Things You Should Know About Commonwealth Scholarships

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Commonwealth Scholarships, the most prestigious and perhaps the most anticipated dream for every student who wants to study in the United Kingdom. Many of us think it’s not their cup of tea to study in the UK with Commonwealth scholarship, some may fear about going through the overall procedures, and rest of the other people may not at all interested about it; despite fulfilling all the criteria of getting the scholarships.

If you hold any of the above thought, then our suggestion would be to you is kicked out all the misconception that you probably keeps in your mind. Before deciding whether to applying for the scholarships or not, let’s get a complete overview of it.

What is Common Wealth Scholarships?

The Commonwealth Scholarships is a global programme that is controlled and operates by the Commonwealth governments to citizens of other Commonwealth countries. Every year it is given to the prospective students of the developing and under-developing states who want to pursue their Masters or PhD.

The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (CSC) is solely responsible for providing the central UK government scholarship scheme led by international development objectives. Every year the CSC offers nearly 800 awards for postgraduate study and professional development each year.

Tips for Students

Undoubtedly one of the most competitive scholarships for the United Kingdom is Commonwealth scholarships. Before starting nail-biting or having nightmares about what going to happen; go through every detail regarding the awards.

As an experienced education agent, we understand that to be a Commonwealth Scholar is tough but not impossible. As one of the primary selection criteria for commonwealth scholarships is academic merit; you must have the minimum satisfactory score to apply for the awards.

How SBL International can help you

SBL International is a registered representative of higher education institutes based in the United Kingdom with branches located all over the world. We provide free and end to end services to our students who want to go to the United Kingdom for higher studies.

Our long-cherished experience as an educational agent has made us competent enough to take the challenge of completing your application or sort any problem at the right process.

You can rest assured by the fact with SBL International that your application for the Common Wealth Scholarship is in safe hands with us.

So what’s holding you back to apply for it? If you have the confidence and firm belief in yourself, then do not delay anymore and visit SBL International today to going through a smooth and accurate application procedure.

How Does the UK Education System Work?

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The UK is globally recognised for its teaching excellence. Let’s find out why.
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The United Kingdom (UK) is reputed for its excellent quality of education, interactive teaching methodology, top-ranking universities and great student satisfaction. Universities in the UK consistently rank in the world university rankings such as the QS World Rankings, Times Higher Education Ranking, and Academic Ranking of World Universities. Further, degrees earned from the country are globally recognised and preferred by employers all over the world.

How does the UK education system work?

The responsibility of education in the UK is delegated to four jurisdictions – England, Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland. All of these regions have different forms of education systems, qualifications and specific laws/regulations. The significant differences can be found in general and secondary education resulting in each area having their credit frameworks and skills.

Study levels

The education system in the UK consists of four stages:

  • Primary education
  • Secondary education
  • Further education
  • Higher education

Qualifications framework

A qualification framework is a principal national reference point that maintains academic standards in the higher education sect in any country. Two parallel frames run for higher education qualifications of UK degree-awarding bodies:

  • The Framework for Higher Education Qualifications of Degree Awarding Bodies in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (FHEQ)
  • The Framework for Qualifications of Higher Education Institutions in Scotland (FQHEIS)

Quality Assurance System

The unique factor of the education system in the UK is its Quality Assurance Agency (QAA). It is an independent body that assesses and compares universities and colleges in the country through regular audits and reviews. It also identifies the best education practices and provides feedback for areas of improvement. This ensures that the students have access to the best quality of education.

Higher Education

Higher education in the UK mostly comprises bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees. As an international student, you may also transition to university-level studies via pathway programs that generally include English language courses and foundation courses.

Undergraduate Courses

Undergraduate courses are designed to help students get exposure to a whole new world after school whilst providing a thorough understanding of a subject of interest. The UK offers a variety of courses in humanities, social science, art, design, business, technology, science and more!

Here’s an overview of the types of postgraduate courses offered in the UK:

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Postgraduate Studies

Doctoral courses are more specific and involve in-depth study. Most master’s degrees have a duration of one year, which means you can be back in the workforce faster than your counterparts pursuing masters in other countries. There are a plethora of courses to choose from, including niche courses that are highly valued in the industry.

Here’s an overview of the types of postgraduate courses offered in the UK:

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Pathway Programs

These are preparatory courses for seeking admission into universities through English Language learning programs or foundation-level courses. Pathway programs can help enter university-level studies in the country and help strengthen your language skills as well. These are offered by both universities and private institutions to help students who need extra assistance with the English language to gain admission.

Fee Structure

Your expenditure on tuition fee in the UK depends on two factors:

  • where you choose to study – different rules and laws apply in England, Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland
  • your study level – Bachelors, Masters or Doctorate

Financial Aid

Students who enrol for a course in the UK can get support in the form of scholarships, bursaries, grants, fellowships, and monetary awards. These may be funded by the government, public/private organisations or institutions. Since a lot of students apply to these scholarships, we recommended you to do in advance to beat the competition and keep aware of the deadline to apply.

Pedagogy in British classrooms

The UK has a high reputation for its education, which is mostly the reason why so many Indian students come here to pursue higher studies. The best part about studying in the UK is the way education is imparted – it goes beyond textbook learning. You’ll be engaged in various activities such as workshops, seminars, tutorials and conferences at all times.

Academic Year

The standard academic year in the UK begins around September – October. The deadline for applications for courses commencing in September is generally in the preceding January of that year. Two other intakes available for programs in the UK are January and April, which are usually smaller than the September intake. Pathway programs may have additional dates to offer. Always check for the intakes available for your course of preference.

Popular programs

  • Law
  • Medicine & Surgery
  • Computer Science
  • Engineering
  • Business Management

SBL International is always available to assist you if you ever seek help regarding UK education and lifestyle, Reach out to us for the best overseas education consulting by sending a mail to admission@sblintl.com or call us at +44 20 3637 8765/ +91 495 401 0960.

How to Get a Full Scholarship in UK Universities?

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Studying at a university in the UK can be an arduous task when it comes to the management of finances. The studies itself and the cost of living can be quite excessive at times. Not to forget that for some international students, their local currency may be depreciating continually, thus making the pound sterling more expensive to obtain. In light of such concerns, we will look at UK scholarship options that prospective students can apply for to ease some of the pressure.

The Chevening Scholarships

One of the best-known scholarship awards that students can acquire is called the Chevening Scholarships. These awards are offered directly by the UK government and are typically given to students with an extraordinary academic performance. Also, these candidates must exhibit other qualities like excellent leadership skills to attain the Chevening Scholarship.

The British Embassies worldwide are involved in the process since they select the recipients of this prestigious award. Each year, there are more than 1500 slots up for grabs under this title for those looking for Study abroad scholarship options. For instance, the Chevening award offers brilliant students a chance to pursue a postgraduate degree at any of UK’s best universities. Therefore, if you’re looking for a UK scholarship, then the Chevening Scholarship is well worth a look.

The Commonwealth Scholarships

The British Empire ruled over many countries once upon a time. A remnant of their ascendancy was that the lands they controlled are now regarded as Commonwealth countries. An advantage of that in the modern day is that UK scholarships are available under the name of Commonwealth Scholarships.

In simple terms, students who reside in Commonwealth countries may be eligible for the award, assuming they meet the prerequisites. The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) is a designated body that selects recipients of scholarships and fellowships for higher education.

Typically, those who are chosen must have an excellent academic history, and the CSC also evaluates their potential to earn and help those back home. Besides, the award also includes the price of airfare. Besides travel, it also covers the tuition and exam fees, as well as a personal allowance, dissertation grants, an initial arrival compensation and various other costs too.

The Royal Society Grants

The Royal Society is a fellowship that awards UK scholarships to students. It is comprised of the world’s most pre-eminent scientists and is, in fact, the oldest science-oriented academy in the region.

This independent academy is responsible for the promotion of excellence in the field of science, which is why they provide scholarships for many impressive and promising students from around the world.

The Global Study Awards

This particular award is the result of a partnership between Study portals, ISIC and the British Council. It is designed to encourage promising students to study overseas so that they can explore new countries and cultures and exploit fantastic opportunities to maximise their potential.

Typically, a UK scholarship worth 10000 pounds is on offer twice a year to international students. This is also done in a bid to expand intercultural integration and allow these students to broaden their horizons by studying in the UK.

Reach out to SBL International for help or to learn more about admissions in top-ranking UK universities. Send a mail to admission@sblintl.com or call us at +44 20 3637 8765.

Scholarship to Study in UK for International Students

scholarship in UK

The only downside of studying in the United Kingdom is that it does not come cheap. For example, foreign exchange rates are not kind to students who hail from developing countries. As such, we will look at scholarships to study in the UK.

If you combine airfare and accommodation to other costs like visa processing, health insurance and the most important (and variable one) tuition fees, then it can put a burden on students and their families.
This is where scholarships to study in the UK are essential since they facilitate students who may not be able to study in the UK otherwise. We will look at avenues that students should explore.

UK Government

The government of the UK actively works to enable deserving students to realise their dream of studying there. For instance, they provide the Chevening Scholarship through their initiative. This is a global scholarship award that all international students can apply for. The eligibility criteria are that students must apply for at least three-degree courses in the UK.

Another excellent initiative from the UK government is the Commonwealth scholarship award. Those candidates who reside in a commonwealth country such as Bangladesh are eligible for it. The Commonwealth scholarship is awarded to students who are looking to study a postgraduate degree.

The UK Department for International Development (DFID) is responsible for the provision of funding. This is likely to cover several variable costs like tuition fees, exam fees, cost of flights as well as a personal maintenance allowance and an initial arrival allowance too.

Universities

The other option available to students is that they carry out extensive research and find out if the institutes they want to study at are offering scholarships. The vast majority of universities in UK offer a variety of scholarship awards to students. The amount may vary, but the idea is the same: scholarships help ease the burden on students and their families.

For example, The University of Nottingham has coined the Developing Solutions Scholarship award. If a student is from the continent of Africa, India or several other developing Commonwealth countries and they want to return to their country after completing their postgraduate degree, then they are eligible for this award.

The university seeks out deserving candidates who have the desire to help in improving their own country. There are over a hundred slots available annually, and 30 of these cover the entire tuition fees of students while the remaining ones subsidise 50% of the fees.

Another example of scholarships to study in the UK is the University of Westminster International Scholarships. Similar to the award mentioned above given by The University of Nottingham, Westminster also gives the scholarship to students who come from developing countries and want to study for a master’s degree. Those who are successful can enjoy free tuition, accommodation, flights as well as living costs!

To learn more about Study Abroad Scholarships in UK universities, reach out to SBL International for help via admission@sblintl.com.