing professional development to Commonwealth citizens. As part of the UK’s continuous commitment to the Commonwealth,  students are permitted to undertake postgraduate degrees with United Kingdom (UK) universities. 

However, qualifying for the Commonwealth scholarship is advantageous in the sense that it covers your tuition fees, accommodation, visa and travel, feeding allowance, and many others. This gives rise to the unleashing of the inherent potential and intelligence of some students who couldn’t fund their UK studies. Also, the scholarship provides opportunities for professional development, such as internships and language courses, to help scholars gain valuable skills and experience. 

Meanwhile, priority will be available for applications that illustrate strong relevance to the development of the applicant’s home country. The purpose of this article is to discuss the Commonwealth scholarship 2023. Just keep scrolling down the article. 

Let’s get started. 

What is a Commonwealth Scholarship?

Commonwealth Scholarship is a merit-based international program that aims at providing financial support for students from across the Commonwealth countries who would not otherwise be able to afford to study in the UK. It is funded by the UK government and managed by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission. 

The scholarship is awarded to individuals who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership potential, and a commitment to making a positive impact in their home countries. The Commonwealth Scholarship scheme is aimed at By funding postgraduate studies in a range of different study formats. 

Generally, the scholarship program is most popular in the UK and it is renewable. It can be availed for masters or doctorate programs in a university in the UK, Singapore, and many other recognized Commonwealth countries. 

Who can Apply for a Commonwealth Scholarship? 

This Commonwealth scholarship is only for citizens of commonwealth countries. These countries include India, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Belgium, etc. If you are an Indian student, you can avail of this scholarship to pursue studies in three countries such as New Zealand, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. However, 

Eligible Criteria for Commonwealth Scholarships 

Before you can apply for a Commonwealth Scholarship, there are general criteria you must keep in mind. 

• You must be a citizen or permanent resident of a Commonwealth country. Also, if you are a refugee or British-protected person. 
• You must have an undergraduate honors degree of at least upper second class (2:1).
• You must be unable to afford to study in the UK without a scholarship.

If you are an international applicant applying for the Commonwealth Scholarship program, the criteria vary according to the level of degree and the top-ranking UK university you choose. Below are the requirements for applicants opting for a master’s degree and Ph.D. level of study. 

Eligibility Criteria for Master’s Degree Programs

To be eligible for the Commonwealth Scholarship for the Master’s Degree Program, there are some additional eligibility criteria which include: 

• You must be below 40 years.
• The applicant must be fresh (haven’t registered Master’s course at any other university)
• You must have the minimum qualification of a bachelor’s degree.
• The eligible student must have a minimum score of 60% in Social science and 65% in Science subjects.

Eligibility Criteria for Ph.D. Programs

To receive the Commonwealth Scholarship, an eligible candidate must: 

• Not exceeding 40 years. 
• Have a master’s degree or be in the final year of the program.
• Be a fresh student who hasn’t applied for a Ph.D. level program or MPhil at any other university.
• Have a minimum score of 60% or above in Social science and 65% in Science.

SEE MORE SCHOLARSHIPS: PTDF Scholarship 2023

What is the required Document for the Commonwealth Scholarship Application? 

There are necessary documents to submit while applying for Commonwealth Scholarships. They include: 

• Copies of Passport. 
• Academic Transcripts. 

• An Admission letter from a UK university. 
• Evidence of exams to study in the UK.

How Can I Apply for a Commonwealth scholarship? 

Before you apply for a Commonwealth scholarship, there are about seven listed principles to abide by. They are: 

• Select the right scholarship. 
•  Apply through the nominating bodies for your country. 
• Get a previous scholar who can mentor you. 
• Supply correct answers to your essay questions. 
• Keep your statement secret. 
• Keep your entire Application coherent. 
• Submit your Application. 

1. Select the Right scholarship 

The first thing to do as an applicant for Commonwealth scholarships is to do proper research and know which one to apply for.  This is because there are different forms of Commonwealth Scholarship awards. Now, there are 7 types of Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowships. So if you don’t carefully research which of the scholarships you are eligible for. And also check if it suits your career goals, you might be choosing the wrong scholarship. 

For instance, if you are seeking a Master’s scholarship, the right scholarship to apply for is the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship (General) and Commonwealth Shared Scholarship. The reason is that they are scholarships for Master’s degree programs. To add to that, you should check out each of the nominating agencies and the peculiar requirements for each of them. To ease the process, by logging in to the Commonwealth website for proper information. 

2. Apply through the Nominating Bodies for your country. 

According to research, each country has a designated nominating body to which applicants can apply. Since you are not authorized to apply directly to the commonwealth; it is better to apply through the nominating bodies which could be National Nominating bodies or selected non-governmental organizations and charitable bodies. 

3. Get a Previous Scholar who can Mentor you. 

Getting a student who has applied for a Commonwealth Scholarship to mentor you will impede unnecessary mistakes and wrong information. He will be in a better position to guide you through the process. 

4. Supply Correct Answers to your Essay Questions. 

This is very important as it benefits you and your home country. You should try to present a catchy and convincing essay. Remember, the commonwealth school is aimed at training students who can be impactful and beneficial to their country. So if your answers are wrong, you have given a wrong impression to the Commonwealth Scholarship commission. Put to mind that this essay question is taken to high esteem. Try to get first class. This will make you be considered first before others. 

5. Keep your Statement secret. 

No matter how well you performed in the essay, be secretive about it. Bagging first class is good but don’t remind the committee how genius you are. Let your statement showcase what is absent in your CV. I.e your human side. Try to convince them that you are fit for the scholarship by making sure that your goals are clear and concise to the reader. Tell them what you are opting to achieve if you are offered the scholarship. 

6. Keep your entire Application Coherent

Target your entire application at asserting that you have the potential of influencing positive social change using knowledge and skills attained in the UK to standardize your home country. You should make each segment of the application to be in tandem with your overall goal. If you don’t know much about it, join professional bodies or take some courses to expand your knowledge. 

• Submit your Application. 

Once you have successfully followed the above principles, submit and be optimistic. Then hope for the best. 

Arguably, each applicant must apply for the scholarship through the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) portal.  You must have an active admission application with UCL by the scholarship deadline to be considered for an award. 

Final Thought

Commonwealth Scholarships has offered financial assistance to many individuals who couldn’t fund their studies in Uk. You should know that the first eligibility criterion for Commonwealth Scholarship is to be a citizen of a Commonwealth country or a refugee or a British-protected person. 

Note! India is the place where the preliminary selection of Commonwealth Scholarship recipients will be done. Then, the process will be carried out by the Ministry of Human Resource Development.

We have been able to give you adequate guidelines for a successful application to the Commonwealth Scholarship. Put them to practice. I wish you good luck.