Further Information

Applications for the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship for 2024 are open 16 November 2023 and close on 14 December 2023 16:00 (GMT).

Candidates must apply for both admission to the eligible course at Queen’s and for a Commonwealth Shared Scholarship by the closing date.  Candidates should provide any information that they wish to be considered by 14 December 2023 closing date to facilitate the selection process.  The University will consider scholarship applications according to: academic merit of the candidate; quality of the plan of study; and potential impact of the work on the development of the candidate’s home country. The University will put forward their selected candidates to the CSC. The CSC will then confirm that the nominated candidate(s) meet the eligibility criteria for this scheme. Universities will inform candidates of their results by July 2024.

Further information about the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship terms and conditions  please refer to the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission’s website at Commonwealth Shared Scholarships - Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (fcdo.gov.uk)

Candidates will be notified by 10 April 2024 of the outcome of their scholarship application. Candidates who are unsuccessful for the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship 2024 will have their application for admission withdrawn.

Funding Towards

Living Costs / Stipend, Miscellaneous, Travel Costs, Tuition Fees

Funding Body

Funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Commonwealth Shared Scholarships, in partnership with Queen’s University Belfast, 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.

Funding Amount

Stipend/living cost £1,347 per month per month (rates quoted at 2023-24 level) plus approved tuition fees.

Further details relating to the value of the scholarship, eligibility, and general conditions included at https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/scholarships/commonwealth-shared-scholarships-applications/

Number of Awards

In total up to 2 awards are available for 2024 entry for the approved programmes. MPH Global Health MSc City Planning and Design Note the MA Conflict Transformation and Social Justice will NOT be supported for 2024 entry.

Funding Body

Funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Commonwealth Shared Scholarships, in partnership with Queen’s University Belfast, 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.

Terms and Conditions

Eligibility

Candidate Eligibility - candidates must:

• Be a citizen of or have been granted refugee status by an eligible Commonwealth country.
• Be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country
• Be available to start your academic studies in the UK by the start of the UK academic year in September 2024
• By the specified closing date (14 December 2023), hold a first degree of at least upper second class (2:1) standard, or a second class degree and a relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a Master’s degree). For comparability of qualifications refer to International Students: Your Country
• Not have studied or worked for one (academic) year or more in a high income country
• Be unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship
• Have provided all supporting documentation in the required format
• Have applied for and been offered a full time place at Queen’s on the eligible one year Masters programme and must also make a separate scholarship application
• Satisfy the University’s English Language requirements for entry to the programme normally by the closing date specified and by June 2024.  IELTS test result/qualification must be submitted before 30 June 2024.
• Confirm that they will return to their home country after the award comes to an end.

Eligible Masters Course 2024-25	CSC Theme
MPH Global Health	Strengthening health systems and capacity
MSc City Planning and Design	Access, inclusion and opportunity

Candidates must ensure to apply for one of the eligible courses listed above.  Note the MPH Public Health is NOT eligible for Commonwealth Shared Scholarships. The MA in Conflict Transformation & Social Justice will NOT be supported for 2024 entry.

Funding Type

Help with new course

Fee Status

International

Nationality

Bangladesh, Belize, Botswana, Cameroon, Dominica, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, The, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Montserrat, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia, Saint Helena, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Country Group

International

Study Level

Postgraduate Taught

Start Date

Fri, 24 Nov 2023 16:36:00 GMT

Close Date

Thu, 14 Dec 2023 16:00:00 GMT

Contact Us

Queries about Commonwealth Shared Scholarships at Queen’s should be directed initially to pgawards@qub.ac.uk   

Queries about Admission should be sent to: intl.student@qub.ac.uk

How to Apply

Candidates must apply for both admission and a scholarship by the deadline. See step 1 and step 2 below. It is recommended candidate(s) should where possible wait until an offer of a University place has been confirmed before applying for the Shared scholarship.  

Step 1 – Apply for Admission

Candidates must apply online for a place on an eligible course at Queen’s University Belfast.  Further guidance is provided on the University website in Applying for Postgraduate Study at Queen's.

It will not be possible to assess your application without a fully-completed application form and supporting documentation as detailed at Essential Supporting Documentation and English Language Requirements. It is recommended candidates apply for admission at least two weeks in advance of the closing date to allow sufficient time for a decision to be processed. 

Note entry to postgraduate taught Masters programmes at Queen’s usually requires either a UK upper second-class (2:1) or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University. 

To be eligible for consideration for the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship, candidates must have qualifications equivalent to a UK upper second-class (2:1) undergraduate degree or a lower second class undergraduate degree (2:2) and also a relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a Master’s degree) by the specified closing date. For comparability of qualifications refer to International-students/Your-Country/.

Step 2 – Apply for a Commonwealth Shared Scholarship

Candidates must make a scholarship application using the CSC’s online application system. You will need to confirm your Queen’s application number on the scholarship form. The CSC will not accept applications that are not submitted using their online application system.  Details of the required supporting documentation to be submitted by the deadline in order to be eligible for consideration are listed on the CSC website in the section Commonwealth Shared Scholarships Completing Application Form

Scholarship applications must be submitted by 16:00 (GMT) on 14 December 2023 at the latest. Applications for admission to Queen's must be submitted by 23.59 (GMT) on 14 December 2023. You are advised to complete and submit your application as soon as possible, as the online application system will be very busy in the days leading up to the application deadline and the Commission cannot make allowances for local or personal difficulties which might affect your ability to submit.

Please check https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/scholarships/commonwealth-shared-scholarships-applications/ for more information about how to apply for the scholarship.