| Quick answer: Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships fund part-time master’s study with a UK university while you remain in your home country. The application deadline is 31 March at 16:00 UK time. Funding is capped at £18,000 per scholarship, covering tuition and study grants, with a stipend paid only for the periods you spend on short UK residentials — not for the full course. Only specific countries and specific approved courses qualify, and MBAs, research degrees, and undergraduate study are all excluded. |
If the phrase “applications close March 31” brought you here, this is the programme it refers to — not a general Commonwealth Scholarship deadline, but this one specifically.
What Is the Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship?
This is one of three Commonwealth Master’s-level programmes, built for candidates who need or want to remain in their home country while studying — whether because of work, family, or simply because relocating isn’t realistic. Courses are delivered by distance learning, sometimes with short in-person “residential” periods at the UK university. Funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, it’s aimed at high-quality postgraduate students who can’t access equivalent training at home.
Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship Eligibility
- You’re a citizen of, or hold refugee status in, an eligible Commonwealth country, or you’re a British Protected Person
- You’re permanently resident in one of the specific eligible countries for this programme (see below — the list is narrower than general Commonwealth Scholarship eligibility)
- By the relevant September, you hold a first degree of at least upper-second-class (2:1) standard — a lower qualification may be considered with sufficient relevant experience
- You genuinely could not afford to study the programme without this scholarship
- You can provide all required documentation in the correct format
Which Countries Are Eligible
As of the most recent cycle, eligible countries for Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships include: 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.
This list is set by CSC each cycle and can change — always confirm your country is currently listed before you invest time in an application.
What the Scholarship Covers — and Where It’s Capped
- Full tuition fees, plus study grants where required
- A total funding cap of £18,000 per scholarship, covering tuition and any stipend combined
- A monthly maintenance stipend (recently around £1,378, or £1,690 in London) — but only for the time you actually spend on UK residential periods, not for the full course
- Up to five years of part-time study funded, depending on the course structure
Two exclusions worth knowing before you start: CSC does not fund MBA programmes on this route, and this scholarship covers taught postgraduate courses only — not research degrees and not undergraduate study. You also can’t be asked to personally cover any compulsory course costs beyond resits or retakes; if a course costs more than the £18,000 cap, the university or another aligned funder has to cover the difference, not you.
Deadline and Timeline
- Application deadline: 31 March, 16:00 UK time
- University nomination: around June, universities nominate their selected candidates to CSC
- Notification: universities typically inform successful candidates by August
How to Apply — Step by Step
- Find an approved Distance Learning course — only specific courses at specific UK universities carry this scholarship, sorted by CSC development theme on the official course list.
- Apply to the university for admission to that course, meeting its academic and language requirements. You don’t need a confirmed offer before applying for the scholarship, but you will need one before your studies can start.
- Separately, submit your scholarship application through CSC Central, CSC’s online system — applications and documents are not accepted by email or post.
- Upload references as signed PDFs, on institutional letterhead or from a verifiable email address, before the deadline — late or emailed references aren’t accepted.
- Wait for the university’s shortlisting and nomination process, followed by CSC’s eligibility check and confirmation.
Required Documents Checklist
- Proof of citizenship or refugee status (valid passport or national ID)
- Full transcripts for all higher education qualifications, with certified translations if needed
- References, as signed PDFs on letterhead or from a verifiable email address
- Evidence supporting why you need or wish to remain in your home country while studying
- Proof of English language proficiency, per your chosen course’s requirements
Tips to Strengthen Your Application
- Confirm your course is actually on the approved list before applying. A strong application to an ineligible course won’t be considered, no matter how well-written it is.
- Budget realistically around the £18,000 cap. If you’re comparing this to a fully residential scholarship’s stipend, remember this one only pays a stipend for UK residential time, not the full course duration.
- Be explicit about why distance learning specifically serves your situation. CSC’s selection criteria include the quality of your study plan and its development impact — connect that directly to why remaining at home while studying matters for what you’re trying to achieve.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to relocate to the UK for this scholarship?
No — that’s the defining feature of this programme. You study from your home country, though some courses include short in-person residential periods in the UK.
Does this scholarship cover MBA programmes?
No. CSC explicitly excludes MBA programmes from Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship funding.
What exactly does the £18,000 cap include?
It covers tuition fees and any stipend paid during UK residential periods, combined. If your course costs more than that, the shortfall has to come from the university or an aligned funder — not from you.
What if my country isn’t on the eligible list?
Then you’re not eligible for this specific programme, even if you’d qualify for other Commonwealth Scholarships — the eligible country list for Distance Learning is set separately and is narrower than the general Commonwealth Scholarship list.
Eligible countries, funding figures, and deadlines are current as of the most recent CSC cycle and are set annually. Confirm the latest version on the official Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships page before applying.
Looking for other Commonwealth options? See the companion document, “Commonwealth Scholarship (UK) 2026/2027: The Complete Guide, Commonwealth Shared Scholarships, Commonwealth PhD Scholarships.”