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Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships
Deadline: 4 May, 2020
Level of Study
Postgraduate Taught
Application Status
Closed

Eligibility summary

  • NationalityBangladesh, Cameroon, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), Gambia, The, Ghana, Guyana, India, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia
  • Level of StudyPostgraduate Taught

Overview

The Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP) is one of the largest and most prestigious scholarship schemes for international study in the world. Since it was established in 1959, around 35,000 individuals have benefited – 27,000 of them have held awards funded by the UK government, managed by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the United Kingdom (CSC).

 Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships are for candidates from least developed and lower middle income Commonwealth countries, for part-time Masters study by distance learning on selected courses offered by UK Universities.

 Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships are offered for citizens of certain developing Commonwealth countries. These scholarships are funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID), with the aim of contributing to the UK’s international development aims and wider overseas interests, supporting excellence in UK higher education, and sustaining the principles of the Commonwealth.

Further Information

Queen’s University Belfast has up to five Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships to support scholars commencing the MSc Global Food Security (Food Safety) in September 2020. Please ensure to apply for the Distance Learning course.

 

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

CSC Development themes and impact:
Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships enable talented and motivated individuals to gain the knowledge and skills required for sustainable development, and are aimed at those unable to study in the UK for financial and other reasons. These scholarships are offered under six themes listed on the CSC website

Candidates must apply for admission to the eligible Master’s course at Queen’s university, and apply for a scholarship via the CSC online.  The table below lists the relevant deadlines. 

Deadline for Submission

Date

Application for Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship

04 May 2020 (16.00 GMT)

Application for admission to Queen’s University Belfast*

11 May 2020

References and supporting documentation

22 May 2020 (16.00 GMT)

University informs candidates of scholarship outcome

July 2020

*Note it is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure that they submit an application for admission no later than the 11 May 2020 and that their application is for the correct course, ie Distance Learning option for MSc Global Food Security (Food Safety)

In May the selectors at Queen’s University will consider the academic merit of eligible candidates and the potential impact of their work on the development of their home country. Universities must put forward their selected candidates to the CSC by 12 June 2020. The CSC will then confirm that these candidates meet the eligibility criteria for this scheme. Universities will inform candidates of their results by July 2020.

Funding Towards

Tuition Fees

Funding Body

Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK funded by Department for International Development (UK)

Funding Amount

The scholarship covers tuition fees.

Number of Awards

5

Funding Body

Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK funded by Department for International Development (UK)

Relevant Links for More Information

http://cscuk.dfid.gov.uk/apply/distance-learning/

Terms and Conditions

Full terms and conditions are available (PDF): Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships 2020 terms and conditions.

Please note that the deadlines stated in the Terms and Conditions PDF have been extended as follows:.

First Deadline - Scholarship applications must be submitted by 16.00 (GMT) on 04 May 2020 at the latest

Second Deadline - Supporting documentation must be uploaded to the CSC online sbystem by 16.00 (GMT) on 22 May 2020

Eligibility

Intended beneficiaries are high-quality postgraduate students who wish to access training not available in their home countries, who wish 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.

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.

Full terms and conditions are available (PDF): Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships 2020 terms and conditions.

If selected for a scholarship, candidates must be resident and remain in an eligible developing Commonwealth country and must not undertake study towards any other qualification for the duration of their award.

Supporting Documentation

Scholarship applications must be submitted by 16.00 (GMT) on 4 May 2020 at the latest.  Your scholarship application must include the supporting documentation listed below by the 16:00 (GMT) on 22 May 2020 in order for your application to be eligible for consideration.

  • Proof of citizenship or Refugee Status – a copy of  valid passport or national ID card showing  photograph, date of birth, and country of citizenship – uploaded to the online application system.
  • 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 their chosen course of study in the 2020-2021 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

Supporting documentation uploaded to the online application system must be uploaded as files that are no more than 5 MB in size and must be in one of the following formats: PDF, .doc, .docx, .odt, .jpg, .jpeg. Files submitted in any other format (including Zip files and PDF Portfolios) will NOT be accepted.

Funding Type

Help with new course

Fee Status

International

Nationality

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

Study Level

Postgraduate Taught

Start Date

Wed, 08 Apr 2020 01:17:00 BST

Close Date

Mon, 04 May 2020 16:00:00 BST

Contact Us

If you have any queries about applying for a Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship, you can visit the CSC’s Contact us page.

If you have queries about applying for admission please refer to  http://www.qub.ac.uk/Study/PostgraduateStudy/How-to-apply/

If you still have queries please email the Admissions team, International Enquiries: intl.student@qub.ac.uk 

How to Apply

Candidates must apply for both a place on the eligible Masters course at Queen’s and for a scholarship.  Refer to Step 1 and Step 2 below.    Both steps must be completed.

Step 1 – Apply for Admission:

  • Candidates must apply for and secure admission to an eligible Master’s course at Queen’s university, ie the MSc Global Food Security (Food Safety)
  • It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure that they submit an application for admission no later than the 11 May 2020 and that their application is for the correct course, ie Distance Learning option for MSc Global Food Security (Food Safety).
  • Further information about the course content, entry requirements and how to apply for a place are available here.  It is recommended candidates apply for admission before the scholarship closing date and no later than 11 May to allow sufficient time for a decision to be processed by the Admissions team.  Note candidates are required to upload a copy of their admission offer letter with their scholarship application by 22 May 2020.

Step 2 - Apply for a Scholarship

  • Scholarship Applications must be made online using the CSC’s online application system which you can find via CSC website.  The CSC will not accept any applications that are not submitted via the online application system. 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 2020-2021 academic year

Scholarship applications must be submitted by 16.00 (GMT) on 4 May 2020 at the latest.

Your scholarship application must include the supporting documentation specified in the Terms and Conditions by 16:00 (GMT) on 22 May 2020 in order for your application to be eligible for consideration.

Key Deadlines

Deadline for Submission

Date

Application for Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship

04 May 2020 (16.00 GMT)

Application for admission to Queen’s University Belfast*

11 May 2020

References and supporting documentation

22 May 2020 (16.00 GMT)

University informs candidates of scholarship outcome

July 2020

*Note it is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure that they submit an application for admission no later than the 11 May 2020 and that their application is for the correct course, ie Distance Learning option for MSc Global Food Security (Food Safety)