General Conditions on Commonwealth Masters Scholarships for international students and teachers from Africa.
A Commonwealth Scholarship covers fees, approved fares, and personal maintenance. Other scholarships, awards, or bursaries that cover the same costs may not be held concurrently.
For the CSC to administer your application effectively and efficiently after you have submitted, it will be necessary to create a record in your name. If you are nominated for an award to the CSC, your details will be kept on file. Basic anonymised demographic data for all applicants will be kept for analytical research.
The CSC is committed to protecting your personal information and to being transparent about the information we are collecting about you and what we do with it.
To find out more, see our privacy notice.
If your application is successful, the CSC will notify you via email that you have been provisionally selected (selected for an award subject to the CSC agreeing your terms of admission to the university)
The CSC does not require any candidates to take an IELTS (English language) test. You should note, however, that, as a further condition of your scholarship, you may be required by your university to provide evidence of a particular level of English language proficiency.
The CSC will not be able to offer you a scholarship if it would contravene the terms and conditions of another scholarship that you have previously held.
When terms of admission to the university have been agreed, the CSC will send you a Notification of Award (formal offer of a scholarship).
When all conditions of the Notification of Award have been met, the CSC will send you a formal Confirmation of Award.
You will be required to submit a Health and Disability Form before your Confirmation of Award can be issued.
You will be required to sign an undertaking to return to your home country as soon as possible after the end of your award.
You are expected to start your award on the date stated in your Notification of Award.
If you require a Student visa to come to the UK to study, you must meet all relevant immigration requirements set by UK Visas and Immigration. You should check the GOV.UK website for updated information.
All UK immigration regulations are set by UK Visas and Immigration and are subject to change. The CSC has no control over these regulations.
You will be selected for an award based on the plan of study outlined on your application form, which is not expected to change significantly during your award. Any such changes must be agreed by the CSC.
You are expected to reside in the UK throughout your award, and to seek approval from the CSC in advance for any overseas travel.
You must not undertake paid employment during your award without approval from the CSC in advance.
The CSC will consider a request to extend your leave to remain in the UK after your award only if you wish to move from
Master’s to PhD study. Strict conditions will apply.
The CSC cannot provide a letter of support or permission for you to remain in or return to the UK after your award to enable you to work.
You are not eligible to apply for a Commonwealth Scholarship or Fellowship if you; are an employee, a former employee, or relative of an employee of the Government of the United Kingdom; or a staff member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities or the British Council; or a Commonwealth Scholarship Commissioner, former Commonwealth Scholarship Commissioner or a relative of a Commonwealth Scholarship Commissioner.
Former employees of the organisations listed above are eligible to apply three years after ceasing their employment with them.
In line with the UK Bribery Act 2010, any applicant convicted of bribery will be banned from reapplying for a Commonwealth Scholarship or Fellowship for a period of up to five years.
Applicants are expected to adhere to the CSC’s Code of Conduct for award holders and the Disciplinary Policy and Procedure.
The CSC is committed to administering and managing its scholarships and fellowships in a fair and transparent manner.
For more information, see the CSC anti-fraud policy and procedure at and the FCDO guidance on reporting fraud.
All conditions of award are subject to UK local law and practices and are subject to change by the CSC.
For more information, see the Handbook for Commonwealth Scholars and Fellows.
Please note that the conditions outlined in the Handbook at subject to change.
