Applications are on-going for the 2022 Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships in UK Universities.
Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships are for candidates from least developed, low, and lower middle-income Commonwealth countries, for part-time Master’s study by distance learning on selected courses offered by UK universities. These scholarships are funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
The scheme was established in 2002, as a direct response to the measures taken by its funder, the UK Department for International Development (DFID), to explore new methods of delivery as part of the drive for poverty reduction.
Accepted Subject Areas
Institute of Education, University of London: MA Education and International Development
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
• MSc Clinical Trials
• MSc Epidemiology
• MSc Global Health Policy
• MSc Infectious Diseases
• MSc Public Health
London South Bank University: MSc Education for Sustainability
Open University: MSc Development Management
Royal Veterinary College, University of London: MSC Veterinary Epidemiology and Public Health
School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London
• MSc Poverty Reduction: Policy and Practice
• MSc Finance (Major: Economic Policy)
• MSc Public Policy and Management
University of Bath
• MSc International Construction Management
• MSc Integrated Environmental Management
University of Birmingham: MSc International Development (Conflict, Security and Development)
University of Edinburgh
• MSc Biodiversity Wildlife and Ecosystem Health
• MVetSci Conservation Medicine
• MSc Global Health and Infectious Disease
• MSc International Animal Health
• MSc Global Health: innovation and education courses (Global Health and Non-Communicable Diseases, Clinical Education, Global Challenges, Paediatric Emergency Medicine, and Global eHealth)
University of Leicester: MSc Risk, Crisis and Disaster Management
University of Liverpool:
• MSc Clinical Research
• MPH Master of Public Health
University of Oxford: MSt International Human Rights Law
University of Southampton: MSc Gerontology
University of Stirling: MSc Dementia Studies
University of Strathclyde
• MSc Finance
• LLM IT and Telecommunications/Internet Law and Policy
University of York: MPA Master of Public Administration – International Development
Eligible African Countries
Botswana, Cameroon, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Samoa, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Other Countries
Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Barbados Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Falkland Islands, Fiji*, Gibraltar, Grenada, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Malaysia, Maldives, Montserrat, Nauru, Pakistan, , Pitcairn, St Helena, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and The Grenadines, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tristan da Cunha, Turks and Caicos, Tuvalu, Vanuatu.
Selection Criteria and Eligibility
Each participating UK University will conduct its own recruitment process to select a specified number of candidates for Distance Learning Scholarships. Universities must put forward their selected candidates to the CSC by 9 May 2022. The CSC will then confirm that these candidates meet the eligibility criteria for this scheme and universities will inform candidates of their results in July 2022.
Selection criteria include:
- Academic merit of the candidate
- Potential impact of the work on the development of the candidate’s home country.
Eligibility:
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.
Application Procedure and Deadline
You must apply to study an eligible master’s course at a UK university that is participating in the Distance Learning scheme. Click here for a list of participating universities and eligible courses.
You must also apply and secure admission to your university course in addition to applying for a Distance Learning Scholarship.
You must check with your chosen university for their specific advice on when to apply, admission requirements, and rules for applying.
You must make your application using the CSC’s online application system, in addition to any other application that you are required to complete by your chosen university. The CSC will not accept any applications that are not submitted via the online application system.You can apply for more than one course and/or to more than one university, but you may only accept one offer of a Distance Learning Scholarship.
Candidate applications must be submitted by 18:00 (GMT) on 15 March 2022. Applications must include the following supporting documentation by 17:00 (GMT) on 5 April 2022 in order for your application to be eligible for consideration:
- At least one reference– submitted directly by the referee to the online application system (referees will be sent an email request).
- An offer letter to start the chosen course of study in the 2022-2023 academic year – uploaded to the online application system.
- Full transcripts detailing all your higher education qualifications (with certified translations if not in English) – uploaded to the online application system.
Click on the online application form to apply
Official Scholarship Website – https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/