2019 Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship

Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships are for candidates from low and middle income Commonwealth countries, seeking part-time Master’s study by distance learning on selected courses offered by UK universities. These scholarships are funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID).

To contribute to the development needs of Commonwealth countries by providing training for skilled and qualified professionals in key development areas.

High-quality postgraduate students who wish to access training not available in their home countries, who want or need to remain in their home country while they study, and who have the potential to enhance the development of their home countries with the knowledge and leadership skills they acquire.

Full information on how to apply for this scholarship is available in the Commonwealth Distance Learning Terms and Conditions document. 

UK universities are invited to apply for up to 15 Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships to be offered in the 2019 academic year. Applications must be submitted via the online application system by 12:00 PM (GMT) on 16 November 2018.

The CSC is not always able to offer the maximum number of scholarships for which a university applies, and reserves the right to limit the number of scholarships for programmes that are new to the scheme. It is normal practice for the CSC to offer a maximum of five awards to universities that are new to the scheme or have not participated in the scheme in the last three years.

These scholarships support distance learning Master’s degree courses offered in partnership with local providers in eligible countries, as well as courses delivered directly by UK universities. Universities may submit an application for a single course, or for a cluster programme containing multiple courses, as long as these courses are within the same department or share similar objectives.

Applications should be made through the application system which is now open and available in the Apply now section. Please note that you will require a key code to enter the application system. If you have received a letter or email from the CSC inviting you to apply for these scholarships a key code will be included this correspondence. If you require a key code please email distance.learning@cscuk.org.uk with your name, job title and the name of your university to receive your key code.

Awards are for full-time or part-time study of a taught course at postgraduate level by distance learning. These scholarships do not support research degrees or undergraduate study.

Funding is available for five academic years from the start of an approved programme. Awards cannot be extended or renewed.

The 2019 intake of Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships are financed by the CSC for a maximum of five years and are expected to commence at the start of the academic year.

The CSC has a funding cap of £18,000 per scholarship. Universities may contribute funding from an approved source if the full cost of the award is more than £18,000.

The scholarship must cover all elements of the award, including: 

Course tuition fees 

Grant to contribute to study-related costs 

Partnership development costs 

Any UK residential programme(s) – where a university intends to run a UK residential programme as part of the course, the university is expected to provide a specific level of support. See the following bullet points below. 

Return travel from the Scholar’s home country to the UK location 

Cost of UK visa 

Maintenance stipend of £1,084 per month (£1,339 for Scholars in London), to be paid for the full duration of the UK residential. These amounts are set by the UK government for all students on government-funded scholarships, and increase annually. 

Any contribution towards costs over the CSC’s £18,000 cap must come from the university’s own funds or from an organisation whose missions and aims are in line with those of the CSC. The source of this additional funding must be clearly identified in the application.

Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholars must not be asked to contribute to any compulsory costs except in the instance of resits or retakes. Any application requiring a Distance Learning Scholar to fund or partially fund their studies will be deemed ineligible.

All promotional and award material must recognise that Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships are awarded by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (CSC).

The university is responsible for managing the welfare of Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholars while they are on award, including supporting disabled scholars and funding any reasonable adjustments that may be required for academic study. For further information on the support provided by the CSC to candidates with a disability, see the CSC disability support statement.

Applications will be considered according to the following selection criteria: 

Quality of the course, the quality assurance record, and the track record for delivery of the course through distance learning. Applications are strengthened by copies of any independent/external reports of the programme undertaken in recent years. 

Learning opportunities provided for students in developing countries, including whether the course takes into account appropriate use of technology, whether course providers can identify a target audience of potential applicants and recruit them successfully, and the factors likely to affect candidates’ successful completion of their studies. 

Development impact of the course of study, including how the course content can be applied to the specified theme, DFID priority areas, the Sustainable Development Goals, and the subsequent career patterns of course alumni. 

If the university is working with a partner, the partner must be based in an eligible Commonwealth country.

The CSC selection committee will consider university applications in January. Successful universities will be notified which courses and how many awards have been approved by the CSC. The CSC will issue a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to institutions which will confirm the terms and conditions and funding arrangements for the award(s), as well as the responsibilities of the CSC and the university.

Universities must then conduct their own recruitment process to nominate a specified number of candidates to the CSC. Candidates must complete a CSC scholarship application in addition to completing the admissions procedure of the university.

The CSC aims to identify talented individuals who have the potential to make change. We are committed to a policy of equal opportunity and non-discrimination, and encourage applications from a diverse range of candidates. In particular, universities are asked to encourage women and candidates from a range of countries to apply for these scholarships. The university is responsible for recruiting candidates in an open and transparent manner and with reference to the CSC anti-fraud policy.

Candidate applications for 2019 Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships are expected to open at the beginning of February 2019, with a final closing date for applications at the end of March 2019. The list of eligible courses and universities, with university contact details and institutional application closing dates, will be published on the CSC website.

The university must nominate its chosen candidates within four weeks of the CSC’s final closing date for applications. The CSC selection committee will select Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholars from the shortlists of nominated candidates and release the results by June 2019. 

Eligibility to apply 

The university is responsible for ensuring its candidates meet the CSC’s eligibility criteria.

To apply for a Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship, candidates must: 

Be a citizen of or be granted refugee status from an eligible Commonwealth country, or be a British Protected Person 

Be permanently and continually resident in an eligible 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 

Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships may not be held concurrently for more than one course.

If selected for a scholarship, candidates must be and remain resident in an eligible Commonwealth country and must notundertake study towards any other qualification for the duration of their award.

When submitting their application to the CSC, all candidates must provide at least one reference and hold an offer to start their chosen course of study in the 2019 academic year. These award conditions are current as of October 2018 and are subject to change.

Bangladesh, Cameroon, Eswatini, The Gambia, Ghana, Guyana, India, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia