The Commonwealth Scholarship is a prestigious scholarship program offered by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) to citizens of Commonwealth countries, including India. The scholarship aims to allow people to pursue higher education and foster their careers in the UK and other Commonwealth nations.
What does Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Offer?
The Commonwealth Scholarship scheme aims to provide students who would not otherwise be able to afford to study in the UK a platform to flourish. The scheme helps support future innovators and leaders by funding postgraduate studies in various formats.
CSC Development Themes:
All Commonwealth Scholarships, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), are offered under six CSC development themes.
- Science and technology for development
- Strengthening health systems and capacity
- Promoting global prosperity
- Strengthening global peace, security and governance
- Strengthening resilience and response to crises
- Access, inclusion and opportunity.
Key Features
→ The ‘Commonwealth Scholarship’ is available for master’s or doctoral studies at universities in the UK and other countries.
→ Offered to students with a weaker financial background and excellent academic scores.
→ The total number of scholarship slots available is 175.
→Total tuition fees are covered by CSC and UK Universities.
→ A lump sum of £1,516 living allowance is also provided.
Eligibility for Masters Program
→ Applicants need to be permanent residents of the commonwealth country.
→ Hold a first degree of at least upper second-class honours standards or a second-class degree.
→ Age limit below 40 years.
→ A minimum score of 60% in Social science & 65% in Science subjects is required.
Eligibility for PhD Program
→ Have completed their program or earned a master’s degree.
→ NOT already have a PhD or M.Phil. application at any other university.
→ Have a minimum social science & science score of 60% & higher, respectively.
→ Permanent resident of a Commonwealth nation.
→ NOT be older than 40 years.
Subjects/Fields Offered
→ Engineering & Technology:
Electrical/Electronics, Environmental Studies, Remote Sensing Technology, Communication Engineering, Biotechnology or Biochemical Engineering, Robotics, Computer Applications/Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering/Aeronautics, Civil Engineering/Architecture, Material Science, Mining Engineering and Marine Engineering.
→ Science (Pure & Applied):
Mathematics, Molecular, Biology, Physics and Chemistry (including Pharmaceutical/ Medicinal Chemistry).
→ Agriculture & Allied Field:
Agronomy and Forestry.
→ Humanities & Social Science:
History, Sociology, Management Studies, Economics, Philosophy, Psychology, Law, English (Literature/Linguistics) and Political Science with International Relations.
Application and Selection Process
→ Need to provide academic transcripts, language proficiency, SOP and LORs.
→ Require additional documents, such as a research proposal or a CV for PhD Courses.
→ Involve a review of the application materials, interviews & other assessments.
→ Potential impact on the candidate’s home country’s development.
→ Preliminary selections were made through application shortlisting, followed by personal interviews.
→ If opting for Commonwealth split-site scholarship, applicants need to research to find ways to achieve sustainable development goals of their home country.
| Scholarships | Financial Assistance |
|---|---|
| Commonwealth PhD Scholarship | → Flights from your home country to the UK and back at the end of your award. → An agreement between the CSC and the UK university covers full tuition fees. → Living allowance of £1,236 per month. → Allowance for warm clothing, if applicable. →Study travel grant to help with the cost of studying in the UK. → If the applicant is a single parent, he/she will receive child allowance GBP 465 per month for the first child and GBP 114 for the second and third child below the age of 16 years. |
| Commonwealth Split-site Scholarship | →Flights from your home country to the UK and back at the end of your award. → A monthly stipend (living allowance) of £1,133, or £1,390, for those attending universities in the London metropolitan area. |
| Commonwealth Master's Awards | →Flights from your home country to the UK and back at the end of your award. →An agreement between the CSC and the UK university covers total tuition fees. →Stipend (living allowance) of £1,236 per month, or £1,516 for those attending universities in the London metropolitan area (rates quoted at current levels). →Allowance for warm clothing. →A thesis grant to help with the costs of writing a thesis or dissertation. |
Fellowship for Commonwealth Professionals
The fellowships for commonwealth professionals are a type to support mid-career professionals from developing commonwealth countries to spend time in the UK on a professional development program.
This fellowship covers the following expenses:
→ Return airfare to the UK.
→Stipend (living allowance) to cover accommodation and other living expenses
→Training and course fees
→Study travel grant towards the costs of study-related travel within the UK.
Even though the fellowship is available for two to three months, it can sometimes be longer. To be qualified for a Commonwealth Professionals Fellowship
→Must be a citizen of a Commonwealth nation in development.
→Be in a professional position and work in a field related to the fellowship.
→You must not have previously attended college in a developed nation and have at least five years of relevant professional experience.
Why opt for a Commonwealth Scholarship?
In conclusion, Commonwealth scholarships and Fellowship Plan give Indian students a priceless chance to pursue their academic goals and support the advancement of their country. These fellowships promote global connections and cross-cultural understanding while empowering individuals via access to top-notch education.
Moreover, they are motivated by international cooperation and knowledge sharing. India’s continued investment in its future leaders through programs like Commonwealth Scholarships demonstrates its dedication to education, diversity, and quality as it continues to prosperity and innovation.
Therefore, by accepting these Scholarships for Indian students, they will enhance their individual lives and the larger global community by investing in their personal development and becoming ambassadors of change. To learn more about all the scholarships and admissions, visit the AdmitX website.
