If you are an Indian student with a dream of studying at a British University, Commonwealth Scholarship 2023 is your answer! Offered by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission of the UK, it is one of the most prestigious scholarships available for students from Commonwealth countries.
These scholarships are awarded to academically talented citizens of Commonwealth countries who have not had the opportunity to pursue their higher education due to financial constraints. The scholarship covers tuition fees, travel costs as well as living costs in the UK.
In order to apply for this scholarship, you must be a citizen of or have refugee status from an eligible Commonwealth country. You must be available to start your studies in the UK by the beginning of the academic year.
To get an offer of a Commonwealth Scholarship, you must submit your application to the UK government through a national nominating body. These bodies are specific to each participating commonwealth country and have their own rules, eligibility, and deadlines.
To find out more about Commonwealth Scholarships 2023 for Indian students, continue reading. In this guide, we will show you how to apply for this scholarship.
About Commonwealth Scholarship for Indian Students
In the year 1959, at the first Commonwealth education conference, The Commonwealth scholarship was established. The scholarship scheme aims to attract outstanding talent from 53 Commonwealth countries to pursue Masters’ or Doctorate degrees from UK universities.
Commonwealth Scholarship for Indian Students is a financial support programme that provides scholarship amounts that cover all tuition fees, living expenses and travel to the UK. The scholarships are funded by the Department for Education and Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).
The application process for this scholarship is straightforward. You can apply for this scholarship by submitting your application online through the CSC website. Alternatively, you can also submit your application online via the Ministry of Higher Education in India.
You can also apply for Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarship. It is an important part of the Commonwealth network and enables students from low- or middle-income Commonwealth countries to pursue 2 years Master’s program in UK.
The scholarship covers the following things,
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Economy return international travel
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Tuition fees
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Basic allowance
Here is the list of governing bodies in India that handles this scholarship.
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The British Council
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Commonwealth Scholarship Commission
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Association of Commonwealth Universities
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Ministry of Human Resource Development (Government of India)
The scholarship is offered to Indian students whose research interest lies in the following things,
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Strengthening health systems and capacity
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Science and Technology for development
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Strengthening resilience and response to crises
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Access, inclusion and opportunity
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Promoting global prosperity
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Strengthening global peace, security and governance
Here are the details about the scholarship for Indian students.
Scholarship Name |
Commonwealth Scholarship India |
Scholarship Type |
Merit-Based |
Launched by |
The Governments of Commonwealth countries |
Organization |
Commonwealth Scholarship Commission |
Objective |
To provide educational opportunities in abroad universities |
Beneficiaries |
Meritorious students of Commonwealth countries |
Renewability |
One Time Payment |
Scholarship Amount |
Variable |
Purpose of Commonwealth Scholarship
The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission offers nearly 800 awards each year for postgraduate study and professional development. These scholarships are designed to support talented students from developing countries with the potential to make a positive impact on the world stage.
The main aim of the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship program is to help students from Commonwealth countries who would not otherwise be able to study in the UK. This helps to improve the skills and education of people from developing countries, enabling them to make a larger impact on their home country’s development.
This scholarship also allows students to study in a university with world-class facilities and expertise and gives them access to a network of professionals who can help them on their path. These opportunities can be life-changing and can lead to new careers.
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Types of Commonwealth Fellowship and Scholarships
There are several types of Commonwealth Scholarship and fellowship plans available to applicants, all of which have their own eligibility criteria and application processes. It’s important to do your research and choose the right one for you.
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Commonwealth PhD. Scholarship (For Least Developed Countries and States)
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Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship
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Commonwealth Split Site Scholarships
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Distance Learning Commonwealth Scholarship
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Commonwealth Shared Scholarships
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PhD. Scholarships (For High-Income Countries)
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Commonwealth Medical Fellowships
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Commonwealth Rutherford Fellowships
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Commonwealth Professional Fellowship
Eligibility Criteria for Commonwealth Scholarship
There are several eligibility criteria that you need to meet if you wish to apply for a Commonwealth scholarship. Here are the minimum requirements that you need to fulfil.
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You must be a permanent citizen of India.
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Your age should be below 40 years.
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You must start your degree in the UK from the beginning of the academic year (September/ October).
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You should have completed your Bachelor’s degree to apply for the Master’s program before the start of the academic year.
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You should have completed your Master’s degree to apply for the PhD program before the start of the academic year.
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You must obtain 60% or more marks in the Humanities and Social Science groups and 65% or more in Engineering and Technology, Sciences, and Agriculture groups.
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You should have no means of funding your education in the UK.
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You must remain in your home country to apply for the scholarship.
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If you have already been abroad for education for more than 6 months, you must return to Indian and reside there for at least 2 years before applying for this scholarship.
Eligibility for Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship
The Commonwealth Masters scholarship is open to students from low-middle income Commonwealth countries and provides fully funded scholarships for Master’s degree study.
If you are a citizen of a commonwealth country or are a refugee, you can apply for the master’s degree program. However, in order to apply for this scholarship, you must meet these requirements.
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You must be a permanent citizen of India.
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Your age should be below 40 years.
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You should not register for the Master’s program at another University.
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You must have a minimum Bachelor’s qualification.
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You must obtain a minimum score of 60% in Social science and 65% in Science subjects.
Eligibility for Commonwealth PhD. Scholarship
The Commonwealth PhD Scholarship is designed to encourage students from least developed Commonwealth countries to pursue a PhD in a range of subjects at a high-quality UK university.
However, in order to apply for this scholarship, you must fulfil the following eligibility requirements.
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You must be a permanent citizen of India.
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Your age should be below 40 years.
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Your academic studies must start in September/ October.
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You must have a minimum Master’s qualification or should be in the final year.
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You should not register for the PhD program at another University.
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You must have a minimum score of 60% or above in social science and 65% in Science.
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You should not be able to afford to study in the UK.
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You should provide all the necessary documentation.
How to Apply for Commonwealth Scholarship 2023 for Indian Students?
When applying for a Commonwealth scholarship, applicants must submit their application to the appropriate nominating body and CSC via the online application system. All nomination bodies have different eligibility criteria, so you should check the requirements of each before applying.
If you are an Indian student, follow these steps to apply for the scholarship.
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Step 1: Visit The Commonwealth Scholarship Website
Before you apply for the scholarship, make sure you meet all the eligibility requirements. If you are eligible, visit the official website of the Commonwealth scholarship. The entire process is online.
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Step 2: Click On Apply
After you visit the website, it will directly take you to the Home Page. Here, you need to click on the “Apply” option to start the application process.
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Step 3: Choose Country
When you click on “Apply”, another page will open. Here, you need to choose the country. As you are an Indian citizen, you need to choose “India” from the dropdown.
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Step 4: Fill out the Registration Form
Now, the registration form will be displayed on the screen. You need to enter all the correct details when filling out the form. Double-check all the details to avoid any errors.
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Step 5: Attach Documents
Once you are done with the form, you need to attach all the required documents. Here is the list of documents you may need to attach.
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Copy of passport
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Admission letter from a UK university
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Academic transcripts
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Proof of exams to study in the UK
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Step 6: Submit the Form
After you upload all the documents with your online form, click on the “Submit” option to complete the process. This is how you can easily apply for Commonwealth Scholarships from India.
Once you are selected, you can visit Remigos to help you open a UK bank account at zero monthly fees. This way, you can easily pay for rent and other utility bills.
Conclusion
Commonwealth Scholarship 2023 is the world’s largest scholarship scheme for developing countries, aimed at students who want to study in the UK. It is managed by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the United Kingdom. This global scheme offers scholarships for masters and PhD programmes in low or middle-income Commonwealth countries like India. You can apply for this scholarship by filling out an online application form on the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission website and submitting the necessary documents.