Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships (QECS) stand as a transformative platform for ambitious individuals Intentional about the vision of societal impact. Offering a two-year Master’s degree in a low or middle-income Commonwealth country, QECS goes beyond academic pursuit. It invites passionate changemakers to immerse themselves in a new culture, forge global connections, and return home with knowledge tailored to local development.
Scholarship Overview
The Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships are administered by the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) and funded through the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP) endowment fund.
The Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships designed for students who demonstrate strong commitment to community development, this fully-funded initiative empowers scholars to collaborate across borders and foster practical solutions to global challenges. With two application cycles each year, QECS remains one of the most accessible and far-reaching international scholarship programs today.
Eligibility Criteria
Inorder to be regarded eligible for this Scholarship, Applicants must:
- Be a citizen (or hold refugee status) in a Commonwealth country.
- Hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification before the start of the scholarship.
- Apply to study at a participating university in a country other than their own.
- Demonstrate a record of academic excellence and community involvement.
- Not be currently enrolled in a Master’s program in their home country or abroad.
Application Procedures
Interested Candidates should follow these steps carefully:
- Review the list of participating universities and eligible courses for the current cycle.
- Visit the respective university’s website to understand course specifics.
- Create or log in to a myACU account and complete the QECS application form via the official ACU portal.
- Separately submit an application for admission to the selected university for the chosen course.
- Ensure all sections are complete and required documents are uploaded before the deadline.
Benefits of Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships
Successful Candidates enjoy these benefits:
- Full coverage of tuition fees for the entire program duration: The tuition of Candidates are being covered by the Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships. Students are being alleviated the burden of paying fees.
- Monthly living allowance (stipend) to support daily expenses: Students are offered monthly Stipends to take care of their daily expenses.
- Return economy airfare to and from the host country.
- One-time arrival allowance to ease the transition.
- Research Support Grant available upon request and approval.
Why Choose QECS?
QECS scholars can choose from a network of distinguished institutions across the Commonwealth.
Each offers rich cultural immersion, advanced academic resources, and a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary learning.
Whether it’s the University of Colombo in Sri Lanka, the University of Pretoria in South Africa, or the University of the South Pacific in Fiji, students are assured a robust academic experience in environments that foster innovation, global citizenship, and community impact.
These universities are not only centers of knowledge but also pillars of societal transformation.
Application and Deadline
Interested applicants are encouraged to begin early, carefully review all guidelines, and ensure timely submission of both the scholarship and university Applications.
Deadline: Applications for QECS Cycle 2 open on 16 April 2025 and close at 15:00 UTC, 4 June 2025.
Official Scholarship Website: https://www.acu.ac.uk/funding-opportunities/for-students/scholarships/queen-elizabeth-commonwealth-scholarships/