Commonwealth Shared Scholarships

Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme is a joint initiative between the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and UK universities, including the University of Birmingham, to jointly support scholarships for students from developing commonwealth countries who would not otherwise be able to study in the United Kingdom.

A group of 2016 Commonwealth Scholars holding up a University of Birmingham flag

Level of Study: Postgraduate taught masters

Subject areas eligible: African Studies, Medical and Dental Sciences - see below for the list of eligible courses

Nationalities eligible: Bangladesh, Belize, Botswana, Cameroon, Dominica, Eswatini, Fiji, Gabon, The Gambia, 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, Togo, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia

Deadline for applying: Please see website

Award Description

The Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme is a joint initiative between the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and UK universities, including the University of Birmingham, to jointly support scholarships for students from developing Commonwealth countries who would not otherwise be able to study in the United Kingdom.

The University of Birmingham is offering two Commonwealth Shared Scholarships for the  academic year. 

Value of Award

The award is financed jointly by the University and the DFID. The award will cover:

  • Full tuition fees
  • Maintenance stipend
  • Air fare to and from the United Kingdom
  • Immigration Health Surcharge costs 
  • A one-off arrival allowance payment 
  • Thesis expenses 
  • Study travel grant

Full details of the award are listed on the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship website. 

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must certify that they:

  • 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 their academic studies in the UK by September of the UK academic year you wish to start the programme.
  • By September of the UK academic year you wish to start the programme, hold a first degree of at least upper second-class (2:1) honours standard, or a lower second-class degree (2:2) and a relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a Master’s degree)
  • Not have studied or worked for one (academic) year or more in a high-income country
  • Be unable to afford to study in the UK university without this Scholarship
  • Have provided all supporting documentation in the required format

Candidates must also have been offered a place at the University of Birmingham on one of the following postgraduate programmes:

MA Africa and Development

MSc Clinical Oncology

MSc Respiratory Medicine

How to Apply

In order to apply for this scholarship, you must complete both of the following steps: 

  • Submit a Commonwealth Scholarship Commission application, you must complete the Commission's Electronic Application System (EAS). We recommend you read all the guidance for candidates prior to completing the applicaiton. 
  • Have made an application to study one of the approved programmes at the Univerity of Birmingham

Contact

Funding, Graduation & Awards
fga@contacts.bham.ac.uk

The University of Birmingham Postgraduate Funding Database entry for the Commonwealth Scholarship can be accessed here. 

Commonwealth Shared Scholarships are only eligible for study at our UK campus.