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Commonwealth Scholarships in the UK for Postgraduate Studies

Jun 28, 2024

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The United Kingdom, being one of the leading study destinations, has captured the dreams of many students across the globe. Regarded highly for its high-ranked universities, flexible courses, post-study work opportunities and vibrant student culture, the United Kingdom is the preferred choice for international scholars.

When it comes to pursuing a Master’s Degree from an International University, the United Kingdom is the top choice as the duration of a Master’s Degree in the UK is of 1-1.5 years. Additionally, the country also boasts of lucrative post-study work opportunities for international students. As per the latest developments based on the Migration Advisory Committee’s (MAC) report the news of PM Mr. Rishi Sunak backtracking restrictions to Graduate Route Visas comes as a great relief. So, international students can expect that they will have the possibility of post study work visa extension in the UK. As such, pursuing a Master’s Degree in the UK seems to be a promising decision.

Keeping the financial aspect in mind scholarships UK can be considered a pivotal resource to make study in UK more viableThe Government of UK offers plenty of scholarships for international students to provide them with the financial assistance. In this article, we are going to throw light upon one such scholarship – The Commonwealth Scholarship. No doubt these scholarships are very competitive and those eligible will have to stand out among the crowd. So, read on to know what is essential for it.

Table of Content

  1. What are Commonwealth Scholarships?
  2. Financial Aid
  3. Duration
  4. Eligibility Criteria
  5. Documents Required
  6. Application and Selection Process

What are Commonwealth Scholarships?

The Commonwealth Scholarships are awards offered to 800 international students at the postgraduate level belonging to 56 commonwealth countries annually. These students primarily come from a weaker financial background, possessing a strong academic record with the potential to bring positive change and become future leaders. 

The various types of Commonwealth Scholarship programs are: 

  • Commonwealth Split-site Scholarships
  • Commonwealth Master's Scholarships
  • Commonwealth Shared Scholarships
  • Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships
  • Commonwealth PhD Scholarships (for high-income countries)
  • Commonwealth Professional Fellowships

These scholarships offered by the Government of UK, are open for international students from commonwealth countries like:

  • India
  • Bangladesh
  • Ghana
  • Kenya
  • Malaysia
  • Nigeria
  • Pakistan
  • Sri Lanka 
  • Tanzania
  • Zambia and 46 other countries
     

Financial Aid

The Commonwealth Scholarship primarily covers the expenses for the recipient's study and stay in the United Kingdom. These include:  

  • Tuition Fees 
  • A Living Allowance or Stipend 
  • Airfare 
  • Research-Related Travel Costs, and 
  • An Arrival Allowance 

It may also include additional benefits such as thesis grants and fieldwork support.
 

Duration

The length of the Commonwealth Scholarship depends on the specific program and the level of study. A master's degree typically covers one to two years, allowing recipients to complete their coursework, research, and other program requirements within the stipulated timeframe.  

The scholarship duration is generally three to four years for Ph.D. candidates, providing ample time for them to conduct in-depth research for their dissertations while making significant contributions in their chosen field of study. 
 

Eligibility Criteria

All students from the Commonwealth countries are eligible for a Commonwealth Scholarship. But let us understand the specific eligibility criteria for this scholarship to study in UK for international students at various degree levels. 

For Master's Degree

  • Students should hold a citizenship of a Commonwealth country.
     
  • They should be below 40 years of age. 
     
  • It should not be the second master's degree, as Commonwealth Scholarships generally do not fund them. However, students must provide a justification letter to pursue a second master's degree. 
     
  • They should have completed tertiary education in the English medium.
     
  • Applicants whose native language is not English must provide evidence that they have sufficient competence in English to study in the UK.
     
  • Selected applicants must take the IELTS exam in the given time frame.
     
  • They should have the minimum qualification of a three-year bachelor's degree from a recognized board of study. 
     
  • Students should have a minimum score of 60% in Social Science subjects and 65% in Science subjects.
     

For Ph.D. Programs

  • Students should hold a citizenship of a Commonwealth country.
     
  • They should have a Full-Time Master's Degree or should be in the final semester of their Master’s Course.
     
  • Students should not be registered for or have started a PhD or an MPhil leading to a PhD at a UK University before the start of the Scholarship.
     
  • The maximum age limit is 40 years.
     
  • They should have completed tertiary education in the English medium.
     
  • Applicants whose native language is not English must provide evidence that they have sufficient competence in English to study in the UK.
     
  • They should have scored at least 60% marks or above in Social Science and Science subjects.
     
  • A PhD applicant is required to obtain an offer from a minimum of one potential supervisor from at least one UK university listed in the application form. 
     

Documents Required

While applying for a Commonwealth scholarship, students must submit the following documents: 

  • Academic Transcripts
  • Two Letters of Recommendation 
  • Supporting Letter of Recommendation by the applicant's supervisor 
  • A valid passport
     

Application and Selection Process

Candidates are required to submit their Commonwealth Scholarship applications through a National Nominating Agency or selected non-government organizations and charitable bodies. Every participating commonwealth country has specific nominating bodies with separate eligibility, rules, and deadlines. Students are required to research eligibility criteria before applying for the Scholarship. 

When it comes to the selection process for Commonwealth scholarships for international students in UKit primarily depends on the following criteria: 

  • Academic Merit
  • Quality of Research Proposal
  • Potential impact on the Development of the Candidate's Home Country

The preliminary selection would vary from country to country and the same can be checked from the official link of Commonwealth Scholarships.

As we draw the curtain on our exploration of Commonwealth Scholarships, UK, it is evident that this Scholarship serves as a gateway to a transformative academic journey for students from Commonwealth countries. But as already specified these will be quite competitive as there are a handful of the scholarships and the same is open for students from 56 nationalities. So, students can also check for other scholarships offered by the UK government, or the University specific scholarships based on their choice. 

Those who find it difficult to do this on their own can connect with KC’s UK Experts to learn more about the universities and scholarships they will be eligible for. With 65+ KC Offices across India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka, we are well within the reach of study abroad aspirants in these countries. Aspirants from India can connect to us in Tier 1 cities like Delhi, Pune, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, or Chennai. They can even find our presence in Tier 2 cities like Amritsar, Aurangabad, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Kochi, Jaipur, Nagpur, Raipur or Surat. 

Students can walk into our offices or simply connect for virtual counselling. To find us, they can look for study abroad consultants with the city's name. For example, if a student is in Aurangabad, he/she can search for Study in UK Consultants in Aurangabad to get the exact location of our office. 

KC’s UK Experts will be happy to assist the aspirants with course and university selection, application, admission and visa processing. Our fintech division also provides end to end support for Overseas Education Loans so financial hassles can also be catered to.

So those aspiring to apply for the upcoming intakes can connect with us today and embark on a life-changing academic journey right away

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