2015 Commonwealth Shared Scholarships – information for candidates

Commonwealth Shared Scholarships are offered by the CSC in partnership with UK universities. These scholarships are intended for students from developing countries who would not otherwise be able to afford to undertake Master’s level study in the UK, to gain skills and knowledge which will allow them to contribute to the development of their home countries.

Levels and subjects of study

Shared Scholarships are for taught Masters’ courses only; awards will not be made for undergraduate or PhD study, and will not cover any pre-sessional English language teaching.
Candidates can apply to study subjects related to the development of their home country at participating UK universities only.

• List of eligible universities and courses

Shared Scholarships are usually tenable for one-year Master’s courses only.

Terms and conditions and eligibility

• Commonwealth Shared Scholarships 2015 prospectus – includes full terms and conditions (please note in particular the eligibility criteria)

To apply for a Commonwealth Shared Scholarship, candidates must:

• Be Commonwealth citizens, refugees, or British protected persons
• Be permanently resident in a developing Commonwealth country (a full list is available in the Commonwealth Shared Scholarships 2015 prospectus)
• Be available to commence their academic studies in the UK by the start of the UK academic year in September/October 2015
• Hold, by October 2015, a first degree of at least upper second class Honours standard
• Not have undertaken studies lasting one year or more in a developed country
• Be unable themselves, or through their families, to pay to study in the UK

How to apply

All applications must be made through your host UK university. You must check with them in the first instance for specific advice on how to make an application and for their own closing date.
All Commonwealth Shared Scholarship candidates must be selected and put forward to the CSC by their host UK university, and must submit their application to the CSC using our Electronic Application System (EAS).
Candidates must apply for a Commonwealth Shared Scholarship using one of two methods, as instructed by the university:

1. Via university: Applying to the university in the first instance using the university’s own application form. If selected, candidates will then be asked to submit an application to the CSC using the EAS. Any applications made via the EAS only and not directly to the university first will not be considered.
2. EAS only: Applying to both the university and the CSC at the same time using the EAS.

Each university has its own closing date for applications. Any applications received after this date will be deemed ineligible.
The table on pages 5-6 of the Commonwealth Shared Scholarships 2015 prospectus indicates the method of application and closing date for each university.
Candidates may apply to more than one university, but only one offer of a Shared Scholarship may be accepted.
Full help on how to apply using the EAS is provided in our guides, which should be read in full before making any attempt to use the EAS.
The EAS will close to applicants on 16 April 2015 and no further applications can be submitted after that date. Candidates should note that most university closing dates fall before 16 April and you must submit your application by the date advised by the university to which you are applying.
How to access the EAS
All enquiries about Commonwealth Shared Scholarships should be directed to the university to which you wish to apply.
 http://cscuk.dfid.gov.uk/apply/shared-scholarships/info-candidates/