SCHOLARSHIP: Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship, UK International Scholarship for Postgraduate | Masters Students

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Scholarship deadline:

May 20, 2025

Scholarship details:

• Host Country: United Kingdom (UK)
• Study Abroad: Study in UK 
• Category: Postgraduate Scholarships | Masters Scholarships 
• Eligible Countries: Commonwealth Countries 
• Reward: Full Scholarship | £18,000 per year | Travel & Visa Costs

Scholarship eligibility requirements:

To be eligible for a Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship, candidates should:

• Be a citizen 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
• Hold a first degree of at least upper second class (2:1) 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.

The CSC aims to identify talented individuals who have the potential to make change. We are committed to a policy of equal opportunity and non-discrimination, and encourage applications from a diverse range of candidates. For further information on the support available to candidates with a disability, see the CSC disability support statement.

Required Documents for the Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship

In the application form, candidates will be asked to:

• List all undergraduate and postgraduate university qualifications obtained
• List up to 10 publications and prizes
• Provide details of their employment history and explain how each job is relevant to the programme to be undertaken
• Provide a statement on the relevance of their previous work experience to the proposed Scholarship
• List names and positions of two referees who are qualified to comment on both the candidate’s capacity to benefit from the proposed Scholarship in the UK and their ability to deliver development impact afterwards. One referee must be a current employer (if applicable)
• Provide a Development Impact statement in 4 parts.

Candidates must upload the following documents with the application:

• Proof that the applicant is a citizen or has refugee status in an eligible Commonwealth country: a copy of a valid passport (or national ID card) showing a photograph, date of birth, and country of citizenship
• Full transcripts detailing all higher education qualifications, including to-date transcripts for any courses currently being studied, with certified translations if not in English
• References from at least two individuals, on institutional letterhead or an email clearly showing the sender’s details

Scholarship Application Guidelines:

Applications for Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships for the 2025/26 academic year are now open. Intrested and qualified applicants should follow the step-by-step process below;

1. The application closing date is Thursday 20 May 2025 at 16:00 (GMT).
2. Candidates 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.
3. View full list of approved courses and participating UK universities
4. Candidates can apply for more than one course and to more than one university, however they may only accept one offer of a Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship.
5. Note that Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships are only for Master’s courses and not for undergraduate or PhD study. Please check with the chosen university for their specific advice on when to apply, admission requirements and rules for applying.

Scholarship Benefits:

The CSC has a funding cap of £18,000 per scholarship. Universities may contribute funding from an approved source if the full cost of the award is more than £18,000.

The scholarship must cover all elements of the award, including:

• Course tuition fees
• Grant to contribute to study-related costs
• Partnership development costs
• Any UK residential programme(s)

Where a university intends to run a UK residential programme as part of the course, the university is expected to provide at least the following level of support:

• Return travel from the Scholar’s home country to the UK location
• Cost of UK visa
• Maintenance stipend of £1,133 per month (£1,390 for Scholars in London), to be paid for the full duration of the UK residential. These amounts are set by the UK government for all students on government-funded scholarships, and increase annually.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY