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.

Level of Study: Postgraduate taught masters

Subject areas eligible: African Studies, Medical and Dental Sciences, International Development

Nationalities eligible: Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Cameroon, Dominica, Fiji, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

External Deadline for applying7 March 2019

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 three Commonwealth Shared Scholarship for the 2019/20 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 of approximately £950
  • Thesis expenses of £225
  • Study travel grant up to £200
  • Excess baggage allowance for books up to 10kg on the return flight

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates are expected to hold a first degree at first class level and be under the age of 30 at the time the award begins.

Candidates must also certify that they:

  • are nationals of a Commonwealth developing country, and not at present living or studying in a developed country;
  • have not undertaken studies lasting one year or more in a developed country;
  • are themselves, or through their families, unable to pay to study in the United Kingdom;
  • agree to return to their own country to work or study as soon as the award ends. The commission will only consider requests to extend leave to remain in the UK post-award for those wishing to move from Masters to PhD study. Strict conditions will apply.
  • DFID requires that the University certifies when submitting its shortlist of candidates that they are sufficiently proficient in the English language to cope with the course for which they have applied. This will normally mean that you will have to have satisfied any requirements concerning competence in the English language which are a condition of your offer of admission.

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

MA Africa and Development
MA African Studies
MA Social Research (African Studies)
MSc Health Economics and Health Policy
MSc Environment, Development and Politics
MSc Conflict, Statebuilding and Development
MPH Public Health
MSc Clinical Oncology

How to Apply

In order to apply for this scholarship, you must submit an application to both the University of Birmingham and the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission.

Applications opened Commonwealth Scholarship Commission on 12 January 2019. You may submit your application form before you have received an offer from the University, however you must have secured your University offer before the deadline of 7 March 2019 at 16:00 UK time, in order to be considered for a scholarship.

For more information,please visit https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/International/students/finance/scholarships/commonwealth-shared-scholarships.aspx

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