Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship 2025-26 in UK (Fully Funded)

About

The Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship 2025-26 in the UK is a fully funded opportunity for international students from developing Commonwealth countries to pursue a master’s degree through online learning. This scholarship, offered by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC), aims to help talented and motivated individuals gain skills and knowledge for sustainable development, especially for those who cannot afford to study in the UK due to financial or other reasons. It supports students in contributing to the development needs of their home countries by providing training in key areas like health, technology, and global prosperity. With a variety of programs available at top UK universities, this scholarship allows students to study from home while earning a degree from a world-class institution.

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Scholarship Details

• Host Country: United Kingdom
• Host Universities: Various UK universities participating in the program
• Degree Level: Master’s Degree
• Scholarship Coverage: Fully Funded
• Eligible Nationalities: International students from developing Commonwealth countries

Financial Benefits

The scholarship covers all major expenses for students studying online from their home countries:

• Full tuition fees for the entire master’s program.
• Other essential costs related to distance learning, such as study materials and online access, as this is a fully funded scholarship.

Study Programs Offered

The Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship supports master’s programs under six key themes, offered by various UK universities:

• Science and Technology for Development:
  • MSc Tropical Forestry (Bangor University)
  • MSc Environmental Toxicology & Pollution Monitoring (Ulster University)
  • MSc Biodiversity Wildlife and Ecosystem Health (University of Edinburgh)
  • MSc Conservation Medicine (University of Edinburgh)
  • MSc Global Health and Infectious Disease (University of Edinburgh)
  • MSc International Animal Health (University of Edinburgh)
  • MSc International Animal Welfare, Ethics, and Law (University of Edinburgh)
  • MSc One Health (University of Edinburgh)
  • MSc BIM & Digital Built Environments (University of Salford)
  • Sustainable Aquaculture (University of St Andrews)
• Strengthening Health Systems and Capacity:
  • MSc in Palliative Medicine for Healthcare Professionals (Cardiff University)
  • MSc in Clinical Optometry (Cardiff University)
  • MSc Public Health Promotion (Leeds Beckett University)
  • MSc Global Health (London School of Tropical Medicine)
  • MSc Clinical Trials (London School of Tropical Medicine)
  • MSc Epidemiology (London School of Tropical Medicine)
  • MSc Infectious Diseases (London School of Tropical Medicine)
  • MSc Public Health (London School of Tropical Medicine)
  • MSc Burn Care (Queen Mary University of London)
  • MSc Cancer and Clinical Oncology (Queen Mary University of London)
  • MSc Cancer and Therapeutics (Queen Mary University of London)
  • MSc Emergency and Resuscitation Medicine (Queen Mary University of London)
  • MSc Endocrinology and Diabetes (Queen Mary University of London)
  • MSc Gastroenterology (Queen Mary University of London)
  • MSc Orthopaedic Trauma Science (Queen Mary University of London)
  • MSc Trauma Sciences (Queen Mary University of London)
  • Master of Public Health (The University of Manchester)
  • MSc Clinical Nutrition (University of Aberdeen)
  • Master of Public Health (University of Aberdeen)
  • MSc Infection Prevention and Control (University of Dundee)
  • MSc Clinical Education (University of Edinburgh)
  • MSc Global Challenges (University of Edinburgh)
  • MSc Paediatric Emergency Medicine (University of Edinburgh)
  • Master of Public Health (University of Edinburgh)
  • Master of Family Medicine (University of Edinburgh)
  • MSc Surgical Sciences (University of Edinburgh)
  • ChM (Masters of Surgery) in General Surgery, Trauma & Orthopaedics, Urology, Vascular & Endovascular Surgery (University of Edinburgh)
  • MSc in Dementia Studies (University of Stirling)
  • MSc Prosthetic & Orthotic Rehabilitation Studies (University of Strathclyde)
• Promoting Global Prosperity:
  • MSc Responsible Tourism Management (Leeds Beckett University)
• Strengthening Global Peace, Security, and Governance:
  • MSc International Development (Conflict, Security and Development) (University of Birmingham)
  • MSt in International Human Rights Law (University of Oxford, only for invited applicants)
• Strengthening Resilience and Response to Crises:
  • MSc Environmental Management (Open University)
  • MSc in Risk, Crisis and Disaster Management (University of Leicester)
  • MA in Refugee Protection and Forced Migration Studies (University of London)
  • MSc Global Food Security – Food Safety (Queen’s University Belfast)
• Access, Inclusion, and Opportunity:
  • MSc Water Management for Development (Loughborough University)
  • MSc Water Engineering for Development (Loughborough University)
  • MSc International Development (University of Portsmouth)
  • MSc Gerontology (University of Southampton)
  • MSc Global Ageing and Policy (University of Southampton)
  • Masters of Public Administration (International Development) (University of York)

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet the following requirements to qualify for the scholarship:

• Must be a citizen of, or have refugee status in, an eligible developing Commonwealth country, or be a British Protected Person.
• Must be permanently resident in a developing Commonwealth country (list includes countries like Bangladesh, India, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and more).
• Must hold a first degree with at least an upper second-class (2:1) standard; a lower qualification with sufficient relevant experience may be considered in some cases.
• Must be unable to afford the program without this scholarship.
• Cannot hold another scholarship for the same course at the same time.
• Must remain in an eligible developing Commonwealth country during the scholarship and not pursue another qualification.
• Additional Criteria (Based on Similar Programs): Some universities may require proof of English proficiency (e.g., IELTS or TOEFL) if the program is taught in English, though this isn’t explicitly stated.

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Application Deadline

The deadline to apply for the Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship 2025-26 is May 20, 2025, at 16:00 (GMT). All supporting documents must also be submitted by this deadline.

How to Apply

Follow these steps to apply for the scholarship:

• Apply for an eligible master’s course at a participating UK university (check the list of programs and universities).
• Secure admission to your chosen course, following the university’s specific application process, deadlines, and requirements.
• Apply for the Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship using the CSC’s online application system (separate from the university application).
• Submit your scholarship application by 16:00 (GMT) on May 20, 2025, including the following documents:
  • Proof of citizenship or refugee status (e.g., passport or national ID showing photo, date of birth, and country).
  • Full transcripts of all higher education qualifications, including current studies (with certified translations if not in English).
  • References from at least two individuals (on institutional letterhead or email with sender’s details).
• Ensure all documents are uploaded in the correct format (PDF, .doc, .docx, .odt, .jpg, .jpeg) and are under 5 MB in size; other formats like Zip files are not accepted.
• Obtain permission from your referees in advance and ensure they are available to submit references by the deadline.
• You can apply for more than one course or university, but you can only accept one scholarship offer.
• Universities will select candidates and inform them of results by June 2025 after the CSC confirms eligibility.+