Commonwealth scholarships for the UK is an excellent program for students of developing countries. Through this scholarship offer, you can be able to study in the UK selected universities for a Master’s degree. The offer and opportunity are for well talented and motivated students. However, there are many requirements that one has to fulfill in order to be successful. So here we will discuss different requirements for commonwealth scholarships, participating universities, eligibility factors, and applying procedure.
Eligible Countries
First of all, it is very important to know if you are from those countries which are eligible for this program. Here is a list for you to check if you are one of these countries to be eligible:
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Bangladesh
- Belize
- Botswana
- Cameroon
- Dominica
- Eswatini
- Fiji
- The Gambia
- Ghana
- Grenada
- Guyana
- India
- Jamaica
- Kenya
- Kiribati
- Lesotho
- Malawi
- Malaysia
- Mauritius
- Montserrat
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Nauru
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Papua New Guinea
- Rwanda
- Samoa
- Sierra Leone
- Solomon Islands
- South Africa
- Sri Lanka
- St Helena
- St Lucia
- St Vincent and the Grenadines
- Tanzania
- Tonga
- Tuvalu
- Uganda
- Vanuatu
- Zambia
Number of available scholarships
There is no specific set aside number of available scholarships for eligible countries. So the scholarships awarded to international students are set aside with the help of eligibility criteria only.
Eligibility
To be eligible for commonwealth scholarships for a Master’s degree, the following criteria is required:
- citizen of an eligible country (already mentioned above)
- required level of education for admission in Master’s degree (for example,16 years of education if you are from Pakistan)
- required level of English proficiency (for example IELTS certificate)
- you are readily available to study in September/October session 2019
- you cannot afford to study in the UK with your own finances
List of participating Universities
You may only apply to participate in universities through commonwealth scholarships. So here is a list of these universities for you to choose for a study program:
- Aberystwyth University
- Aston University
- Bangor University
- Bath Spa University
- Birkbeck, University of London
- Birmingham City University
- Brunel University London
- Cardiff University
- City, University of London
- Coventry University
- Cranfield University
- Durham University
- Glasgow Caledonian University
- Goldsmiths, University of London
- Harper Adams University
- Heriot-Watt University
- Imperial College London
- Keele University
- King’s College London
- Kingston University
- Lancaster University
- Leeds Beckett University
- Liverpool Hope University
- Liverpool John Moores University
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
- London School of Economics and Political Science
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
- London South Bank University
- Loughborough University
- Manchester Metropolitan University
- Newcastle University
- Northumbria University
- Nottingham Trent University
- Open University
- Oxford Brookes University
- Plymouth University
- Queen Mary, University of London
- Queen’s University Belfast
- Robert Gordon University
- Royal Agricultural University
- Royal Holloway, University of London
- Royal Veterinary College
- Sheffield Hallam University
- SOAS, University of London
- St George’s, University of London
- Swansea University
- Teesside University
- Ulster University
- University College London
- University of Aberdeen
- University of Bath
- University of Birmingham
- University of Bradford
- University of Bristol
- University of Cambridge
- University of Central Lancashire
- University of Chester
- University of Dundee
- University of East Anglia
- University of East London
- University of Edinburgh
- University of Essex
- University of Exeter
- University of Glasgow
- University of Greenwich
- University of Huddersfield
- University of Hull
- University of Kent
- University of Leeds
- University of Leicester
- University of Lincoln
- University of Liverpool
- University of Manchester
- University of Northampton
- University of Nottingham
- University of Oxford
- University of Portsmouth
- University of Reading
- University of Roehampton
- University of St Andrews
- University of Salford
- University of Sheffield
- University of Southampton
- University of Stirling
- University of Strathclyde
- University of Surrey
- University of Sussex
- University of the West of England
- University of Warwick
- University of Westminster
- University of West London
- University of Wolverhampton
- University of Worcester
- University of York
Application deadlines
There are set aside application deadlines that are to be followed. For the upcoming September/October 2019 session, you must apply by 16:00 (GMT) 19 December 2018. You should apply well before time as there is always a lot of rush on the system during the last dates of the deadline. You do not need all documents to submit at the time of application.
Required documents
You need to submit a set of following documents by 4 January 2019 for successful consideration:
- proof of citizenship of your eligible country
- all transcripts of your higher education with a certificate (if documents are not in the English language, a certified translation is required)
- 2 references from different individuals (it may be a professional work and an academic reference), should be submitted directly by the referees in the online system as they will be sent an email to submit the reference.
Selection process
Commonwealth scholarship awarding body invites the nominating bodies to submit list of applicants by 25 January 2019. The nominating bodies (their country-wise details are available below in the next paragraph) submit 3 times more nominees to the available quota. So this simply means if you are nominated or selected by the nominated body, scholarship even then is not 100% as the final decision will be made by the Commonwealth scholarship awarding body. Nominating bodies of all countries are always in competition with each other for the following selection criteria of candidates:
- academic merit
- quality of the plan of the intended study
- potential effect on the home country of the candidate after completing education through scholarship
How to apply?
You cannot apply directly to the Commonwealth scholarship awarding body. These all nominating awarding bodies have their own selection criteria. They provide a list of eligible candidates to Commonwealth scholarship body for consideration. Do not forget to consider their own selection criteria and deadline. Here is a country-wise list of these nominating bodies:
Antigua and Barbuda
Director of Education
Ministry of Education, Sports, Youth and Gender Affairs
Government Complex
Queen Elizabeth Highway
St John’s
Antigua and Barbuda
Tel: +1 268 462 4959
Fax: +1 268 462 4970
www.ab.gov.ag
Bangladesh
Deputy Secretary (Scholarship)
Ministry of Education
Section 19
Building No 6
Bangladesh Secretariat
Dhaka
Bangladesh
Tel: +880 2 9545032
Fax: +880 2 9514114
Email: ds_stp@moedu.gov.bd
www.shed.gov.bd
Belize
Administrative Officer
Ministry of Public Service, Energy and Public Utilities
Ground Floor, Sir Edney Cain Building
Belmopan
Belize
Tel: +501 822 2204/05
Fax: +501 822 2206
Email: sec@mps.gov.bz
www.belize.gov.bz
Botswana
Acting Chief Education Officer
Department of Tertiary Education Financing
Ministry of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology
(postal address)
Private Bag 0079
Gaborone
Botswana
(physical address)
37893 Universal Estate
Block 6
Gaborone
Botswana
Tel: +267 3719314
Fax: +267 3191641
www.moe.gov.bw
Cameroon
Director
Ministry of Higher Education (MINESUP)
Department of Assistance and University Welfare
PO Box 1457
Yaoundé
Cameroon
Tel: +237 23 10 01
Fax: +237 23 97 24
www.minesup.gov.cm (this site may take some time to load; if it fails to load, please try again)
Dominica
Permanent Secretary
Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development
Government Headquarters
Kennedy Avenue
Roseau
Dominica
Tel: +1 767 266 3256
Fax: +1 767 448 0644
Email: pseducation@dominica.gov.dm
www.dominica.gov.dm
Eswatini
Under Secretary
Human Resource Development Department
eSwatini Government
Ministry of Public Service
P.O. Box 170
Mbabane
Eswatini
Tel: +268 404 8745/3521
Fax: +268 240 44161/25379
Email: manyovuns@gmail.com
www.gov.sz
Fiji
Scholarships Officer Overseas
Tertiary Scholarships and Loans Board
26 Mac Gregor Road
Suva
Fiji
Email: scholarships@tslb.com.fj
www.tslb.com.fj
Ghana
Registrar of Scholarships
Scholarships Secretariat
PO Box M75
Accra
Ghana
Tel: +233 030 266 2681
Fax: +233 030 266 2732
Email: scholsec.gov.gh@gmail.com
www.scholarships.gov.gh
Grenada
Permanent Secretary
Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development
Botanical Gardens
Tanteen
St George
Grenada
Tel: +1 473 440 2737
Fax: +1 473 444 6650
Email: scholarshipdesk@gmail.com
www.gov.gd
Guyana
Manager Scholarships Administration
Department of the Public Service
Ministry of the Presidency
Durban Street and Vlissengen Road
Georgetown
Guyana
Tel: +592 226 8732
Email: ps@dps.gov.gy
www.gina.gov.gy
India
Director
Ministry of Human Resource Development
Department of Higher Education
External Scholarships Division
West Block-1, 2nd Floor, Wing-6
R K Puram New Delhi 110066
India
Tel: +91 11 261 72492
Fax: +91 11 2338 1355
www.mhrd.gov.in
Jamaica
Acting Senior Director
Workforce Planning & Improvement
Scholarships and Assistance Unit
Strategic Human Resource Management Division
Ministry of Finance and the Public Service
30 National Heroes Circle
Kingston 4
Jamaica
Tel: +1 876 922 8600 12
Fax: +1 876 932 5013
Email: scholarships@mof.gov.jm
www.mof.gov.jm/scholarships
Kenya
Principal Secretary
Ministry of Education
State Department for University Education
PO Box 9583-00200
Nairobi
Kenya
Email: archerarina@yahoo.com
www.education.go.ke
Kiribati
Secretary
Public Service Office
PO Box 68
Bairiki
Tarawa
Kiribati
Tel: +686 21128
Fax: +686 21145
www.pso.gov.ki
Lesotho
Director
National Manpower Development Secretariat
PO Box 517
Maseru 100
Lesotho
Tel: +266 22 323 842
Fax: +266 22 310 511
Malawi
Senior Deputy Director of HR Management Planning and Development
Department of Human Resource Management and Development
PO Box 30227
Malawi
Tel: +265 1 789 522
Fax: +265 1 788 162
Email: mthetol@yahoo.co.uk
www.humanresources.gov.mw
Malaysia
Director
Public Service Department Malaysia
Human Capital Development Division
Level 3, Block C1, Complex C
Federal Government Administrative Centre
62510 W.P. Putrajaya
Malaysia
Tel: +60 3 8885 3058/3588
Fax: +60 3 8889 2171
www.jpa.gov.my
Mauritius
Assistant Permanent Secretary
Ministry of Education and Human Resources, Tertiary Education and Scientific Research
1st Floor, MITD House
Pont Fer
Phoenix 73544
Mauritius
Tel: +230 601 5311 / 5200
Fax: +230 686 8581
Email: scholarships@govmu.org
http://ministry-education.govmu.org
Montserrat
Chief Human Resources Officer
Human Resources Management Unit
Government Headquarters
Brades
Montserrat
Tel: +664 491 2693/2365
Fax: +664 491 6234
Email: training@gov.ms
Mozambique
Director General
Institute of Scholarship
Ministry of Education and Human Development
Avenida Martires da Machava No 231
Maputo
Mozambique
Tel: +258 (21) 490677
Fax: +258 (21) 492196
www.mec.gov.mz
Namibia
Manager Awards, Loans & Scholarships Admin.
National Students Financial Assistance Fund
51 – 52 Werner List Street
United Africa Building, 3rd Floor
PO Box 23053
Windhoek
Namibia
Tel: +264 61 420636
Fax: +264 61 233940
Email: clint.simasiku@nsfaf.na
www.nasfaf.fund
Nauru
Minister for Education
Ministry of Education
Republic of Nauru
Tel: +674 557 3143/3044
Nigeria
Director
Federal Scholarship Board
Plot 245 Samuel Ademulegun Street
Opposite Arewa Suite
Central Business District
Abuja
Nigeria
Tel: +234 805 910 8898 / +234 818 886 2281
Email: fsbfsb2011@gmail.com / fsbfsb2011@yahoo.com
www.education.gov.ng
Pakistan
Deputy Educational Adviser
Ministry of Inter Provincial Coordination
Government of Pakistan
Room No 8, 11th Floor
Shaheed-e-Millat Secretariat
Islamabad
Pakistan
Tel: +92 5191 03528
Fax: +92 51 9204694
Email: fpdeaipc@gmail.com
www.ipc.gov.pk
Papua New Guinea
Principal Advisor
Department of Personnel Management
PO Box 519
Waigani, 131, NCD
Papua New Guinea
Tel: +675 327 6379/6422/6447
Fax: +675 325 0520
www.dpm.gov.pg
Rwanda
Higher Education Council
P.O. BOX: 6311
Kigali
Rwanda
www.reb.rw
St Helena
Director of Education and Employment
Education Learning Centre
Market Street
James Town
STHL 1ZZ
St Helena
Tel: +290 2710/2555
Fax: +290 2461
Email: director@education.gov.sh
www.education.gov.sh
St Lucia
Permanent Secretary
Department of Education, Innovation and Gender Relations
4th Floor, Francis Compton Building
The Waterfront
Castries
St Lucia
Tel: +1 758 468 5207
Fax: +1 758 453 2299
Email: pssecretaryed@education.gov.lc
www.gov.lc/scholarships
St Vincent and The Grenadines
Chief Personnel Officer
Service Commissions Department
2nd Floor, Ministerial Building
Halifax Street
Kingstown
St Vincent and The Grenadines
Tel: +1 784 456 1690
Fax: +1 784 457 2638
Email: servicecommissions@gov.vc
www.psc.gov.vc
Samoa
Assistant CEO
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
PO Box L1859
Apia
Samoa
Tel: +685 21171
Fax: +685 21504
Email: sharon@mfat.gov.ws
www.mfat.gov.ws
Sierra Leone
Chief Education Officer
Ministry of Education, Science and Technology
New England
Freetown
Sierra Leone
www.education.gov.sl
Solomon Islands
Permanent Secretary
Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development
PO Box G28
Honiara
Solomon Islands
Tel: +677 24229
Fax: +677 22042
Email: selum@solomon.com.sb
www.mehrd.gov.sb
South Africa
Director International Scholarships
Higher Education and Training
Private Bag X174, Pretoria 001
South Africa
Email: jana@usaf.ac.za
www.usaf.ac.za
Sri Lanka
Additional Secretary (Development)
Ministry of Higher Education
No 18, Ward Place
Colombo 07
Sri Lanka
Tel: +94 11 268 8621
Fax: +94 11 2697239/2688400
Email: addsec-dev@mohe.gov.lk
www.mohe.gov.lk
Tanzania
Ministry of Education and Vocational Training
Post Office Box 9121
Dar es Salaam
Tanzania
Tel: +255 26 2963533
Email: info@moe.go.tz
www.moe.go.tz
The Gambia
Ministry of Higher Education, Research & Science
Willy Thorpe Building
Banjul
The Gambia
info@moherst.gov.gm
Tonga
Scholarships Officer
Scholarships Unit
Ministry of Education and Training
PO Box 61
Nuku’alofa
Tonga
Tel: +676 23511
www.edu.gov.to
Tuvalu
Secretary, Personnel and Training Department
Government of Tuvalu
Office of the Prime Minister
Personnel and Training Division
Private Mail Bag, Vaiaku
Funafuti
Tuvalu
Tel: +688 20110, ext 3002
Fax: +688 20819
Email: training@tuvalu.tv
Uganda
Ministry of Education and Sports
Embassy House
PO Box 7063
Kampala
Uganda
Email: besig@hotmail.com
www.education.go.ug
Vanuatu
Senior Scholarships Officer
Training & Scholarships Coordination Unit (TSCU)
Ministry of Education
Private Mailbag 9059
Port Vila
Vanuatu
Tel: +678 32495
www.governmentofvanuatu.gov.vu
Zambia
Interim Director – Higher Education Loans and Scholarships Board
Ministry of Higher Education
PO Box 50464
Lusaka
Zambia
Tel: +260 211250726
Email: ireen.chirwa@mohe.gov.zm
www.mohe.gov.zm