Gain a world-class education from the comfort of your home through the Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships. Education has no boundaries since the introduction of distance learning programs. The struggle of abandoning work to advance study can be overwhelming. However, getting full financial aid to study with the flexibility to earn a degree from the comfort of your home is a game changer.

This is what distance learning offers you. The flexibility to combine work and study simultaneously with a scholarship empowers you to succeed. Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships enable individuals from low and middle income countries to earn a master’s degree from home. That sounds interesting, right? The bigger news is that the program funds you to study at a leading university in the UK.

Securing Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships offer access to world-class education. But here is the challenge, since the scholarship program is fully funded, it is highly competitive. Your application needs to stand out to stand a chance of winning the scholarship.

Getting the right information about the Commonwealth Distance Learning scholarship eligibility, requirements, and application guide can help you succeed. In this article, we will discuss

1. About the scholarship
2. Eligible country
3. Candidates eligibility criteria
4. Eligible Commonwealth universities
5. Eligible Host Universities’ Courses
6. Application Process

About The Scholarship Program

As part of the three Master’s programmes offered by the Commonwealth Scholarships Commission (CSC), the Commonwealth Distance Learning program receives funding from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). Following the UK government’s commitment to train the next generation of leaders from developing countries, the scholarship funds potentials from diverse backgrounds.

In addition, the Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships support successful scholars to embark on a part-time taught master’s program in a UK higher institution. The scholarship supports studies in the six CSC thematic areas.

1. Strengthening health systems and capacity
2. Science and technology for development
3. Access, inclusion, and opportunity
4. Promoting innovation and entrepreneurship
5. Enhance global peace, security, and governance
6. Strengthening resilience and response to crises

The commonwealth master’s scholarship provides support to successful applicants to gain relevant knowledge and skills in any of the above areas. Application for the Commonwealth distance learning scholarships 2025 is open. Study commences in September/October 2025. While the scholarship is open for individuals from low income countries, not all countries are eligible. Let us find out the eligible countries.

Commonwealth Scholarship Eligible Countries

Individuals from the following countries are eligible to apply for the Commonwealth distance learning scholarships 2025/2026.

1. Vanuatu
2. Bangladesh
3. Saint Helena
4. Botswana
5. Grenada
6. Dominica
7. Malawi
8. Fiji
9. Mauritius
10. Ghana
11. Namibia
12. India
13. Nigeria
14. Kenya
15. Papua New Guinea
16. Kiribati
17. Lesotho
18. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
19. Malaysia
20. Nauru
21. Montserrat
22. Togo
23. Mozambique
24. Guyana
25. Pakistan
26. Tuvalu
27. Saint Lucia
28. Rwanda
29. Samoa
30. Maldives
31. Solomon Islands
32. South Africa
33. Sri Lanka
34. Gabon
35. Tanzania
36. Jamaica
37. The Gambia
38. Sierra Leone
39. Tonga
40. Eswatini
41. Uganda
42. Belize
43. Zambia

Commonwealth Scholarship Eligibility Criteria

Every scholarship has its target candidates. Therefore, the Long Distance Learning Commonwealth Scholarship 2025 is open to people who meet these qualifications

1. Be living permanently in an eligible country for the Commonwealth scholarship
2. Be a citizen of one of the eligible Commonwealth country or be granted refugee status in such country or be among the British Protected individuals
3. Hold a bachelor’s degree of at least upper second class (2:1) by latest October 2025. Less than upper second class qualification with sufficient relevant experience may receive consideration
4. Provide full details of at least one reference

The Commonwealth distance learning is a fully funded scholarship in the UK for master’s program. Interested candidates can submit applications for more than one course of study. Also, applications to over one educational institution are acceptable.

Notwithstanding, Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholars may not hold scholarship concurrently for more than one course of study .

Eligible Commonwealth Universities

Some academic institutions in the UK co-fund the distance learning scholarship alongside the UK government. These liaising universities are known as the commonwealth distance learning scholarship universities. Here is the list of Commonwealth universities.

1. University of Leeds
2. Cranfield University
3. Loughborough University
4. University of Edinburgh 
5. Open University 
6. University of Stirling
7. Bangor University
8. University of Manchester
9. Lancaster University
10. University of York
11. University of Southampton
12. School of Advanced Study, University of London 
13. University of Warwick
14. University of St Andrews
15. University of Liverpool

As one of the fully funded distance learning scholarships, the Commonwealth masters scholarship partners with hosting universities.

The scholarship organizers communicate with the hosting universities to determine the courses and number of scholarships to offer as approved by the Commonwealth Scholarship Comission (CSC).

The study period for any chosen course varies depending on the hosting university. Since the scholarship funds courses on part-time basis, some schools require students to complete their program within two to three years.

Eligible Host Universities Courses

Check out the full list of Commonwealth distance learning scholarship courses

1. MSc Data Science for Health and Social Care
2. MSc Global Development 
3. MSc Water Management for Development
4. MSc Clinical Management of Pain  
5. MSc Tropical Forestry 
6. MA Refugee Protection and Forced Migration Studies  
7. ChM Trauma and Orthopaedics 
8. MSc Disability Studies, Rights and Inclusion 
9. MSc Epidemiology
10. MSc Management and Information Systems: Change and Development
11. MA Online Teaching
12. MSc Critical Care 
13. MSc Digital Education
14. MSc Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases  
15. MA Educational Leadership in Practice
16. MSc Internal Medicine 
17. MSc Sustainability
18. MA Human Rights
19. MSc Paediatric Emergency Medicine 
20. MSc Data Literacy for Social and Environmental Justice 
21. MSc Gerontology
22. MSc Global Central Banking and Financial Regulation
23. MPH Public Health 
24. MSc Water Engineering for Development
25. MSc Surgical Sciences
26. MSc Sustainable Aquaculture
27. ChM Vascular and Endovascular Surgery
28.  MSc Environmental Management 
29. ChM Urology 
30. MSc Agroforestry and Food Security
31. MSc International Humanitarian Affairs
32. ChM General Surgery 
33. MSc Healthcare Leadership

How To Apply For Commonwealth Scholarship

Part of an applicant’s journey to winning the Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship is to follow the application instruction. Let’s delve into the full guide on how to successfully apply for the distance learning scholarship.

All candidates with interest for the scholarship must apply through the online application form.

First of all, the Candidates are to apply for admission in their choice university for any of the eligible course of interest. This is done via the university’s set admission application process.

At the end of the scholarship application, the host universities must nominate candidates for scholarship consideration.

Application Deadline: 16:00 GMT on May 20, 2025.