Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships for Masters Courses in UK, 2015

Applications are invited for Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships to study for a UK Master’s degree while living and working in home country. Students must be Commonwealth citizens and permanently residents of a developing Commonwealth country. Refugees or British protected persons are also considered. Students must normally hold a first degree of upper second-class standard, or higher qualification. The deadline for applications is 15 May 2015.

Study Subject(s): Scholarships are awarded to study following programs:
-MSc in Palliative Medicine and Care (Cardiff University)
-MSc Tropical Forestry (Bangor University)
-MSc Public Health Promotion (Leeds Beckett University)
-MSc Clinical Trials, MSc Epidemiology, MSc Global Health Policy, MSc Infectious Diseases and MSc Public Health (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine)
-MSc Education for Sustainability (London South Bank University)
-MSc Water and Environmental Management (Loughborough University)
-MSc Development Management, MSc Environmental Management (Open University)
-MSc Poverty Reduction: Policy and Practice (SOAS, University of London)
-MA Education and International Development (UCL Institute of Education)
-MPH Public Health and Primary Care (University of Manchester)
-MA Education (Flexible), PGCEi Post Graduate Certificate of Education International (University of Nottingham)
-MSt International Human Rights Law (University of Oxford)
-MSc Gerontology (University of Southampton)
-MSc Dementia Studies (University of Stirling)
-MSc Finance, LM Information Technology and Telecommunications Law and LLM Internet Law and Policy (University of Strathclyde).
Available Courses: Scholarships are available for pursuing Masters Degree courses.
Scholarship Provider: UK Department for International Development (DFID)
Scholarship can be taken at: Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships offer the opportunity to study for a UK Master’s degree while living and working in home country.

Eligibility: To be eligible for a Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship, candidates should:
-be citizens of a developing Commonwealth country, refugees or British protected persons AND be permanently resident in a developing Commonwealth country
-normally hold a first degree of upper second-class standard, or higher qualification. In certain cases, we will consider a lower qualification and sufficient relevant experience
Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships may not be held concurrently for more than one course

Scholarship Open for Students of Following Countries: Students from following developing commonwealth countries can apply for these Commonwealth Distance Learning scholarships.

Scholarship Description: The Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan is one of the largest and most prestigious scholarships schemes for international study in the world. Since it was established in 1959, around 30,000 individuals have benefited – 24,000 of them have held awards funded by the United Kingdom, managed by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the United Kingdom (CSC). This prospectus describes the Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships offered by the CSC in 2015-2016. Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships provide the opportunity for individuals to study for a UK Master’s degree while living and working in their home country. The scheme was established in 2002, as a direct response to the measures taken by our funder, the UK Department for International Development (DFID), to explore new methods of delivery as part of the drive for poverty reduction. To date, over 2,000 Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships have been awarded.

Duration of award(s): This will be based on the course program.

What does it cover? Not Known

Selection Criteria: There are three criteria against which Expressions of Interest and proposals will be considered:
-The quality of the course, including whether the Expression of Interest/proposal has institutional endorsement, the Quality Assurance record and the track record for delivery of the course through the medium of distance learning.
-The learning opportunities provided for developing country students, including whether the course takes into account appropriate use of technology, whether course providers can identify a target audience of potential applicants and recruit them successfully, and the factors likely to affect candidates’ successful completion of their studies.
-The development impact of the course of study, including how the course content can be applied to the Millennium Development Goals and the subsequent career patterns of course alumni.

Notification: Successful providers will be required to conduct their own recruitment process to shortlist a specified number of nominated candidates for Distance Learning Scholarships. A selection committee will then select Scholars from this shortlist in July.

How to Apply: Full details of the application process must be obtained from the relevant institution. To apply for a Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship:
-You must complete an EAS application. Please note that it is not possible to submit an EAS application after the deadline that you will see when you open an application.
-The UK university will then decide whether or not to nominate you to the CSC.
-The CSC then selects which of the shortlisted nominated candidates to fund.

Scholarship Application Deadline: The deadline for applications is 15 May 2015.

Important: All students must check the university course website for detailed application. 

Further Official Scholarship Information and Application