The Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships make a UK Master’s degree possible without ever leaving home. Funded through the UK’s Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC), supported by DFID/FCDO, these awards cover part-time, distance-learning Master’s courses offered by participating UK universities.
For many African applicants, this is a rare chance to gain a respected UK qualification while continuing to work and live in your own country. There’s no need to relocate, no visa to arrange, and no living costs abroad to find — you study online and pay nothing in tuition.
The scheme is aimed squarely at talented people from least developed and lower middle income Commonwealth nations who genuinely could not fund the programme themselves. Eligible countries include Cameroon, Eswatini, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, The Gambia, Uganda and Zambia, among others.
Scholarship benefits
- Full tuition fees for an approved part-time Master’s course delivered by distance learning
- Study grants where required
Eligibility checklist
- ✔ Be a citizen of an eligible Commonwealth country, have refugee status from one, or be a British Protected Person
- ✔ Be permanently resident in a developing Commonwealth country
- ✔ Hold a first degree of at least upper second class (2:1) standard — a lower qualification plus sufficient relevant experience may be considered in some cases
- ✔ Be unable to afford the programme without this scholarship
- ✔ Secure admission to an approved Master’s course at a participating UK university
Application tips for African students
- Start by browsing the CSC’s list of eligible distance-learning Master’s courses and confirm your chosen programme is on it before doing anything else.
- Contact your target university early — they set their own admission requirements and deadlines, and you must secure a place in addition to applying for the scholarship.
- Have your degree certificate and transcripts ready, certified and, if needed, translated into English well ahead of time.
- In your application, be honest and specific about why you cannot afford the course yourself — financial need is a core selection criterion here.
- Write a focused statement that connects the course to your work and to development goals in your home country; distance learning suits people who want to apply skills while studying.
- Line up strong referees who know your academic and professional record, and brief them early so their letters are detailed.
- Submit through the CSC Electronic Application System (EAS) well before the 16:00 GMT cut-off on the deadline day — last-minute uploads risk technical problems.
How to apply
Applications are submitted online through the CSC’s Electronic Application System (EAS). You must also apply separately to your chosen participating UK university and secure admission to an approved Master’s course. Check directly with that university for their admission requirements and timing, and direct all course enquiries to them. All scholarship applications must reach the CSC by 16:00 (GMT) on the deadline. For full instructions and the list of eligible courses, see the official page: Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships official website.
Frequently asked questions
Who can apply for these scholarships?
Nationals of developing Commonwealth countries — including many in Africa such as Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia — who hold a 2:1 first degree and cannot afford the course on their own. Refugees and British Protected Persons resident in an eligible country may also apply.
Do I have to travel to the UK?
No. This is a distance-learning award, so you study a part-time UK Master’s online from your own country.
What does the scholarship cover?
It covers tuition fees for the approved course and study grants where required.
When is the deadline?
Applications must be submitted by 16:00 (GMT) on 31 March 2026, an annual deadline. Note that applications are listed as currently closed, so check the official page for the live application window.
Do I need a university place before applying?
Yes. You must apply to and secure admission for an approved Master’s course at a participating UK university in addition to completing the CSC scholarship application.