Commonwealth Shared Scholarships 2023 in the UK – Commonwealth Shared Scholarships are offered by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) ahead of any stipends, scholarships, and grants-in-aid schemes that individual nations offer.
The program is to provide talented students with UK degrees with an opportunity to secure international experience at Commonwealth institutions.
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Overview of the Commonwealth Shared Scholarships
The UK government, through the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the United Kingdom (CSC), offers scholarships for Commonwealth citizens to study in the UK. These scholarships are funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID), which is part of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
The scholarships are available for Master’s and Ph.D. studies at any accredited British university and are awarded on a competitive basis. The number of awards varies each year depending on funding availability.
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Eligibility Criteria:
To be eligible for a Commonwealth Shared Scholarship, you must:
- be a citizen of a Commonwealth country, and not normally resident in the UK;
- be permanently resident in a developing Commonwealth country;
- be applying to start your first Master’s or Ph.D. program (including combined programs) at a UK university;
- not hold refugee status or have exceptional leave to remain in the UK;
- have not studied or worked previously in the UK for more than 12 months prior to commencing your scholarship;
- be unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship.
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Who is Eligible for a Commonwealth Shared Scholarship?
To be eligible for a Commonwealth Shared Scholarship, you must:
- Be a citizen of a Commonwealth country or a refugee
- Be permanently resident in a Commonwealth country
- Be applying to study for an eligible master’s degree at a UK university
- Not hold dual British citizenship
- Have not previously studied for a period of one year or more in the UK
- Demonstrate that you cannot afford to study in the UK without financial support
- Meet the entry requirements for your chosen course
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How to apply for and be nominated for the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship
UK Commonwealth Shared Scholarships are for students from low and middle-income Commonwealth countries who wish to study in the UK. The scholarships are funded by the UK government and the participating Commonwealth country.
To apply for a Commonwealth Shared Scholarship, you must first check whether you are eligible. You must:
- Be a citizen of or have refugee status in a Commonwealth country, and be permanently resident in that country
- Not have studied or worked previously in a developed country
- Be aged 18 years or over
- Be applying to start your first full degree (undergraduate or Master’s) at a UK university
- Have applied for admission onto an eligible course at a participating UK university
- Meet the eligibility criteria of both the UK scholarship provider and your chosen university -Have sufficient funds to cover all other costs associated with your studies
If you meet all of the above criteria, you can then proceed to nominate yourself for a Commonwealth Shared Scholarship. The nomination process will vary depending on which country you are from. You should contact your chosen university and/or the British Council in your home country for more information on how to self-nominate.
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What is the Difference Between a Prize Coursework Scholarship and Coursework Commonwealth Shared Scholarship?
There are a number of differences between a Prize Coursework Scholarship and a Coursework Commonwealth Shared Scholarship.
- Firstly, a Prize Coursework Scholarship is awarded to high-achieving domestic students, whereas a Coursework Commonwealth Shared Scholarship is awarded to domestic students who demonstrate financial need.
- Secondly, the value of a Prize Coursework Scholarship is typically higher than that of a Coursework Commonwealth Shared Scholarship.
- Finally, recipients of a Prize Coursework Scholarship may be required to maintain certain academic standards in order to retain their scholarship, whereas there is no such requirement for recipients of a Coursework Commonwealth Shared Scholarship.
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Conditions of Acceptance and Affordability
1. Commonwealth Shared Scholarships are for candidates from least developed and low-income Commonwealth countries.
2. Candidates must be permanently resident in a Commonwealth country and have been accepted onto an eligible UK master’s course.
3. Scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic merit and potential to contribute to the development of the candidate’s home country.
4. Successful candidates will be required to return to their home countries for at least two years after completion of their scholarships in order to contribute to development there.
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Eligibility Criteria for a Commonwealth Shared Scholarship
To be eligible for a Commonwealth Shared Scholarship, you must:
- Be a citizen of or have refugee status in a Commonwealth country, and be permanently resident in a Commonwealth country.
- Be available to start your academic studies in the UK by the start of the academic year for which you are applying.
- Be unable to afford to study in the UK without financial help.
-Have not studied or worked full-time for one year or more before starting your scholarship as part of your chosen degree course (this does not include voluntary work and gap years).
-Be willing to return to your home country for at least two years after you have completed your scholarship as you will be required to complete an ‘exit interview’ with British Council staff, and must supply evidence of this when you apply for your visa.
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FAQs about Applying for Commonwealth Shared Scholarships 2023 in the UK
What is the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme?
The Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme is a competitive scholarship program that provides scholarships for talented students from Commonwealth countries who would not otherwise be able to afford to study in the United Kingdom (UK).
What are the eligibility requirements for Commonwealth Shared Scholarships?
To be eligible for a Commonwealth Shared Scholarship, you must:
– Be a citizen of or have refugee status in a Commonwealth country, and be permanently resident in a Commonwealth country.
– Be aged 18 years or over at the time of application.
– Not hold British nationality or dual nationality with the UK.
– Meet the entry requirements for the chosen course of study.
– Have not previously studied or worked full-time in the UK for more than 12 months.
– Demonstrate financial need.
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What supporting documents are required when applying for a Commonwealth Shared Scholarship?
When applying for a Commonwealth Shared Scholarship, you will need to submit:
– A completed online scholarship application form.
– A personal statement.
– A research proposal (if required by your chosen course of study).
– Two references. One academic reference and one general reference. The academic reference should be from someone who has taught you at the university level, and the general reference should be from an employer, teacher, or someone else who knows you well enough to provide a character reference.
– Transcripts of your academic qualifications.
– Proof of English language proficiency (if English is not your first language).
– Copy of passport or national ID card.
Conclusion
The Commonwealth Shared Scholarships 2023 in the UK is a great opportunity for students from developing Commonwealth countries to study at some of the best universities in the world. If you are planning to apply, make sure you read through the eligibility requirements and start preparing your application early. Good luck!
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