Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship 2024 Nigeria

The agency-nominated Master programme is one of three Master’s programmes offered by the Commission.

Purpose: Funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships enable talented and motivated individuals to gain the knowledge and skills required for sustainable development, and are aimed at those who could not otherwise afford to study in the UK.

Intended Beneficiaries: Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships are for candidates from eligible lower and upper middle income Commonwealth countries, to undertake full-time taught Master’s study at a UK university.

Choosing a University/Course

You may find the following resources useful when researching your choices of institution and course of study in the UK:

  • Study UK – British Council website, with guidance for international students and a course and institution search
  • Steps to Postgraduate Study – a guide to asking the right questions about taught postgraduate study in the UK
  • Postgrad.com – information for postgraduate students, with a course search
  • Prospects – information on postgraduate study in the UK
  • Research Excellent Framework 2014 results – results of a system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions
  • UCAS Postgraduate – guidance on how to find and apply for a postgraduate course
  • Unistats – the official website for comparing UK higher education course data
  • UKCISA (UK Council for International Student Affairs)  – advice for international students on choosing a course of study

The CSC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Scholar Eligibility

To apply for these scholarships, you must:

  • 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 an eligible Commonwealth country
  • Be available to start your academic studies in the UK by the start of the UK academic year in September 2022
  • By September 2022, hold a first degree of at least upper second class (2:1) honours standard, or a second class degree (2:2) and a relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a Master’s degree). The CSC would not normally fund a second UK Master’s degree. If you are applying for a second UK Master’s degree, you will need to provide justification as to why you wish to undertake this study
  • NOT be registered for a PhD, or an MPhil leading to a PhD, at a UK university or in your home country before September/October 2022
  • Be unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship
  • Have provided all supporting documentation in the required format

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.

For further information on the support available to candidates with a disability, see the CSC disability support statement.

The CSC is committed to administering and managing its scholarships and fellowships in a fair and transparent manner. For further information, see the CSC anti-fraud policy and the guidance on reporting fraud.

The CSC is committed proactively to safeguard and promote the welfare of our beneficiaries, and to protect its staff, Commissioners, beneficiaries and all those with whom the CSC comes into contact.

The CSC requires staff, members of the Commission, applicants for and recipients of CSC awards and suppliers to act consistently with its requirements for safeguarding.

Applicants should note the CSC’s Safeguarding Policy which sets out the obligation for staff, members of the Commission, applicants for and recipients of CSC awards and suppliers to act consistently with its requirements for safeguarding. 

Any safeguarding concerns should be reported to the Commission at: [email protected]

Eligible Countries

Please note that only candidates from the eligible countries listed below can apply for Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships in 2022.

  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Bangladesh
  • Belize
  • Botswana
  • Cameroon
  • Dominica
  • Eswatini
  • Fiji
  • Ghana
  • Grenada
  • Guyana
  • India
  • Jamaica
  • Kenya
  • Kiribati
  • Lesotho
  • Malawi
  • Malaysia
  • Mauritius
  • Montserrat
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Nauru
  • Nigeria
  • Pakistan
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Rwanda
  • Samoa
  • South Africa
  • Sri Lanka
  • St Helena
  • St Lucia
  • St Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Tanzania
  • The Gambia
  • Tonga
  • Tuvalu
  • Uganda
  • Vanuatu

Completing Application Form

Applications must be made using the CSC’s online application system.

In the application form, prospective fellows will be asked to:

  • List all undergraduate and postgraduate university qualifications obtained (if applicable)
  • List up to 10 publications and prizes (if applicable)
  • Provide details of your employment history and explain how each job is relevant to the programme you wish to undertake in the UK (up to 100 words per employment)
  • Provide a statement on the relevance of your previous work experience to the proposed fellowship (up to 300 words)
  • List names and positions of three referees who are qualified to comment on both your capacity to benefit from your proposed Fellowship in the UK and your ability to deliver development impact afterwards. One of your referees must be your current employer.
  • Provide a Development Impact statement in 4 parts. In the first part you should explain how your proposed Fellowship relates to:

a. getting 40 million more girls in primary and secondary school by 2025 and improving learning levels, so girls can achieve their full potential

b. development issues at the global, national and local level

c. development issues connected to the theme of girl’s education and the wider sector

(up to 200 words)

  • In the second part you should explain how you intend to apply your new skills once your Fellowship ends (up to 100 words).
  • In the third part you should outline what you expect will change in development terms following your Fellowship, including:
    a. the outcomes that you aim to achieve
    b. the timeframe for their implementation
    c. who the beneficiaries will be

(up to 250 words)

  • In the fourth part you should write about how the impact of your work could be best measured (up to 100 words).
  • Confirm what your award objectives are and how each of them will be met by the Fellowship programme
  • Confirm what your objectives are for the next two years and how each of them will be met by the Fellowship programme
  • Confirm what your objectives are in the longer term and how each of them will be met by the Fellowship programme
  • Provide a personal statement to summarise the ways in which your personal background has encouraged you to want to make an impact in your home country. You should indicate areas in which you have already contributed, such as having overcome any personal or community barriers to your chosen career (up to 500 words).
  • Summarise the ways in which you have engaged in voluntary activities and the opportunities you have had to demonstrate leadership (up to 500 words).
  • Provide a scan of your passport or national identity card

Selection Process

Each year, the CSC invites selected nominating bodies to submit a specific number of nominations. The deadline for nominating bodies to submit nominations will be made available in September 2021.

Applications will be considered according to the following selection criteria:

  • Academic merit of the candidate
  • Quality of the plan of study
  • Potential impact on the development of the candidate’s home country

Value

Each scholarship provides:

  • Approved airfare from your home country to the UK and return at the end of your award (the CSC will not reimburse the cost of fares for dependants, nor the cost of journeys made before your award is confirmed).
  • Approved tuition fees.
  • Stipend (living allowance) at the rate of £1,116 per month, or £1,369 per month for those at universities in the London metropolitan area (rates quoted at 2021-2022 levels).
  • Warm clothing allowance, where applicable.
  • Thesis grant towards the cost of preparing a thesis or dissertation, where applicable.
  • Study travel grant towards the cost of study-related travel within the UK or overseas.
  • If you are widowed, divorced, or a single parent, child allowance of £480 per month for the first child, and £118 per month for the second and third child under the age of 16, if you are accompanied by your children and they are living with you at the same address in the UK (rates quoted at 2020-2021 levels).
  • If you declare a disability, a full assessment of your needs and eligibility for additional financial support will be offered by the CSC.The CSC’s family allowances are intended to only be used as a contribution towards the cost of maintaining your family in the UK. The true costs are likely to be considerably higher. You must be able to supplement these allowances to support any family members who come to the UK with you.For more information, see the current Handbook for Commonwealth Scholars and Fellows.Please note that the conditions outlined in the Handbook are subject to change.

General Conditions

  • A Commonwealth Scholarship covers fees, approved fares, and personal maintenance. Other scholarships, awards, or bursaries that cover the same costs may not be held concurrently.
  • For the CSC to administer your application effectively and efficiently after you have submitted, it will be necessary to create a record in your name. If you are nominated for an award to the CSC, your details will be kept on file. Basic anonymised demographic data for all applicants will be kept for analytical research. The CSC is committed to protecting your personal information and to being transparent about the information we are collecting about you and what we do with it. To find out more, see our privacy notice.
  • If your application is successful, the CSC will notify you via email that you have been provisionally selected (selected for an award subject to the CSC agreeing your terms of admission to the university)
  • The CSC does not require any candidates to take an IELTS (English language) test. You should note, however, that, as a further condition of your scholarship, you may be required by your university to provide evidence of a particular level of English language proficiency.
  • The CSC will not be able to offer you a scholarship if it would contravene the terms and conditions of another scholarship that you have previously held.
  • When terms of admission to the university have been agreed, the CSC will send you a Notification of Award (formal offer of a scholarship).
  • When all conditions of the Notification of Award have been met, the CSC will send you a formal Confirmation of Award.
  • You will be required to submit a Health and Disability Form before your Confirmation of Award can be issued.
  • You will be required to sign an undertaking to return to your home country as soon as possible after the end of your award.
  • You are expected to start your award on the date stated in your Notification of Award.
  • If you require a Student visa to come to the UK to study, you must meet all relevant immigration requirements set by UK Visas and Immigration. You should check the GOV.UK website for updated information.
  • All UK immigration regulations are set by UK Visas and Immigration and are subject to change. The CSC has no control over these regulations.
  • You will be selected for an award based on the plan of study outlined on your application form, which is not expected to change significantly during your award. Any such changes must be agreed by the CSC.
  • You are expected to reside in the UK throughout your award, and to seek approval from the CSC in advance for any overseas travel.
  • You must not undertake paid employment during your award without approval from the CSC in advance.
  • The CSC will consider a request to extend your leave to remain in the UK after your award only if you wish to move from Master’s to PhD study. Strict conditions will apply.
  • The CSC cannot provide a letter of support or permission for you to remain in or return the UK after your award to enable you to work.
  • Scholars will be expected to abide by the Commission’s Code of Conduct for Award Holders and Disciplinary Policy and Procedure. Your award may be terminated at any time for reasons of unsatisfactory conduct, progress, or attendance, or if your registration is suspended or terminated by your university for any reason.
  • In line with the UK Bribery Act 2010, any applicant convicted of bribery will be banned from reapplying for a Commonwealth Scholarship or Fellowship for a period of up to five years.
  • Applicants are expected to adhere to the CSC’s Code of Conduct for award holders
  • The CSC is committed to administering and managing its scholarships and fellowships in a fair and transparent manner. For more information, see the CSC anti-fraud policy and procedure at and the FCDO guidance on reporting fraud.
  • The CSC does not charge candidates to apply for any of its scholarships or fellowships through its online application system, and it does not charge organisations to nominate candidates.
  • All terms and conditions of award are subject to UK local law and practices, and are subject to change by the CSC.
  • For more information, see the Handbook for Commonwealth Scholars and Fellows. Please note that the conditions outlined in the Handbook at subject to change.

Enquiries

All enquiries about these scholarships should be directed to your nominating body.

 For general enquiries about applying for Commonwealth Scholarships or Fellowships; please use the Contact us form instead.

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