Funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships enable talented and motivated individuals to access training and skills required for sustainable development not available in their home countries. It is an excellent opportunity for students from low- and middle-income Commonwealth countries. This program allows talented individuals to pursue a part-time Master’s degree remotely from UK universities while continuing to live and work in their home country. This program is aimed at individuals who would not otherwise be able to study in the UK due to financial or personal constraints. It offers access to world-class UK education through distance learning, empowering future leaders, innovators, and change-makers in development-related fields. With full tuition fee coverage and academic support, the Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship helps students gain global qualifications without leaving their countries.
Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship Summary
- Host Country: United Kingdom (Distance Learning – study from your home country)
- Host Institutions: Selected UK universities offering eligible distance learning Master’s programs
- Programs Available: Masters
- Scholarship Coverage: Fully funded (covers full tuition fees and study-related costs)
- Application Deadline: 20th May 2025
check out ARICE Scholarship Romania 2025/26 (Fully Funded)
Benefits of Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship
- Full Tuition Coverage: 100% of tuition fees covered by the scholarship.
- No Relocation Required: Study from your home country without the need to travel or relocate.
- Flexible Learning: Part-time structure allows you to continue working or fulfilling other responsibilities.
- UK Degree Certification: Earn a globally recognized Master’s degree from a UK university.
- Academic Support: Access to online resources, discussion forums, and guidance from UK faculty.
- Networking Opportunities: Connect with other Commonwealth scholars and alumni globally.
- Development-Focused Learning: Courses tailored to address major global challenges in your region.
Required Documents for Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship
- Applications must include supporting documentation to be eligible.
- Please note that applicants are required to collect references, on institution letterhead or an email clearly showing the sender’s details, from referees and then upload them to the application system in PDF format with their other supporting documentation.
- The references must be uploaded to the application system by the deadline for applications and we are unable to accept references any other way or after this date.
- Applicants must upload the following documents with the application:
- Proof that they are a citizen or have refugee status in an eligible Commonwealth country: a copy of a valid passport (or national ID card) showing a photograph, date of birth, and country of citizenship.
- Full transcripts detailing all higher education qualifications, including up-to-date transcripts for any courses currently being studied, with certified translations if not in English. Where any transcripts are missing or do not include all pages, the application will be considered ineligible.
- References from at least two individuals, in PDF format, signed and on institutional letterhead or an email clearly showing the sender’s details.
- Applications will be considered ineligible if any of the required documentation is not included by the closing date.
- The CSC will not accept supporting documentation submitted outside the online application system.
- When completing the references, referees should be asked to comment as fully as possible on the applicant, keeping in mind the following points for inclusion, as appropriate:
- How long, and in what capacity, the referee has known the applicant.
- The referee’s views on the applicant’s suitability for the proposed scholarship and the need for the particular subject of study in the UK.
- Information on how, and to what extent, the applicant has shown ability in terms of capability to grasp concepts and reason analytically; capacity for original thought; and motivation and perseverance in achieving objectives.
- Assessment of the applicant’s particular strengths and weaknesses.
- The applicant’s potential to impact development in their home country.
- Any other general qualities which the referee considers would make the applicant a good recipient of a scholarship.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for a Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship, applicants should:
- 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 a developing Commonwealth country.
- Hold a first degree of at least upper second class (2:1) standard. A lower qualification and sufficient relevant experience may be considered in certain cases.
- Be unable to afford to study the programme without this scholarship.
The CSC aims to identify talented individuals who have the potential to make change. We are committed to a policy of equal opportunity and non-discrimination, and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants.
Eligible Countries for the 2025 Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship
Applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of one of the following eligible Commonwealth countries:
- Bangladesh
- Belize
- Botswana
- Cameroon
- Dominica
- Eswatini
- Fiji
- Ghana
- Grenada
- Guyana
- India
- Jamaica
- Kenya
- Kiribati
- Lesotho
- Malawi
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Mauritius
- Montserrat
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Nauru
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Papua New Guinea
- Rwanda
- Samoa
- Sierra Leone
- Solomon Islands
- South Africa
- Sri Lanka
- St Helena
- St Lucia
- St Vincent and the Grenadines
- Tanzania
- The Gambia
- Tonga
- Tuvalu
- Uganda
- Vanuatu
- Zambia
How to Apply for the Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship
Applications to the CSC must be made using the CSC’s online application system.
The CSC is unable to accept any applications or documentation not submitted via the online application system.
Applicants must apply and secure admission to study an approved Master’s course at a participating UK university in addition to applying for a Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship via the CSC’s online application system.
Applicants can apply for more than one course and to more than one university, but they may only accept one offer of a Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship. Please note that Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships are only for Master’s courses and not for undergraduate or PhD study.
Please check with the chosen university for their specific advice on when to apply, admission requirements, and rules for applying.
Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship applications will be shared with UK universities, who will nominate their chosen candidates to receive a Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship in June 2025. The CSC then checks that the candidates nominated meet the CSC’s eligibility criteria. Universities inform candidates if they have successfully been awarded a Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship by August 2025.
Official Website of the Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship:
