How to Apply for the Commonwealth Scholarship 2022

The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) is sponsoring Commonwealth Scholarships 2022, which is now accepting online applications from international students of all majors. At this time, candidates are required to submit documents in addition to Commonwealth Scholarships 2022 applications.

In today’s world of high inflation, pursuing higher education can be prohibitively expensive. The cost of undergraduate programs is enough to haunt a person’s dreams, leaving almost no room for even contemplating postgraduate education—especially at one’s own expense.

Commonwealth Scholarships are awarded to talented individuals who have the potential to make a positive difference on a global scale. As part of the UK’s ongoing commitment to the Commonwealth, approximately 800 students are allowed to pursue postgraduate degrees at UK universities each year.

If you are from a Commonwealth country and believe you have what it takes to make a difference in the world but cannot afford to fund your studies in the UK on your own, you may be an ideal candidate for a Commonwealth Scholarship.

What is the Commonwealth Scholarship?

The Commonwealth Scholarship scheme is aimed at students from across the Commonwealth who would not be able to study in the UK otherwise. The scheme supports future innovators and leaders by funding postgraduate studies in a variety of study formats.

This historic award in the United Kingdom’s primary scholarship program is aimed at assisting the United Kingdom’s international development goals. It is intended to attract outstanding talent to UK universities while also supporting long-term development abroad.

You must be a citizen or permanent resident of a Commonwealth country to apply for a Commonwealth Scholarship. If you are a refugee or a British-protected person, you will still be eligible.

You must also have an undergraduate honors degree of at least upper second class standing (2:1). If you want to pursue a Ph.D., you will also need an appropriate master’s degree.

Finally, you must be unable to afford to study in the United Kingdom if you do not receive the scholarship.

Each type of scholarship and fellowship has different eligibility requirements. More information can be found on the CSC website.

Required Documents

To be considered, your application must include the following supporting documentation by the closing date:

• Evidence that you are a citizen or have refugee status in a Commonwealth country: a copy of your valid passport (or national ID card) with your photograph, birth date, and country of citizenship uploaded to the online application system
• Full transcripts of all your higher education qualifications, including up-to-date transcripts for any qualifications you are currently studying (with certified translations if not in English) – are uploaded to the online application system.
• You must also provide the names and contact information of three referees who will be contacted before the placement stage if your application is successful.

Please note that the Commonwealth Scholarship scheme does not charge candidates to apply for any of its scholarships or fellowships through its online application system, and it does not charge organizations to nominate candidates.

What Types of Awards are Available?

The Commonwealth Scholarships Commission offers:

1. Commonwealth Ph.D. Scholarships

Commonwealth Ph.D. Scholarships are available to candidates from the Commonwealth’s least developed countries and fragile states for full-time doctoral study at a UK university.

The scholarship’s goal is to help Commonwealth countries meet their development needs by funding research with a developmental impact. These awards will also improve individual teaching and research capacity in Commonwealth countries, resulting in increased institutional capacity in academic and other sectors, as well as contribute to UK higher education and research by attracting high-caliber international candidates and encouraging links and collaboration.

To apply for these scholarships, you must:

• You must be a citizen of an eligible Commonwealth country or have been granted refugee status by one, or you must be a British Protected Person.
• Be a permanent resident of a Commonwealth country.
• Be ready to begin your academic studies in the UK by the beginning of the UK academic year in September 2022.
• Hold a first degree of at least upper second class (2:1) honors standard, or a second class degree (2:2) and relevant postgraduate qualification (typically a Master’s degree) by September 2022. A second UK Master’s degree would not normally be funded by the CSC.
• NOT be registered for a Ph.D., or an MPhil leading to a Ph.D., at a UK university or in your home country before September/October 2022
• Be unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship
• Have provided all supporting documentation in the required format

 

Rewards

Each scholarship provides:

• Approved round-trip airfare from your home country to the UK and back at the end of your award period (the CSC will not reimburse the cost of fares for dependants, nor the cost of journeys made before your award is confirmed)
• Tuition fees have been approved.
• Stipend (living allowance) of £1,133 per month for those attending universities in the London metropolitan area, or £1,390 per month for those attending universities outside of the London metropolitan area (rates quoted at 2021-2022 levels)
• Allowance for warm clothing, if applicable
• Study travel grants are available to help with the cost of study-related travel within the UK or abroad.
• When approved, a provision for the cost of overseas fieldwork (the cost of one economy class return airfare to your fieldwork location) is made.

 

2. Commonwealth Split-site Scholarships

Commonwealth Split-site Scholarships, funded by the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), enable talented and motivated individuals to gain the knowledge and skills required for sustainable development, and are aimed at those who could not otherwise afford to study in the UK.

Its mission is to provide high-quality doctoral candidates from low- and middle-income Commonwealth countries with greater access to UK equipment and expertise, as well as to contribute to UK and Commonwealth higher education and research through collaboration and partnerships.

To apply for these scholarships, prospective Scholars must:

• 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 an eligible Commonwealth country
• Be registered for a Ph.D. at a university in an eligible Commonwealth country by the time your scholarship starts.
• Ensure that an institutional or departmental link exists between your home university and your proposed UK university. This link must be greater than simply a collaboration between individuals
• Be available to start your academic studies in the UK in September 2022
• By September 2022, hold a first degree of at least upper second class (2:1) honors standard, or a second-class degree and relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a Master’s degree)
• Be unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship

Rewards

Each scholarship provides:

• Approved round-trip airfare from your home country to the UK and back at the end of your award period.
• Tuition fees have been approved.
• A stipend of £1,133 per month for those attending universities in the London metropolitan area, or £1,390 per month for those attending universities outside of the London metropolitan area.
• Allowance for warm clothing, if applicable
• Study travel grants are available to help with the cost of study-related travel within the UK or abroad

 

3. Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships

Funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships enable talented and motivated individuals to gain the knowledge and skills required for sustainable development, and are aimed at those who could not otherwise afford to study in the UK.

To apply for these scholarships, you must:

• You must be a citizen of an eligible Commonwealth country or have been granted refugee status by one, or you must be a British Protected Person.
• Be a permanent resident of a Commonwealth country.
• Be ready to begin your academic studies in the UK by the beginning of the UK academic year in September 2022.
• Hold a first degree of at least upper second class (2:1) honors standard, or a second class degree (2:2) and relevant postgraduate qualification (typically a Master’s degree) by September 2022. A second UK Master’s degree would not normally be funded by the CSC. If you are applying for a second UK Master’s degree, you must justify why you want to pursue this study.

Rewards

Each scholarship provides:

• Approved round-trip airfare from your home country to the United Kingdom and back at the end of your award.
• Tuition fees have been approved.
• A stipend of £1,133 per month for those attending universities in the London metropolitan area, or £1,390 per month for those attending universities outside of the London metropolitan area (rates quoted at 2021-2022 levels).
• Where applicable, a thesis grant to help with the costs of writing a thesis or dissertation.
• Study travel grants are available to help with the cost of study-related travel within the UK or abroad.

4. Commonwealth Ph.D. Scholarships

Commonwealth Ph.D. Scholarships are for candidates from high-income countries for full-time doctoral study at a UK university.

Funded by the UK Department for Education (DfE), Commonwealth Ph.D. Scholarships enable talented and motivated individuals to gain the knowledge and skills required for sustainable development, and are aimed at those who could not otherwise afford to study in the UK.

5. Commonwealth Professional Fellowships

Commonwealth Professional Fellowships are for mid-career professionals from low- and middle-income countries to spend a period at a UK Host organization working in their sector for a program of professional development.

It is created to provide professionals with the opportunity to enhance knowledge and skills in their given sector, and to have catalytic effects on their workplaces.

To be eligible for these fellowships, prospective Fellows must:

• 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 an eligible Commonwealth country
• Have at least five years full-time, or equivalent part-time, relevant work experience, in a profession related to the subject of the Fellowships program, by the proposed start of the fellowship – voluntary work experience will not be counted towards this minimum
• Be in employment at the time of application at an organization that they will return to upon completion of the fellowship
• Provide at least two references, one of which must be from their current employer. Any applications for which references are not received by the reference closing date will be considered ineligible.
• Not have undertaken a Commonwealth Professional Fellowship within the last five years (at the time of taking up the award)
• Not be seeking to undertake an academic program of research or study. Academics are eligible to apply for the scheme, but only to undertake programs of academic management, not research or courses relevant to their research subject

Rewards

Each fellowship provides:

• Approved return airfare from the Fellow’s home country to the UK
• Stipend payable monthly for the duration of the award at the rate of £1,704 per month, or £2,115 per month for those at organizations in the London metropolitan area.
• If a Fellow declares a disability, a full assessment of needs and eligibility for additional financial support will be offered by the CSC.
• Arrival allowance of up to £22 including an element for warm clothing
• For the Girls’ Education program a £1,000 travel allowance to facilitate attendance at events
• Reimbursement of the standard visa application fee
• Flat rate contribution of £800 to the costs of the Host organization relating to the administration and support of the Fellow, setting up of appropriate meetings, any materials required, and incidental travel for the Fellow during the award (to be paid to the Host organization on receipt of an invoice).

How to Apply

You must apply for your scholarship to be tenable at one of the following approved courses at a UK university that participates.

The Commonwealth Shared Scholarships Scheme allows you to apply for more than one course and to more than one university, but you can only accept one Shared Scholarship offer. It should be noted that these awards are only for Master’s level courses and not for undergraduate or Ph.D. studies.

In addition to applying for a Shared Scholarship, you must first gain admission to your course. Please check with your preferred university for specific advice on when to apply, admission requirements, and application rules.

You must make your application using the CSC’s online application system, in addition to any other application that you are required to complete by your nominating body. The CSC will not accept any applications that are not submitted via the online application system.

About the HEC Commonwealth Scholarship

The Scholarships are funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID), Commonwealth Masters and Ph.D. scholarships allow talented and motivated individuals to gain advanced knowledge and skills required for sustainable development, and are aimed at those who could not otherwise afford their studies in the UK.

The duration of the scholarship program is valid for one year for Master & three years for Ph.D. starting from fall 2022.

Complete details of programs, eligibility and further classification of themes of study offered for 2022 Commonwealth scholarships are below for you to carefully follow.

This Commonwealth Scholarship is for applicants from middle and low-class Commonwealth states, for full-time Master’s and doctoral study (Ph.D.) at a UK University.

The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the United Kingdom (CSC) is responsible for managing Britain’s contribution to the CSFP.

The CSC supports around 700 awards annually. Awards are funded by the Department for International Development, the Department for Business, Innovation, and Skills, and the Scottish Government, in conjunction with UK universities.

HEC Commonwealth Scholarships is basically for master’s degree students and Ph.D. students wishing to pursue a degree in the disciplines mentioned below at any University in the UK.

Rewards for HEC Commonwealth Scholarships 2022?

The Scholarship will cover the following:

• Approved airfare from your home country to the UK and return at the end of your award.
• Approved tuition fees.
• Stipend at the rate of £1,084 per month or £1,330, for those at universities in the London metropolitan area.
• Warm clothing allowance, where applicable.
• Study travel grants towards the cost of study-related travel within the UK or Overseas.
• Provision towards the cost of fieldwork undertaken overseas (usually the cost of one economy class return airfare to your fieldwork location) was approved.
• Paid mid-term visit (airfare) to your home country (unless you have claimed or (intend to claim) spouse and/or child allowances during your scholarships, or have received a return airfare to your home country for fieldwork).

Family allowances are as follows:

• Spouse allowance of £233 per month if you and your spouse are living together at the same address in the UK (unless your spouse is also in receipt of a scholarship; other conditions also apply).
• Child allowance of £233 per month for the first child, and £114 per month for the second and third child under the age of 16, if you are accompanied by your spouse and children and they are living with you at the same address in the UK.
• If you are widowed, divorced, or a single parent, a child allowance of £465 per month for the first child, and £114 per month for the second and third child under the age of 16, if you are accompanied by your children and they are living with you at the same address in the UK.
• The CSC’s family allowances are inX2jtended to be only a contribution towards the cost of maintaining your family in the UK. The true costs are likely to be considerably higher, and you must be able to supplement these allowances to support any family members who come to the UK with you.

Eligibility Criteria for the HEC Commonwealth Scholarships 2022

The admission is available under the Commonwealth scholarship in the UK  for 2022. Standard eligibility conditions are as follows:

• Be described as a Pakistani/AJ&K domestic & permanent resident of Pakistan/AJ&K.
• Age shouldn’t be significantly more than 30 years for Masters and 35 years for Ph.D. during application.
• Be accessible to begin your academic studies in the UK by the start of the UK academic year in September/October 2022.
• For a Master’s Scholarship, the candidate at the final date of application must hold a first-class degree complete in every aspect of graduate qualification (16 years degree i.e. MSC/MA/MBA/BS/BBA and so forth ) from the appropriate field of study.
• For Ph.D. Scholarship, candidates by the final date of application must hold a first-class degree complete in every aspect of postgraduate qualification (17/18 years MS/MPhil degree ) from the appropriate field of study.
• Not having any third division throughout your academic career and a maximum of two-second divisions are allowed but the candidate must not have a second division in the terminal/ last degree.
• Must apply under one of the themes mentioned above and on the CSC website and the candidate’s field of study must be in line with the future development needs of Pakistan.
• NOT be registered for a Ph.D., or an MPhil leading to a Ph.D., or Masters at a UK university before September/October 2022 or candidate not has studied at the same level in the UK before.
• Be financially unable to afford to study in the United Kingdom without this scholarship.

How to Apply for HEC Commonwealth Scholarship?

• Apply online at the HEC website
• After registering and filling out your profile, please select “Learning Opportunities Abroad” under the “Scholarship and Grant” menu in the left-hand side panel of the online portal.
• After that, apply online to Commonwealth Scholarship through Electronic Application System (EAS)
• Upload deposit slip of Rs.500/- (in original) deposited through HEC online Account No. 17427900133401 in HBL, Shalimar Recording Company Branch, H-9, Islamabad. All payments are to be made to HEC through HBL online facility. This facility is available in all branches of Habib Bank Ltd.
• All the applications for Masters/ Ph.D. without submitting both the EAS Application form and online HEC form will not be entertained in any case.
• Save your HEC online application & Commonwealth online application after a successful submission to relevant portals.
• Hardcopies of the HEC application form (along with deposit slip, relevant academic documents viz. transcripts, equivalence for a foreign degree, statement of purpose, study/research plan, copies of CNIC) & Commonwealth scholarship forms will be taken from shortlisted candidates only.

FAQS on HEC Commonwealth Scholarship

1. Is there any fee to apply for a Commonwealth Scholarship?

No, there isn’t any application fee for Commonwealth Scholarship, However, the fee for the HAT test is Rs. 800/- While submitting an online application at the HEC website applicants need to attach a scanned copy of the deposit slip.

2. Where can applicants pay the fee for a Commonwealth Scholarship?

While submitting an online application at the HEC website, do attach scan copy of the deposit slip of Rs. 800/- (non-refundable) deposited in HEC online Account No. 17427900133401 in HBL, Sector H-9, Islamabad for HEC Aptitude Test (HAT) to be conducted by Education Testing Council (ETC). All payments are to be made to HEC through HBL online facility available across HBL branches in Pakistan.

3. Is there any Important Information related to scholarship?

• HEC may conduct tests/interviews to shortlist/nominate candidates.
• HEC validates/promotes equal opportunity, therefore, females are encouraged to apply.
• Please note that HEC has only a facilitation role in the nomination process, as the final selection will be made by the donor country. Further, HEC will have no financial liability regarding this scholarship.
• In case of submitting false information at any stage, HEC reserves the right to cancel and ban applicants for all future scholarships.

Here are some detailed videos on how to apply for the Commonwealth scholarships programs:

 

 

4. Is it mandatory to appear in the Higher Education Aptitude Test (HAT)?

Yes, appearance in the test is mandatory as the difficulty level of this test is different.

5. What are the minimum qualifying marks required for the Higher Education Aptitude Test (HAT)?

Applicants are required to obtain a minimum of 70% marks on the Higher Education Aptitude Test (HAT) for consideration for the nomination.

6. Is IELTS necessary for applying for a Commonwealth scholarship?

No. However, the applicant has to fulfill his/her intended university requirement.

7. What is the age limit for a master/Ph.D.?

There is no age limit.

8. Can an Afghan national apply for this scholarship?

No, only Pakistani / AJ&K nationals can apply for this scholarship.

Was this post helpful? Be sure to leave a comment below and share this post with your friends.