COMMONWEALTH SCHOLARSHIPS
Malawi Government
Department of Human Resource Management and Development
INVITATION FOR APPLICATIONS FOR COMMONWEALTH MASTER’S AND PHD SCHOLARSHIPS TENABLE IN THE UK
The 2026 Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan is targeting Public Servants who are Malawian nationals to pursue their studies in the UK universities at both Master’s and PhD levels. The scholarships are competitive in nature and the Malawi Government has been invited to submit applications for 29 candidates (12 PhD and 17 Masters) to be considered for scholarship awards for studies commencing September 2026.
1. Commonwealth Scholarship Council Development Themes
All applicants must demonstrate in their application the direct and applied relevance of their study to
development in their home country. Applicants should make such links explicit in their applications.
The development themes being supported by the Commonwealth Scholarship Council in terms of
scholarship awards are as follows:
a) Science and Technology for Development
Commonwealth Scholarships are offered in any area of science or technology (including, for example, agriculture, veterinary science or forestry), to develop knowledge and/or skills that are directly related to the specific needs of a low or middle-income country. Where possible, applications should cite expressed national or local priorities.
b) Strengthening Health Systems and Capacity
In order to improve health provision or outcomes for disadvantaged groups in low or middle income countries, Commonwealth Scholarships support the development of knowledge and/or skills across a range of approaches. These approaches include training staff to fill critical shortage areas; establishing better systems, processes, or management; health promotion and improving understanding of non-take up; and developing new treatments.
c) Promoting Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Commonwealth Scholarships help to support economic prosperity in low and middle-income countries. The knowledge and/or skills gained could lead to, for example, enhanced trade capacity; improved economic understanding or decision making by business or government; new products and services; or long-term capacity building, for example through the development of entrepreneurial skills.
d) Strengthening Global Peace, Security and Governance
Commonwealth Scholarships develop knowledge and/or skills that will strengthen peace and security at national, regional or international levels. Multiple approaches are studied and implemented by scholars, such as strengthening open and transparent governance; improving mutual understanding within and between societies; or building systems that reduce potential for conflict or encourage its resolution.
e) Strengthening Resilience and Response to Crises
Commonwealth Scholarships are awarded in subjects that address a broad range of threats, including natural and physical disasters; long-term threats such as climate change; interruptions to the supply of key resources; and sudden economic or technological disruption; and
f) Access, Inclusion and Opportunity
Commonwealth Scholarships help to promote opportunity amongst historically disadvantaged groups in low and middle-income countries. Commonwealth scholars expand educational opportunities; conduct community outreach; enhance access to decision-making; and increase understanding of the barriers faced. A range of disadvantage is addressed through Commonwealth Scholars work – including social, economic, gender, ethnic, regional and political.
2. Eligibility Criteria
In order for an officer to qualify for nomination by his/ her MDA to apply for the scholarship, he/she must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Be a Public Servant with not less than 2 years’ work experience;
- Must have obtained the current Bachelors/Masters certificate with a credit or distinction;
- Be on the MDA’s prioritised training plan;
- Agree to sign a Training Bond prior to proceeding on training after being offered a scholarship;
- Not a project staff or a Public Servant hired on contract/non-permanent terms;
- Not serving a Training Bond period for the previous long-term training programme sponsored by Government or any other Development Partner;
- PhD candidates must provide a supporting statement from a proposed PhD supervisor in the UK from at least one of the universities named in their application form, on the acceptance of the research topic and supervision; and
- Nomination of candidates by MDA must take into consideration the issue of gender balance. The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission is keen to ensure an equitable distribution of awards amongst men and women.
3. Mode of Application
On top of the requirements of the Malawi Government, the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission has its own procedures that you need to follow and satisfy. The scholarship terms and conditions can be found on the following Commonwealth Scholarship Council websites:
- Candidates must apply using CSC’s online application system: http://csuk.fcdo.gov.uk/about-us/scholarships
- Full eligibility requirements for Master’s candidates are available at: https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/scholarships/commonwealth-masters-scholarships/
- Full eligibility requirements for PhD candidates are available at: https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/scholarships/commonwealth-phd-scholarships-for-least-developed-countries-and-vulnerable-states/
The first thing to do is to apply online using the Electronic Application Systems (EAS) upon which you will automatically be given an Agency Number. Once the online application is completed, the applicant will be required to print it before submitting online. Please note that the website link for the 2026 intake applications will open on Tuesday 2nd September 2025 and close on 14th October 2025 (16:00 GMT).
The printed copy of the online application together with a Covering Letter from the applicant’s Controlling Officer will have to be submitted to the undersigned for screening and consideration by 5t November, 2025.
Any application that is submitted without a Covering Letter from the applicant’s Controlling Officer will not be accepted.
You are also advised to be following the website links given above for more information. In case you are not a Public Servant, you may wish to apply for the Chevening Scholarships which are open to all Malawians in the Public Service, Private Sector and Civil Society Organizations. Non Malawians are not eligible, unless they apply from their countries of origin.
You should take note that there is no alternative to the requirements which have been mentioned above.
4. Selection Criteria
The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission will make the final selection of candidates. The Commission seeks candidates of the highest academic quality who demonstrate a real capacity to make a difference to their home country on completion of their award.
The Commission’s selection committee will grade applications on the following criteria:
- Academic merit of the candidate
- Quality of the study plan
- Potential impact of the work on the development of the candidate’s home country
The Commission invites three times more nominations from participating countries than scholarships available – therefore, nominated candidates are not guaranteed to be awarded a scholarship. In this regard, nomination of candidates or submission of online application does not guarantee a scholarship award. There are no quotas for scholarships for any individual country.
5. Address for Submission of Hard Copies of Online Application (together with all supporting documents and Covering Letter from Controlling Officer)
The Secretary
Department of Human Resource Management and Development
Capital Hill – Ministry of Justice Building (Training Section – Ground Floor)
P.O. Box 30227
LILONGWE 3
Attention: Mr. Ismail Mogra
Nominating Agency for Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan for Malawi
Post expires at 4:00pm on Tuesday October 14th, 2025