Federal Gov’t Opens Applications For 2024/2025 Commonwealth Scholarships

The Federal Ministry of Education has announced the commencement of the application period for the 2024/2025 Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP).

The scholarships funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) aim to support talented individuals from low and middle-income Commonwealth countries in pursuing higher education in the United Kingdom.

Interested candidates are encouraged to apply online, with the application period running from September 10 to October 15, 2024.

According to information provided by the Federal Ministry of Education on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, potential applicants can access detailed guidelines and application forms.

To qualify for the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships, applicants are required to possess either a First Class or Upper Second-Class Honours degree in their undergraduate studies; and for PhD scholarships, a Second Class Lower Division degree is acceptable.

Also, applicants must have a valid NYSC discharge or exemption certificate, and must secure at least two admissions from UK universities before applying.

NIS confirmed that the application process is free of charge, and applicants must print their completed forms before submission. They noted that for PhD candidates, a supporting statement from a UK university supervisor is required.

The statement also noted that to qualify for the scholarship, one must be a citizen of or have been granted refugee status by an eligible Commonwealth country, or be a British protected person, permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country and be available to start academic studies in the UK by the start of the UK academic year in September 2024.

In addition, candidates must by September 2024, hold a first degree of at least upper second-class (2:1) honours standard, or a lower second-class degree and a relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a Master’s degree).

It added that the CSC would not normally fund a second Master’s degree so, applicants applying for a second Master’s degree, must justify why they wish to undertake the study.

Applicant also must show that they are unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship and provide all supporting documentation in the required format.

Candidates interested in applying for the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships must be from one of the following eligible countries Bangladesh, Belize, Botswana, Cameroon, Dominica, Eswatini, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, India and Jamaica.

Other eligible countries include Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Montserrat, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru and Nigeria.

The rest are 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 and Zambia.

The organisation also notified that applicants must submit several documents, including proof of citizenship or refugee status, full academic transcripts, and references from at least two individuals.

These documents must be uploaded in PDF format to the online application system by the specified deadline.

‘The CSC will not accept documentation submitted outside the online system or after the closing date.’ the organisation cited.

They expanded that references and supporting statements should be on institutional letterhead or email from a verified source and must address specific criteria regarding the applicant’s qualifications and potential impact.

It further stated that Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) would evaluate applications based on academic merit, the quality of the research proposal, and the potential impact on the candidate’s home country.

The CSC seeks individuals who demonstrate the capability to contribute meaningfully to international development and possess the drive to leverage their education for the benefit of their home nations.

Interested candidates are directed to access these links for further details – Master’s candidates: Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/scholarships/commonwealth-masters-scholarships/.

For PhD candidates: Commonwealth PhD Scholarships
https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/scholarships/commonwealth-phd-scholarships-for-least-developed-countries-and-fragile-states/