University of Birmingham Commonwealth Shared Scholarships 2019/2020 for Students from Developing Commonwealth Countries

The University of Birmingham is delighted to offer this scholarship in partnership with the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (CSC) for students from developing commonwealth countries who would not otherwise be able to study in the United Kingdom.

Application Deadline: 7th March, 2019

Offered annually? Yes

Eligible Countries: 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.

To be taken at (country): UK

Fields of Study: 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

Type: Postgraduate taught masters

Eligibility: 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:

• MSc Clinical Oncology (School of Cancer Studies)
• MSc Development Economics (Dept of Economics)

Number of Awardees: 3

Value of Scholarship: 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

Duration of Scholarship: 1 year

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.

Visit Scholarship Webpage for details