Commonwealth Shared Scholarships are for candidates from least developed and lower-middle income Commonwealth countries, for full-time Master’s study on selected courses, jointly supported by UK universities.
Funded by the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and LSHTM, the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme (CSS) enables talented and motivated individuals to gain the knowledge and skills required to support sustainable development. These scholarships are aimed at talented individuals who have the potential to make change, and who could not otherwise afford to study in the UK.
This year, Commonwealth Scholarship Commission UK (CSC) and LSHTM are offering four awards under the CSSS ‘Strengthening health systems and capacity’ theme for MSc Public Health for Eye Care programme.
Each scholarship award will provide:
- CSC-approved air ticket from the nearest international airport in the student’s home country to London, and return air ticket at the end of the award, for the student
- MSc Public Health for Eye Care tuition fees (at the overseas fee rate, and including the mandatory field trip fee)
- GBP 1,516.00 monthly maintenance stipend (London metropolitan area rate)
- Warm clothing allowance, where applicable
- Reimbursement of mandatory tuberculosis (TB) test fees, when required for a visa application, at a pre-determined amount set by the CSC
- Grants to contribute towards study-related costs (thesis grant and study travel grant)
- Excess baggage allowance for return home up to the specific rate as set by the CSC
- Disability Support Allowance for personal living costs (if eligible)
- For Scholars who are widowed, divorced, or a single parent, child allowance of GBP 529.00 per month for the first child, and GBP 131.00 per month for the second and third child under the age of 16, if the children accompany the student and are living with them at the same address in the UK.
Amounts quoted are at the 2022-23 UK HMG rates. These are subject to an annual increase. 2023-24 rates will be released by CSC in due course.
Commonwealth Shared Scholarship eligibility criteria
To be eligible to apply for these scholarships applicants must meet every one of the eligibility criteria below and complete both application steps by the scholarship application deadline of Tuesday 13 December 2022.
- Applicants must be a citizen of or have been granted refugee status by an eligible Commonwealth country*, or be a British Protected Person.
- Applicants must be permanently and continually resident in an eligible Commonwealth country*.
- Applicants must be available to start their academic studies in the UK at the start of the 2023-24 academic year (September 2023).
- Applicants must hold a first degree of at least upper second class (2:1) standard, or a lower second class level (2:2) plus a relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a Master’s degree) by September 2023. CSC cannot accept work experience in lieu of this minimum academic qualification. Neither will CSC fund a second UK Master’s degree, unless suitable justification for this is submitted. Please do not apply unless you meet the CSC minimum requirements.
- Applicants must be sufficiently fluent in English to pursue their proposed course of study and meet LSHTM’s English language proficiency requirements.
- Applicants must not have studied for one academic year or more in a high-income country (for CSC purposes this is classified as a country which does not appear on the DAC list of ODA recipients).
- Applicants must not have worked for one year or more in a high-income country (for CSC purposes this is classified as a country which does not appear on the DAC list of ODA recipients).
- Applicants must confirm that neither they nor their families would otherwise be able to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship.
- Applicants must commit to return to their home country within one month of the end of the end of their award.
- Applicants must supply all supporting documentation in the required format.
* Eligible Countries: Bangladesh, Belize, Botswana, Cameroon, Dominica, Eswatini, Fiji, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Montserrat, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Saint Helena, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu and Zambia
When assessing all eligible applications, LSHTM staff will consider potential impact alongside diversity and under-representation.
How to apply
The application process has two steps. To be considered for this funding, applicants must meet all eligibility criteria and complete both application steps outlined below by the scholarship application deadline of 16:00 (GMT) on Tuesday 13 December 2022.
Step 1
Submit a complete application for study for 2022-23 MSc Public Health for Eye Care.
- To make an application for the MSc Public Health for Eye Care programme at LSHTM applicants should follow the link on the ‘How to Apply’ tab on the programme page and choose the online application option.
- Under the ‘Funding’ section of the application form, applicants should indicate that they are applying for a Commonwealth Shared Scholarship awards.
- Before submitting their application for study, applicants should use the checklist below to ensure that their application is complete and that they have submitted all the required documents for this funding. Please note that only those applications with all the necessary documents, as highlighted in the Admissions Document checklist, uploaded to the LSHTM Admissions Portal by the scholarships deadline will be considered for this funding. In addition, please note:
- Academic Transcripts for undergraduate (UG) and any Masters/Postgraduate (PG) qualifications must be uploaded. Although LSHTM only requires a transcript for your highest qualification please note that the CSC requires UG transcripts too, and we will need to see these too before any award nominations are made. Therefore, please submit all transcripts with your application.
- Proof of English language proficiency should be submitted if this is available. (Applicants are encouraged to take any English language test required as early as possible, in order that results can be added to your application.)
- Applicants are encouraged to communicate with their referees as early as possible in the application process, notifying them of the scholarship deadline. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that their references have been submitted by the scholarship closing date.
- Please note that all applications will only be reviewed and processed after the deadline. All applications that are submitted before the deadline will be considered equally, regardless of submission date.
Step 2
Submit a complete CSSS application for funding via the CSC’s online application system.
- Applicants must apply for the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship awards via the Shared Scholarship page on the CSC website.
- Any queries regarding the CSC online application system should be directed to the CSC: Contact us - Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (fcdo.gov.uk)
Further application guidance
General information:
- LSHTM encourages applicants to submit both applications (for study and for funding) as soon as is reasonably possible.
- Applications will not be considered unless all the requirements set out in the advert and guidance (below) are met by the CSS deadline.
- By applying for this funding applicants agree to the LSHTM Scholarships Terms and Conditions, and CSC scholarship requirements and Terms and Conditions.
- All applicants will be advised of the outcome of their scholarship application by the end of July 2023 at the latest.
- If you require assistance with your MSc Public Health for Eye Care application please contact Romulo Fabunan by email: Romulo.Fabunan@lshtm.ac.uk