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5 Tips for Winning the Commonwealth Scholarship Award

By Damilola Olisa, 2018 Commonwealth Scholar

The Commonwealth Scholarship is a very competitive fully funded scholarship open to applicants from any of the Commonwealth countries and it is handled by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) in the UK. As long as you are from a Commonwealth country and have not spent more than one year in a developed country, you are eligible to apply. The application requires much time considering the many stages involved; ranging from securing admission for either Master’s or PhD programme in any of the UK universities, applying to your nominating agency for nomination, applying for the scholarship on CSC Electronic Application System (EAS), securing nomination from your nominating agency and lastly securing confirmation of award from the CSC.

In my own case, getting the Commonwealth Scholarship award is more than a dream come true. And I have been getting numerous questions on how I got nominated for the Commonwealth Award by 5 nominating agencies (4 UK Universities and Nigeria’s Federal Scholarship Board FSB)  when most applicants often struggle hard to secure even one nomination which is needed to secure the award. Eventually, I settled for Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship award to study MSc Communication for Development at the University of Reading. Meanwhile, I remember that in 2017 when I first applied for Commonwealth Scholarship, I was rejected by all the three universities through which I applied, but the story changed in 2018. My story then revolves around from being rejected in 2017 to securing 5 nominations in 2018.

Hence, in this post, I will share some tips with you on how you can win the Commonwealth Scholarship award.

• Research into the Commonwealth Scholarship

First thing is you need to understand that there are different forms of Commonwealth Scholarship awards. Currently there are more than six kinds of Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowships. So it is your duty to carefully research into which of the scholarships you are eligible for and fits your career goals. In my own case, I targeted only the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship (General) and Commonwealth Shared Scholarship because they were the only Commonwealth scholarships for Master’s degree programmes. Similarly, I researched into the nominating agencies and the peculiar requirements for each of them. In all, I will advise you take enough time to look through the official Commonwealth Scholarship website and other blogs for all necessary information you might need about the scholarship.

• Feel free to get a previous Scholar to mentor you

This actually worked perfectly for me and it was the reason I had multiple nominations from UK universities and even Nigeria’s nominating agency (Federal Scholarship Board). In my preparations for 2018 round of application, I decided to speak with previous Commonwealth Scholars who directed me on how to present better applications. I even went as far as getting copies of their own application in order to proofread and draw ideas for my application. From this exercise, I discovered better ways through which I could improve on my application.

• Carefully answer your essay questions, especially your home country benefit essay

A number of people have asked me how I was able to get nominated for Master’s degree programmes which were not directly in line with my undergraduate degree. For example, I was nominated for MA Religious Studies and Global Development by University of Leeds despite having my first degree in Mass Communication. The simple secret was I presented unique home country benefit essays which were peculiarly appropriate for each Master’s programme. You need to let your nominating agency and the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission realize what impact you aim to achieve on your home country if offered the scholarship. You should provide facts about a specific problem in your home country which you intend to solve and how you intend to do that. This is very important. You should also provide realistic measures you intend to take to solve the problem using knowledge and skills gathered from studying in the UK and even how you intend to measure your results from time to time. The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission takes this particular essay in high esteem. And this is where most applicants, especially Frist Class holders, miss it. They wrongly believe that having a First Class is the major ticket for getting the Commonwealth Scholarship. Even with a Second Class in your first degree, you can win the scholarship if you present a perfect overall application.        

• Engage in quality volunteering activities, publish academic papers and join professional bodies

During the course of filling your application on the CSC Electronic Application System (EAS), you will discover that there are different sections for all of these. Although they are not compulsory, they are the things that add value and weight to your application. After I realized why my 2017 application was not successful, I channeled efforts towards improving in these areas. I engaged in numerous voluntary activities, published a number of academic journal articles and joined relevant professional bodies in my field and career. In essence, the Commonwealth Scholarship application is what you diligently prepare round the year for. Another round of application for 2019/2020 will open by Oct/Nov 2018, so you must begin your preparations from now.

• Make your entire application coherent

By ensuring that your application is coherent, I mean let there be logical interconnection with various segments of your EAS application. Your entire application should be targeted at proving that you have the capacity of influencing positive social change using skills and knowledge acquired in the UK upon return to your home country. Each segment of the application should be in tandem with your overall goal. Even if you are applying for a field different from what you studied in your first degree, you can join professional bodies in the new field or take some short courses to prove knowledge in the new field.

In sum, the Commonwealth Scholarship is a life-changing opportunity for you to change your life and as well as your home country. It will influence your career positively. Winning the award totally depends on you. Please note that winning the award is a job on its own and you have to give it your best.

Applications are open for the following:

• Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships 2023/2024 for Study in the UK (Fully-funded)
• Commonwealth PhD Scholarships 2023/2024 for Doctoral Study at a UK University (Fully-funded)

For more articles, visit OD How-To .

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Commonwealth Scholarships

Commonwealth Scholarships are awarded to talented individuals with the potential to make a positive impact on the global stage. Commonwealth Scholarships are managed by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) in the UK.

As part of the UK’s ongoing commitment to the Commonwealth, each year, around 700 students are given the chance to undertake postgraduate degrees with UK universities.

If you are from a Commonwealth country and believe you could make a difference in the world but you can’t afford to fund your UK studies on your own, then you could be the ideal candidate for a Commonwealth Scholarship.

What are Commonwealth Scholarships?

Commonwealth Scholarships are aimed at students from across the Commonwealth who would not otherwise be able to afford to study in the UK. By funding postgraduate studies in a range of different study formats, the scheme helps to support future innovators and leaders.

This historic award is the UK’s primary scholarship scheme focused on contributing to the UK's international development aims. It is designed to attract outstanding talent to UK universities while supporting sustainable development overseas.

Who can apply?

To apply for a Commonwealth Scholarship, you must be a citizen or permanent resident of a Commonwealth country. You will still be eligible if you are a refugee or a British-protected person.

You need to have an undergraduate honours degree of at least upper second class (2:1). If you wish to study a PhD, you will need an appropriate master’s degree too.

Finally, you must be unable to afford to study in the UK without a scholarship.

The eligibility criteria for each type of scholarship and fellowship vary. More information is available on the CSC website .

What types of awards are available?

The Commonwealth Scholarships Commission (CSC) offers:

• Commonwealth PhD Scholarships (for least developed countries and fragile states)
• Commonwealth Split-site Scholarships (for low and middle-income countries)
• Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships
• Commonwealth Shared Scholarships
• Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships
• Commonwealth PhD Scholarships (for high-income countries)
• Commonwealth Professional Fellowships

CSC Development Themes

All Commonwealth Scholarships are offered under six CSC development themes.

• Science and technology for development
• Strengthening health systems and capacity
• Promoting global prosperity
• Strengthening global peace, security and governance
• Strengthening resilience and response to crises
• Access, inclusion and opportunity

There is no restriction on what you can study, but the CSC gives priority to applicants whose studies are most relevant to their development criteria.

What financial support is available?

Most scholarships are fully funded, which means that as well as covering your tuition fees, you will also receive your airfare to and from the UK and a living allowance to support you while you are here.

How to apply

Depending on which scholarship you are applying for, you may need to apply through a National Nominating Agency , a university , or a Non-Governmental Organisation .

To find out how to apply for each of the scholarships, please visit the CSC apply page .

What do I need to apply?

To begin your online application, you’ll need a scanned copy of your passport, your academic transcript, your existing university degree certificate, two references and, if you have one, your admission letter.

What is the deadline for applications?

Annual deadlines for applications are usually in December. Check the page of the scholarship you are interested in on the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission website to see the dates when they are announced for the upcoming academic year.

Commonwealth Scholarship Alumni Network

To date, over 31,000 people have taken up a Commonwealth Scholarship or Fellowship since the first group of 175 Scholars arrived in the UK in 1960. Commonwealth alumni include Prime Ministers and cabinet ministers, Nobel Prize winners, academics, diplomats, writers, and leaders in major NGOs and businesses.

Upon finishing their scholarship or fellowship, recipients join a thriving global community.

Through the alumni network, Commonwealth Alumni can build contacts with a diverse range of scholars and alumni in their home country and across the Commonwealth through a range of activities. Visit the Alumni pages on the Commonwealth site to learn more about these activities.

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Commonwealth Shared Scholarships

by Alumni Team | Nov 3, 2021

How to apply

Supporting documentation, advice for applicants, choosing a university/course, applicant eligibility, eligible countries, completing the application form, selection process, tenure and placement, financial assistance, general conditions.

The Commonwealth Shared Scholarship programme is one of three Master’s programmes offered by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission.

The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (CSC) provides the UK government scholarship scheme led by international development objectives. It operates within the framework of the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP) and offers a vivid demonstration of the UK’s enduring commitment to the Commonwealth. By attracting individuals with outstanding talent and identifiable potential from all backgrounds and supporting them to become leaders and innovators on returning to their home countries, the CSC’s work combines sustainable development with the UK national interest and provides opportunities for international partnerships and collaboration.

Purpose: To contribute to development needs of Commonwealth countries by providing training for skilled and qualified professionals and academics who would not otherwise have been able to study in the UK.​

Intended beneficiaries: High-quality postgraduate students from Least Developed and middle-income countries (including fragile and conflict affected states), who have not studied for a year or more in a high-income country before, who would not otherwise afford to study in the UK, and who have the potential to enhance the development of their home countries with the knowledge and leadership skills they acquire.

Award duration: normally 12 months

Application process: UK universities bid for scholarships for specific courses with demonstrable development impact and must agree to fund the living cost component of the scholarships. Applications are made via successful universities, which make the initial selection of candidates, who are subsequently approved by the CSC.

Applications for Commonwealth Shared Scholarships for the 2024/25 academic year are now closed.

Applications to the CSC must be made using the CSC’s online application system.

The CSC is unable to accept any applications or documentation not submitted via the online application system .

Applicants are advised to complete and submit applications as early as possible, as the online application system will be very busy in the days leading up to the application deadline.

Applicants must apply to study an approved Master’s course at a participating UK university.

• View full list of approved courses
• View details of all participating UK universities

Applicants can apply for more than one course and to more than one university, however they may only accept one offer of a Shared Scholarship. Note these scholarships are only for Master’s courses and not for undergraduate or PhD study.

Applicants must also apply and secure admission for the chosen university course in addition to applying for a Shared Scholarship. Please check with the chosen university for their specific advice on when to apply, admission requirements and rules for applying.

Applications will be shared with the universities who will nominate their chosen candidates to the CSC in March 2024.

Applications must include supporting documentation to be eligible.

Applicants must upload the following documents with the application:

• Proof that they are a citizen or have refugee status in an eligible Commonwealth country: a copy of a valid passport (or national ID card) showing a photograph, date of birth, and country of citizenship.
• Full transcripts detailing all higher education qualifications, including to-date transcripts for any courses currently being studied, with certified translations if not in English. Where any transcripts are missing or do not include all pages, the application will be considered ineligible.

Applications will be considered ineligible if any of the required documentation is not included by the closing date.

The CSC will not accept supporting documentation submitted outside the online application system.

Please note that the CSC does not charge apply for any of its scholarships or fellowships through its online application system.

Applicants can find general information about applying for a Commonwealth Scholarship on our  advice for applicants page .

Please read and complete the  Shared Scholarships eligibility checklist  before submitting your application.

Applicants may find the following resources useful when researching their choices of institution and course of study in the UK:

• Study UK  – British Council website, with guidance for international students and a course and institution search.
• Steps to Postgraduate Study  – a guide to asking the right questions about taught postgraduate study in the UK.
• Postgrad.com  – information for postgraduate students, with a course search
• Prospects  – information on postgraduate study in the UK.
• Research Excellent Framework 2021 results  – results of a system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions.
• UCAS Postgraduate  – guidance on how to find and apply for a postgraduate course.
•   Discover Uni – the official website for comparing UK higher education course data.
• UKCISA  (UK Council for International Student Affairs) – advice for international students on choosing a course of study.

The CSC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Applicants can also discover how Commonwealth Alumni are making an impact and leading change across critical development issues by visiting our Development impact stories page .

To be considered for these scholarships, applicants 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 academic studies in the UK by the start of the UK academic year in September 2024.
• By September 2024, hold a first degree of at least upper second-class (2:1) honours standard, or a lower second-class degree and a relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a Master’s degree).
• Not have studied or worked for more than 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.

The CSC aims to identify talented individuals who have the potential to make change. We are committed to a policy of equal opportunity and non-discrimination and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants. For further information on the support available to scholars who share that they have a disability, see the  CSC disability support statement .

There is no age limit for CSC applications. Applicants are advised to confirm with their employers any age restrictions on leave entitlement they may have in place.

Please note that only applicants from the eligible countries listed below can apply for Commonwealth Shared Scholarships.

In the application form, applicants are asked to:

• List all undergraduate and postgraduate university qualifications obtained.
• List up to 10 publications and prizes.
• Provide details of employment history and explain how the experience gained supports and is relevant to the programme to be undertaken in the UK.
• List names and positions of three referees who are qualified to comment on both their capacity to benefit from the proposed Scholarship in the UK and their ability to deliver development impact afterwards. One of the referees must be a current employer (if applicable).
• Provide a Development Impact statement in four parts.

 In the first part applicants should explain how the proposed scholarship relates to:

• Development issues at the global, national, and local level.
• Development issues connected to the chosen CSC development theme and the wider sector.

The second part should explain how they intend to apply their new skills once the Scholarship ends.

The third part should outline what they expect will change in development terms following the Scholarship, including:

• The outcomes that they aim to achieve
• The timeframe for their implementation
• Who the beneficiaries will be

In the fourth part applicants should write about how the impact of their work could be best measured and evidenced.

Applicants are also asked to:

• Confirm what their award objectives are and how each of them will be met by the Scholarship programme.
• Confirm what their career plans are for the 5 years following the Scholarship.
• Confirm their long-term career plans.
• Provide a detailed plan of study.
• Provide a personal statement to summarise the ways in which their personal background has encouraged them to want to make an impact in their home country. Applicants may wish to highlight any areas where they have already made significant contributions, including overcoming personal or community barriers in accessing higher education or within their field.
• Summarise the ways in which they have engaged in voluntary activities and the opportunities they have had to demonstrate leadership.

Each participating UK university will conduct its own recruitment process to select a specified number of candidates to be awarded Commonwealth Shared Scholarships and put these forward to the CSC. The CSC will then confirm that these candidates meet the eligibility criteria for the programme.

Applications will be considered according to the following selection criteria:

• Academic merit
• Quality of research proposal
• Potential impact on the development of the candidate’s come country

For further details, see the Commonwealth Scholarships selection criteria .

Applicants should note the criteria carefully and link their answers in the application form to each point listed.

Scholarships are tenable for any approved course offered by a participating UK university.

Scholarships are to obtain one degree; funding will not be extended to enable candidates to complete a qualification in addition to or higher than that for which the selection was made.

Scholarships are made in respect of full-time study only and no other course of study may be undertaken at the same time.

Candidates must take the necessary steps to apply for admission to the preferred university. Many courses have strict admission deadlines and candidates should check admission requirements carefully when applying.

Commonwealth Shared Scholarships are jointly funded by the CSC and participating UK universities.

Each scholarship provides:

• Approved airfare from the Scholar’s home country to the UK and return at the end of the award (the CSC will not reimburse the cost of fares for dependants, nor the cost of journeys made before the award is confirmed) – funded by the CSC.
• Approved tuition fees: full fees are covered by agreement between the CSC and the UK university, and scholars are not liable to pay for any part of the tuition fee.
• Stipend (living allowance) at the rate of £1,347 per month, or £1,652 per month for those at universities in the London metropolitan area (rates quoted at current levels) – paid and funded by the university.
• Warm clothing allowance, where applicable – paid and funded by the university.
• Thesis grant towards the cost of preparing a thesis or dissertation, where applicable – paid by the university, funded by the CSC.
• Study travel grant towards the cost of study-related travel within the UK or overseas – paid by the university, funded by the CSC.
• Contribution towards the cost of a mandatory tuberculosis (TB) test, where required for a visa application (receipts must be supplied) – paid by the university, funded by the CSC.
• If a Scholar has children and is widowed, divorced, or a single parent, child allowance of child allowance of £576.61 per month for the first child, and £143 per month for the second and third child under the age of 16, if their children are living with them at the same address in the UK.

If a Scholar shares that they have a disability, a full assessment of their needs and eligibility for additional financial support will be offered by the CSC.

The CSC’s family allowances are intended to be only a contribution towards the cost of maintaining a Scholar’s family in the UK. The true costs are likely to be considerably higher, and Scholars must be able to supplement these allowances to support any family members who accompany them to the UK.

For more information, see the current Handbook for Commonwealth Scholars .

Please note that the conditions outlined in the Handbook are subject to change.

A Commonwealth Shared Scholarship covers fees, approved fares and personal maintenance. Other scholarships, awards, or bursaries that cover the same costs may not be held concurrently.

For the CSC to administer the application effectively and efficiently after submission, it will be necessary to create a record in the applicant’s name. If they apply for an award to the CSC, their details will be kept on file. Basic anonymised demographic data for all applicants will be kept for analytical research. The CSC is committed to protecting personal information and to being transparent about the information we are collecting about applicants and what we do with it. To find out more, see our privacy notice .

Applicant’s personal information will be used to conduct necessary due diligence checks to CSC’s satisfaction, before CSC proceeds with any type of formal agreement or contractual relationship. In most cases, the due diligence checks will be straightforward, however further information may be requested, so we ask for full co-operation to speed up the process. 

If a applicant does not agree to personal data being used for the purpose of conducting due diligence, unfortunately CSC will not be able to proceed further with the application process. 

If an application is successful and the CSC has confirmed all eligibility requirements are met, the university will notify the applicant that they have been provisionally selected (selected for an award subject to the CSC agreeing terms of admission to the university) at which point they will be a provisional scholarship candidate.

The CSC does not require any candidates to take an IELTS (English language) test. Universities may require candidates to provide evidence of a particular level of English language proficiency as a condition of the scholarship.

The CSC will not be able to offer a scholarship if it would contravene the terms and conditions of another scholarship previously held.

When terms of admission to the university have been agreed, the CSC will provide a formal Confirmation of Award letter.

Applicants will be required to submit a Health and Disability Form  before the Confirmation of Award can be issued.

Candidates will be required to sign an undertaking to return to their home country as soon as possible after the end of the award.

Candidates are expected to start the award on the date stated in the Confirmation of Award letter.

If a candidate requires a Student visa to come to the UK to study, they must meet all relevant immigration requirements set by UK Visas and Immigration. They should check the GOV.UK website for updated information.

All UK immigration regulations are set by UK Visas and Immigration and are subject to change. The CSC has no control over these regulations.

Candidates will be selected for an award based on the plan of study outlined on the application form, which is not expected to change significantly during the award. Any such changes must be agreed by the CSC.

Throughout the award, Scholars are expected to reside in the UK, and must to seek approval from the CSC in advance of any overseas travel.

Scholars must not undertake paid employment during the award without approval from the CSC in advance.

The CSC will consider a request to extend a scholar’s leave to remain in the UK after their award only if they wish to move from Master’s to PhD study. Strict conditions will apply.

The CSC cannot provide a letter of support or permission for Scholars to remain in or return to the UK after the award to enable them to work or undertake postdoctoral study.

The following are not eligible to apply for a Commonwealth Scholarship or Fellowship; an employee, a former employee, or relative of an employee of the Government of the United Kingdom; or a staff member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities or the British Council; or a Commonwealth Scholarship Commissioner, former Commonwealth Scholarship Commissioner or a relative of a Commonwealth Scholarship Commissioner. Former employees of the organisations listed above are eligible to apply three years after ceasing their employment with them.

In line with the UK Bribery Act 2010, any applicant convicted of bribery will be banned from reapplying for a Commonwealth Scholarship or Fellowship for a period of up to five years.

Applicants are expected to adhere to the CSC’s Code of Conduct for award holders and the Disciplinary Policy and Procedure .

An award may be terminated at any time for reasons of unsatisfactory conduct, progress, or attendance, or if registration is suspended or terminated by the university for any reason.

The CSC is committed to administering and managing its scholarships and fellowships in a fair and transparent manner. For more information, see the CSC Anti-Fraud Policy and Procedure at and the FCDO guidance on reporting fraud .

The CSC is committed proactively to safeguard and promote the welfare of our beneficiaries, and to protect its staff, Commissioners, beneficiaries and all those with whom the CSC comes into contact. The CSC requires staff, members of the Commission, applicants for and recipients of CSC awards and suppliers to act consistently with its requirements for safeguarding. Applicants should note the  CSC Safeguarding Policy   which sets out the obligation for staff, members of the Commission, applicants for and recipients of CSC awards and suppliers to act consistently with its requirements for safeguarding.  Any safeguarding concerns should be reported to the Commission at:   [email protected]

All conditions of award are subject to UK local law and practices and are subject to change by the CSC.

For more information, see the current Handbook for Commonwealth Scholars . Please note that the conditions outlined in the Handbook are subject to change.

FAQs and enquiries

All enquiries about nomination for scholarships should be directed to the UK university.

For general information about applying for Commonwealth Scholarships or Fellowships, please see our FAQs page.

For more information on other scholarships offered by the CSC, visit the CSC Scholarships and Fellowships page.

For queries not covered on the website, please use the  Contact us form .

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How to Write a Personal Statement for a Scholarship + Examples

What’s covered:, what is the purpose of the scholarship personal statement, what to include in your personal statement, personal statement example: breakdown + analysis, how to make sure your writing is effective.

Either before or after you’ve gotten into your dream school, you’ll have to figure out how to pay for it. For most students, this involves a combination of financial aid, parent contributions, self-contributions, student loans, and scholarships/grants. Because scholarships are money out of someone else’s pocket that you never have to pay back, they are a great place to start!

Scholarships come in two forms: merit-based and need-based. Need-based scholarships are also often called grants. These designations tell you whether an organization looks at your financial situation when deciding about your scholarship.

Additionally, different scholarships fall under different categories based on the mission of the organization or person providing the scholarship’s financing. These missions typically emphasize different things like academic achievement, specific career goals, community service, leadership, family background, skill in the arts, or having overcome hardship. As you select scholarships to apply for and complete your applications, you should keep these missions in mind.

No matter what type of scholarship you are applying for, you will be asked to provide the review committee with standard materials. This includes your transcript, GPA, and resume/extracurriculars, but also, importantly, your personal statement. A scholarship personal statement is a bit different from your normal college essay, so we’ve put together this guide and some examples to help you get started!

The purpose of your personal statement is to help a review committee learn more about your personality, values, goals, and what makes you special. Ultimately, like with your college essays, you are trying to humanize your profile beyond your transcript, GPA, and test scores.

College essays all have one goal in mind (which is why you can apply to multiple schools at once through applications like the Common App or Coalition App): convince admissions officers that you would be a valuable addition to the university environment. The goal of your scholarship personal statement is different and differs more from one scholarship to the next. Rather than convincing various review committees that you are a generally good candidate for extra funding for college, you need to convince each review committee that your values have historically aligned with their organization’s mission and will continue to align with their organization’s mission.

Common missions amongst those who give scholarships include:

• Providing opportunities for students with career ambitions in a particular field
• Helping students who have experienced unexpected hardship
• Supporting students who show outstanding academic achievement
• Funding the arts through investing in young artists with strong technical skill
• Supporting the development of civic-minded community service leaders of the future
• Providing opportunities for historically underrepresented ethnic communities 

If a specific mission like this is outlined on an organization’s website or in the promotional material for its scholarship, the purpose of your personal statement is to show how you exemplify that mission.

Some scholarships ask for your personal statement to be guided by a prompt, while others leave things open for interpretation. When you are provided a prompt, it is obvious what you must do: answer the prompt. When you are not provided a prompt, you want to write a personal statement that is essentially a small-scale autobiography where you position yourself as a good investment. In either case, you should identify a focus or theme for what you are trying to say about yourself so that your application does not get lost in the shuffle.

Prompts include questions like:

• Why do you deserve this scholarship?
• How have you shown your commitment to (leadership/community service/diversity) in your community?
• When did you overcome adversity?
• Why is attending college important to you?

If you are provided a prompt, develop a theme for your response that showcases both your values and your achievements. This will help your essay feel focused and will subsequently help the review committee to remember which candidate you were as they deliberate.

Themes include things like:

• I deserve this community service scholarship because my compassion for intergenerational trauma has inspired me to volunteer with a local after-school program. I didn’t just sympathize. I did something about my sympathy because that’s the type of person I am. Within the program, I have identified avenues for improvement and worked alongside full-time staff to develop new strategies for increasing attendance.
• I overcame adversity when my mother had to have a major surgery two months after giving birth to my younger brother. I was just a kid but was thrown into a situation where I had to raise another kid. It was hard, but I’m the kind of person who tries to grow from hard times and, through my experience taking care of a baby, I learned the importance of listening to body language and nonverbal cues to understand the needs of others (baby and nonbaby, alike).

Without a prompt, clarity can be harder to achieve. That said, it is of the utmost importance that you find a focus. First, think about both your goals and your values.

Types of goals include:

• Career goals
• Goals for personal growth
• The type of friend you want to be
• The change you want to make in the world

Values could include:

• Authenticity
• And many more!

After you write out your goals/values, write out your achievements to see what goals/values you have “proof” of your commitment to. Your essay will ultimately be an exploration of your goal/value, what you have done about your goal/value in the past, and what you aspire to in the future.

You might be tempted to reflect on areas for improvement, but scholarships care about you living out your values. It is not enough to aspire to be exemplary in leadership, community service, or your academic field. For scholarships, you have to already be exemplary.

Finally, keep in mind that the review committee likely already has a copy of your extracurricular activities and involvement. Pick one or two accomplishments, then strive for depth, not breadth as you explore them.

My interest in the field of neuroscience began at a young age.  When I was twelve years old, my sister developed a condition called Pseudotumor Cerebri following multiple concussions during a basketball game.  It took the doctors over six months to make a proper diagnosis, followed by three years of treatment before she recovered.  During this time, my love for neuroscience was sparked as I began to research her condition and, then, other neurocognitive conditions.  Later, my love of neuroscience was amplified when my mother began to suffer from brain-related health issues.  My mother had been a practicing attorney in Dallas for over twenty years.  She was a determined litigator who relentlessly tried difficult cases that changed people’s lives.  Now, she suffers from a cognitive impairment and is no longer able to practice law.  Oftentimes, she has headaches, she gets “cloudy,” her executive functioning slows down, she feels overwhelmed, and she forgets things.  My mother has gone from being the strong, confident, emotional and financial caretaker of our family to needing significant help on a daily basis. Once again, with this illness came a lot of research on my part — research that encouraged me to pursue my dreams of exploring neuroscience.

Due to my experiences with my mother and sister when I was in middle school, I knew that I wanted to make a difference in the field of neuroscience.  I also knew that, to obtain this goal, I needed to maintain superior grades in school while also pursuing opportunities outside of school to further my education.  In school, I was able to maintain superior grades to the point where I am currently valedictorian in a class of 567 students.  In addition, in school, I challenged myself by taking 16 Advanced Placement classes and 19 Honors classes.  Two of the most beneficial classes were AP Capstone Seminar and AP Capstone Research.  AP Capstone Seminar and AP Capstone Research are research-oriented classes where students are given the opportunity to pursue whatever track their research takes them down.  As a junior in AP Capstone Seminar, I researched the effects of harmful pesticide use on the prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in children.  This year, as a senior in AP Capstone Research, I am learning about the effects of medical marijuana on the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis (MS).  

Outside of school, I furthered my education through taking advantage of the Duke TiP summer program. Duke TiP is a summer program run by Duke University where students who score extremely well on the SAT as middle schoolers are able to take college classes at different universities throughout the summers of their middle school and high school years.  I took advantage of this opportunity twice.  First, I went to Trinity University in San Antonio to expand my horizons and learn more about debate.  However, once I was done exploring, I decided I wanted to go into neuroscience.  This led me to take an Abnormal Psychology class at Duke University’s West Campus.  This class opened my eyes to the interaction between neuroscience and mental health, mental illness, and personality.  Years later, I am currently continuing my education outside of school as an intern at the University of Texas Dallas Center for Brain Health.  Through this internship, I have been able to see different aspects of neuroscience including brain pattern testing, virtual reality therapy, and longitudinal research studies.  With this background, I have positioned myself to be accepted by top neuroscience programs throughout the nation.  So far, I have been accepted to the neuroscience department of University of Southern California, the University of Virginia, the University of Texas, and Southern Methodist University, as well as the chemistry department at University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill.  

It is with this passion for neuroscience driven by my family and passion for education driven by internal motivation that I will set out to conquer my career objectives.  My educational aspirations consist of acquiring a bachelor’s degree in a biological or health science that would assist me in pursuing a medical career as a neuroscience researcher.  I decided to attain a career as a researcher since my passion has always been assisting others and trying to improve their quality of life.  After obtaining my Masters and my PhD, I plan to become a professor at a prestigious university and continue performing lab research on cognitive disorders.  I am particularly interested in disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).  In the lab, I hope to find different therapies and medications to help treat the 3.5 million people around the world suffering from ASD.  Furthermore, I want to contribute back to underserved populations that struggle because they do not have as much access to medical assistance as other privileged groups.  As such, I hope to do a part of my research in less developed or developing Spanish-speaking countries. This will also allow me to pursue my love of Spanish while pursuing my love of neuroscience.  I think that following such a career path will provide me the opportunity to learn about the medical needs of the autistic community and improve their quality of health.  Furthermore, I hope to train a new generation of students to strive to research and make comparable discoveries.  Whether it be through virtual reality labs or new drug discoveries, I believe that research leads to innovation which leads to a brighter future. 

This student does a great job of making themself appear competent and dedicated to the field of neuroscience. This is primarily because they provided tangible evidence of how they have pursued their dedication in the past—through their AP Capstone courses, their Abnormal Psychology class at Duke TiP, and their internship at UTD. There is no doubt in the mind of a reader that this student is high-achieving. 

This student also engages successfully with a past-future trajectory, where they end with a vision of how they will continue to use neuroscience in the future. This helps the review committee see what they are investing in and the ways that their money will go to good use.

This student has two major areas for improvement. As we have said, the purpose of a personal statement is for a student to humanize themself to a review committee. This student struggles to depict themself separately from their academic achievements. A solution to this would be for the student to establish a theme towards the beginning of their essay that relates to both their values as a human and their achievements.

At the beginning of the essay, the student explores how their interest in neuroscience began. They explain their interest through the following sentences: “During this time, my love for neuroscience was sparked as I began to research her condition and, then, other neurocognitive conditions” and “Once again, with this illness came a lot of research on my part — research that encouraged me to pursue my dreams of exploring neuroscience.” The student made the great decision to tell the backstory of their interest, but they described their research in very mundane and redundant terms. Instead, they could have focused on their value of intellectual curiosity as a magnetic force that encouraged them to research their mother and sister’s ailments. Curiosity, then, could serve as a value-related thematic throughline to taking AP Capstone classes, taking college courses during the summer that weren’t required, and interning before even graduating high school.

A second area for improvement would be avoiding statistics. As the student identifies their valedictorian status and the number of AP classes they have taken, they might turn away certain personalities on a review committee by appearing braggy. Even further, these statistics are a waste of space. The review committee already has access to this information. These words distract from the major theme of the essay and would have been better used to humanize the student.

Throughout my academic career, I have been an avid scholar, constantly pushing myself towards ambitious goals. I held and continue to hold myself to a high standard, enrolling myself in rigorous curriculum, including Honors and Advanced Placement courses to stretch my mental potential. During my junior year of high school, I took four AP tests, two on the same day, and earned the AP Scholar with Honor Award. Additionally, I received the Letter of Commendation for the PSAT/NMSQT, and qualified for Rotary Top 100 Students both my freshman and senior year, a sign of my commitment to my studies. However, school has not been all about having the best GPA for me; beyond the numbers, I have a deep drive to learn which motivates me to do well academically. I truly enjoy learning new things, whether it be a new essay style or a math theorem. I always give each class my best effort and try my hardest on every assignment. My teachers have noticed this as well, and I have received school Lancer Awards and Student of the Month recognitions as a result. It is a major goal of mine to continue to aspire towards a high level of achievement regarding future educational and occupational endeavors; I plan on continuing this level of dedication throughout my educational career and implementing the skills I have learned and will learn into my college experience and beyond.

This fall, I will begin attending the University of California Los Angeles as an English major. I chose this major because I am fascinated by written language, especially its ability to convey powerful messages and emotions. I also enjoy delving into the works of other authors to analyze specific components of their writing to discover the meaning behind their words. In particular, I cannot wait to begin in-depth literary criticism and learn new stylistic techniques to add more depth to my writing. Furthermore, I recently went to UCLA’s Bruin Day, an event for incoming freshmen, where I was exposed to many different extracurriculars, some of which really piqued my interest. I plan on joining the Writing Success Program, where I can help students receive free writing help, and Mock Trial, where I can debate issues with peers in front of a real judge. The latter, combined with a strong writing background from my undergraduate English studies will be extremely beneficial because I plan to apply to law school after my undergraduate degree. As of now, my career goal is to become a civil rights lawyer, to stand up for those who are discriminated against and protect minority groups to proliferate equality.

As a lawyer, I wish to utilize legislation to ameliorate the plight of the millions of Americans who feel prejudice and help them receive equity in the workplace, society, and so on. Though this seems a daunting task, I feel that my work ethic and past experience will give me the jumpstart I need to establish myself as a successful lawyer and give a voice to those who are often unheard in today’s legal system. I have been a Girl Scout for over a decade and continually participate in community service for the homeless, elderly, veterans, and more. My most recent project was the Gold Award, which I conducted in the Fullerton School District. I facilitated over ten workshops where junior high students taught elementary pupils STEM principles such as density and aerodynamics via creative activities like building aluminum boats and paper airplanes. I also work at Kumon, a tutoring center, where I teach students to advance their academic success. I love my job, and helping students from local schools reach their potential fills me with much pride.

Both being a Girl Scout and working at Kumon have inspired me to help those in need, contributing significantly to my desire to become a lawyer and aid others. My extracurriculars have allowed me to gain a new perspective on both learning and teaching, and have solidified my will to help the less fortunate. In college, I hope to continue to gain knowledge and further develop my leadership skills, amassing qualities that will help me assist others. I plan to join multiple community service clubs, such as UCLA’s local outreach programs that directly aid residents of Los Angeles. I want to help my fellow pupils as well, and plan on volunteering at peer tutoring and peer editing programs on campus. After college, during my career, I want to use legal tactics to assist the underdog and take a chance on those who are often overlooked for opportunities. I wish to represent those that are scared to seek out help or cannot afford it. Rather than battling conflict with additional conflict, I want to implement peaceful but strong, efficient tactics that will help make my state, country, and eventually the world more welcoming to people of all ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. These goals are close to my heart and therefore I will be as diligent as I am passionate about them. My perseverance and love for learning and community service drive my ambition in both education and life as a whole, and the drive to make the world a better place is one that I will carry with me for my entire life.

This student emphasizes two values in this essay: hard work and community service. These are values that go together nicely, and definitely make sense with this student’s end goal of becoming a civil rights lawyer! That said, some changes could be made to the way the student presents their values that would make their personal statement more convincing and engaging.

Structurally, instead of using a past-future trajectory, this student starts by explaining their academic achievements, then explains their career goals, then explains their history of community service, then explains their future desires for community service. This structure loses the reader. Instead, the student should have started with either the past or the future. 

This could look like 1) identifying their career goals, 2) explaining that hard work and a commitment to community service are necessary to get there, and 3) explaining that they aren’t worried because of their past commitment to hard work and community service. Or it could look like 1) providing examples of their hard work and community service in the past, then 2) explaining how those values will help them achieve their career goals.

Additionally, like with our other example, this student shows a heavy investment in statistics and spouting off accomplishments. This can be unappealing. Unfortunately, even when the student recognizes that they are doing this, writing “beyond the numbers, I have a deep drive to learn which motivates me to do well academically. I truly enjoy learning new things, whether it be a new essay style or a math theorem,” they continue on to cite their achievements, writing “My teachers have noticed this as well, and I have received school Lancer Awards and Student of the Month recognitions as a result.” They say they are going beyond the numbers, but they don’t go beyond the awards. They don’t look inward. One way to fix this would be to make community service the theme around which the essay operates, supplementing with statistics in ways that advance the image of the student as dedicated to community service.

Finally, this student would be more successful if they varied their sentence structure. While a small-scale autobiography can be good, if organized, every sentence should not begin with ‘I.’ The essay still needs to be engaging or the review committee might stop reading.

Feedback is ultimately any writer’s best source of improvement! To get your personal statement edited for free, use our Peer Review Essay Tool . With this tool, other students can tell you if your scholarship essay is effective and help you improve your essay so that you can have the best chances of gaining those extra funds!

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Commonwealth Scholarship Guide 2023-2024, Updated!

Want to apply for a fully funded scholarship in the UK? Here is everything you want to know about the Commonwealth scholarship.

Commonwealth scholarship is an international, fully-funded program particularly designed for students in low-income countries so that they can study abroad in prestigious universities.

Applications for Commonwealth Shared Scholarships for the 2023/24 academic year are now open.

The closing date for Commonwealth Scholarship 2023 is 13 December 2022 at 16:00 GMT. 

This Commonwealth scholarship guide will cover each & everything.

It will explain the step-by-step process of commonwealth masters, commonwealth shared masters & commonwealth PhD programs.

Commonwealth Scholarship is managed by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission, the British Council, ACU Association of Commonwealth Universities & (HRD) Ministry of Human Resource and Development.  

Every year it has given to almost 800 students.

Though, mainly, these scholarships cover the top universities in the United Kingdom only.

It covers educational expenses and provides full-fledged funding for the students’ travel, food, and accommodation simultaneously.

In case you’re wondering how to apply for a Commonwealth scholarship, we’ve got you covered with all the perfect details in this article.

Don’t miss the question-answer session at the end of this Commonwealth scholarship guide. So without dragging it any further, let’s get to the point.

Here is our detailed guide about DAAD,  Stipendium Hungaricum , and  Chevening scholarship.

Commonwealth Scholarship

1 . Benefits of Commonwealth scholarship

2. Eligibility Criteria for Commonwealth Scholarship 

3. Documents required for Commonwealth scholarship

4. Commonwealth scholarship method of selection

5. How to apply for a Commonwealth scholarship

6. Commonwealth shared scholarship Development Themes

7. Deadlines of Commonwealth scholarship 

8. Commonwealth Contact

9. FAQS CommonWealth scholarship

10. Summary of the guide

If you want to study in UK, check our ultimate UK study visa guide.

1. Benefits of Commonwealth scholarship

Commonwealth scholars of master’s & Ph.D. programs can expect the following Financial aid.

• A Return air ticket in economy class  
• Tuition & examination fee
• Living allowance (A stipend of £1,236 per month, or £1,516 per month for those at universities in the London metropolitan area.)
• Thesis grants (If applicable)
• Study travel Grant (If applicable)
• Warm clothes allowance (If applicable)
• Fieldwork grant (Only for Ph.D.)
• Midterm airfare to visit home (Only for Ph.D.)
• Spouse & child allowances (If the scholarship is a minimum of 18 months). The spouse allowance for the commonwealth scholarship is around 266 GBP per month   & the child allowance is 529 GBP per month for the first child. For the second and third child, who are below 16 years, it’s 131 GBP.

Remember there is no need of the bank statement or sponsorship financial letter for a UK study visa if students already got the commonwealth scholarship.

Everything you need to know about Uk study visa for pakistan.

2. Eligibility Criteria For Commonwealth Scholarship

The eligibility criteria to apply for a Commonwealth scholarship varies with respect to the degree you’re applying for and the top UK University you’ve chosen.

The generalized criteria for both the master’s and the PhD degree programs are listed here.

• The applicant must be a citizen or a permanent resident of a commonwealth-eligible country or could be a refugee in the UK.
• The academic documents, transcripts, test results etc. should be ready, attested & translated by the Commonwealth application deadline.
• The applicant should be ready to start education in the UK in September 2023.
• The applicant must have scored up to 60% in the social sciences subjects and 65% in science subjects. Remember (This criterion could however change in commonwealth national nominating agencies , they mostly want applicants who are at least scored above 70%)
• Usually, the Commonwealth scholarship doesn’t fund a second UK Master’s degree. But still, the applicant can apply & should provide proper justification.
• The candidate must not be getting benefits from some other scholarship.
• Students must have been offered admission at a university falling under the commonwealth scholarship program they are applying for. The list of universities and their varied criteria could be found here.
• The Ph.D. candidates, must not have enrolled in any other doctorate or fellowship or   MPhil leading to a Ph.D., at any UK university or in their home country before September/October 2023.
• The student must be unable to afford the study in the UK without a scholarship.
• When the scholarship ends the applicant must go back to their country & serve.

Remember eligibility rules may change a little with respect to the Commonwealth National nominating agencies or courses, like

In some countries, the age limit is forty years for commonwealth scholarship,

in some cases, the applicants can’t apply if they are already residing abroad,

Sometimes the students must pass a certain test like (HAT test in the case of HEC Pakistan)

or they may need IELTS or TOFEL etc

So make sure you check the criteria & deadline of your national nominating agencies.

Here is our detailed guide about Great Scholarships UK.

3. List of documents required for Commonwealth scholarship

Here is the required list of documents for the commonwealth Master’s & commonwealth PhD students who want to apply for the scholarship

1. Academic documents

2. Valid Passport

3 . Europass CV

4 . University Unconditional letter

5 . Reference letters/Recommendation letters

6. Statement of purpose

7 . Equivalence Certificate

8. Research proposal

9. English proficiency exams

10. Experience letter (Additional document)

11. Voluntary work (essay about leadership)

12. Commonwealth essay questions

1.   Academic documents

This includes all your certificates & academic record like

A: Bachelor’s transcript & certificate (If a student is applying for Master)

B: Master’s transcript & certificate (if the student is applying for 2nd Master or fellowship or PhD)

C: Metric & FSC transcripts (10-12th Grade) (A level) (DMCs) and certificates (Supporting academic documents)

D: Course summary (to explain your courses & how your previous courses & studies resemble your future studies in which you are applying)

NOTE: All of the above documents should be attested by respective boards.

Also, attest them from issuing authority of home countries. The respective university must attest university documents.

In the case of Pakistan, The above-mentioned documents must be attested by IBCC, HEC, and MOFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs).

IBCC authority is only responsible for the attestation of metric and inter documents.

Dear offices are present in Peshawar, Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, and also in other cities of Pakistan.

HEC office attests Bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. documents.  

Read about the step-by-step process of UAL postgraduate scholarship in the UK.

2. Valid passport

The passport of the applicant must contain one full blank page on both sides.

The passport must be valid at the time of visa application and on arrival to the host country.

Some countries also need CNIC / Domicile / Birth certificate etc.

3.   Europass Cv

Europass CV can be easily made here. The Cv must contain all the latest & relevant information about your occupation & interests. A perfect CV must be hand signed.

4.   Unconditional Letter in commonwealth-eligible courses

Applicants must provide CAS in one of the commonwealth-eligible courses in UK.

A CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) letter is an electronic document issued by a college or university. It is an unconditional offer letter.

Students need a CAS letter before applying for a UK study visa. The Home Office sees it on its database.

Students can apply and receive many CAS letters from different institutions. You will select one CAS letter from a specific institution at the time of commonwealth application.

Want to study in UK for free? Here is the step-by-step process for the Gates Cambridge scholarship.

5. Letter of References for Commonwealth scholarship

The applicants must provide 2-3 letters of recommendation from the previous university, (Depending upon courses).

It is advised to provide a letter of recommendation from the HOD (Head of the department or Relevant course head) who should be a Ph.D.

The referees need to write their contact details (Email, phone number) at the end of the letter.

The letter must include an official letterhead, signature, and official stamp and must be of the current date.

Ask your Referees to write about your academic achievements & discuss their confidence in you that you are fully compatible with the project or course you wish to pursue through a Commonwealth scholarship.

Want to do Masters in UK for free? Here is everything you want to know about Scotland saltire Scholarship.

6. Statement of purpose for Commonwealth scholarship

Statement of purpose (SOP) & letter of motivation (LOM) are almost the same thing & could be interchangeable.

SOP is mostly required by commonwealth nominating agencies.

In this letter, you are asked to write about your personal and professional reasons why are you applying for a course & the scholarship.

The maximum length of this letter is three pages, But it is advised to make it short & concise to one page.

How to write a perfect statement of Purpose

If you are interested in writing your SOP on one page concisely, then follow this exact method.

SOP consists of three parts.

6.1.   Introduction (one paragraph)

6.2   Body (3 paragraphs)

6.3. Conclusion (1 paragraph)

Let’s explain these three things one by one.

6.1. Introduction:

Introduction is the gateway to the rest of the letter. Try to capture their interest in the first few sentences. Be original & creative. Make it personal & full of enthusiasm.

TIP: Try to initiate a story about yourself relevant to the scholarship you are applying for & then expand it to the first paragraph of the body.

6.2.   Body:

In the first paragraph of the body, try to tell about your relevant academic & experienced background to the course. And your professional goals attached to the UK & university. Share your expectations of the scholarship.

In the 2nd paragraph be more precise & focus on the specific achievement related to the scholarship & course.

In the 3rd paragraph expand on what you are currently doing & the interesting things you look forward to.

6.3. Conclusion:

Tell them why you are the best candidate for this scholarship. Don’t sound needy or use pompous language instead focus on why you deserve it.

Tell them how this scholarship will help you or the future of your community.

Tips for Statement of Purpose (SOP):

• Don’t repeat what you have already written in your CV introduction or Cover letter. Try to capture their interest in the first paragraph.
• Try to stick to one theme, don’t jump around ideas. Be specific.
• It shouldn’t cross 2 pages. In fact, I will advise you to write one page. Share ideas shortly, you will later have time to expand on them in an interview.
• Your SOP should answer, Why do you apply for the selected master’s program? Which of the courses offered in this program are particularly beneficial in pursuing your professional goals?
• Make sure your SOP is well-composed. First, reflect on all the above questions, take notes, read more, and discuss with friends. Then write an outline. Then write the text.
• Apply an appropriate style of writing. It could be a little informal but factual. Somewhere in between academic & informal, but avoid flattery, verbose & bombast language & phrases.
• Do not campaign for your beliefs.
• Proofread the text and delete all dispensable and redundant parts. In the end, your statement of purpose should comprise not more than two pages.

7. Equivalence Certificate

An equivalence certificate could be required for some countries, like Pakistan. It basically analyzes the years of education students have for eligibility for applied courses.

Pakistani students can apply for their Equivalence certificate here.

8. Research Proposal

It is basically a brief and coherent representation of the area of study you wish to explore during the study program.

It showcases the generic idea of your intended study in the form of Research objectives & questions, Research justifications, Hypothesis, and your understanding of the subject as a whole.

It is crucial to write a perfect research proposal when submitting your application.

It provides you with an opportunity to showcase your aptitude for Research, Your ability to communicate complex ideas, and Your critical thinking to come up with a subject that needs real research.

The better you demonstrate your skills and expertise in the research proposal, the bigger your chances to qualify for the scholarship program.

Also, a comprehensively written research proposal could help to match you with an adequate supervisor.

9. English proficiency letters

Students don’t need to pass any test for a commonwealth scholarship. However, the eligibility criteria per course or country could change.

Uk universities could ask for IELTS, TOFEL, PTE, or ISE exams.

plus some commonwealth national nominating agencies could require extra testing. Like the HAT test (Higher education Aptitude test) in case of Pakistan.

10. Experience letter for Commonwealth scholarship

This letter isn’t compulsory, however, it could be used as a supporting document. (Strictly depends on the course) The applicant could provide an Experience letter from previous jobs & Internships. Try to customize the work experience with your future studies.

11. Voluntary work (That demonstrates leadership)

The Commonwealth scholarship panel wants you to explain how you influenced your community through your voluntary services.

Practical concise Examples could be given from your recent volunteer experience.

• Don’t be generic or theoretic, Focus on the positive changes you brought in the organization or community in your recent professional experience.
• Give clear-cut examples of your leadership & try to prove them with various means of figures or statistics.
• Take the “STAR Approach” (situation, task, action, result) while explaining your examples.
• Focus on how you professionally develop a team & what was its long-term effect on the organization’s future.
• How you performed a project on a limited budget & how you overcame the difficulties & challenges.
• Also, explain how you handled the critics & hold the faith of your team members.

Everything you want to know about the MO Ibrahim scholarship in UK.

12. Commonwealth Essay questions

The Commonwealth essay questions on the scholarship application portal are mostly in four parts. Students are advised to prepare their answers according to their courses & future studies.

(The questions are pasted as it is for better understanding)

First part:

1. You should explain how your proposed Scholarship relates to the development issues at the global, national, and local levels.

2. How the development issues connected to your chosen CSC development theme and the wider sector?

The applicant should explain how they intend to apply the new skills once the Scholarship ends.

In the third part, you should outline what you expect will change in development terms following your Scholarship, including:

a) The outcomes that you aim to achieve b) the timeframe for their implementation c) Who the beneficiaries will be

1. Write about how the impact of your work could be best measured.

2. Confirm what your award objectives are and how each of them will be met by the Scholarship programs.

3. Confirm what your objectives are for the next two years and how each of them will be met by the Scholarship programs.

4. Confirm what your objectives are in the longer term and how each of them will be met by the Scholarship programs.

4. Commonwealth scholarships method of selection

 The Commonwealth method of selection is pretty straightforward, it depends on the following factors.

• Academic merit of the candidate
• Quality of study plans (for Masters)
• Quality of research proposal (For Ph.D.)
• Developmental impact on the country or community of scholarship holder.
• Essay answers

Want to study in UK for free? Here is step by step process for the Gates Cambridge scholarship.

5. How to apply for Commonwealth scholarships

Here is the step-by-step method.

1. How to apply for a Commonwealth Masters scholarship?

2. Apply for Commonwealth masters shared scholarship.

3. How to Apply for a Commonwealth PHD scholarship?

5.1. How to apply for a Commonwealth Masters scholarship?

• Check the eligibility criteria. See if you have a bachelor’s degree & you belong to the commonwealth-eligible countries. (Please check the screenshots below)
• Select your course in the university here. The applicant can apply to many courses but will select only one course & university to get the scholarship.
• Prepare the set of 10 documents that we discussed above in detail.
• Sign up  for the online application portal of the Commonwealth Masters scholarship.
• Plan to answer the essay questions carefully in the Commonwealth application form. Which we discussed below.
• Fill out & submit the online application form of the commonwealth national nominating agencies , according to your country. Pakistani students should register themselves on the HEC portal. Students from other countries can choose their nominating agencies accordingly.
• After registering to these two portals successfully, wait for the result.

see the screenshots

Check our UK study visa guide for international students.

5.2. How to apply for Commonwealth Masters shared scholarship?

• Check the eligibility criteria. See if you have a bachelor’s degree & you belong to the commonwealth-eligible countries. (Please check the screenshot below)
• Select your course in six CSC development themes here. Students can apply for more than one course but will get only one scholarship for one course in the end.
• Sign up  for the online application portal of the Commonwealth Shared Masters scholarship.
• Secure your admission in at least one of the eligible courses in this list of eligible UK universities.
• After registering & submitting to the portal successfully, wait for the result.

see the screenshot

5.3. How to apply for a Commonwealth PHD scholarship?

• Check the eligibility criteria. See if you have a Master’s degree & you belong to the commonwealth-eligible countries. (Please check the screenshots below)
• Select your course & universities here or on the postgrad website. These two websites will also help you to approach the supervisors.
• Sign up to the online application portal of the Ph.D. program, & make sure you check the Document sample for Ph.D.
• Plan to answer the essay questions carefully in the commonwealth application form. Which we discussed below.
• Upload your publications, supervisors & referees’ details.
• Secure your admission in at least one of the eligible courses for a Ph.D.
• Now Fill out & submit the online application form of the commonwealth national nominating agencies , according to your country. Pakistani students should register themselves on the HEC portal.   Students from other countries can choose their nominating agencies accordingly.
• After registering & submitting to the portal successfully, wait for the result. see the screenshots

Want to study at Oxford University for free? Learn about the Rhodes scholarship.

There is no restriction on what you can study but the Commonwealth Scholarships Commission gives priority to applicants whose studies are most relevant to their development criteria.

All Commonwealth Scholarships which are funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) are offered under six CSC development themes.

• Science and technology for development
• Strengthening health systems and capacity
• Promoting global prosperity
• Strengthening global peace, security, and governance
• Strengthening resilience and response to crises
• Access, inclusion, and opportunity

Check our detailed guide about University of Liverpool scholarships.

7. Deadline for Commonwealth scholarship:

The closing date for applications is 13 December 2022 at 16:00 GMT.

The general timeline of the commonwealth scholarship is opening around August every year & students can apply until the end of December.

The deadline for the commonwealth masters scholarship for 2022 is 18th October.

The students will be notified of the award until June & July of 2023.

& their studies in Uk will start at the end of September 2023.

The scholarship portal for the commonwealth scholarship is expected to re-open in August 2023 for interested candidates of 2024.

For more details, visit the Commonwealth Scholarships Commission’s  website. 

8. Commonwealth scholarship contact details:

• If students want to report a complaint they can write to   [email protected] Before making the complaint to the panel please read the CSC Complaints Policy and Procedure.
• If students want to report Fraud, Bribery, or some act of corruption they can contact [email protected]

For any more details please visit the contact page of the commonwealth scholarship.

9. Commonwealth scholarships: FAQS

Q: is commonwealth scholarship available for bachelor’s degree.

NO. It’s for Master’s & PhD degree programs. Students can only apply for Commonwealth scholarship after their graduation when they already have a bachelor’s degree.

How many courses can I apply for a commonwealth scholarship?

Technically you can apply for as many courses & universities as you want to. Though in the end, you must choose one. And you will be granted only one commonwealth scholarship.

Q: How much bank balance is required for a UK study visa if I already got the Commonwealth scholarship?

Bank balance is not important if you get a Commonwealth scholarship, because it almost covers all the expenses. However, in other cases, a bank statement or a letter from a financial sponsor will be needed for a UK study visa.

It is proof that a student can cover the tuition fees, living costs, and accommodation for the first year or at least the first 9 months.

A student visa in the UK demands that the applicant must have £1,015 per month as a living cost.

So technically International students must show a bank statement of 9000 £ for a UK study visa if their courses are outside London.

If a student is living in London, then they will show a bank statement of   11,385 £. Because the living costs according to UK immigration calculation will be £1,265 per month (in London).  

For which courses commonwealth scholarship is available?

Currently, there are hundreds of courses available for commonwealth scholarships.  

Students can check the university here & the courses for masters here under six development themes.

For PhD students Select the course & universities here   or on the postgrad website . These two websites will also help you to approach the supervisors.

What is the difference between commonwealth masters & commonwealth shared masters scholarships?

In commonwealth masters scholarships, the applicants first fill out & submit the online application form of the commonwealth national nominating agencies , according to their countries. & then Signup to the online application portal for the commonwealth Masters scholarship.

While for the commonwealth shared Masters scholarship just directly   Signup to the online application portal.

10. Summary of the whole guide (Commonwealth scholarship):

• Check the eligibility criteria of your country & courses.
• Prepare the list of documents we discussed above.
• Be-Careful while signing up to the portal of Masters or Masters shared scholarship.
• Prepare the essay questions.
• Fill out & submit the form. Wait for the result.

Official website of the commonwealths scholarship

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• Scholarships /

What is a Scholarship Essay?

• Updated on  
• Oct 19, 2022

Scholarships are one of the most convenient methods to ease the financial stress for students who plan to study abroad. However, the majority of the scholarships come with an essay that requires writers to explain “ Why do they deserve the scholarship ”. This helps the scholarship committee shortlist who really deserves the scholarship. The essay must reflect on certain points that can help you earn the particular scholarship. In this blog, we will discuss the scholarship essay format and tips for an effective essay with scholarship essay Examples.

Also Read: Top Scholarships to Study Online

Scholarships are programmes that offer needy students financial aid. Whether you are in high school or in college, these programmes are available to students at all levels. You must write essays in order to be considered for the majority of scholarships. Your opportunity to persuade the scholarship committee that you deserve financial aid will come in the form of the scholarship essay you submit. You must present a distinctive perspective on yourself in your scholarship essay in addition to your academic accomplishments, GPA, and achievements. You must demonstrate your writing abilities and do so in an interesting way, regardless of the essay prompt. The award money will go to the essay that captures the scholarship committee’s attention and keeps them reading.

How to Write a Scholarship Essay?

Essays are written on various topics however there are some fundamental ways to write an essay. Here are some tips and tricks that will help you in penning down a remarkable scholarship essay:

• Take more time than needed to write your scholarship essay because great things take time. Write the essay in a relaxed atmosphere rather than in a haste manner.
• Understand the essay question asked and answer that in a comprehensive and to the point manner.
• Be clear about the question asked in the scholarship statement as it lays the foundation of the essay.
• Write it in a genuine and authentic manner and don’t give false details just to impress the scholarship committee. As in the long term it is honesty and authenticity which makes an individual stand out.
• Research about the scholarship committee and understand what they actually desire from the applicant tp write your essay on similar lines to grab the scholarship.

Scholarship Essay Format

A pervasive and generalised scholarship format exists tells you what to include while penning down a scholarship essay. The format of the scholarship essay should ideally be like the following-

• In a Scholarship Essay, first, the applicant has to elucidate upon their personal background.
• For the second paragraph, they get to write about their educational background in a brief and comprehensive manner.
• The Third paragraph must explain why they want to get the scholarship and course for which they have applied.
• In the last paragraph, the applicant explains why they are suitable for the scholarship and the course for which they have applied.

Before moving on to the Scholarship Essay Examples, read about Report Writing Examples and Tips!

Points to add in your Scholarship Essay

While writing your scholarship essay, you must include components that have worked out before for others. Together, the points mentioned below thread your scholarship essay into a story of a candidate worth giving a chance- 

• Leadership – Funding parties go for the candidates that have leadership qualities all the time. You can write in your essay that you are a leader but how will you prove it? That is why we suggest that you add certain special circumstances where you took the lead and got success. 
• Extracurricular – Maintaining academic records is a lesser important criterion when it comes to scholarship. Anyone can be book smart and get higher grades. Your overall performance in various other aspects of life- sports, community, skills, etc that add value to your scholarship essay. 
• Community – We talked about community in extracurricular but the significance of your connection to the community is much larger. Scholarships, funded by organisations, governments or universities, wish to invest in a candidate who puts community needs before his/her own. Try adding instances of community service (working with NGOs, cleaning drives, campaigns, etc) without sounding boastful about the same. 
• Emotion – Subtle emotions make a scholarship essay worth reading till the end. At the end of the day, the main purpose of it is to sell your story to earn the scholarship. So add those subtle yet important emotions of perseverance, patience and dedication quietly into your scholarship essay.

Popular Scholarships to Study in London

Tips for Scholarship Essay

Here are some tips/hacks that will help you write a good scholarship essay- 

• Know the word limit so you don’t overwrite. 
• Don’t start with a quote as it will eat up space for your profile. 
• Keep the tone formal yet descriptive . 
• Make notes of what you wish to add before you start on your first draft. 
• Avoid overcrowding of achievements and only add those relevant to your course and scholarship nature. 
• Use communicative vocabulary and don’t add difficult words to sound more formal or knowledgeable. 
• Your conclusion should be brief with a thank you.
• Research about the scholarship provider and their motive so that you can match your essay to that. 
• Don’t oversell yourself as it only bores the reader. 
• Read the scholarship statement thoroughly to know what they expect out of you and your scholarship essay. 
• Emphasize how the scholarship will be instrumental in achieving your dreams.
• Proofread the scholarship essay draft more than a couple of times to avoid silly mistakes.

Scholarship Essay Examples

It is really important to learn how to express and elaborate our views and passion in a scholarship essay. It also serves as a medium to communicate one’s goals and dreams. To reach your dream University, mastering the art of writing scholarship essays is crucial. Given below are two samples for a scholarship essay to study abroad and a scholarship essay to study in India.

Essay to Study Abroad

I have always been a people person right from my childhood and every friend and family member of mine used to compliment me on my people’s skills like empathy, compassion, altruism, and patience. During my teen years, I slowly and steadily realized that destiny is unfolding the answers to my unresolved questions and I realised after profound analysis and contemplation that careers that involve dealing with people are the best fit for a person like me. I have always been proactive in volunteering activities so I genuinely understand the value of kindness and communication skills. I can clearly recall my school days when my friends used to come up to me for sharing their problems and I used to empathize with them and patiently listen to what they are going through and during those moments, a huge sense of satisfaction dawned upon me when I used to see my friends happy because I helped them feel better.

Instances like these gave a boost to my decision of pursuing a Psychology major in my Bachelors and during my bachelors apart from scoring High marks in my semester exams, I did numerous practical learning based internships, published my research paper on well-being in the workplace, and worked as an HR intern in 3-4 well-known firms to get practical insights into Organizational Psychology. I was an associate member in the Enactus and Placement cell of my college which developed my personality to a great extent and honed my communication skills in the best possible manner.

I have a strong desire to pursue an MA in Organizational Psychology and receive this scholarship. I have also had a genuine interest in the well-being of people in their workplace and thus, helping them lead a balanced life. And adding on to that I come from a lower-middle-class family, so the high fee of prestigious Ivy League Universities is not affordable and that is the reason I am applying for the scholarship. Rest assured, I never believe in a victim mentality as my parents have always taught me to be a warrior and their encouragement has propelled me to walk the whole nine yards for my dream University

I strongly believe that I am the best fit for this scholarship as I have everything ranging from a high GPA to a Strong ECA, which makes the profile of a student remarkable.I have left no stone unturned in exploring things, developing skills, and shaping up my personality in the right direction.

To get admission to a prestigious university like yours in the USA would definitely help me scale up to huge heights of success and along with that, it is my commitment that I will leave no stone unturned in contributing positively to others’ lives through my work.

Essay to Study in India

Right from my childhood, I have had the knack of explaining things well to people of any age group be it children, adolescents, or adults and because of my great public speaking skills, I have always won debate and oratory competitions. Everyone in my family and School used to appreciate my public speaking skills and confidence which I considered as a regular compliment but in my high school I was renowned for teaching my peers and they used to understand it so well and the smiles on my friends’ faces brought me immense satisfaction. In the first year of my college, I started teaching to students and that was a turning point in my life as from that moment I had decided that I will be a college professor

I have pursued a major in psychology and a minor in management in my bachelor’s and further pursued MBA in HR from Delhi University. I have an ardent desire to get a Scholarship and admission to an esteemed and top-notch University for the realisation of the dream which is really close to my heart. Adding on to that, I come from a lower-middle-class family, and affording the fees of top institutions would be really tough but problems bring with themselves potential opportunities. I will leave no stone unturned in the pursuit of my dream. I have realised that my true calling lies in teaching school and college students and for fulfilling that dream of mine I want to pursue a B.ED and P.hD in Management.

As APJ Abdul Kalam said, rightly that the future of the nation lies in its young minds and I have always believed that I have the potential to shape up the young minds and help them channelize their energy in the right direction. I have great communication skills and a strong sense of altruism and putting these strengths of mine into use will help me contribute positively to society through my work. The above-mentioned reasons clearly illustrate why I am the best candidate for this course and scholarship.

Scholarships can be a godsend for a student who desires to pursue higher education and lead an extraordinary life. Writing an essay that is worthy of a scholarship will help you get the best grants. We hope that this article has given you a clearer understanding of how scholarship essays are produced and the techniques you should employ to write an essay that will convince the scholarship committee to select your essay as the winner.

Also Check out: Statement of Purpose: Format, Samples and Tips

Your essay must stay inside the allotted word count. Before composing the essay you will submit, draught it since you need to create the biggest effect possible given the word limit.

No, scholarships are not a requirement for admission, but they do offer financial assistance that lessens the load that students frequently bear.

Yes, the majority of scholarships are open to students from throughout the world. Find the ones that work best for your financial condition and will enable you to cover your living expenses while visiting the destination.

This was all about scholarship essay examples and format. We hope that now you have enough tips and the ways to pen down an impressive and genuine scholarship essay. If you further need help, our Leverage Edu experts are just a call away!

Team Leverage Edu

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