Discover how to apply for the fully funded Commonwealth Shared Scholarships from 102 top UK Universities; a fully funded program to study in the United Kingdom.
The Commonwealth Shared Scholarships are a fully funded program offered by the UK government to students from eligible Commonwealth countries. Here is what you need to know about these scholarships:
- Eligibility: To apply for Commonwealth Shared Scholarships, you must be a citizen or have been granted refugee status by an eligible Commonwealth country, or be a British Protected Person. You should also have residency in an eligible Commonwealth country and be available to start academic studies in the United Kingdom by the start of the UK academic year. Additionally, you must hold a first degree and a relevant postgraduate qualification by September 2023. Lastly, you should not have been a student or employee for one academic year or more in a high-income country.
- Course Eligibility: The courses eligible for Commonwealth Shared Scholarships vary across universities but are generally focused on fields that are relevant to the economic, social, or technological development of your home country.
- Application Process: To apply for Commonwealth Shared Scholarships, you need to follow these steps:
- Submit an application to the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission through their Electronic Application System (EAS).
- Apply for admission to one of the approved programs at a participating UK university. Each university will have its own application procedures.
- Consult the official website of the university you are interested in or contact their scholarship/funding office for specific application guidelines.
- Scholarship Coverage: Commonwealth Shared Scholarships are fully funded, which means they cover 100% of your tuition fees and provide a monthly stipend to cover your living expenses. The scholarships are jointly funded by the host universities and the UK Department for International Development (DFID).
- Participating Universities: There are 102 universities in the UK that offer Commonwealth Shared Scholarships. These universities have signed agreements with the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission and contribute 20% of the overseas tuition fee. You can find a list of these universities on the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission’s website.
- Contacting the University: If you have any questions regarding Commonwealth Shared Scholarships or other funding opportunities at a specific university, you can contact the university’s Funding, Graduation, and Award Office. They will provide you with the necessary information and guidance.
Remember to visit the official website of the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission and the university you are interested in for the most up-to-date and accurate information about the scholarship program and application process.
Note: The University of Birmingham is not the only UK University offering Commonwealth Shared Scholarships. Rather we are demonstrating how you can also apply via any other university of your choice. Eligibility for Commonwealth scholarship is almost the same across all the schools across the United Kingdom.
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About the University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is a public research institution in Birmingham, England. The university was founded in 1900 and first received its royal charter the same year as the successor to Queen’s College, Birmingham.
Consequently, the University of Birmingham was the first English university to receive its own royal charter and the first English unitary university.
Scholarships at the University of Birmingham
Aside from the Commonwealth scholarship, here are the top scholarships for students at the University of Birmingham:
- Multiple Region Scholarships & Funding.
- Africa (Sub-Sahara) Scholarships & Funding.
- Americas Scholarships & Funding.
- Asia Scholarships & Funding.
- Europe Scholarships & Funding.
- Middle East & North Africa Scholarships & Funding.
- The University of Birmingham Dubai Campus Scholarships & Funding.
- College & Departmental International Scholarships at Birmingham.
To get started with learning more or applying for any of the University of Birmingham Scholarships, students should visit the school’s official website for more.
Who can Apply for the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship?
At the University of Birmingham, and other universities in the UK, it demands that a student:
- Be a citizen have been granted refugee status by an eligible Commonwealth country, or be a British Protected Person.
- Have a residency in an Eligible Commonwealth country.
- Be available to start academic studies in the United Kingdom by the start of the UK academic year ( usually around September)
- Before the application time, hold a first degree (second-class upper 2:1 honour standard, or a lower second-class 2:2) and a relevant postgraduate qualification.
- Not have been a student or employee for one academic year ( or more) in a high-income country.
- Unable to study in the United Kingdom without Commonwealth Shared Scholarship.
- Have provided all supporting documents in the required format.
Courses Eligible for Commonwealth Shared Scholarship
Dozens of UK universities participate in the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship, for master courses only. However, the courses put forward by these schools must be proven relevant to the economic, social or technological development of the candidate’s home country.
In the case of Birmingham University, the courses and fields eligible for the scholarship scheme are as follows:
To apply for the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship at the University of Birmingham, candidates must have been offered admission into any of the following postgraduate programs:
- MA Africa and Development
- MA Social Research (African Studies)
- MSc Clinical Oncology
- MSc Respiratory Medicine
NB: The list of courses or fields eligible for the Commonwealth Scholarships will vary from school to school, but will based on how relevant they are to the development of the student’s home country.
To learn more about the eligible courses for your school of choice, kindly contact the institution or carry out independent research about the criteria.
Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Application
To begin your online application, you must complete the following steps:
- a) Submit a Commonwealth Scholarship Commission Application. To complete the Commission’s Electronic Application System (EAS), we recommend you read all the guidance for candidates prior to completing the application.
- b) Have made an application to study one of the approved programmes at the University of Birmingham.
- So, all you need to do is to contact the school or figure out the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship details via the official website, to learn about the eligible courses and fields.
Contact the University of Birmingham
If you have any questions regarding scholarships and other student funding, you can contact the university’s Funding, Graduation and Award Office via email.
Email: [email protected]
Also, you can access the University of Birmingham Postgraduate Funding Database entry for the Commonwealth Scholarship from this special page.
FAQ About Commonwealth Shared Scholarship
Among over 2.5 billion Commonwealth citizens from 56 countries in the world, students are asking other questions that may interest you, regarding the Commonwealth Shared Scholarships.
At Jobreaders.org, our goal remains to help global citizens tap into skills and great career opportunities. It is in light of this purpose that we strive to provide the most accurate feedback, to keep helping you get what you are looking for.
Is Commonwealth shared scholarship fully funded?
The Commonwealth Shared Scholarship award covers a 100% tuition fee with a maintenance stipend. This scheme is jointly funded by the host universities and the Department for International Development (DFID). In Summary, the Commonwealth shared scholarship is fully funded.
What are the Universities Offering Commonwealth Shared Scholarships?
Here are the 102 Universities that partner with the Commission for Commonwealth Shared Scholarship scheme:
- Aberystwyth University
- Aston University
- Bangor University
- Bath Spa University
- Bishop Grosseteste University
- Birkbeck, University of London
- Birmingham City University
- Bournemouth University
- Brunel University London
- Cardiff University
- City, University of London
- Coventry University
- Cranfield University
- De Montfort University
- Durham University
- Edinburgh Napier 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
- 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 Brighton
- 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 Hertfordshire
- 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 Plymouth
- 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 Sunderland
- University of Surrey
- University of Sussex
- University of the West of England
- University of Warwick
- University of Westminster
- University of West London
- University of the West of Scotland
- University of Wolverhampton
- University of Worcester
- University of York
At the time of preparing this guide, there are 102 universities in the United Kingdom offer Commonwealth Shared Scholarships.
These schools are the institutions that have signed an MOU with the Commission under which they agree to be funding 20% of the overseas tuition fee.
Contributing this quota allows the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission to increase the number of awards for students coming from these least developed and middle-income countries.
Application Tips: If you have gained admission to study in any of these universities or intend to enrol, you can contact the school directly from their official website, to learn more about the requirements for its Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme and what makes up the eligible courses.
Is the Commonwealth shared scholarship open for 2024?
For the commonwealth shared scholarship application in 2024 and beyond, students are to visit the official; website of each of the schools and locations where the scholarships is tenable. Annually, students from over 30 least-developed countries are invited to apply.
How much is the Commonwealth shared scholarship stipend?
Commonwealth Share Scholarships offer a monthly stipend of £1,236 per month.
Previous events show that Commonwealth Shared Scholarships provide fully funded tuition support. Also, students are given £1,236 per month as a stipend, with a number of other benefits.
Which courses are eligible for the Commonwealth Scholarship?
The specific disciplines that receive Commonwealth funds through the FCDO and partnering schools are:
- Science and technology for development.
- Strengthening health systems and capacity.
- Promoting global prosperity.
- Strengthening global peace, security and governance.
- Access, inclusion and opportunity
Note: All Scholarships are part-funded by the UK universities listed in this guide.
How to Apply for Commonwealth Shared Scholarships
The simplest procedure for this scholarship application is what we have demonstrated here:
A. Apply via the UK University of your Choosing
Our explanation of how to apply for this scholarship at the University of Birmingham should be a model for other universities. Students who apply for any of the schools listed here should reach out to the schools for more guidance on the application.
By visiting the official website of the commission.
From the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship general page, you can select your country to filter your eligibility, school other application procedures.
