More than 800 awards are made by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission each year to support individuals in postgraduate study and professional development.
The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the United Kingdom (CSC) is responsible for managing Britain’s contribution to the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP). Since its establishment in 1959, more than 18,000 citizens from every Commonwealth country have held awards – many of whom have risen to the top of their respective professions and become leaders in their home countries.
The CSC supports more than 800 scholarships and fellowships for postgraduate study and professional development each year. Its criteria for selection are academic excellence, development impact and leadership potential, with the awards funded by the Department for International Development (developing Commonwealth countries), the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Scottish Government (developed Commonwealth countries), in conjunction with UK universities. The CSC also nominates UK citizens for scholarships to study in other Commonwealth countries under the CSFP.
The CSC was established by Act of Parliament in 1959, and is a non-departmental public body in its own right. Members of the Commission are appointed in line with the Code of Practice of the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments. The CSC’s secretariat is provided by the Association of Commonwealth Universities, with financial administration services for award holders provided by the British Council.
The CSC is part of a larger Commonwealth-wide scheme: the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP). The CSFP is an international programme under which member governments offer scholarships and fellowships to citizens of other Commonwealth countries. The Plan was established at the first Commonwealth education conference in 1959 and is reviewed by education ministers at their triennial meetings. The CSFP has enabled over 26,000 individuals to study in over 20 countries across the Commonwealth
