The International Development Department is delighted to be able to offer ten prestigious Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships provided by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the United Kingdom (CSCUK). These are for students from low or middle income Commonwealth countries joining the distance-learning MSc International Development (Conflict, Security and Development) and commencing studies in September 2024.
Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships are offered for citizens of certain Commonwealth countries. These scholarships are funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), 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.
Candidates who wish to undertake an IDD distance learning masters on a Commonwealth Scholarship must submit two separate applications: one to the University of Birmingham, for acceptance onto the programme, and one to the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission, for the funding.
The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission have set a deadline of 16:00 GMT on 28th March 2024 to apply for scholarships for study beginning in September/October 2024. See details on their website, including an overview of the scholarships, and how to apply. The University of Birmingham is a participating university under the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission's 'Strengthening global peace, security and governance' theme.
Meanwhile, the deadline for submitting the application to the University of Birmingham for acceptance onto the programme is 3rd April 2024 for applicants who wish to be considered for a Commonwealth Scholarship (This is sooner than the general deadline for applications to our programmes, because of the administration involved in allocating the scholarship awards). Applicants must state clearly on their application that they are applying for the Commonwealth Scholarship. This allows us to link up your University of Birmingham application with your Commonwealth Scholarship application. Read about how to apply.
Please note: due to the high demand for these scholarships, candidates will only be considered if they have a strong academic record at undergraduate level and clear evidence of a commitment to the 'strengthening global peace, security and governance' scholarship theme, demonstrated through their ‘Development Impact’ and ‘Career Plans’ statements on the scholarship application form.
In summary: joining IDD as a distance learning student on a Commonwealth Scholarship Commission scholarship requires you to submit two separate applications, one to the University of Birmingham for admission, and one to the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission, for funding. These are separate applications, and it is possible that a candidate could receive an offer of admission onto the programme, but be unsuccessful with the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission funding application. In this situation, a candidate would be very welcome to join the programme, but would need to have available an alternative source of funding for the course fees. Thus, please note that an offer letter from the University of Birmingham offering admission onto the programme is not the same thing as an offer of scholarship funding from the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission.