The Commonwealth Scholarship is a prestigious international scholarship scheme that offers students from Commonwealth countries, including Nigeria, the opportunity to pursue higher education in the United Kingdom.
It is funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and managed by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC).
The primary aim is to support students who have the capability to contribute to the development of their home countries
When I heard about the Commonwealth Scholarship, I was excited and curious. Like many Nigerian students, I had always dreamed of pursuing higher education abroad, but the financial barriers seemed insurmountable.
However, the Commonwealth Scholarship offers a golden opportunity for students like me from low and middle-income Commonwealth countries to study in the UK, fully funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).
The application process for the 2024/2025 Commonwealth Scholarship has just opened, and I’d like to share everything I’ve learned about it so far, along with my personal thoughts and experiences.
The Start of My Commonwealth Scholarship Journey
The Federal Ministry of Education in Nigeria recently announced the start of the application process for the 2024/2025 Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP). This was shared on their official X (formerly Twitter) page, and it caught my attention immediately.
I visited the site and saw that the scholarships were aimed at supporting talented students from countries like Nigeria in furthering their education in the UK.
The application period started on September 10, 2024, and runs until October 15, 2024. The timing felt perfect for me, as I had just completed my first degree and was looking for scholarship opportunities to pursue a Master’s or PhD.
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What I Learned About the Eligibility Criteria
Before I started anything, I took my time to read through the eligibility requirements. See what I discovered:
- For Master’s applicants, you must hold a First Class or Upper Second-Class Honours degree from your undergraduate studies.
- For PhD applicants, a Second Class Lower Division degree is acceptable.
- You also need a valid NYSC discharge or exemption certificate, which is a must for Nigerian students applying.
- For PhD candidates, you need a supporting statement from a UK university supervisor, which meant I had to reach out to potential supervisors even before starting my application.
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| Meet Malik, a remarkable Commonwealth Scholarship beneficiary pursuing an MPhil in Population Health Sciences at the University of Cambridge. |
My Experience with the Application Process
Complex application procedures have always given me a measure of discomfort, and therefore I was grateful to know that there were no application charges for the Commonwealth Scholarship as everything was online.
After this, I proceeded to gather the rest of the documents required, which included academic transcripts, references, citizenship proof, and uploaded them into the online application system in PDF form.
For my friend, the most difficult task was to identify a UK supervisor and get him/her to write a supporting statement on her application.
She wrote dozens of emails over several weeks to supervisors in UK universities trying to persuade them to become one of the supporters of her research project.
This step is critical to any PhD application, as the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) will not process your application superficially without this document.
Selection Criteria
I wanted to understand how the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) selects its candidates, so I did a lot of research.
From what I gathered, the CSC looks for students with strong academic merit, a clear and impactful research proposal, and a demonstrated ability to contribute to their home country’s development.
The Eligible Commonwealth Countries
One of the first questions I asked when I heard about the Commonwealth Scholarship was, “Is Nigeria eligible?” It was very interesting to me that Nigeria is one of the commonwealth countries negotiating for a common scholarship. Eligible countries include:
- Bangladesh
- Belize
- Botswana
- Cameroon
- Dominica
- Eswatini
- Fiji
- Gabon
- 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
- The Gambia
- Togo
- Tonga
- Tuvalu
- Uganda
- Vanuatu
- Zambia
It was encouraging to see how inclusive this scholarship is, reaching students from all over the Commonwealth.
What I Learned About the CSC’s Mission
The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission is not only keen on education funding; they are interested in making people with education become change agents.
With it, their goal is to create leaders that will come back to their countries and champion development in sustainable development, education, and health among other aspects.
This objective really clicked for me since I hold the view that education is the most effective development tool in society.
Lessons from Past Commonwealth Scholars
In order to learn the particulars of the scholarship further, I contacted some of the previous holders of the Commonwealth Scholarship. They were able to help me ‘understand’ the scholarship further. One key lesson was the need to prepare.
Several of the successful applicants had already begun preparing their documents several months before the due date especially the research proposals and references. They also stressed that it is necessary to state the benefits of education towards the home country.
Another thing I learned is that it is essential to be selective in the choice of your referees. You would need people who have adequate knowledge of your academic prowess and who would be able to express your future achievements to impact the society positively.
FAQs I have Encountered
As I’ve talked to other prospective applicants, certain questions keep coming up. Here are a few common ones I’ve answered:
Can I apply if I have a Second Class Lower degree?
Yes, but only for PhD scholarships. Master’s applicants need a First Class or Upper Second-Class degree.
Do I need admission before applying?
Yes, you need to secure at least two admissions from UK universities before you can apply for the scholarship.
Is the application process really free?
Absolutely. The Federal Ministry of Education and NIS have confirmed that there are no fees associated with applying.
How to apply for commonwealth scholarship 2024/2025
To apply for the commonwealth scholarship, follow this step;
For Master’s candidates: Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships, click this link to get started: https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/scholarships/commonwealth-masters-scholarships/
For PhD candidates: Commonwealth PhD Scholarships, click the below Link to get started
Commonwealth Scholarship 2025/2026 Deadline – Apply Now
Deadline for commonwealth scholarship 2025/2026 is on October 17th 2024. All applicants are required to submit their completed forms along with all necessary relevant documents as mentioned above before October 17, 2024.
As emphasized, do not take the deadline lightly especially that there will be no extensions. Also, I found out that the online system does not accept any documents after deadline which means you have to be very fast and make sure everything is done on time as there is no appeal from the system.
If you are looking at the Commonwealth PhD Scholarship 2025 or the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship 2025 2026, start now, prepare all the required documentations and submit everything before October 17 2024.
Debby Yinka Wonders: How I Obtained Commonwealth Scholarship After 5 Years Hunt for It
"IT TOOK ME 5 YEARS OF TRYING, and it was a no go……”
It was in this way that she began telling her story, how she and her Commonwealth Scholarships battled. From the very moment she completed her NYSC in 2016, she had all the plans to go abroad to pursue her Master’s degree. Like many of us, she was a dreamer, and this is how it went. The ambition was to go out after the NYSC and complete the Master's degree and almost immediately proceed for the PhD.
On the other hand, on the 29th of November 2016, Debby along with many thousands of enthusiasts traveled on a six hour long torture of bus rides to Abuja Seeking the nomination interview for the federal scholarship board. But alas, by the time she sobbed her way home that year, it hadn’t gone without a whimper.
In the following years, and for the next four years actually, she applied for a number of other scholarships, still not giving in. However, she had to savour disappointment and frustration each and every time she heard the same Dame Katherina’s voice bearing these words that a lot of us have heard before here:
“Your application was really good, but this is a very good year, and we have had several exceptional applications”
Despite the disappointment experiences, Debby did not give up on applying. She kept on pursuing for her dreams with the help of her support system and most importantly belief in her dreams.
Everything changed on Monday, September 20, 2021. Debby had just returned home from the hospital after the birth of her newborn baby. While casually browsing her inbox, she stumbled upon an email that would change her life:
We would like to offer you the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship for the September 2021 entry..."
She just froze. After so many years of effort and squandering a thousand rejections, they have finally received her 'yes'. And two years later, she earned her degree in Media and International Development from the University of East Anglia with a distinction.
A story like Debby's is a real source of inspiration and hope - never give up. As she says:
“Now you are nearer than when you first commenced! The narrative does not come to a termination when you receive a ‘No’. The narrative comes to a termination upon your victory.”
Conclusion
Looking back on this experience, I’ve learned a lot about the Commonwealth Scholarship process. It’s not just about having good grades; it’s about demonstrating how your education will benefit both you and your country. I’ve found the process challenging but incredibly rewarding, and I hope to complete my application soon.
If you’re a Nigerian student like me, with dreams of studying abroad but facing financial barriers, the Commonwealth Scholarship might be your chance.
The application process may seem daunting, but with careful preparation and a clear vision of your goals, it’s definitely achievable.
For more details, you can visit their official pages for Master’s and PhD scholarships. Also, remember that the deadline for the 2024/2025 application cycle is October 15, 2024. So, don’t wait until the last minute!
Good luck with your application! If you have any questions or need help, feel free to reach out to me.
