Complete Guide to Commonwealth Scholarships for Pakistani Students: Application Process, Benefits, and Deadlines
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Complete Guide to
Commonwealth Scholarships for Pakistani Students: Application Process,
Benefits, and Deadlines
What are
Commonwealth Scholarships?
Commonwealth Scholarships are prestigious awards designed to
support students from Commonwealth countries, including Pakistan, in pursuing
higher education in other Commonwealth nations. These scholarships are offered
by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC), an organization dedicated to
promoting international cooperation and understanding through education.
To apply for these scholarships, applicants must meet HEC eligibility in addition to the CSC requirements mentioned below:
HEC eligibility conditions
- Be a Pakistani/AJ&K national and permanent resident
of Pakistan /AJ&K. Dual nationals are not eligible.
- For a Master's scholarship, an applicant must hold a first
division in 16 years bachelor/master’s degree in the relevant field of
study.
- For a PhD scholarship, an applicant must hold a first division
in 17/18 years of Masters/MS/MPhil degree in the relevant field of study.
- Candidate must not have Second/Third division in the
terminal/last degree. Result-awaiting candidates are eligible to apply.
- All applicants are required to provide HAT test scores.
Applicant must have obtained a minimum score of 60 out of 100 on the HAT test.
Those applicants who have taken the HAT test on or after January 01, 2022, may
upload the test result on the HEC portal for consideration and enter their
score while filling online HEC application.
- Without providing a minimum HAT test score (60 out of 100),
applications will not be considered for further processing. Interested
applicants who are yet to take the HAT test, may register for the same by
visiting https://etc.hec.gov.pk/. ETC is accepting applications for the HAT
test.
- Merit shall be strictly based on the HAT score. (HEC reserves the
right to modify the merit criteria)
CSC Eligibility Criteria in addition to HEC criteria:
To apply for these scholarships, you must:
- Be available to start your academic
studies in the UK by the start of the UK academic year in September 2024.
- The CSC would not normally fund a second UK Master’s degree.
If you are applying for a second UK Master’s degree, you will need to
provide justification as to why you wish to undertake this study
- Be unable to afford to study in the UK without this
scholarship
- Provide full transcripts detailing all your higher education
qualifications including to-date transcripts for any qualifications you
are currently studying (with certified translations if not in English) –
uploaded to the online application system
- Provide references from at least two individuals.
For Ph.D. candidates only:
- NOT be registered for a Ph.D., or an MPhil leading to a
Ph.D., at a UK university or in your home country before September/October
2024
- Provide a supporting statement from a proposed supervisor in
the UK from at least one of the institutions named on your application
form.
Kindly visit the below-mentioned links for further
details on the eligibility criteria & terms of the award:
For Masters: https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/scholarships/commonwealth-masters-scholarships/
Application
Process:
Applying for Commonwealth Scholarships involves several key steps:
Research: Identify
the scholarships that match your academic goals and eligibility.
Prepare
Documents: Gather the necessary documents, including academic transcripts,
letters of recommendation, and a personal statement.
Online
Application: Visit the official CSC and HEC websites during the application
period and complete the online application form on both websites
Submit
Application: Ensure all required documents are attached and submit your application
before the deadline to both CSC and HEC. Remember without submission to both the CSC and the HEC your
application will not be processed. The deadline to apply is 17th
October, 2023.
Interview
(if required): Some scholarships may require an interview as part of the
selection process.
Await
Results: Wait for the scholarship results to be announced.
Benefits of
Commonwealth Scholarships
Commonwealth Scholarships offer numerous benefits, including:
1.
Full or partial tuition fee coverage
2. Living allowances to cover accommodation and
living expenses
3. Travel grants for international travel
4. Research support and funding
5. Networking opportunities with scholars from
around the world
These benefits can significantly ease the financial burden of
studying abroad.
Deadline and
Application Period
The application period for Commonwealth Scholarships typically
opens in the late summer or early autumn, around August to September. It's
important to note that specific deadlines can vary depending on the scholarship
type and the year. However, in most cases, the deadlines for submitting your
application fall between November and January.
To ensure you don't miss the application deadline for the year
you're interested in, visit the official
Commonwealth Scholarship Commission website well in advance, and also
you will need to fill out the application at the HEC
website. There, you'll find up-to-date information on application
opening dates and specific deadlines for each scholarship type. Mark your
calendar accordingly to submit your application on time and maximize your
chances of securing this valuable opportunity for your academic journey. The
CSC portal is open for applications up till October 17, 2023.
Additional
Resources
For more information and to start your scholarship journey, visit
the official Commonwealth Scholarship Commission website: Commonwealth Scholarship Commission.
You can also reach out to the British Council in Pakistan for guidance and
support in the application process.
Conclusion:
Commonwealth Scholarships are a very good opportunity to pursue higher education at good foreign universities, without bearing the cost burden. With this guide, you have the essential information to kick-start your scholarship application process. Don't miss out on this chance to broaden your horizons and make a meaningful impact on your future and your nation. If your circumstances allow, avail the opportunity.