Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships for Developing Countries 2025

The Commonwealth Distance Learning programme is one of three Master’s programmes offered by the Commonwealth Scholarships Commission.

The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (CSC) provides the UK government scholarship scheme led by international development objectives. It operates within the framework of the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship plan (CSFP) and offers a vivid demonstration of the UK’s enduring commitment to the Commonwealth. By attracting individuals with outstanding talent and identifiable potential from all backgrounds and supporting them to become leaders and innovators on returning to their home countries, the CSC’s work combines sustainable development with the UK national interest and provides opportunities for international partnerships and collaboration.

• Table of Content
• About Commonwealth
• Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships
• Aim and Benefits of Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships
• Requirements for Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships Qualification
• Interview date, Process and Venue for Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships
• Documents Required for Application
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships

Aim and Benefits of Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships

The CSC has a funding cap of £18,000 per scholarship. Universities may contribute funding from an approved source if the full cost of the award is more than £18,000.

The scholarship must cover all elements of the award, including:

• Course tuition fees
• Grant to contribute to study-related costs
• Partnership development costs
• Any UK residential programme(s)

Where a university intends to run a UK residential programme as part of the course, the university is expected to provide at least the following level of support:

• Return travel from the Scholar’s home country to the UK location
• Cost of UK visa
• Maintenance stipend of £1,133 per month (£1,390 for Scholars in London), to be paid for the full duration of the UK residential. These amounts are set by the UK government for all students on government-funded scholarships, and increase annually.

Requirements for Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships Qualification

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. 

Interview date, Process and Venue for Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships

Selection process

Each participating UK University will conduct its own recruitment process to select a specified number of candidates for Distance Learning Scholarships. Universities must put forward their selected candidates to the CSC. The CSC will then confirm that these candidates meet the eligibility criteria for this scheme and universities will inform candidates of their results. Further details on expected dates are in the How to Apply section.

Selection criteria include:

• Academic merit of the applicant
• Potential impact of the work on the development of the applicant’s home country

Documents Required for Application

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. 

Check also:
Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UBC 2027
Chevening Scholarship 2027

Application Deadline

How to Apply

For more details,visit Commonwealth Scholarship webpage