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Scholarship Opportunities for Online PhD Students

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Institutional scholarships, professional association scholarships, industry scholarships, government scholarships and grants, scholarships for international students, are online phd programs cheaper than traditional, on-campus programs, are there specific scholarships for online phd students, how can i find scholarships for an online phd program, are international students eligible for scholarships, when should i start applying for scholarships, do all online phd programs have residency requirements, are there scholarships that cover full tuition for online phd programs, is it possible to combine multiple scholarships.

Pursuing a PhD is a significant financial commitment , but it’s one that can be offset through various scholarship opportunities. Scholarships can provide financial relief and open doors to furthering your education. In this article, we’ll explore scholarship opportunities available specifically for online PhD students.

Many universities offer scholarships specifically for their online students. These may be merit-based, need-based, or centered around specific groups such as underrepresented minorities, women in STEM, or first-generation college students.

For example, Walden University offers the “Walden University Tuition Reduction Scholarship”, which provides a 25% tuition reduction for new students who are referred by an alumni. Capella University has a “Capella Progress Reward”, a scholarship for eligible students that can save up to $20,000 on tuition.

It’s worth investigating the scholarship opportunities offered by the institutions you’re considering. You can typically find this information on their financial aid website, or by contacting the financial aid office directly.

Professional associations often offer scholarships for students pursuing advanced degrees in their field. For example, the American Psychological Association offers multiple scholarships for psychology students, while the Association for Computing Machinery has scholarships for computer science students.

The benefits of these scholarships often extend beyond financial aid; they may also include networking opportunities, mentorship, and access to industry resources.

Many businesses and corporations offer scholarships to attract and cultivate talent in their industry. For instance, Google offers the “Google PhD Fellowship Program” for students pursuing a PhD related to technology, and Ford has the “Ford Foundation Fellowship Programs” for PhD students committed to a career in teaching and research.

Government organizations at the federal and state level also provide scholarships and grants for PhD students. For example, the National Science Foundation offers the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program, which provides three years of financial support for graduate study.

Furthermore, students pursuing education-related degrees might be eligible for the TEACH Grant, which provides grants for students who commit to teach in a high-need field in a low-income area.

If you’re an international student, there are scholarships specifically for you. For example, the Aga Khan Foundation provides scholarships for postgraduate studies to students from select developing countries. Many universities also offer scholarships specifically for their international students.

While pursuing an online PhD can be a significant investment, it’s important to remember the wide array of scholarship opportunities available. Start your search early, and don’t be discouraged if you don’t get the first scholarship you apply for. There are numerous opportunities out there, and every bit of financial aid can help reduce the burden of tuition costs.

By researching and applying for scholarships, you can make your dream of earning a PhD a more affordable reality.

Frequently Asked Questions about Online PhD Programs and Scholarships

The cost of an online PhD program can vary and doesn’t always mean it’s cheaper than a traditional program. Costs can be influenced by the university, the specific program, and other associated costs like technology and learning materials.

Yes, many universities, professional associations, corporations, and government bodies offer scholarships specifically for online PhD students. Additionally, there are scholarships available for specific groups, such as underrepresented minorities, women in STEM, or first-generation college students.

Start with the financial aid office of the university you’re considering. They can provide information about institutional scholarships. You should also research professional associations, industry scholarships, and government grants in your field of study.

Yes, many scholarships are available for international students. Some are offered by universities for their international students, while others are provided by external organizations.

It’s best to start your scholarship search early, even before you apply to the PhD program. Scholarship application deadlines can be as early as a year before the academic year starts, so early preparation can increase your chances of securing a scholarship.

Not all, but some online PhD programs do require students to spend a certain amount of time on campus. It’s important to consider these requirements as they can lead to additional costs.

While less common, there are full-tuition scholarships available. However, most scholarships cover a portion of tuition fees or provide a set amount of financial aid.

In many cases, yes. However, this depends on the specific guidelines of each scholarship. Some scholarships may have restrictions on receiving additional financial aid, so it’s important to read the terms and conditions carefully.

PHD in Economics, Associate Professor, Department of Business Process Management, Faculty of Market Technologies IOM

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PhD International Development

By distance learning.

For 2024-25 £4,778 FT (UK) £21,360 FT (International Students) More Fees and funding details.

• Request a prospectus
• Course details
• Entry Requirements
• Teaching and assessment
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The  International Development Department (IDD)  is committed to encouraging new thinking in the fields of development and public management.

Studying for a degree by research with IDD means being part of an active research and practitioner community that will support you in accomplishing your academic goals.

Our distance learning PhD in International Development offers the opportunity to conduct original research under the guidance of academic supervisors, leading to an 80,000 word thesis, for those unable to live and work on campus on a regular basis. You will take a number of research training modules in your first year and may attend further courses offered by the Department or the University that enhance your personal discipline-specific and transferable skills.

Distance learning does present challenges and applicants need to have a high capacity to work independently and in a disciplined fashion to pursue their research goals. However, supervisory teams are there to support students in acquiring the skills and knowledge to complete a thesis. In addition, you will be able to participate in an active research environment through a range of online and hybrid events.

Distance learning students are usually expected to attend one-week visit to the University (it is possible to request an exemption due to extenuating circumstances such as work commitments of caring responsibilities, for example). This visit will take place at the start of your studies during the College’s induction week (which usually takes place in the last week of September). This is a fantastic opportunity to attend a range of training sessions and networking events and meet your peers and supervisory team in person. The College of Social Sciences will make a generous contribution to your accommodation and travel. Your School will write to you to confirm the arrangements of your visit once you have confirmed your offer. Distance Learning students are not required to attend the University for the remainder of their studies but are welcome to visit at their own expense.

The School of Government offers much more than a degree. As a doctoral student here, you have the opportunity to take part in a wide range of research events with staff and other doctoral students, including a PGR Colloquium and departmental speaker series. In addition, an individual training plan is drawn up to meet the needs of each student, covering coursework and skills development. As such, completing this research degree will cultivate specialist knowledge in your field and professional skills for a range of career settings. 

We are particularly interested in receiving applications on the following themes:

• Conflict and post conflict reconstruction
• Governance and politics of development
• Natural resource governance, management and livelihoods
• Politics of environmental change and sustainable development
• Inequality, poverty, and anti-corruption
• Democracy and authoritarianism
• Public sector management and decentralisation

Applications to study for a research degree on either a full- or part-time basis are welcomed.

Further information

• IDD Doctoral research page
• Guidance on preparing a research proposal
• Doctoral Research Scholarships and funding

Tricia Thomas Doctoral Research Student Administration Tel: +44 (0)121 414 3497, Email:  [email protected]

PhD by Distance Learning 2024-2025

Uk students.

• £4,778

International students (Band D)

• £21,360

For the most up-to-date information on fees, please contact the Department directly. Learn more about fees .

Scholarships and studentships

International students can often gain funding through overseas research scholarships, Commonwealth scholarships or their home government. Information on scholarships and bursaries can be found via International Development Department  and University scholarships  web pages. 

The Postgraduate Student Loan has increased its maximum loan amount to £12,167 (for 2023/2024 entry). For more detailed information visit our Postgraduate funding page .

For more information visit  studenthelp.bham.ac.uk .

How To Apply

When clicking on the Apply Now button you will be directed to an application specifically designed for the programme you wish to apply for where you will create an account with the University application system and submit your application and supporting documents online. Further information regarding how to apply online can be found on the How to apply pages

Our Standard Requirements

Applicants for the distance learning PhD/MPhil must provide evidence of prior research experience and/or training suitable for their intended programme of study. When they apply, they are expected to consult with their supervisor who can assess their skills, background and capacity to undertake independent study at a distance. 

Besides formal qualifications, a key factor determining whether the Department decides to accept a candidate for either degree is the quality of his or her research proposal and its relevance to our own interests. Successful completion of a research thesis demands a high level of self-discipline, motivation and commitment to the subject of research. Great importance is placed on work experience, when relevant. Please contact the Department for more details.

Learn more about entry requirements.

International Requirements

Holders of a Licence, Diplome, Diplome d'Etudes Superieures, Diplome d'Ingenieur or a Diplome d'Architecte from a recognised university in Algeria will be considered for postgraduate study. Holders of one of these qualifications will normally be expected to have achieved a score of 15/20 for 2:1 equivalency or 13/20 for 2:2 equivalency.  

Holders of the Licenciado or an equivalent professional title from a recognised Argentinian university, with a promedio of at least 7.5, may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. Applicants for PhD degrees will normally have a Maestria or equivalent

A Bachelors (Honours) degree from an accredited Australian higher education institution may be considered for admission to a Masters degree.   Applicants with 3 year Bachelors with distinction from a recognised university, can be considered for admission to a Masters degree.

Holders of a Diplom, a Diplomstudium/Magister or a three-year Bachelors degree from a recognised university with a minimum overall grade of 2.5 for 2:1 equivalency or 3.0 for 2:2 equivalency, or a high-scoring Fachhochschuldiplom (FH) from a recognised Austrian Fachhochschule, will be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes. 

Students with a good 5-year Specialist Diploma or 4-year Bachelor degree from a recognised higher education institution in Azerbaijan, with a minimum GPA of 4/5 or 80% will be considered for entry to postgraduate taught programmes at the University of Birmingham.

For postgraduate research programmes applicants should have a good 5-year Specialist Diploma (completed after 1991), with a minimum grade point average of 4/5 or 80%, from a recognised higher education institution or a Masters or “Magistr Diplomu” or “Kandidat Nauk” from a recognised higher education institution in Azerbaijan.

 Holders of a bachelors degree of four years duration from a recognised university in Bahrain will be considered for postgraduate study. Holders of bachelors degree will normally be expected to have achieved a GPA of 3.0/4, 3.75/5 or 75% for 2:1 equivalency or 2.8/4, 3.5/5 or 70% for 2:2 equivalency.  

Holders of a Bachelors (Honours) degree of three years duration, followed by a Masters degree of one or two years duration from a recognised university in Bangladesh will be considered for postgraduate taught study. Students with a Bachelors degree of at least four years duration may also be considered for postgraduate study. Degrees must be from a recognised institution in Bangladesh.

Holders of Bachelors degree will normally be expected to have achieved a GPA of 3.0-3.3/4.0 or 65% or above for 2:1 equivalency, or a GPA of 2.6-3.1/4.0 or 60% or above for 2:2 equivalency depending on the awarding institution.  

Students who hold a Masters degree from the University of Botswana with a minimum GPA of 3.0/4.0 or 3.5/5.0 (70%/B/'very good') will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.

Please note 4-year bachelor degrees from the University of Botswana are considered equivalent to a Diploma of Higher Education. 5-year bachelor degrees from the University of Botswana are considered equivalent to a British Bachelor (Ordinary) degree.

Students who have completed a Masters degree from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study.

A Licenciatura or Bacharelado degree from a recognised Brazilian university:

• A grade of 7.5/10 for entry to programmes with a 2:1 requirement
• A grade of 6.5/10for entry to programmes with a 2:2 requirement

Holders of a good Bachelors degree with honours (4 to 6 years) from a recognised university with a upper second class grade or higher will be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes.  Holders of a good Masters degree from a recognised university will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a good Diploma za Zavarsheno Visshe Obrazovanie (‘Diploma of Completed Higher Education’), a pre-2001 Masters degree or a post-2001 Bachelors degree from a recognised university with a minimum overall grade of 5 out of 6, mnogo dobur/’very good’ for 2:1 equivalence; or 4 out of 6, dobur/’good’ for 2:2 equivalence; will be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes.

Students with a minimum average of 14 out of 20 (or 70%) on a 4-year Licence, Bachelor degree or Diplôme d'Etudes Superieures de Commerce (DESC) or Diplôme d'Ingénieur or a Maîtrise will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.

Holders of a bachelor degree with honours from a recognised Canadian university may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. A GPA of 3.0/4, 7.0/9 or 75% is usually equivalent to a UK 2.1.

Holders of the Licenciado or equivalent Professional Title from a recognised Chilean university will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. Applicants for PhD study will preferably hold a Magister degree or equivalent.

Students with a bachelor’s degree (4 years minimum) may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. However please note that we will only consider students who meet the entry guidance below.  Please note: for the subject areas below we use the Shanghai Ranking 2022 (full table)  ,  Shanghai Ranking 2023 (full table) , and Shanghai Ranking of Chinese Art Universities 2023 .

需要具备学士学位（4年制）的申请人可申请研究生课程。请根据所申请的课程查看相应的入学要求。 请注意，中国院校名单参考 软科中国大学排名2022（总榜） ，  软科中国大学排名2023（总榜） ，以及 软科中国艺术类高校名单2023 。  

Business School    - MSc programmes (excluding MBA)  

商学院硕士课程（MBA除外）入学要求

School of Computer Science – all MSc programmes 计算机学院硕士课程入学要求

College of Social Sciences – courses listed below 社会科学 学院部分硕士课程入学要求 MA Education  (including all pathways) MSc TESOL Education MSc Public Management MA Global Public Policy MA Social Policy MA Sociology Department of Political Science and International Studies  全部硕士课程 International Development Department  全部硕士课程

  All other programmes (including MBA)   所有其他 硕士课程（包括 MBA）入学要求

Please note:

• Borderline cases: We may consider students with lower average score (within 5%) on a case-by-case basis if you have a relevant degree and very excellent grades in relevant subjects and/or relevant work experience. 如申请人均分低于相应录取要求（5%以内），但具有出色学术背景，优异的专业成绩，以及（或）相关的工作经验，部分课程将有可能单独酌情考虑。
• Please contact the China Recruitment Team for any questions on the above entry requirements. 如果您对录取要求有疑问，请联系伯明翰大学中国办公室   [email protected]

Holders of the Licenciado/Professional Title from a recognised Colombian university will be considered for our Postgraduate Diploma and Masters degrees. Applicants for PhD degrees will normally have a Maestria or equivalent.

Holders of a good bachelor degree with honours (4 to 6 years) from a recognised university with a upper second class grade or higher will be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes.  Holders of a good Masters degree from a recognised university will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a good Diploma Visoko Obrazovanje (Advanced Diploma of Education) or Bacclaureus (Bachelors) from a recognised Croatian higher Education institution with a minimum overall grade of 4.0 out of 5.0, vrlo dobar ‘very good’, for 2:1 equivalence or 3.0 out of 5.0, dobar ‘good’, for 2:2 equivalence, will be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes.  Holders of a good Bacclaureus (Bachelors) from a recognised Croatian Higher Education institution with a minimum overall grade of 4.0 out of 5.0, vrlo dobar ‘very good’, or a Masters degree, will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a Bachelors degree(from the University of the West Indies or the University of Technology) may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. A Class II Upper Division degree is usually equivalent to a UK 2.1. For further details on particular institutions please refer to the list below.  Applicants for PhD level study will preferably hold a Masters degree or Mphil from the University of the West Indies.

Holders of a good four-year government-accredited Bachelors degree from a recognised Higher Education college with a minimum overall GPA of 3 out of 4 for 2:1 equivalency, or a GPA of 2.75 out of 4 for 2:2 equivalency; or a good four-year Bachelors degree (Ptychio) from a recognised University, with a minimum overall grade of 6.5 out of 10 for 2:1 equivalency, or 5.5 for 2:2 equivalency; will be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes.

Holders of a good Bakalár, or a good pre-2002 Magistr, from a recognised Czech Higher Education institution with a minimum overall grade of 1.5, B, velmi dobre ‘very good’ (post-2004) or 2, velmi dobre ‘good’ (pre-2004), for 2:1 equivalence, or 2.5, C, dobre ‘good’ (post-2004) or 3, dobre ‘pass’ (pre-2004) for 2:2 equivalence, will be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes. 

Holders of a good Bachelors degree/Candidatus Philosophiae, Professionbachelor or Eksamensbevis from a recognised Danish university, with a minimum overall grade of 7-10 out of 12 (or 8 out of 13) or higher for 2:1 equivalence, or 4-7 out of 12 (or 7 out of 13) for 2:2 equivalence depending on the awarding institution will be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes.

Holders of the Licenciado or an equivalent professional title from a recognised Ecuadorian university may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. Grades of 70% or higher can be considered as UK 2.1 equivalent.  Applicants for PhD level study will preferably hold a Magister/Masterado or equivalent qualification, but holders of the Licenciado with excellent grades can be considered.

Holders of a Bachelors degree from a recognised university in Egypt will be considered for postgraduate study. Holders of Bachelors degree will normally be expected to have achieved a GPA of 3.0/4 for 2:1 equivalency or 2.8 for 2:2 equivalency. Applicants holding a Bachelors degree with alternative grading systems, will normally be expected to have achieved a 75% (Very Good) for 2:1 equivalency or 65% (Good) for 2:2 equivalency. For applicants with a grading system different to those mentioned here, please contact [email protected] for advice on what the requirements will be for you.

Holders of a good Bakalaurusekraad from a recognised university or Applied Higher Education Institution with a minimum overall grade of 4/5 or B for 2:1 equivalency or 3/5 or C for 2:2 equivalency, or a good Rakenduskõrgharidusõppe Diplom (Professional Higher Education Diploma), will be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes.

Students who hold a Masters degree with very good grades (grade B, 3.5/4 GPA or 85%) will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. 

Holders of a good Ammattikorkeakoulututkinto (AMK) (new system), an Yrkeshögskoleexamen (YHS) (new system), a Kandidaatti / Kandidat (new system), an Oikeustieteen Notaari or a Rättsnotarie, a good Kandidaatti / Kandidat (old system), a professional title such as Ekonomi, Diplomi-insinööri, Arkkitehti, Lisensiaatti (in Medicine, Dentistry and Vetinary Medicine), or a Maisteri / Magister (new system), Lisensiaatti / Licenciat, Oikeustieteen Kandidaatti / Juris Kandidat (new system) or Proviisori / Provisor from a recognised Finnish Higher Education institution, with a minimum overall grade of 2/3 or 3-4/5 for 2:1 equivalence or 1-2/3 or 2.5-3/5 for 2:2 equivalence, will be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes. 

Holders of a good three-year Licence, License Professionnelle, Diplôme d'Ingénieur/Architecte Diplômé d'État, Diplôme from an Ecole Superieure de Commerce / Gestion / Politique, or Diplome d'Etat Maitrise of three years duration or a Maîtrise from a recognised French university or Grande École will be considered for postgraduate taught study.

Holders of Bachelors degree will normally be expected to have achieved a minimum overall grade of 13 out of 20, bien, for 2:1 equivalency, or 11 out of 20, assez bien, for 2:2 equivalency depending on the awarding institution.  

Holders of a good three-year Bachelor degree, a Magister Artium, a Diplom or an Erstes Staatsexamen from a recognised university, or a good Fachhochschuldiplom from a Fachhochschule (university of applied sciences), with a minimum overall grade of 2.5 for 2:1 equivalency, or 3.0 for 2:2 equivalency, will be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes.

Students from Germany who have completed three years of the Erstes Staatsexamen qualification with a grade point average (GPA) of 10 from the first six semesters of study within the Juristische Universitätsprüfung programme would be considered for entry onto LLM programmes.  Students from Germany who have completed the five year Erstes Staatsexamen qualification with a grade point average (GPA) of 6.5 would be considered for entry onto LLM programmes. 

Students who hold a Bachelor degree from a recognised institution will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. Most taught Masters programmes require a minimum of an upper second class degree (2.1) with a minimum GPA of at least 3.0/4.0 or 3.5/5.0 Students who have completed a Masters degree from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study.

Holders of a good four-year Ptychio (Bachelor degree) from a recognised Greek university (AEI) with a minimum overall grade of 6.5 out of 10 for 2:1 equivalency, or 5.5 out of 10 for 2:2 equivalency, or a good four-year Ptychio from a recognised Technical Higher Education institution (TEI) with a minimum overall grade of 7.5 out of 10 for 2:1 equivalency, or 6.5 out of 10 for 2:2 equivalency, will be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes.

4-year Licenciado is deemed equivalent to a UK bachelors degree. A score of 75 or higher from Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala (USAC) can be considered comparable to a UK 2.1, 60 is comparable to a UK 2.2.  Private universities have a higher pass mark, so 80 or higher should be considered comparable to a UK 2.1, 70 is comparable to a UK 2.2

The Hong Kong Bachelor degree is considered comparable to British Bachelor degree standard. Students with bachelor degrees awarded by universities in Hong Kong may be considered for entry to one of our postgraduate degree programmes.

Students with Masters degrees may be considered for PhD study.

Holders of a good Alapfokozat / Alapképzés (Bachelors degree) or Egyetemi Oklevel (university diploma) from a recognised Hungarian university, or a Foiskola Oklevel (college diploma) from a recognised college of Higher Education, with a minimum overall grade of 3.5 for 2:1 equivalency, or 3 for 2:2 equivalency, will be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes. 

Holders of a Bachelors degree of three or four years in duration from a recognised university in India will be considered for postgraduate taught study. Holders of Bachelors degree will normally be expected to have achieved 55% - 60% or higher for 2:1 equivalency, or 50% - 55% for 2:2 equivalency depending on the awarding institution.  

Either: A four-year Bachelors degree (first class or very good upper second class)

Or: A three-year Bachelors degree (first class) from recognised institutions in India.

For MSc programmes, the Business School will consider holders of three-year degree programmes (first class or very good upper second class) from recognised institutions in India.

For entry to LLM programmes, Birmingham is happy to accept applications from 3 or 5 year LLB holders from India from prestigious institutions.

Holders of the 4 year Sarjana (S1) from a recognised Indonesian institution will be considered for postgraduate study. Entry requirements vary with a minimum requirement of a GPA of 2.8.

Holders of a Bachelors degree from a recognised university in Iran with a minimum of 14/20 or 70% will be considered for entry to taught postgraduate taught programmes.

Holders of a Bachelors degree from a recognised university in Iraq will be considered for postgraduate study. Holders of a Bachelors degree will normally be expected to have achieved a GPA of 3.0/4 or 75% for 2:1 equivalency, or 2.8/4 or 70% for 2:2 equivalency.

Holders of a Bachelors degree from a recognised university in Israel will be considered for postgraduate study. Holders of Bachelors degree will normally be expected to have achieved score of 80% for 2:1 equivalency or 65% for 2:2 equivalency.  

Holders of a good Diploma di Laurea, Licenza di Accademia di Belle Arti, Diploma di Mediatore Linguistico or Diploma Accademico di Primo Livello from a recognised Italian university with a minimum overall grade of 100 out of 110 for 2:1 equivalence, or 92 out of 110 for 2:2 equivalence, will be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes.

Students who hold the Maitrise, Diplome d'Etude Approfondies, Diplome d'Etude Superieures or Diplome d'Etude Superieures Specialisees will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees (14-15/20 or Bien from a well ranked institution is considered comparable to a UK 2.1, while a score of 12-13/20 or Assez Bien is considered comparable to a UK 2.2).

Students with a Bachelor degree from a recognised university in Japan will be considered for entry to a postgraduate Masters degree provided they achieve a sufficiently high overall score in their first (Bachelor) degree. A GPA of 3.0/4.0 or a B average from a good Japanese university is usually considered equivalent to a UK 2:1.

Students with a Masters degree from a recognised university in Japan will be considered for PhD study. A high overall grade will be necessary to be considered.

Holders of a Bachelors degree of four years duration from a recognised university in Jordan will be considered for postgraduate study. Holders of Bachelors degree will normally be expected to have achieved a GPA of 3.0/4, 3.75/5 or 75% for 2:1 equivalency or 2.8/4, 3.5/5 or 70% for 2:2 equivalency.  

Students who have completed their Specialist Diploma Мамаң дипломы/Диплом специалиста) or "Magistr" (Магистр дипломы/Диплом магистра) degree (completed after 1991) from a recognised higher education institution, with a minimum GPA of 2.67/4.00 for courses requiring a UK lower second and 3.00/4.00 for courses requiring a UK upper second class degree, will be considered for entry to postgraduate Masters degrees and, occasionally, directly for PhD degrees.  Holders of a Bachelor "Bakalavr" degree (Бакалавр дипломы/Диплом бакалавра) from a recognised higher education institution, with a minimum GPA of  2.67/4.00 for courses requiring a UK lower second and 3.00/4.00 for courses requiring a UK upper second class degree, may also be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes.

Students who hold a Bachelor degree from a recognised institution will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. Most taught Masters programmes require a minimum of an upper second class degree (2.1) with a minimum GPA of at least 3.0/4.0 or 3.5/50

Holders of a Bachelors degree of four years duration from a recognised university in Kuwait will be considered for postgraduate study. Holders of Bachelors degree will normally be expected to have achieved a GPA of 3.0/4, 3.75/5 or 75% for 2:1 equivalency or 2.8/4, 3.5/5 or 70% for 2:2 equivalency.  

Holders of a good pre-2000 Magistrs or post-2000 Bakalaurs from a recognised university, or a good Postgraduate Diploma (professional programme) from a recognised university or institution of Higher Education, with a minimum overall grade of 7.5 out of 10 for 2:1 equivalency, or 6.5 out of 10 for 2:2 equivalency, will be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes.

Holders of a Bachelors degree from a recognised university in Lebanon will be considered for postgraduate study. Holders of a Bachelors degree will normally be expected to have achieved a score of 16/20 or 80% for 2:1 equivalency, or 14/20 or 70% for 2:2 equivalency.

Holders of a Bachelors degree from a recognised university in Libya will be considered for postgraduate study. Holders of a Bachelors degree will normally be expected to have achieved score of 70% for 2:1 equivalency or 65% for 2:2 equivalency. Alternatively students will require a minimum of 3.0/4.0 or BB to be considered.

Holders of a good Bakalauras (post 2001), Profesinis Bakalauras (post 2001) or pre-2001 Magistras from a recognised university with a minimum overall grade of 8 out of 10 for 2:1 equivalency, or 7 out of 10 for 2:2 equivalency, will be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes. 

Holders of a good Bachelors degree or Diplôme d'Ingénieur Industriel from a recognised Luxembourgish Higher Education institution with a minimum overall grade of 16 out of 20 for 2:1 equivalence, or 14 out of 20 for 2:2 equivalence, will be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes.

Students who hold a Masters degree will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees (70-74% or A or Marginal Distinction from a well ranked institution is considered comparable to a UK 2.1, while a score of 60-69% or B or Bare Distinction/Credit is considered comparable to a UK 2.2).

Holders of a Bachelors degree from a recognised Malaysian institution (usually achieved with the equivalent of a second class upper or a grade point average minimum of 3.0) will be considered for postgraduate study at Diploma or Masters level.

Holders of a good Bachelors degree from a recognised Higher Education Institution with a minimum grade of 2:1 (Hons) for UK 2:1 equivalency, or 2:2 (Hons) for UK 2:2 equivalency, will be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes.

Students who hold a Bachelor degree (Honours) from a recognised institution (including the University of Mauritius) will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.  Most taught Masters programmes require a minimum of an upper second class degree (2:1).

Students who hold the Licenciado/Professional Titulo from a recognised Mexican university with a promedio of at least 8 will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.

Students who have completed a Maestria from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study.

Holders of a Bachelors degree, licence or Maîtrise from a recognised university in Morocco will be considered for postgraduate study. Holders of a Bachelors degree will normally be expected to have achieved a score of 15/20 or 75% for 2:1 equivalency, or 13/20 for 2:2 equivalency.

Students with a good four year honours degree from a recognised university will be considered for postgraduate study at the University of Birmingham. PhD applications will be considered on an individual basis.

Holders of a Bachelors (Honours) degree of four years duration from a recognised university in Nepal will be considered for postgraduate taught study. Students with a Bachelors degree of at least three years duration plus a Masters degree may also be considered for postgraduate study. Degrees must be from a recognised institution in Nepal.

Holders of Bachelors degree will normally be expected to have achieved a GPA of 3.2/4.0 or 65%-79% average or higher for 2:1 equivalency, or a GPA of 3.0/4.0 or 60%-65% for 2:2 equivalency depending on the awarding institution.  

Holders of a Bachelors degree from a recognised Dutch university, or Bachelors degree from a recognised Hogeschool (University of Professional Education), or a good Doctoraal from a recognised Dutch university, with a minimum overall grade of 7 out of 10 for 2:1 equivalence, or 6 out of 10 for 2:2 equivalence, will be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes. 

Students who hold a Bachelor degree (minimum 4 years and/or level 400) from a recognised institution will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.  Most taught Masters programmes require a minimum of an upper second class degree (2.1) with a minimum GPA of at least 3.0/4.0 or 3.5/5.0

Holders of a good three-six-year Bachelorgrad, Candidatus Magisterii, Sivilingeniø (siv. Ing. - Engineering), "Siviløkonom" (siv. Øk. - Economics) degree from a recognised Norwegian education institution with a minimum GPA of B/Very Good or 1.6-2.5 for a 2.1 equivalency, or a GPA of C/Good or 2.6-3.2 for a 2.2 equivalency; will be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes.

Holders of a Bachelors degree of four years duration from a recognised university in Oman will be considered for postgraduate study. Holders of Bachelors degree will normally be expected to have achieved a GPA of 3.0/4, 3.75/5 or 75% for 2:1 equivalency or 2.8/4, 3.5/5 or 70% for 2:2 equivalency.  

Holders of a Bachelors degree of four years in duration from a recognised university in Pakistan will be considered for postgraduate taught study. Students with a Bachelors degree of at least three years duration followed by a Masters degree of one or two years duration, or holders of a two year Bachelors degree and a two year Masters degree in the same subject, may also be considered for postgraduate study.

Holders of Bachelors degree will normally be expected to have achieved a GPA of 2.8-3.0/4.0 or 65% or above for 2:1 equivalency, or a GPA of 2.6/4.0 or 60% or above for 2:2 equivalency depending on the awarding institution.  

A two-year degree followed by a three-year LLB will count as a full Bachelors degree.

All qualifications must be from recognised institutions. For further details on recognised institutions, please refer to Pakistan’s Higher Education Commission

Holders of a Bachelors degree from a recognised university in the Palestinian Territories will be considered for postgraduate study. Holders of Bachelors degree will normally be expected to have achieved a GPA of 3/4 or 80% for 2:1 equivalency or a GPA of 2.5/4 or 70% for 2:2 equivalency.    

Holders of the Título de Licenciado /Título de (4-6 years) or an equivalent professional title from a recognised Paraguayan university may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. Grades of 4/5 or higher can be considered as UK 2.1 equivalent.  The Título Intermedio is a 2-3 year degree and is equivalent to a HNC, it is not suitable for postgraduate entry but holders of this award could be considered for second year undergraduate entry or pre-Masters.  Applicants for PhD level study will preferably hold a Título de Maestría / Magister or equivalent qualification, but holders of the Título/Grado de Licenciado/a with excellent grades can be considered.

Holders of the Licenciado, with at least 13/20 may be considered as UK 2.1 equivalent. The Grado de Bachiller is equivalent to an ordinary degree, so grades of 15+/20 are required.  Applicants for PhD level study will preferably hold a Título de Maestría or equivalent qualification.

Holders of a good post-2001 Licencjat / Inzynier (Bachelors degree), or a pre-2001 Magister, from a recognised Polish university, with a minimum overall grade of 4.5/4+ out of 5, dobry plus ‘better than good’ for 2:1 equivalence, or 4 out of 5, dobry 'good' for 2:2 equivalence, will be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes. 

Holders of a good Licenciado from a recognised university, or a Diploma de Estudos Superiores Especializados (DESE) from a recognised Polytechnic Institution, with a minimum overall grade of 16 out of 20, bom com distinção ‘good with distinction’, for 2:1 equivalence, or 14 out of 20, bom ‘good’, for 2:2 equivalence, will be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes. 

Holders of a Bachelors degree of four years duration from a recognised university in Qatar will be considered for postgraduate study. Holders of a Bachelors degree will normally be expected to have achieved a GPA of 3.0/4, 3.75/5 or 75% for 2:1 equivalency or 2.8/4, 3.5/5 or 70% for 2:2 equivalency.  

Holders of a good Diplomă de Licenţă, Diplomă de Inginer, Diplomă de Urbanist Diplomat, Diplomă de Arhitect, Diplomă de Farmacist or Diplomã de Doctor-Medic Arhitect (Bachelors degree) from a recognised Romanian Higher Education institution with a minimum overall grade of 8 out of 10 for 2:1 equivalence, or 7 out of 10 for 2:2 equivalence, will be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes.

Holders of a good Диплом Бакалавра (Bakalavr) degree with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 4.0 from recognised universities in Russia may be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes/MPhil degrees. 

Students who hold a 4-year Bachelor degree with at least 16/20 or 70% will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.   

Holders of a Bachelors degree of four years duration from a recognised university in the Saudi Arabia will be considered for postgraduate study. Holders of Bachelors degree will normally be expected to have achieved a GPA of 3.0/4, 3.75/5 or 75% for 2:1 equivalency or 2.8/4, 3.5/5 or 70% for 2:2 equivalency.  

Students who hold a Maitrise, Diplome d'Etude Approfondies,Diplome d'Etude Superieures or Diplome d'Etude Superieures Specialisees will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. A score of 14-15/20 or Bien from a well ranked institution is considered comparable to a UK 2.1, while a score of 12-13/20 or Assez Bien is considered comparable to a UK 2.2

Students who hold a Bachelor (Honours) degree from a recognised institution with a minimum GPA of 3.0/4.0 or 3.5/5.0 (or a score of 60-69% or B+) from a well ranked institution will be considered for most our Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees with a 2:1 requirement.

Students holding a good Bachelors Honours degree will be considered for postgraduate study at Diploma or Masters level.

Holders of a good three-year Bakalár or pre-2002 Magister from a recognised Slovakian Higher Education institution with a minimum overall grade of 1.5, B, Vel’mi dobrý ‘very good’ for 2:1 equivalence, or 2, C, Dobrý ‘good’ for 2:2 equivalence, will be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes. 

Holders of a good Diploma o pridobljeni univerzitetni izobrazbi (Bachelors degree), Diplomant (Professionally oriented first degree), Univerzitetni diplomant (Academically oriented first degree) or Visoko Obrazovanja (until 1999) from a recognised Slovenian Higher Education institution with a minimum overall grade of 8.0 out of 10 for 2:1 equivalence, or 7.0 out of 10 for 2:2 equivalence, will be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes. 

Students who hold a Bachelor Honours degree (also known as Baccalaureus Honores / Baccalaureus Cum Honoribus) from a recognised institution will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. Most Masters programmes will require a second class upper (70%) or a distinction (75%).

Holders of a Masters degree will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a Bachelor degree from a recognised South Korean institution (usually with the equivalent of a second class upper or a grade point average 3.0/4.0 or 3.2/4.5) will be considered for Masters programmes.

Holders of a good Masters degree from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study on an individual basis.

Holders of a good Título de Licenciado / Título Universitario Oficial de Graduado (Grado) /Título de Ingeniero / Título de Arquitecto from a recognised Spanish university with a minimum overall grade of 7 out of 10 for 2:1 equivalence, or 6 out of 10 for 2:2 equivalence, will be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes.

Holders of a Special or Professional Bachelors degree of four years duration from a recognised university in Sri Lanka will be considered for postgraduate taught study.

Holders of Bachelors degree will normally be expected to have achieved 60-74% or a CGPA 3.30/4.0 or B+ for 2:1 equivalency, or 55-59% or a CGPA 3.0/4.0 or B for 2:2 equivalency depending on the awarding institution.  

Holders of a good Kandidatexamen (Bachelors degree) or Yrkesexamen (Professional Bachelors degree) from a recognised Swedish Higher Education institution with the majority of subjects with a grade of VG (Val godkänd) for 2:1 equivalency, or G (godkänd) for 2:2 equivalency, will be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes. Holders of a good Kandidatexamen (Bachelors degree) or Yrkesexamen (Professional Bachelors degree) from a recognised Swedish Higher Education institution with the majority of subjects with a grade of VG (Val godkänd), and/or a good Magisterexamen (Masters degree), International Masters degree or Licentiatexamen (comparable to a UK Mphil), will be considered for entry to postgraduate research programmes.

Holders of a good " Baccalauréat universitaire/ Diplom / Diplôme; Lizentiat / Licence; Staatsdiplom / Diplôme d'Etat" degree from a recognised Swiss higher education institution (with a minimum GPA of 5/6 or 8/10 or 2/5 (gut-bien-bene/good) for a 2.1 equivalence) will be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes.

Holders of a Bachelors degree from a recognised university in Syria will be considered for postgraduate study. Holders of Bachelors degree will normally be expected to have achieved score of 70%, or ‘very good’ for 2:1 equivalency or 60%, or ‘good’ for 2:2 equivalency.  

Holders of a good Bachelor degree (from 75% to 85% depending upon the university in Taiwan) from a recognised institution will be considered for postgraduate Masters study. Holders of a good Masters degree from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study.

Students who hold a Bachelor degree from a recognised institution will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.  Most taught Masters programmes require a minimum of an upper second class degree (2.1) Students who have completed a Masters degree from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study.

Holders of a good Bachelors degree from a recognised institution will be considered for postgraduate study at Diploma or Masters level. Holders of Bachelors degree from prestigious institutions (see list below) will normally be expected to have achieved a GPA of 3.0/4.0 for 2:1 equivalency or 2.7 for 2:2 equivalency. Applicants with grades slightly below these requirements may also be considered for an offer if they have a relevant Bachelors degree, good scores in relevant modules, or relevant work experience.

Holders of a Bachelors degree from all other institutions will normally be expected to have achieved a GPA of 3.2/4.0 for 2:1 equivalency, or 2.8 for 2:2 equivalency.

Prestigious institutions: Assumption University Chiang Mai University Chulalongkorn University Kasetsart University Khon Kaen University King Mongkut University of Technology - Thonburi (known as KMUTT or KMUT) Mahidol University Prince of Songla University Srinakharinwirot University Thammasat University

Holders of a bachelor degree with honours from a recognised Caribbean and West Indies university may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. 

Students with a Bachelors degree from the following universities may be considered for entry to postgraduate programmes:

• Ateneo de Manila University - Quezon City
• De La Salle University - Manila
• University of Santo Tomas
• University of the Philippines - Diliman

Students from all other institutions with a Bachelors and a Masters degree or relevant work experience may be considered for postgraduate programmes.

Grading Schemes

1-5 where 1 is the highest 2.1 = 1.75 2.2 = 2.25 

Out of 4.0 where 4 is the highest 2.1 = 3.0 2.2 = 2.5

Letter grades and percentages 2.1 = B / 3.00 / 83% 2.2 = C+ / 2.5 / 77%

Holders of a postdoctoral qualification from a recognised institution will be considered for PhD study.  Students may be considered for PhD study if they have a Masters from one of the above listed universities.

Holders of a Lisans Diplomasi with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0/4.0 from a recognised university will be considered for postgraduate study at Diploma or Masters level.

Holders of a Yuksek Diplomasi from a recognised university will be considered for PhD study.

Holders of a Bachelors degree of four years duration from a recognised university in the UAE will be considered for postgraduate study. Holders of a Bachelors degree will normally be expected to have achieved a GPA of 3.0/4, 3.75/5 or 75% for 2:1 equivalency or 2.8/4, 3.5/5 or 70% for 2:2 equivalency.  

Students who hold a Bachelor degree from a recognised institution will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. Most Masters programmes will require a second class upper (2.1) or GPA of 3.5/5.0

Holders of a good four-year Bachelors degree/ Диплом бакалавра (Dyplom Bakalavra), Диплом спеціаліста (Specialist Diploma) or a Dyplom Magistra from a recognised institution, with a minimum GPA of 4.0/5.0, 3.5/4, 8/12 or 80% or higher for 2:1 equivalence, or a GPA of 3.5/5.0, 3.0/4, 6/12 or 70% for 2:2 equivalence, depending on the awarding institution, will be considered for entry to taught postgraduate programmes.

The University will consider students who hold an Honours degree from a recognised institution in the USA with a GPA of:

• 2.8 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) for entry to programmes with a 2:2 requirement 
• 3.2 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) for entry to programmes with a 2:1 requirement 

Please note that some subjects which are studied at postgraduate level in the USA, eg. Medicine and Law, are traditionally studied at undergraduate level in the UK.

Holders of the Magistr Diplomi (Master's degree) or Diplomi (Specialist Diploma), awarded by prestigious universities, who have attained high grades in their studies will be considered for postgraduate study.  Holders of the Fanlari Nomzodi (Candidate of Science), where appropriate, will be considered for PhD study.

Holders of the Licenciatura/Título or an equivalent professional title from a recognised Venezuelan university may be considered for entry to a postgraduate degree programme. Scales of 1-5, 1-10 and 1-20 are used, an overall score of 70% or equivalent can be considered equivalent to a UK 2.1.  Applicants for PhD level study will preferably hold a Maestria or equivalent qualification

Holders of a Bachelors degree from a recognised Vietnamese institution (usually achieved with the equivalent of a second class upper or a grade point average minimum GPA of 7.0 and above) will be considered for postgraduate study at Diploma or Masters level.  Holders of a Masters degree (thac si) will be considered for entry to PhD programmes.

Students who hold a Masters degree with a minimum GPA of 3.5/5.0 or a mark of 2.0/2.5 (A) will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees.   

Students who hold a good Bachelor Honours degree will be considered for Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters degrees. 

International Students

You can satisfy our English language requirements in two ways:

• by holding an English language qualification to the right level - IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any band
• by taking and successfully completing one of our English courses for international students

Research within the School of Government is aligned to one of three departments and Institutes:

The Department of Political Science and International Studies (POLSIS)

Dr Columba Achilleos-Sarll Feminist and post/decolonial theory; the Women, Peace and Security agenda; civil society and advocacy; visual global politics.

Dr David Bailey Protest, critical political economy and contemporary capitalism

Dr Stephen Bates British politics; Parliamentary Studies (in comparative perspective or focused on the UK Parliament).

Dr Tendayi Bloom Noncitizenship; Statelessness; Migration governance. 

Dr Verena K. Brändle Digital democracy; social media and politics; European politics; border and migration studies; political communication

Dr Sarah Bufkin Racism and racialization; Black Atlantic political thought; Critical Theory; Cultural Studies.

Professor Peter Burnham Restructuring of the state in the global political economy; State theory and radical theories of IPE; Marx and contemporary Marxism; Economic policy and capitalist crisis.

Dr Mwita Chacha Regional integration; International cooperation; Politics of coups d’état; Public opinion.

Dr Licia Cianetti Democracy and institutional change; democratic regression; inclusion and exclusion from policymaking processes; cities and local democracy.

Dr Laurence Cooley Politics of deeply divided societies (especially Northern Ireland and Bosnia and Herzegovina); post-conflict power-sharing; politics of the census and identity categorisation.

Professor David Cutts Political and electoral behaviour; Party campaigning turnout; Civic engagement; Populist parties; Social media and politics. 

Dr May Darwich International Relations Theory and the Middle East; Foreign policies of Middle Eastern states; Identity politics in the Middle East; Security policies in the Middle East.

Professor David Dunn US foreign and security policy; Strategic and security studies, and diplomacy and statecraft.

Dr Rita Floyd Ethics of emergency politics, theories of security (especially securitization theory), the English school and environmental security.

Dr Guiditta Fontana Peace processes and war-to-peace transitions. The design of peace accords, Powersharing and Reform of cultural and educational institutions in conflict-affected societies. Multi-method research designs. Politics of Lebanon, Northern Ireland, North Macedonia.

Dr Emma Foster Environmental politics; gender/sexuality and international relations; gender/sexuality and international relations.

Dr Charlotte Galpin European and national identities; European public sphere and media; Euroscepticism, EU citizenship and social movements; The role of Germany or Britain in Europe; Brexit; Gender and feminist approaches to these topics.

Dr Julie Gilson Japanese foreign policy; East Asian regionalism and institutions; Asia-Europe and Japan-Europe relations; Civil society in Asia; Climate change and environmentalism in Asia.

Dr Ruben Gonzalez-Vicente South-South relations; Global China; the political economy of development, especially in Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean; critical political economy; political geography. 

Dr Tim Haughton Contemporary politics of Central and Eastern Europe; Political campaigning; Party politics; Electoral politics.

Dr Laura Jenkins Feminist political theory; Contemporary political theory and British politics.

Dr Deema Kaneff Resources and Social Change; Postsocialist transformations and global capitalism; Property relations; Markets and moralities; Transnational migration, Social exclusion and inequalities. (Europe, Eastern Europe, Bulgaria and Ukraine)

Dr Peter Kerr British politics; State theory and theories of social and political change; UK party politics and party modernisation; Political leadership and governing strategies in the UK; Citizenship and political participation and political sociology. 

Dr George Kyris International conflict, conflict management and resolution; International organisations, especially the European Union; State recognition; Statehood and sovereignty; Secession; unrecognised/ de facto states.

Professor René Lindstädt American Politics; Political Institutions; Accountability; Representation; Legislative politics and institutions; Elections; Political methodology

Dr Huw Macartney International or Comparative Political Economy; Banking and financial market governance; Globalisation, and historical materialism. 

Dr Cerwyn Moore Political violence; international relations theory; Post-Soviet and post-communist security; Interpretive approaches to global politics and Chechnya.

Dr Richard North Any area of contemporary political philosophy, but particularly on justice and liberal and democratic political philosophy.  

Dr Julian Panke European Union Politics; European Neighbourhood Policy; German foreign policy and Eastern European foreign policies (Poland, Slovakia).

Professor Patrick Porter The interaction of power and ideas in the making of foreign and defence policy in the U.S. and U.K, and in shaping their conflicts, classical realism, strategic thought and great power diplomacy.

Dr Adam Quinn US ‘grand strategy’; American national identity; American foreign and security policy; Ideological contest in American politics (contemporary and historical). 

Dr Robert Ralston International Security; Civil-Military Relations; Grand Strategy.

Dr Richard Shorten Political theory, ideology, and rhetoric; fascism, Marxism and totalitarianism; reactionaries and conservatives; the political thought of Hannah Arendt, Albert Camus and George Orwell; intellectual politics of the Cold War.

Dr Asaf Siniver International mediation and conflict resolution; The politics, diplomacy and history of the Arab-Israeli conflict; The Israeli-Palestinian peace process; Contemporary US foreign policy and Foreign Policy Analysis. 

Dr Nicola Smith Gender and sexuality; Feminist political economy; Queer theory; Biopolitics; Body politics; Sex Work; Obesity; Austerity.

Dr Graham Timmins Areas related to the external relations and foreign policy role of the European Union with specific reference to EU-Russia and German-Russian relations.

Dr Tsering Topgyal Chinese foreign and security policy; Tibet and China’s Nationality Policy; Asia-Pacific security and politics; US-China relations; Sino-Indian relations and Security studies. 

Dr Sevasti-Eleni Vezirgiannidou International Environmental Politics; Climate change politics; Environment and trade negotiations; Environmental Regime effectiveness and compliance and The trade-environment debate.

Dr Marco Vieira Rising powers and global order; South-South political cooperation/identity/institutions, South American/Latin American politics; Brazilian foreign policy and International relations theory. 

Dr Yi Wang Memory politics; Nationalism and national identity; Contemporary China; International relations of East Asia; Political communication 

Dr Robert Watt Military History, power and networks, Small Wars/Insurgencies; Native American History & Politics.

Professor Mark Webber NATO; transatlantic relations; European security; American, Russian and British foreign policy; Theories and practices of security

Dr Mark Wenman Continental philosophy; Contemporary political theory; The philosophy of the social sciences; The history of political thought.

Professor Nicholas Wheeler Trust-building between adversaries, especially nuclear armed states; Nuclear weapons and proliferation. 

Professor Kataryna Wolczuk Politics of Russia and post-Soviet countries; EU’s Eastern policy, Russia’s policy towards the post-Soviet states; Regional integration in the post-Soviet space; Nationalism and national identities (across Europe and Eurasia).

Professor Stefan Wolff -  Ethnic conflict, civil war, post-conflict state-building; Geopolitics and great-power rivalry; Central Asia, South Caucasus, Eastern Europe, Western Balkans, Middle East & North Africa.

Dr Christalla Yakinthou Conflict transformation, particularly post-settlement; Transitional justice both in theory and practice, and transitions in the MENA region; The relationship between constitutional design and transitional justice; Power sharing, Cypriot, Lebanese, and Tunisian politics and conflicts and the right to truth in international law and practice, and issues around enforced disappearance and missing people during conflict.

Dr Sotirios Zartaloudis European Union politics and policies; Migration in Europe; European politics; Discourse

The International Development Department (IDD)

Dr Sameen A. Mohsin Ali Bureaucratic politics; politics of development, donor engagement, and public sector reform; public health, especially with regard to vaccination; politics of South Asia (especially Pakistan)

Dr Philip Amis Urbanisation; Urban policy; Poverty and housing.

Not currently accepting new PhD supervision applications 

Dr Danielle Beswick UK development policy, including parliamentary scrutiny and public engagement in this; UK Africa relations; The UK Conservative Party and development; Politics, identity and security in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly Rwanda; Knowledge exchange between universities and legislatures.

Dr Brock Bersaglio The political ecology of biodiversity conservation, wild meat (including food sovereignty), and zoonotic disease in eastern/southern Africa; anti-, post- and settler colonial development studies

Dr Adrian Campbell Public and local government reform, especially in transitional states. 

Professor Nic Cheeseman  Elections and democratization; The formation of a social contract in new democracies; Power-sharing and the politics of inclusion; Populism and strategies of political mobilization; African political thought. 

Dr David Cobley Disability-inclusive approaches to development, especially in the areas of poverty reduction, livelihood development, inclusive education and disaster risk reduction.

Dr Niheer Dasandi Politics of international development and foreign aid; development and human rights; politics of climate change and health; foreign policy and development  

Dr Jonathan Fisher Authoritarianism and authoritarian rule; (in)security and conflict; international politics of aid and peacekeeping; particular interest in sub-Saharan Africa.

Professor David Hudson Politics of leadership and coalitions; public opinion, survey analysis, and experiments; migration decision making; network analysis.

Professor Paul Jackson Conflict and post-conflict reconstruction; security sector reform and international intervention; combatants, politics and social reintegration; peacebuilding; economic development.

Dr Chris Lyon Politics of development; political theory; democracy, participation, decentralisation; social justice; development ethics

Professor Heather Marquette The politics of development and foreign policy; Corruption, kleptocracy and organised crime; Anti-corruption/counter-organised crime strategies and interventions

Dr Claire McLoughlin State legitimacy; The politics of public service delivery; The role of ideas in development.

Dr Emeka Njoku Critical security studies; Terrorism and counter-terrorism; Nonprofit organisations; conflict-related gender/sexual violence; State-civil society relations; peacebuilding.

Professor Fiona Nunan Renewable natural resource governance, management and livelihoods in low- and middle-income countries, especially fisheries and coastal ecosystems and community-based or collaborative governance.

Dr Martin Ottmann Political economy of civil war and development, including peace processes and negotiated settlements; Power-sharing, resource redistribution, elections, and political trust after war. PhD applications relying on advanced statistical research methods, mixed-methods designs, and modern methods of causal inference are particularly welcome. 

Dr Emily Scott Humanitarianism, health, and migration; international organisation (IOs) and international non-governmental organisations (INGOs); state-society relations, particularly in the Middle East; conflict and security; localization and the international politics of aid.

Dr Merisa Thompson Feminist political economy; food and agrarian studies; the politics of gender and development; histories of colonialism, particularly the Caribbean.

Dr Kailing Xie Contemporary Chinese society, Gender and reproductive politics, the politics of nation-building; Civil Society; governance beyond the state; collective memory and emotions; Chinese diaspora;feminist epistemologies and methodologies.

Department of Public Administration and Policy (DPAP)

Dr Koen Bartels Social innovation; Democratic innovation; Public encounters; Urban governance; Action research; Interpretive policy analysis; Communication; Practice theory; Relational public policy and administration.

Dr Karin Bottom   The role of small parties; Comparative politics; Policy analysis; Elections and quantitative methodologies.

Dr May Chu Risk regulation; Collaborative governance; Food safety and sustainability

Dr Abena Dadze-Arthur Transfer and brokering of knowledge across cultural and institutional boundaries. Decolonizing, transforming, and indigenising approaches to public management and governance. The scientific study of subjectivity (Q Methodology)

Dr Stephen Jeffares Projects that draw on social media data to understand change or controversies in public policy. 

Dr Timea Nochta Networks in governance and policy; Complexity; Smart cities, digitalisation and e-government; Climate change and net zero; Network analysis; Mixed methods

Dr Louise Reardon Multi-level governance; Policy networks; Agenda setting; Policy change; Policy implementation; Transport policy; Wellbeing and quality of life; Smart cities. 

Dr Philip Whiteman Policy implementation studies; Central and local government relations; Regulation of local government; Local authority corporate management scrutiny; Public sector performance, procurement and efficiency; Public consultation and participation; Organisation dynamics. 

You will contact your supervisor approximately monthly (every 2 months for part-time students) over the course of your study. Supervisors are experienced in managing the research process and are chosen to complement your area of interest. You will discuss your research with a panel annually. The panel is chaired by an experienced researcher from the department, and includes your supervisor and another member of staff. It provides an important opportunity to present progress on your research and to have a wider discussion about your work.

Your supervisor will read and comment on drafts of your thesis before it is finally submitted. An external and an internal examiner (who will not be your supervisor) will then examine it, and will meet with you for a viva. They will judge whether your thesis demonstrates:

• Knowledge of the relevant academic literature
• Skill in use of research methods
• Independent investigation
• Clear presentation of information
• Arguments presented in a coherent and appropriate form

MPhil students must show original work of merit that is worthy of publication. The requirement for PhDs is that the work is an original contribution to knowledge that is worthy of publication.

What type of career assistance is available to doctoral researchers in this department?

The College of Social Sciences, to which the International Development Department belongs, has specially designated careers advisors and careers consultants who can provide guidance for doctoral researchers on career paths, CVs, training opportunities, application and interviews. The University’s central Careers’ Service also runs workshops and offers personally tailored advice and guidance including 1-1 careers advice, 1-1 CV advice. The Career’s Service also runs CV writing workshops especially for postgraduates in the College of Social Sciences, giving advice on how to compile CVs for both employment and for academic roles.

The University also has dedicated careers advisors for International students who run workshops and networking opportunities with potential employers. These are especially popular with International postgraduate researchers.

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Find Education Scholarships for PhD Students

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Elevar Scholars Program

California State University, Fullerton

What You'll Need

• Application Form
• Recommendation
• Demonstrated Financial Need
• Merit-based Aid

Description

Funded by the CSU and Giles T. Brown Endowment for Graduate Studies through the Cal State Fullerton Philanthropic Foundation, this program seeks to increase the diversity of students completing graduate degree programs, encourage further study in doctoral programs and promote consideration of university faculty careers. If provides fellowships to economically disadvantaged CSUF students who have overcome educational disadvantages or hardships. The fellowships are intended to minimize students’ debt burden, allowing them to complete their program more quickly and commence doctoral study.

Fletcher Jones Fellowship

University of California, Irvine

• Need-based Aid

The Fletcher Jones Fellowship is a highly prestigious award, made available through funding from the Fletcher Jones Foundation. It is competitively awarded to an outstanding doctoral student who has advanced to candidacy and demonstrates financial need. The award of a one-year fellowship of approximately $22,290, to be used as a stipend, is intended to assist with doctoral degree completion.

Chancellor's Club Fellowship

Chancellor’s Club Fellowships recognize our most academically superior doctoral and MFA students — those who exhibit outstanding promise as scholars, researchers, and public leaders. Nominated students must be first-generation college students, with neither parent having received a four-year degree. Nominations are made by Associate Deans for scholars in their respective schools.

Miguel Velez Scholarship

The Miguel Velez Scholarship provides financial support to graduate students who demonstrate outstanding past academic achievement as well as future promise, have financial need, and are citizens and residents of a Latin American country. Preference is given to citizens of Colombia.

James Harvey Scholar

The James Harvey Scholar award provides financial support to graduate students who demonstrate outstanding past academic achievement as well as future promise, have financial need, and are completing a publishable thesis or dissertation on homosexuality or the life or works of James Harvey.

Otto W. Shaler Scholarship

The Otto W. Shaler Scholarship provides financial support to international graduate students who have financial need, and who demonstrate outstanding past academic achievement as well as future promise. Each school may submit no more than two applications for this award.

Brython Davis Fellowship

Overview: The Brython Davis Fellowship provides financial support to students who demonstrate outstanding past academic achievement as well as future promise, have financial need, are U.S. citizens, and are the child of a service member or veteran of the U.S. Navy or Marine Corps.

La Verne Noyes Fellowship

The La Verne Noyes Fellowship provides financial support to graduate students who demonstrate outstanding past academic achievement as well as future promise, have financial need, are U.S. citizens, and are descendants of World War I U.S. Army or Navy veterans.

Barbara Bell Blake Nursing Scholarship

Purdue University, Northwest

Need Based: Please note: This specialty scholarship requires a separate application. Even if you've already applied for a PNW admissions scholarship, you need to submit a separate application to be eligible.

Intel SWE Scholarship (Graduate)

Society of Women Engineers (SWE)

SWE Scholarships support those who identify as a female/woman and are pursuing an ABET-accredited bachelor or graduate student program in preparation for careers in engineering, engineering technology and computer science in the United States. US Citizenship required. Minimum GPA: 3.0. Class: Graduate (Masters, Doctoral) Major: CprE, CS, EE.

PhD by distance learning

The faculties of Environment and Arts, Humanities and Cultures offer PhD by distance learning across most schools.

PhD by distance learning allows you to study at a time and place that suits you and, with a part-time option available, you'll have the flexibility to gain an advanced degree alongside work and other commitments.

Through completing a PhD, you will become an expert in a specialist area and gain high-quality research training.

Our PhD by distance learning programmes

Faculty of environment.

• School of Earth and Environment
• School of Food Science and Nutrition
• School of Geography
• Institute for Transport Studies

Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures

• School of Design
• School of English
• School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies
• School of History 
• School of Languages, Cultures and Societies
• School of Music
• School of Performance and Cultural Industries
• School of Philosophy, Religion and History of Science
• Inter-Disciplinary Ethics Applied Centre

Related links

• Schools & departments

• Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships

The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) is offering 55 scholarships for applicants accepted for admission to eligible online masters programmes at the University of Edinburgh in the Academic Year 2024-2025.

The scholarships are intended for candidates from low and middle-income Commonwealth countries, and they are funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.

Each scholarship will cover full tuition fees and will be tenable for up to three years of part-time study.

Eligibility

The list below shows the eligible programmes and the number of scholarships available for the 2024-2025 academic year.

• MSc Clinical Management of Pain  
• MSc Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases  
• MSc Critical Care  
• MSc Internal Medicine  
• MSc Paediatric Emergency Medicine  
• MSc Surgical Sciences
• ChM Trauma & Orthoapaedics
• ChM General Surgery
• ChM Urology
• ChM Vascular & Endovascular Surgery
• MSc in Carbon Management
• MSc in Clinical Education
• Master of Family Medicine

Commonwealth Scholars talk about studying online

To apply for a commonwealth distance learning scholarship, candidates must:.

• Be a citizen of or be granted refugee status from an eligible Commonwealth country, or be a British Protected Person
• Be permanently and continually resident in an eligible Commonwealth country
• Hold a first degree of at least upper second class (2:1) standard. A lower qualification and sufficient relevant experience may be considered in certain cases
• All candidates must provide at least one reference
• All candidates must hold an offer to start their chosen course of study in 2024

Before applying, please be sure to read the Eligibility Information on the Commonwealth Scholarships Commission website.

Applying and Deadlines

This is a TWO PART process  

PART ONE - Securing an offer to study your programme of choice. Apply to the eligible programme of your choice through our Degree Finder .

To secure an offer you must meet the University of Edinburgh entry requirements .  

A conditional offer is sufficient for you to move to part two of this process and apply for the CSC scholarship. You will however need to meet all the conditions of your offer to secure an unconditional offer and become a student at the University of Edinburgh. This will include demonstrating your English language competency.    

Please note – Apply for your programme as soon as possible, as it can take up to 10 working days for an application to be processed. 

PART TWO - Applying for the Commonwealth Scholarship  

Once you have received an offer from the University of Edinburgh, you can apply to the Commonwealth Scholarships. Information on how to apply can be found here.

Before applying, please be sure to read the Eligibility Information on the Commonwealth Scholarships webpage.  

Remember you must include all supporting documentation.

Applications are now closed as the 28th March 2024 deadline has passed.

Notification

Our committee will nominate the chosen candidates within four weeks of the final closing date for applications.  The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission selection committee will select Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholars from the shortlists of nominated candidates and release the final results in July 2024.

Further Information

All enquires should be directed to  Future Students.

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Top Scholarships for Online Students in April 2024

Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman is a content editor and writer at Scholarships360. He has managed communications and written content for a diverse array of organizations, including a farmer’s market, a concert venue, a student farm, an environmental NGO, and a PR agency. Gabriel graduated from Kenyon College with a degree in sociology.

Learn about our editorial policies

Whether you are a student who’s always on the move, a parent who is busy taking care of your children, or an adult in the workforce who wants to go back to school, online learning can be just the right fit to help you earn that degree. Below are the top scholarships for online students– we hope that these will help you get the degree you’re looking for without being burdened by debt!

Also see: Scholarships360’s free scholarship search tool

Jump ahead to:

• Top scholarships for online students
• How to win scholarship for online students
• Tips for online students

Frequently asked questions

Related scholarships to explore.

Here are the top scholarships for online students:

Top scholarships for online students 

Get educated online scholarship.

• Eligibility: Students enrolled in any online or distance learning college
• Amount: $1,000
• Deadline: March 15th and October 15th of each year

NursingColleges.com $2,500 Scholarship

• Eligibility: Individuals who are enrolled in a U.S.-based accredited online nursing degree program.
• Amount: $2,500
• Deadline : April 15, 2024

Charles Pulling Sr. Memorial Scholarship

• Eligibility: High school and non-traditional (e.g. first-generation, single parents, those who took a break from school before returning, or those over the age of 25) students
• Amount: 2 awards worth $1,000
• Deadline:  July 31, 2024

Study.com Online Graduate Degree Scholarship

• Eligibility: Students pursuing a master’s degree who are in a distance learning program
• Deadline:  November 1, 2024

Study.com Online Undergraduate Degree Scholarship

• Eligibility: Students pursuing a bachelor’s or associate’s degree who are in a distance learning program

If you are a student in an online undergraduate or graduate program, you may also qualify for other scholarships. We know that many online students are adult learners and working professionals who are balancing school and a career.

How to win scholarships for online students 

Many scholarships require students to submit an essay as part of their application, and for good reason! Grades and test scores are important, but scholarship committee members rely on essays to get a better sense of who you are. Submitting a unique and compelling essay will draw more attention to your application and boost your chances of winning!

Fortunately, we have many guides to help you write an essay that stands out from the crowd. Check out the following resources to get started: 

• How to write a 250 word essay
• How to write a 500 word essay
• How to write an essay about yourself
• Overview of common scholarship essay prompts
• How to start a scholarship essay (with examples)
• How to write a winning scholarship essay
• How to end a scholarship essay

Tips for online students 

Like most things, there are pros and cons to taking classes online. While you don’t have to deal with the hassle of commuting to school, it also takes more discipline to stay focused and complete your work. If you don’t stay on top of things, you could easily find yourself falling behind. Fortunately, we have 10 great tips to help you succeed in online classes . 

Also see:  Online vs. in-person school: What to consider

Can I get scholarships for online courses?

Can i use fafsa to pay for online school, what is the easiest scholarship to get.

Related: Top 10 online colleges that accept the FAFSA

Upcoming scholarships for online students

American legion non-traditional student scholarship.

• Eligibility: Members of the American Legion, Auxiliary, or Sons of The American Legion for the two preceding years preceding application
• Amount: $2,000
• Deadline : March 1st of each year

Job-Applications.com Working Parent College Scholarship Award

• Eligibility: Full or part-time students who are parents of a minor and have worked at least 12 hours each week for the 4 weeks before applying

Here are some other top scholarship guides that you can check out:

• Top scholarships for college students
• Top scholarships for graduate students
• Top scholarships for nontraditional students
• Top scholarships for adults
• Top scholarships for moms

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London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

Commonwealth distance learning scholarships.

The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) has been awarded 15 Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships to study one of the following distance learning Master's programmes from October 2024 - each scholarship covers full tuition fees.

• MSc Clinical Trials by Distance Learning
• MSc Epidemiology by Distance Learning
• MSc Global Health Policy by Distance Learning
• MSc Infectious Diseases by Distance Learning
• MSc Public Health by Distance Learning

How to apply

To apply you must:

• apply to the University of London Worldwide for one (or more) of the above eligible distance learning Master’s programmes, and  be in receipt of an   offer of a place   on your chosen programme   by 28 March 2024  
• apply using the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission’s (CSC) Distance Learning (Masters)  online application form  for a Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship  by 28 March 2024, 16:00 (GMT)  

In order for your application to be eligible for consideration you must also submit  all  supporting documentation to the CSC's distance learning online application form  by 28 March 2024, 16:00 (GMT) . Please see the  Commonwealth Scholarships website  for the list of required supporting documentation.

IMPORTANT NOTE:   At least two   references are required , which applicants must upload to the CSC system themselves.

Full details of the Commonwealth Distance Learning Master’s Scholarships, including general terms and conditions; scholar eligibility (including an  eligibility checklist ); eligible countries; completing the application form; supporting documentation - including specific instructions for the content and format of your two references; and information regarding the selection process can be found on the  Commonwealth Scholarships website

General enquiries about applying for Commonwealth Scholarships should be directed to the CSC by completing their  online contact form .

Enquiries about the distance learning programmes should be sent to the LSHTM Study Team by completing their  online contact form .

• 10 Distance Learning Scholarships & Tuition Free Online Degree/Courses

Last updated: 30 Apr 2024 |

©iStock.com/Warchi

If you want to study anywhere or in your own country and at the same time want the benefit of an international education, distance learning education is for you.  It is cheaper than actually studying abroad because everything is done online.  scholars4dev.com made a list of  online degree scholarships  and free online courses to help you get an online education for free.

Online Degree Scholarships  »

Commonwealth Distance Learning  Scholarships The Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships support candidates from developing commonwealth countries to study 30+ Master’s degree courses that are either offered in partnership with universities in developing countries, or delivered directly by UK institutions. The scholarships cover the tuition fees.

Edinburgh Global Distance Learning Scholarships The University of Edinburgh will offer 12 scholarships to citizens of selected developing countries to pursue one of the 30+ distance learning Master’s programmes offered by the University  Each scholarship will cover the full tuition fees over three years.

University of the People Tuition Free Degrees University of the People offers online, accredited, tuition-free, American university degrees in business administration and computer science. The programs are taught by world-class professors hailing from universities such as NYU, Harvard, Oxford and more in a supportive virtual small classroom setting. UoPeople prepares its students for employment by offering internship and mentoring programs to gain hands-on experience with its partners such as HP and Microsoft; in addition to academic study of the industry.

Free Online Courses »

edX Free Online Courses at Premier Universities edX is a learning platform that gives students from any country the opportunity to take free online courses offered by premier Universities around the world.  The course are available to anyone in the world – from any demographic – who has interest in advancing their own knowledge.  With the exception of professional education courses, edX courses are free for everyone. Some courses have a fee for verified certificates but are free to audit.

Coursera Coursera is an education company that partners with the top universities and organizations in the world to offer courses online for anyone to take, for free. Currently, they offer courses in a wide range of topics, spanning the Humanities, Medicine, Biology, Social Sciences, Mathematics, Business, Computer Science, and many others.

Udemy Udemy is the world’s largest marketplace for teaching and learning. Over 50 million students in 200+ countries are taking Udemy’s online courses to advance their careers and pursue their passions. Over 150,000 courses available on-demand, 24/7, via the iPhone, iPad, Android, and Web.

Khan Academy Khan Academy is a not-for-profit with the goal of changing education for the better by providing a free world-class education for anyone anywhere.  With a library of over 4,500 videos on everything from arithmetic to physics, finance, and history and hundreds of skills to practice, Khan Academy will help you learn what you want, when you want, at your own pace.

Academic Earth Academic Earth believes everyone deserves access to a world-class education. The platform offers a comprehensive collection of free online courses from the world’s top universities.

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Commonwealth Distance Learning Master’s Scholarships

by Alumni Team | Jan 20, 2022

How to apply

Supporting documentation, advice for applicants, choosing a university/course.

• Scholar eligibility

Eligible countries

Completing the application form, selection process, general conditions.

The Commonwealth Distance Learning programme is one of three Master’s programmes offered by the Commonwealth Scholarships 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: Funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships enable talented and motivated individuals to access training and skills required for sustainable development not available in their home countries.

Intended beneficiaries:  Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships are for candidate from eligible low and middle income Commonwealth countries, to undertake part-time taught Master’s study with UK universities while remaining in their home countries.

These scholarships are offered under six  CSC development themes .

Applications for Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships for the 202 4 /2 5 academic year are now open . The deadline for submitting an application is 16:00 GMT on Thursday 28 March 2024. The scholarships are for study beginning in September/October 2024.  

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 must apply and secure admission to study an approved Master’s course at a participating UK university in addition to applying for a Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship via the CSC’s online application system.  

• View full list of approved courses and participating UK universities  

Applicants can apply for more than one course and to more than one university, but they may only accept one offer of a Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship. Please note that Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships are only for Master’s courses and not for undergraduate or PhD study.  

Please check with the chosen university for their specific advice on when to apply, admission requirements, and rules for applying.  

Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship applications will be shared with UK universities, who will nominate their chosen applicants to receive a Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship in May 2024. The CSC will then check that the applicants who have been nominated meet the CSC’s eligibility criteria. Universities will inform applicants if they have successfully been awarded a Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship in July 2024.  

Applications must include supporting documentation to be eligible.

Please note that applicants are required to collect references, on institution letterhead or an email clearly showing the sender’s details, from referees and then upload them to the application system in PDF format with their other supporting documentation.   

The references must be uploaded to the application system by the deadline for applications and we are unable to accept references any other way or after this date.  

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 up-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.  
• References from at least two individuals, in PDF format, signed and on institutional letterhead or an email clearly showing the sender’s details.  

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.  

When completing the references, referees should be asked to comment as fully as possible on the applicant, keeping in mind the following points for inclusion, as appropriate:  

• How long, and in what capacity, the referee has known the applicant.  
• The referee’s views on the applicant’s suitability for the proposed scholarship and the need for the particular subject of study in the UK.  
• Information on how, and to what extent, the applicant has shown ability in terms of capability to grasp concepts and reason analytically; capacity for original thought; and motivation and perseverance in achieving objectives.  
• Assessment of the applicant’s particular strengths and weaknesses.  
• The applicant’s potential to impact development in their home country.  
• Any other general qualities which the referee considers would make the applicant a good recipient of a scholarship.  

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

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

A list of eligible courses for 2024 can be found on the how to apply tab, sorted by CSC development theme .

Candidate’s may find the following resources useful when researching their choices of institution:

• Study UK  – British Council website, with guidance for international students and a course and institution search
• Postgrad.com  – information for postgraduate students, with a course search
• 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
• Unistats  – 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.

Applicant eligibility

To be eligible for a Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship, applicants should:

• Be a citizen of or have been granted refugee status by an eligible Commonwealth country, 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 and sufficient relevant experience may be considered in certain cases.
• Be unable to afford to study the programme without this scholarship.

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 candidates with a disability, see the CSC disability support statement .

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

The CSC is committed to proactively 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’s 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]

Please see list of eligible countries below as stated in the DAC list  published in January 2022.

Bangladesh Belize Botswana Cameroon Dominica Eswatini Fiji Gabon Ghana Grenada Guyana India Jamaica Kenya Kiribati Lesotho Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mauritius Montserrat Mozambique Namibia Nauru Nigeria Pakistan Papua New Guinea Rwanda Saint Helena Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa Sierra Leone Solomon Islands South Africa Sri Lanka Tanzania The Gambia Togo Tonga Tuvalu Uganda Vanuatu Zambia

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 their employment history and explain how each job is relevant to the programme to be undertaken.
• Provide a statement on the relevance of their previous work experience to the proposed Scholarship.
• List names and positions of two referees who are qualified to comment on both the candidate’s capacity to benefit from the proposed scholarship in the UK and their ability to deliver development impact afterwards. One referee must be a current employer (if applicable).
• Provide a Development Impact statement in 4 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 your 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 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 applicants for Distance Learning Scholarships. Universities must put forward their selected applicants to the CSC in early May 202 4 . The CSC will then confirm that these applicants meet the eligibility criteria for this scheme and universities will inform applicants of their results in July 202 4 .  

Selection criteria include:

• Academic merit of the applicant
• Potential impact of the work on the development of the applicant’s home country

A Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship covers tuition fees and study grants where required. 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 the CSC’s satisfaction, before the CSC proceeds with any type of formal agreement or contractual relationship. In most cases, the due diligence checks will be straightforward, but further information may be requested, so we ask for full co-operation to speed up the process.  

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

If an application is successful, the applicant’s university will notify them that they have been selected.

The CSC does not require any applicants to take an IELTS (English language) test. Please note, however, that, as a further condition of a scholarship, applicants may be required by their university to provide evidence of a particular level of English language proficiency.

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

When terms of admission to the university have been agreed, the university will send a formal Notification of Award letter.

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.   

Scholars 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 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.

FAQs and enquiries

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

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

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List of Distance Learning Scholarships for Developing Countries

Emmanuel Onalo

July 26, 2022

Have you ever wondered if there are distance learning scholarships for developing countries? Are you interested in knowing more about fully funded distance learning scholarship opportunities for developing countries? Look no further because, in this post, I will share information on some of the best distance learning scholarships available this year. 

A distance learning scholarship is a type of scholarship that allows you to study in any part of the world and at the same time, enjoy the full benefit of international education. This type of study is cheaper, flexible, self-paced and convenient because it is online.

Get Up to $100,000 Student Loan for Your Master in US or Canada - See if you are eligible

SEE ALSO: Earn your degree online – A Complete Guide

Table of Contents

Distance Learning Paths

Some of the most popular distance learning paths include

• University of Edinburgh Masters (MS) Degrees
• Commonwealth Distance Learning Degrees
• Online Courses
• University of the People Online Tuition-Free Degrees

Let’s Expand them:

• University of the People Degrees

University of the People offers tuition-free, online, accredited, American university degrees in business administration and computer science. World-class professors teach the courses from renowned universities such as NYU, Harvard, Oxford, and more in a supportive distance learning classroom setting. University of the People prepares its students for employment by offering internship and mentoring programs to gain hands-on experience with its partners such as HP and Microsoft; in addition to the academic study of the industry.

SEE: Study at University of the People: Is it worth it? 10 Things You Need to Know

Recommended Video: Top 10 Fully-Funded Government Scholarships for international students

Commonwealth distance learning scholarships.

The Commonwealth Distance learning scholarships support international students from developing countries to pursue Master’s degree courses offered in partnership with top universities in developing countries or delivered directly by accredited UK institutions. The scholarship covers only tuition fees.

• Edinburgh Global Distance Learning Scholarships

Every year, the University of Edinburgh offers scholarships to outstanding students from some selected developing countries to pursue Distance learning Master’s programmes offered by the university.

There are different scholarships available in the Edinburgh Global Distance Learning Scholarships, and each scholarship covers full tuition fees for 3 to 4 years.

SEE ALSO: University of Edinburgh – All you need to know

• EdX Free Online Courses at Premier Universities

EdX is an online learning platform that grants students across the world, the opportunity to take free online courses accredited and offered by Premier Universities around the World. The courses and degree programs are available to all students irrespective of their demographic background who are passionate about advancing their own knowledge. EdX courses are free for students from developing countries with the exception of professional education courses. Most courses are free but require a certain fee for verified certificates.

Coursera is an education company that partners with top universities across the world to offer free online courses to students all over the world. They currently offer courses in a wide variety of fields ranging from Humanities, Biology, Medicine, Mathematics, Social Science, Computer Science, Business and many others.

Google has developed its own online certificated courses in varying subjects covering digital skills. What is unique to Google courses is the bite-sized videos ie the videos are often 3-7 minutes in length thus easier to digest.

Google also partners with Coursera to develop its courses.

Do you want to learn entry-level skills in SEO, SEM, email, content marketing, other marketing, product design, product management, software dev in 6 months or less? Take a Google course today.

Google certificates are widely accepted as industry standard and will get you into many start-up, multinational doors etc.

• Khan Academy

Khan Academy is a non-profit organization with the goal of changing the education sector by providing a world-class education for students in developing countries. They have a collection of over 5,000 videos on different fields of human endeavor ranging from Physics, History, Finance, and many other areas.

Khan Academy help you learn at your pace.

Distance learning scholarships allow you to pursue studies from accredited universities in your own country or anywhere you may be.

These are the Top Distance Learning Scholarships

University of edinburgh mastercard foundation scholarships.

All African countries are invited to apply (We are particularly interested to consider applications from individuals who have faced barriers to education through disability or forced migration. We also particularly invite applications from nationals of Malawi, Ethiopia, Mauritius, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe). 

Selection Criteria: 

• The scholarships are competitive and awarded broadly on the basis of academic merit. Applicants financial, personal, and family circumstances will also be taken into account.
• Applicants must also be committed to returning to Africa following their graduation to give back to their home community and country.

Value of Scholarship:  The scholarship will cover the full tuition fees and a small study stipend to allow for access to high-quality internet. The scholarship is designed to cover three-years of part-time online study. On top of financial support, Scholars will participate in activities as part of the wider Scholars Program with the University of Edinburgh, including regular online workshops with our scholars, online coaching and support, and the opportunity to attend regional scholar-led workshops and events.

SEE MORE for more details about this scholarship offer.

Matilda Mwaba Scholarship at University of London for African Women

Program type: Postgraduate Deadline: 1st August (STILL OPEN)

Ms. Matilda Mwaba was co-founder of the Zambia National Organisation for Women in Sport Physical Activity and Recreation (NOWSPAR) where she served as Chief Executive Officer. Her work focused on advocacy for the empowerment girls and women in and through sport, increasing women and girls participation in sport, sport for development, organisational development, and policy engagement on the integrity of sport.

Eligibility: To be considered for the scholarship you must:

• Have an offer for the module/Postgraduate certificate
• Be of age 35 and under
• Be a permanent resident of a country in Africa
• Be able to provide relevant references

Value of Award:  The scholarship will cover the fees for one short course (module) of the University of London International Sports Management by distance learning. Successful recipients of the scholarship will also receive mentorship in the specialist subject area.

50 University of Edinburgh Distance Learning Scholarships

Program type: Masters Deadline: 31 March (annual)

University of Edinburgh Distance Learning Scholarships will be awarded to students who have applied for admission on a part-time basis for any of the eligible programmes listed below

Clinical Education, MSc MSc Epidemiology Family Medicine, MSc General Surgery, ChM International Development, MSc MSc Surgical Sciences ChM Trauma & Orthopaedics ChM Urology ChM Vascular & Endovascular Surgery

Value of University of Edinburgh Distance Learning Scholarships: The scholarship includes full tuition fee and resources to enhance student participation, access and research skills.

University of Edinburgh Online Surgical Learning for Developing Countries

Program type: Masters (Law) Deadline: 31 March (annual)

Eligibility:  The scholarships will be awarded to a candidate who is accepted for admission on to an eligible programme and who are candidates who are citizens of and resident in one of the following developing Commonwealth countries above.

Value of Scholarship: The scholarship includes full tuition fee and resources to enhance student participation, access and research skills. This includes participation in a summer school; contribution towards student costs of internet access & printing (journal articles, etc); and a contribution to project costs (materials, travel, etc).

Fully-funded Distance Learning Scholarships in Tropical Forestry at Bangor University, UK

This postgraduate course is primarily intended for students who already have an interest in forestry and who wish to learn more about the environmental and societal benefits that tropical forests can provide. Suitable applicants include individuals working in forestry/forest-related industries/ natural resource management, particularly in the fields of planning, regulation, policy, monitoring, conservation and environmental protection. 

Eligibility / Criteria: In order to be considered for scholarship, applicants are expected:

• to have at least an upper second class degree in a relevant subject (e.g. forestry, conservation, land management, natural sciences, economics).  Relevant work experience is also valued.  Applicants with a lower second class degree with relevant and sufficient work experience may also be considered.
• Regardless of English language ability and educational background, all applicants from Bangladesh, Cameroon, Mozambique, Pakistan, Rwanda and Sri Lanka are required to take an IELTS and obtain a minimum overall score of 6.5, if they wish to be considered for a CSC scholarship. 
• Applicants from the eligible countries  do not  need proof of English Language proficiency  if  they have studied their education through the medium of English.
• In order to study this course, students  must have  regular  access to a computer with internet access, as the University cannot provide these to distance learning students.
• Applicants should ensure they are eligible for entry to the course and that distance learning is suitable for them before applying for a CSC scholarship.

Value & Duration of Scholarships: Scholarships are worth £18,000, which covers tuition fees and a generous bursary to enable scholars to attend a compulsory two-week study tour scheduled to be held overseas in July/August 2023. A small study grant is also available to help scholars with study costs associated with distance learning (e.g. internet usage).

University of Edinburgh Scholarships in Ophthalmology

Program type: Masters Deadline: 15 June (annual)

A number of online distance learning Masters scholarships are available in the field of Ophthalmology for students from Africa, South Asia, Caribbean Islands, Pacific Islands, Central and Latin America who have been accepted for admission to the two-year, part-time online ChM (Master of Surgery) in Clinical Ophthalmology.

The scholarships will be awarded to students who are accepted for admission on to the online distance learning Master of Surgery (ChM) in Clinical Ophthalmology at the University of Edinburgh, one of the Edinburgh Surgery Online suite of Masters programmes. Applicants should already have been offered a place at the University of Edinburgh and should have firmly accepted that offer or be intending to do so. Applicants should be advanced trainee ophthalmologists.  Applications from ophthalmologists in independent practice may also be considered. Applicants must be both nationals of and resident in the following countries in link below

Value of Award: Each scholarship will cover the tuition fee for the entire programme of study and funding towards a laptop and internet service.  The award is tenable for two academic years, subject to academic progress.

Tuition Free University by Distance Learning at University of the People

Program type: Undergraduate, Masters Deadline: 16 May

The university offers two-year associate and four-year bachelor’s degree programs in business administration, computer science, and health science, as well as an MBA program. Recently, the University of the People (UoPeople) and the International Baccalaureate (IB) have launched a tuition-free, online Master of Education (M.Ed.).

Criteria: UoPeople accepts students who have graduated high school, have access to a computer and the Internet and have sufficient English skills to study at the University.

Value of Scholarship: The university offers a variety of scholarships. Some of the scholarships can be found below

Edinburgh Global Online Learning Masters Scholarships for Developing Countries

Program type: Masters Deadline: 1st June

The University of Edinburgh will offer scholarships for distance learning Master’s programmes offered by the University. Scholarships will be available for students pursuing any distance learning Master’s programme offered by the University.

Selection Criteria :  The scholarship will be awarded broadly on the basis of academic merit. Candidates must have, or expect to obtain, a UK first class or 2:1 Honours degree at undergraduate level or the international equivalent.

Value of Scholarship: Each scholarship will cover the full tuition fees.

Canon Collins University of London LLM Masters by Distance Learning Scholarships

Program type: Masters (Law) Deadline: 30th June

These scholarships allow individuals to study for the Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma and/or the Master of Laws (LLM) by distance learning, at the University of London. Applicants can start at any level, and do not need to complete the whole programme. For example, applicants can start at Postgraduate Certificate level and work their way through to the LLM, or can stop after completing the PG Certificate. Applicants who have completed an undergraduate degree may start at LLM level, skipping the PG Certificate and Diploma.

Eligibility : Applicant must be:

a national of, or have refugee status in, one of the following countries: Malawi, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe normally resident in one of these countries in possession of the necessary qualifications required for admission to the programme; currently employed in full or part-time work; able to commit a minimum of 10 hours to study per week.

Value of Scholarship: These scholarships are made possible by the generosity of the University of London, who will waiver full tuition and examination entry fees of selected candidates. Local examination fees are not included.

University of Manchester Equity & Merit (Fully-funded) Masters Scholarships

Program type: Masters Deadline: 31 August (annual)

There are 30 scholarships (20 for full-time study and 10 for online study) available each year for a wide range of courses in engineering, environment, health sciences, development, education, textiles and law. The scheme is open to applicants from Ethiopia , Malawi , Rwanda , Tanzania , Uganda and Zimbabwe . 

The awards are intended for those who couldn’t afford to study in Manchester without a scholarship. We are committed to a policy of equal opportunity and all applications are considered on their merit. We particularly encourage women to apply. 

We offer two types of scholarship:

• One-year, full-time, on-campus master’s
• Part-time distance learning master’s (three to five years’ duration)

Value of Manchester Equity & Merit Award: The scholarships cover full tuition fees, and for students who will be studying in Manchester, the award includes return international airfares, living expenses and visas.

Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Programme

• Program type: Masters/PhD Degree
• Deadline: 31 March (annual)

The Aga Khan Foundation provides scholarship opportunities to outstanding students from developing countries through a 50% grant basis and 50% loan in a highly competitive application process annually.

The foundation gives more preference to Master level courses. Also, the application for short term courses is not considered.

The foundation accepts applications from students from the following countries: Mozambique, Madagascar, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Egypt, Syria, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh.

In Canada, USA, UK, Portugal and France, applications are only accepted from students who are from any of the developing countries mentioned above and are interested in pursuing development-related courses but have no financial means of financing their education.

MORE: 50+ Scholarships to Study in the UK for Nigerian Students

Scholarship’s worth : The Aga Khan foundation assists students with tuition fees only. If you need to travel to the distance learning centre of the accredited institution under the scholarship offer, you will be responsible for all the travel expenses.

In most cases, half of the tuition fee is considered as a loan, and you will be expected to pay within a period of 5 years exactly six months after the study period funded by the foundation.

The main criteria for selecting lucky candidates include

• Excellent academic performance records
• genuine financial need
• admission to a reputable university running distance learning programmes
• the relevance of the field of study to the AKDN vision and mission
• applicants are also expected to have years of experience in their desired field of interest

SEE HERE for more details about this scholarship offer.

The Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships are for students from developing Commonwealth countries who wish to pursue a part-time master’s degree programme by distance learning on selected courses offered by UK universities. The scholarships are funded by the UK Department of International Development. 

Eligibility : Students from the following developing countries can apply for the Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships: Nigeria, Uganda, Tuvalu, The Gambia, Tanzania, Sri Lanka, Solomon Islands, Sierra Leonne, Samoa, Rwanda, Papua New Guinea, Pakistan, Mozambique, Malawi, Lesotho, Kenya’ Kiribati, Guyana’ India, Ghana, Eswatini, Cameroon, Zambia, Vanuatu and Bangladesh.

Scholarship Worth : The scholarship covers all areas including the full tuition fees, grants to contribute to study-related costs, partnership development costs, return ticket from the candidate’s home country to the UK distance learning location.

The eligibility criteria : There are certain factors that are taken into consideration to ascertain whether you qualify for the scholarship.

• The quality of the course you wish to study
• Outstanding academic performance and records
• A track record for delivery the course by distance learning
• Copies of external/independent reports of the programme undertaken in recent years
• Proof of your inability to study the programme without external funding or scholarship
• Applicants must possess a minimum of second class upper (2:1) in his/her first degree. Candidates with lower qualifications may be considered in rare occasions.
• Applicant must be a permanent resident in any of the developing Commonwealth countries listed above.
• Applicant must be a citizen or have been granted refugee status in any of the developing Commonwealth countries mentioned above or must be a British Protected Person.
• Applicant must write an essay on the development impact of the course of study, including how the course can be applied to solve problems in developing countries and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
• Feasibility test to ascertain whether the course takes into account the appropriate use of technology and whether the course providers identify the target audience of potential applicants and recruit them successfully 

Rotary Foundation Global Scholarship Grants for Development

The Rotary Foundation offers scholarships to students from developing countries who wish to carry out their graduate-level coursework by distance learning but do not have the financial means to do so.

The courses are run in an accredited university located in a country where there is a host Rotary club or district, outside the applicant’s country.

The Rotary Foundation Global Grants can be used to fund scholarships with high impact and sustainable 

outcomes in any of the Rotary’s six areas of focus Water and sanitation Basic education, Disease prevention and treatment, Maternal and child health, Peace and conflict prevention/resolution and Economic and community development.

Scholarship value/inclusions : The scholarship is worth $30,000 and covers the following expenses visa, tuition fees, travel expenses, school supplies, and other costs. Personal expenses are not covered by scholarship funding.

Application guidelines : Applicant must NOT BE

• An employee of a club or any international rotary entity
• A spouse or lineal descendant of any person in the two categories mentioned above

Applicant must be willing to study outside their home country or distance learning centre located in their region. Applicant must also provide proof of university admission as at the time of application.

Application instructions : Interested applicants should contact their local rotary clubs via rotary club locator. For more information about this scholarship, you can log on to the Rotary’s Official Scholarship Website.

Benefits of Distance Learning Scholarships

• It saves time and money.
• It also provides you with the benefit of international learning by residing in your home country
• If you desire to access your education simultaneously with your jobs or other tasks, distance education is for you.
• It doesn’t matter where you live; you can gain your degree from anywhere in the world
• Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships provide full tuition fees and other costs of study including residential component costs where necessary.

Conclusively, the truth is that you can have access to an international standard of education right from your country. All thanks to distance learning scholarship opportunities. I believe the information I have provided on each of the opportunities here will help you land a perfect one that suits your field of study.

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Masters in Online Teaching

The open university's masters in online teaching from iet, maot commonwealth distance learning scholarships – 2025 entry.

Do you have a serious interest in online teaching, technology-enhanced learning and educational technology?

Would you like to gain a Master’s degree with one of the UK’s leading providers of digital education, for study commencing in February 2025? Are you a citizen of one of the following developing Commonwealth countries, a refugee from one of the following countries, or a British Protected Person?

Bangladesh, Belize, Botswana, Cameroon, Dominica, Eswatini, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Montserrat, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Saint Helena, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, The Gambia, Togo, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia

Are you permanently resident in one of the above countries?

The Open University’s Institute of Educational Technology (IET) has been awarded 10 fully funded Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships for citizens of developing Commonwealth countries who wish to study IET’s Masters in Online Teaching (MAOT ). We are pleased to invite applications for these scholarships.

The closing date for applications is 16.00 (GMT) on 28 March 2024.

These Scholarships are funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and are intended to contribute to the development needs of Commonwealth countries by enabling talented and motivated individuals to access training and skills required for sustainable development by undertaking part-time Masters study with UK universities while remaining in their home countries.

Intended beneficiaries

High-quality candidates from eligible low and middle-income Commonwealth countries who wish to access training not available in their home countries, who wish or need to remain in their home country while they study, and who have the potential to enhance the development of their home countries with the knowledge and leadership skills they acquire.

About the Masters in Online Teaching

The Open University’s Masters in Online Teaching (MAOT) is studied entirely online. The MAOT develops skills in the theory-informed design of technology-enhanced, blended and online learning. The MAOT is designed to address educational inequity in all its forms and, as such, is relevant to achieving inclusive, high quality, equitable blended and online education. The Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships are for three years’ part-time distance learning, commencing in February 2025. The scholarships will cover the full cost of tuition fees but no other expenses.

It is likely that Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship holders will study the following modules, in the order stated. However, there may be some variation in the exact content offered.

Stage 1 – February-October 2025:

• Compulsory module H880 Technology-enhanced learning: foundations and futures .

Stage 2 – October 2025 – September 2026 60 credits from either four of the following 15-credit microcredentials, currently presented three times annually:

• Online teaching: Evaluating and improving courses.
• Teacher development: Embedding mental health in the curriculum.
• Online teaching: Accessibility and inclusive learning.
• Online teaching: Embedding social, race and gender-related equity.
• Online teaching: Addressing the climate emergency (first presentation date to be confirmed).

Or one 60-credit postgraduate module chosen from:

• Social justice, equity and equality: inclusive practice for all.
• Exploring educational leadership: values, context and strategy.
• Learning and teaching: educating the next generation.

Stage 3 – October 2025 – May 2026:

• Compulsory module H890 Research and scholarship in digital education . This module develops skills in critically evaluating and conducting digital education-related research and scholarship and is suitable preparation for future doctoral study.

Who can apply? To be eligible for a Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship to study the Masters in Online and Distance Education you must:

• Be a citizen of, or have been granted refugee status by one of the eligible developing Commonwealth countries listed above, or be a British protected person; and
• Be permanently in one of the eligible developing Commonwealth countries listed above; and
• Hold a first degree of at least upper second class (2:1) standard. A lower qualification and sufficient relevant experience may be considered in certain cases; and
• Be unable to afford to study the programme without this scholarship.

You will also need access to a computer with reliable broadband internet access. You do not need to be working in technology-enhanced learning but you should be interested in developing expertise in this area.

General conditions for the Scholarships are available here: https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/scholarships/commonwealth-distance-learning-scholarships-candidates/ .

How to apply

• Visit the Masters in Online Teaching website to find out more about the programme. Do not attempt to register for any of the modules.
• Read the Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships Information for Candidates . If you have any questions please contact [email protected] in the first instance, giving the subject ‘2024 Commonwealth Scholarships query’.
• Complete the Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship application form by 16.00 (GMT) on 28 March 2024 and submit it online. You should complete all sections of the application form as fully as possible as the form will be the basis for selection of candidates. Pay particular attention to describing in detail how you intend to achieve in-country benefit as a result of your study of the Masters in Online Teaching.

33 thoughts on “ MAOT Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships – 2025 entry ”

Awesome news and timely

Greetings. I am the holder of an Associate Degree in ICT. Can I enroll in this program?

Greetings. Thank you for your interest in our MAOT scholarships. To apply, you need to complete the full application form available here . To establish your eligibility we would need to have further information about your Associate Degree. You can upload that information with your application.

It’s a good initiative

I need some information of this program thnks

Thank you for your interest in our MAOT scholarships. To find out more about the programme please follow the links above. To apply, you need to complete the full application form available here .

I what do I need to apply,

I’m interested

Thank you for your interest in our MAOT scholarships. To apply, you need to complete the full application form available here .

One of the primary reasons I am motivated to pursue this scholarship is to is my unwavering passion for learning. Education has the power to transform lives, empower individuals and drives societal progress. I firmly believe that by acquiring master degree on educational technology j will be equipped with necessary knowledge and skills to create innovative solutions that can revolutionized the way education is delivered.

Am interested in having scholarship to do my degree in public health

I will be grateful if scholarship is been awarded to me

My name is Arani, citizen of Sri Lanka, above mentioned developing Commonwealth countries Sri Lanka is missing.

Thank you for your interest in our MAOT scholarships. To apply, you need to complete the full application form available here . Sri Lanka is in the list of approved countries above.

Very interested

I would to study MAOT assist a lot of students who want to do pursue certain programmes online. I further wish to enhance my IT skills, knowledge and competencies. nowadays, technology has replaced physical contact sessions, hence my intentions to pursue MAOT. Gone are the days where a student and teachers have to sit face each in the processes of teaching and learning. Distance is no longer a barrier these days.It is through MAOT that, this can be achieved. I therefore want to pursue a MAOT programme so that I become a 21st century teacher. I hope these reasons are convincing enough to consider me for admmission. Thank you.

I would to study MAOT assist a lot of students who want to do pursue certain programmes online. I further wish to enhance my IT skills, knowledge and competencies. nowadays, technology has replaced physical contact sessions, hence my intentions to pursue MAOT. Gone are the days where a student and teachers have to sit face each in the processes of teaching and learning. Distance is no longer a barrier these days.It is through MAOT that, this can be achieved. I therefore want to pursue a MAOT programme so that I become a 21st century teacher. I hope these reasons are convincing enough to consider me for admission. Thank you.

I would like to study MAOT to assist a lot of students who want to pursue certain programmes online. I further wish to enhance my IT skills, knowledge and competencies. Nowadays, technology has replaced physical contact sessions, hence my intentions to pursue MAOT. Gone are the days where a student and teacher sat face to face with each in the processes of teaching and learning. Distance is no longer a barrier these days. It is through MAOT that, this can be achieved. I therefore want to pursue a MAOT programme so that I become a 21st century teacher. I hope these reasons are convincing enough to consider me for admission. Thank you.

I belong to Pakistan, and fresh bachelor degree in computer science can i get this opportunity

You appear to be eligible, though it’s important that you study the information above and on the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission website very carefully and then give plenty of information in your application form. Thank you for your interest.

Hi, how many modules one need to complete the MAOT? Is it 3 modules? Just to confirm:

2 compulsory modules (H880 & H890) 1 postgraduate module (60-credits)

2 compulsory modules (H880 & H890) PLUS 4 microcredentials (15-credits).

Can one pursue a PhD after completing this Masters degree?

Thank you for your interest in the MAOT scholarships. Your summary above is accurate. There are two choices of pathway through the MAOT – one features 3 modules, and the second features two modules and four microcredentials.

Yes, the MAOT is very good preparation for a PhD, with its final module covering research and scholarship in digital education.

I am very much interested.

That’s good to hear. Now you need to follow the application process outlined in the post above.

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