The Federal Ministry of Education has announced that the application period for the 2024/2025 Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP) will open soon.
Funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), these scholarships are designed to support talented individuals from low and middle-income Commonwealth countries in pursuing higher education in the UK.
Applications will be accepted online from September 10 to October 15, 2024. Detailed guidelines and application forms are available on the Federal Ministry of Education’s official X (formerly Twitter) page.
To be eligible for the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships, applicants must hold either a First Class or Upper Second-Class Honours degree. For PhD scholarships, a Second Class Lower Division degree is acceptable.
Applicants must also have a valid NYSC discharge or exemption certificate and secure at least two admissions from UK universities before applying.
The application process is free, and completed forms must be printed before submission. PhD candidates need a supporting statement from a UK university supervisor.
Applicants must be citizens of, or granted refugee status by, an eligible Commonwealth country, or be British protected persons permanently residing in an eligible Commonwealth country. They must also be available to start their studies in the UK by September 2024.
Candidates must hold a first degree of at least Upper Second-Class (2:1) or a Lower Second-Class degree with a relevant postgraduate qualification. Note that the CSC does not usually fund a second Master’s degree unless a strong justification is provided.
Applicants must demonstrate financial need for the scholarship and provide all required documents in the specified format. The CSC will not accept documents submitted outside the online system or after the deadline.
Eligible countries include Bangladesh, Belize, Botswana, Cameroon, Dominica, Eswatini, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Montserrat, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Saint Helena, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and The Grenadines, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, The Gambia, Togo, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, and Zambia.
Candidates must upload several documents, including proof of citizenship or refugee status, full academic transcripts, and references from at least two individuals. References and supporting statements should be on institutional letterhead or sent from a verified email source, addressing specific criteria about the applicant’s qualifications and potential impact.
For more details, visit the following links:
- For Master’s candidates: Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships
- For PhD candidates: Commonwealth PhD Scholarships
