Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships

Study for a two-year master’s degree at an ACU member university in a low or middle-income country.

Two women wearing colourful fabric around waists stand on a dirt path

The Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships (QECS)  offer a unique opportunity to study a two-year Master's degree in a low or middle-income Commonwealth country.

Aimed at students who are committed to creating change in their communities, the scholarships are a life-changing opportunity to experience a new country and culture, to broaden horizons, and to build a global network that will last a lifetime.

Through cultural exchange and academic collaboration, Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholars help bring about positive change and find solutions to the shared challenges we face - both in their home countries and those that host them. As an active part of the Commonwealth network, scholars will help shape its future.

Each year there are two opportunities to apply for QECS – cycle 1 opens in November/December and cycle 2 opens in March/April. You only need to submit one application, but you are welcome to apply more than once if there is another country you are interested in studying in.

What does the scholarship cover?

  • Fully-funded tuition fees
  • Living allowance (stipend) for duration of award
  • Return economy flights to host country
  • One-off arrival allowance
  • Research Support Grant (on request only; subject to approval)

We strongly advise all applicants to read the the application guidance and FAQs pages before starting an application.

Applications for cycle 2 are now open and will close on 24 May 2024.

20 university students from across the Commonwealth smile and cheer together for a group photo in a park

How to apply

  1. Look through the list of countries and universities hosting scholarships in this cycle.
  2. Visit the relevant university website for more information on your chosen course using the links included below.
  3. Complete and submit a QECS application for your chosen university/course by clicking the ‘Apply now’ button. Once you’ve clicked apply, you’ll be directed to a log in page. If you don't already have a myACU account, click get ‘get started’ in the right hand corner of the page to start your application.
  4. Submit an application to your chosen university for admission to your chosen course.

My research in cellular and molecular medicine wouldn't have been possible without the QECS. I came away with a wealth of knowledge, new collaborators and exciting new ideas.

- QECS alumnus Tolulope Saliu, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka

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Fiji, Vanuatu, Samoa

The University of the South Pacific

  • MA Environmental Management
  • MSc Biology
  • MSc Chemistry
  • MSc Civil Engineering
  • MSc Electrical Engineering
  • MSc Environmental Science
  • MSc Mechanical Engineering
  • MSc Physics

University entry requirements

 

Please refer to the university's website for Master's degree entry requirements. 

 

Contact: anitelu.stjohn@usp.ac.fj

Apply for QECS

Ghana

Ghana

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

View all available programmes

 

University entry requirements

 

Please refer to the university's website for Master's degree entry requirements. 

 

Contact: director.sgs@knust.edu.gh

Apply for QECS

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Mauritius

University of Mauritius

  • MPH Master of Public Health

University entry requirements

 

Please refer to the university's website for Master's degree entry requirements. 

 

Contact: admission@uom.ac.mu

Apply for QECS

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Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea University of Technology

  • MCS Communication Studies
  • MEng Communication Engineering
  • MEng Civil Engineering
  • MEng Mechanical Engineering
  • MSc Agriculture
  • MSc Applied Physics
  • MTech Exploration Geophysics

University entry requirements

 

Bachelor' degree in the relevant discipline with GPA of 3 out of 5 for all the listed courses. 

 

Contact: lucy.aisi@pnguot.ac.pg

Apply for QECS

Flag South Africa

South Africa

University of Pretoria

View all available programmes

 

University entry requirements

 

Please refer to the university's website and postgraduate application guidance for Master's degree entry requirements. 

 

Applicants are required to submit a university application at the same time as their scholarship application. They are also required to work towards one of the following research focus areas:

 

  1. Water and environmental engineering
  2. Energy
  3. Environment and biodiversity: biodiversity in the age of climate change and sustainability
  4. Big data science: machine learning and AI and various applications in physics and mathematics 
  5. Economic, management and financial sciences

 

Contact: pgbursary@up.ac.za

Apply for QECS

University of Venda

View all available programmes

 

University entry requirements

 

Applicants must possess an honours degree, and have obtained a minimum 65% average in their final year.

 

Applicants are required to submit a university application at the same time as their scholarship application. 

 

Contact: julia.sigama@univen.ac.za

Apply for QECS

Sri Lanka Flag Medium

Sri Lanka

University of Colombo

  • MSc Cellular and Molecular Immunology
  • MSc Molecular Life Sciences

University entry requirements

 

Please refer to the university's website for Master's degree entry requirements. 

 

Applicants are required to submit a university application at the same time as their scholarship application. 

 

Contact: ar@ibmbb.cmb.ac.lk

Apply for QECS

University of Sri Jayewardenepura

  • MBA Master of Business Administration

University entry requirements

 

Please refer to the university's website for Master's degree entry requirements. 

 

Contact: admin@pim.sjp.ac.lk

Apply for QECS

More information

Meet the scholars