The Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) is an international organisation that is committed to building a better world through higher education. ACU believe in international collaboration, thus they connect students and universities from around the world, to help advance knowledge, promote understanding, broaden minds, and improve lives.
The ACU is the first international university network, promoting and supporting excellence in higher education in the Commonwealth. ACU currently has more than 500 member universities in 50 countries across the Commonwealth region.
ABOUT THE QUEEN ELIZABETH COMMONWEALTH SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMME
The Association of Commonwealth Universities is inviting students to apply for Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships (QECS), for the 2024 academic year.
The scholarship is aimed at students from low and middle-income Commonwealth countries (54 countries across Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and the Americas), to pursue a 2-year Masters’s degree, at selected leading universities outside of their home country/ country of citizenship.
The QECS is aimed at students who are committed to creating change, in their home country and their host country where they will study. Scholars will receive a life-changing opportunity to experience a new country and culture, broaden their horizons, and build a lifelong global network.
MORE ABOUT THE QUEEN ELIZABETH COMMONWEALTH SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMME – INSTITUTIONS & QUALIFICATIONS COVERED
South Africa (3 scholarships will be awarded for studies in this country, at the following universities, for the following qualifications):
1) North-West University
- MA Positive Psychology
- Master of Consumer Sciences
- Master of Health Sciences in Cardiovascular Physiology
- Master of Health Sciences in Clinical Psychology
- Master of Health Sciences in Counselling Psychology
- Master of Health Sciences in Health Professions Education
- Master of Health Sciences in Human Movement Sciences
- Master of Health Sciences in Occupational Hygiene
- Master of Health Sciences in Psychology
- Master of Health Sciences in Recreation Science
- Master of Health Sciences in Research Psychology
- Master of Health Sciences in Transdisciplinary Health Promotion
- Master of Nursing Science
- Master of Social Work
- Master of Social Work in Child Protection
- Master of Social Work in Forensic Practice
- MPharm Pharmacy Practice
- MSc Dietetics
- MSc Nutrition
- MSc Pharmaceutical Chemistry
MSc Pharmaceutical Sciences - MSc Pharmaceutics
- MSc Pharmacology
2) Rhodes University
- MSc Science courses
- MA Humanities courses
- MCOM Commerce courses
- LLM Law
- MPharm Pharmacy
- Masters Education
3) Stellenbosch University
- MEng Process Engineering
- MPhil Peadiatrics
- MPhil Infectious Diseases
4) University of Johannesburg
- Health and Life Sciences
- Physical Sciences
- Engineering and Mathematics Accountancy and Finance
- Social sciences
- Arts and Humanities
5) University of Pretoria
- Master Research courses and not coursework
6) University of Venda
- Health sciences
- Management, Commerce and Law
- Humanities, Social Science and Education
- Science, Engineering and Agriculture
Fiji (1 scholarship will be awarded for studies in this country, at the following university, for the following qualifications):
1) University of the South Pacific:
- MA Applied Linguistics
- MA Development Studies
- MA Diplomacy & International Affairs
- MA Environmental Management
- MA Geography
- MA Governance
- MA History
- MA Journalism
- MA Linguistics
- MA Literature
- MA Major in Education
- MA Marine Management
- MA Mathematics
- MA Pacific Studies
- MA Politics/ International Affairs
- MA Psychology
- MA Social Policy
- MA Sociology
- Master of Agriculture (by thesis)
- Master of Commerce in Accounting (by thesis)
- Master of Commerce in Economics
- Master of Commerce in Official Statistics
- Master of Commerce in Population Studies & Demography
- Master of Commerce in Professional Accounting
- Master of Education
- Master of Environmental Law
- Master of Law
- MSc Biology
- MSc Chemistry
- MSc Computing Science
- MSc Earth Science
- MSc Engineering
- MSc Environmental Science
- MSc Geospatial Science
- MSc Information Systems
- MSc Marine Science
- MSc Mathematics
- MSc Physics
- Papua New Guinea (1 scholarship will be awarded for studies in this country, at the following university, for the following qualifications):
1) Papua New Guinea University of Technology
- MSc Agriculture
- MSc Applied Physics
- MTech Exploration Geophysics
- MEng Civil Engineering
- MEng Mechanical Engineering
- Master of Engineering in Communication Engineering
- MCS Master of Communication Studies
Sri Lanka (2 scholarships will be awarded for studies in this country, at the following universities, for the following qualifications):
1) University of Colombo
- MSc Molecular Life Sciences
- MSc Cellular and Molecular Immunology
2) University of Sri Jayewardenepura
- Master of Business Administration
MORE ABOUT THE QECS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMME – COVERAGE VALUE & RENEWAL
The scholarship will provide cover for the following expenses: tuition fees, living allowance/ stipend, return economy flights to host country, once-off arrival allowance and a Research Support Grant (on request).
Scholars will also receive support as they develop their knowledge and skills within a new country and academic environment – they will learn to apply the acquired knowledge to create solutions to global challenges, all while experiencing and learning about a new culture.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE QECS SCHOLARSHIP
Applicants must satisfy the following minimum entry criteria before applying (please note that failure to satisfy all the requirements will lead to your application not being considered):
You must be a citizen or have a refugee status in a Commonwealth country, which includes the following:
- AFRICA: Botswana, Cameroon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Kingdom of Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia
- ASIA: Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, India, Malaysia, Maldives, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka
- CARIBBEAN AND AMERICAS: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, St Kitts and Nevis, St Vincent and The Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago
- You must have completed an undergraduate degree at a 2:1 equivalent level
- You must intend on pursuing a 2 year Masters degree qualification
- You must intend on studying outside of your home country or country of citizenship
- You must intend on studying at one of the above approved institutions, within one of the approved fields listed above
- You must submit a university application at the same time as the scholarship application
- You must meet the entry requirements of your selected institution:
- North-West University applicants: you must meet the entry requirements of NMU
- Rhodes University applicants: you must meet the entry requirements of RU
- Stellenbosch University applicants: you must meet the entry requirements of SU
- University of Johannesburg applicants: you must meet the entry requirements of UJ
- University of Pretoria applicants: you must meet the entry requirements of UP
- University of Venda applicants: you must meet the entry requirements of UV
- University of Venda applicants: you must have achieved a minimum overall average of 65% in your previous degree
- University of Colombo applicants: you must have completed a Bachelors degree in Biological Sciences, Medicine, Dental Sciences, Veterinary Medicine, Agricultural Sciences
- University of Colombo applicants: you must complete an online selection test (the cost will not be covered by ACU, however QECS applicants will receive a 50% discount and will need to pay USD15 – for any questions, email [email protected])
- University of Sri Jayewardenepura: you must have completed a Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent qualification and have 3 years of managerial experience
HOW TO APPLY FOR THE QECS SCHOLARSHIP
Applications must be submitted online at: Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarship Application 2024
Applicants must first Register a profile before they can Login and apply.
The application is made up of the following sections:
- Eligibility
- Personal Information
- Academic and Employment Record
- Course at host university details
- Statements (made up of 3 main statements: 1) your plan of study in 200 to 400 words, 2) the development impact and post study outreach in 300 to 500 words, and 3) creating networks in 200 to 400 words)
- Uploading supporting documents (including references, copy of your final transcript and degree certificate, copy of your Identity Document or passport, proof of application at an approved institution)
- Applicants must read the QECS application guidance before applying.
Applicants should also read the QECS Scholarship FAQ’s before applying.
CLOSING DATE FOR THE QECS SCHOLARSHIP
24 May(at 18:00).
(Applications submitted after this date will not be accepted – please apply before the closing date to ensure your application is considered.)
CONTACT THE SCHOLARSHIP PROVIDER
For any queries related to this scholarship programme, please contact your university directly:
- North-West University (South Africa) – email: [email protected]
- Rhodes University (South Africa) – email: [email protected]
- Stellenbosch University (South Africa) – email: [email protected]
- University of Johannesburg (South Africa) – email: [email protected]
- University of Pretoria (South Africa) – email: [email protected]
- University of Venda (South Africa) – email: [email protected]
- University of the South Pacific (Fiji) – email: [email protected]
- Papua New Guinea University of Technology (Papua New Guinea) – email: [email protected]
- University of Colombo (Sri Lanka) – email: [email protected]
- University of Sri Jayewardenepura (Sri Lanka) – email: [email protected]
- Or contact the Association of Commonwealth Universities:
- Email: [email protected]