MINISTRY OF CITY PLANNING, WATER SUPPLY AND HIGHER EDUCATION

COMMONWEALTH POSTGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS TENABLE IN THE

UNITED KINGDOM – 2020
Applications are invited from eligible Sri Lankans for awarding of Postgraduate
Scholarships offered under the Commonwealth Scholarship Programme. These awards
are tenable at Institutions of Higher Learning in the United Kingdom for the academic
year commencing in September/October 2020. Scholarship benefits and other details are
available in the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission website;

http://cscuk.dfid.gov.uk/apply/applicants/

01. Number of Scholarships:

Masters (one year) 9

02. Fields of Study : These scholarships are offered under 6 development themes.
All candidates must apply under one of these themes. :

 Science and Technology for development

 Strengthening health system and capacity
 Promoting global prosperity
 Strengthening global peace, security and governance
 Strengthening resilience and response to crisis
 Access, inclusion and opportunity

03. Tenure : One-year taught masters courses or equivalent degrees.

04. Termination : Any scholarship may, at the discretion of the appropriate
authority, be terminated at any time owing to misconduct, irregularity of
attendance, absence from classes or hostel without prior approval of the
authority concerned, and the unsatisfactory progress in studies or failure at
examinations. If any scholarship is terminated, the scholar may be required to
return to Sri Lanka at his/her own expenses/.

05. General Eligibility Requirements:

Each candidate should;

(a) Be a citizen of Sri Lanka.

(b) Be less than 45 years of age as at 18.09.2019.
 (c) Should possess a Bachelor’s Degree with a First or Second Class Upper
Division in the relevant field of study from a recognized university
Or
A Degree with a Second Class Lower Division and a Masters/ MPhil degree in
the relevant field of study from a recognized university.
(d) Be employed in the Public Sector, University or a State Corporation.
- No application will be entertained from a person holding a temporary/
casual/ contractual appointment. Only permanent and confirmed
employees will be considered for the scholarships.
- An employee on probation may apply, provided that his/her confirmation
is conditional upon acquiring a specified postgraduate qualification. In
such a case, a statement to that effect should be included as a special
reason in cage 17 of the application.
e.g.
A lecturer on probation is eligible to apply when he/she is in continuous
service for a period of one year from the date of his/her appointment
by 18.09.2019 (a confirmation requirement as per the UGC-E Code
Chapter X. Division II, 27:3)

(e) Possess a high proficiency in English. The Commonwealth Scholarships

Commission, UK does not require candidates to take an IELTS as a part of
the application process in 2020. However, as a condition of offering a
placement of a course, the host institution may require a candidate to take
particular English tests. The commission will not confirm an offer until all
such conditions are met.
(f) Each candidate must provide a supporting statement from a named
supervisor from at least one of the UK universities to which He/ She is
applying, when submitting online application to Commonwealth Scholarship
Commission (CSC) after nominated by this Ministry.

The list of the institutions can be found at;

http://cscuk.dfid.gov.uk/apply/uk-universities/part-funding/

Because of the above reason, candidates are strongly advised to submit

placements applications directly to their preferred institutions in advance.

06. Applications :

(a) Every application should be in conformity with the specimen form provided.

(b) The words “Commonwealth Scholarships / UK - 2020” should be hand or

type-written on top left corner of the envelope containing the application.
 (c) No application will be entertained unless channeled through the Head of the
Institution concerned. He/She should in forward the application having
appropriately completed the cage 17 of the application.

(d) No application will be entertained from a person who has entered into an
agreement or bond to serve the Government of sri lanka, a state sector
institute unless he/she shall have completed by 18.09.2019,the full period
specified in such agreement or bond and shall have discharged fully all the
other obligations under such agreement or bond.

07. General facts

(a) Commonwealth Scholarships are aimed at individuals who could not

otherwise afford to study in the UK. Every candidate will be required to sign a
declaration that they do not have access to sufficient funds to study in the UK.

(b) Candidates who have undertaken any of their university education outside
their home country, will be asked to state how it was funded and how the
education differed from that in their home country.

(c) The Commonwealth Scholarships Commission 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.

(d) Any statement in the application, which is found to be incorrect, will render
the applicant liable to disqualification, if the inaccuracy is discovered before
selection and to the withdrawal of award, if discovered after selection.

(e) Any application, which is not sent through proper channels or is incomplete in
any respect or received late, will be rejected.

08. Closing date: Applications will be accepted only up to 18th September 2019.

09. Applications should be sent to the following address by registered post or by

hand to reach on or before the closing date.

Secretary
Ministry of City Planning, Water Supply and Higher Education
18, Ward Place,
Colombo 07.

10. Interview & Selection

Every eligible candidate will be required to present himself/herself at an interview

to be held at the Ministry of City Planning, Water Supply and Higher Education,
No.18 Ward Place Colombo 07. Generally, the interviews will be held within one
month period after the closing date.
 He/she should produce original certificates of qualifications, University placement
letter (if already available), Certificate of Birth, National Identity card/ Passport
and any other documentary evidence in support of his/her candidature at the
interview. Traveling or other expenses incurred in connection with this interview
will not be paid.

Any form of canvassing either in written or verbal form will be considered as a

disqualification for a scholarship.

The selected candidates will be informed by the Ministry to submit their

completed applications before the date prescribed by the Commonwealth
Scholarships Commission in the UK.

11. Nomination for the Scholarship

No candidate should treat his/her nomination for the Scholarship by the

authorities of Sri Lanka as an acceptance for an award. Awarding of the
scholarship is a matter entirely within the discretion of the Commonwealth
Scholarship Commission/ UK to whom the nomination is made. Selected
candidates who decline to accept the award will not be considered for any other
award during the year.

Secretary
Ministry of City Planning, Water Supply and Higher Education
18, Ward Place
Colombo 07.

Date: 02.09.2019
Name of the applying
Country: United Kingdom Scan or stick
SPECIMEN OF THE APPLICATION Photograph
(Optional)
MINISTRY OF CITY PLANNING, WATER SUPPLY AND HIGHER
EDUCATION

COMMONWEALTH POSTGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS TENABLE IN THE

UNITED KINGDOM – 2020

(01)(a) Name with initials (Rev./Mr./Mrs.Miss.) …………………………………………………...

(in block letters)
(b) Names denoted by initials : …………………………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………………….
(02) Address : ……………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………

Telephone: …………………………… Email:……………………………………………….

(03) Date of birth :

Year : …………………. Month : ……………… Date : ………………..

(04) Exact age on 18.09.2019

Years : …………… Months : …………… Days : ………………

(05) N.I.C Number :…………………………………….

(06) Are you a citizen of Sri Lanka? …………………………………….

(07)Whether Married / Single / Widowed : ……………………………..

(08) Academic / Professional / Technical qualifications :

Name of
examination/
Year & month Institutions Main Subjects Class & GPA
certificates
(9). Present Employment: Government Semi Government

(10). Employment Record

Name of the Department Designation From To
Institution

(11). (a) Are you holding a permanent appointment?........................................................................

(b) If Permanent, have you been confirmed in the appointment?..............................................

(c) If confirmed, the date of the confirmation.............................................

(12). (a) i. Desired Degree programme:

………………….…………………
(b) Desired field of study(outh of the 6 development themes)
………………………………………………………………….

(13). (a) i. Have you ever been nominated for a scholarship by the Ministry of Higher
Education?......................................
ii. If yes; Scholarship programme:………………………………………………………
Year:......................................

(b) If you have been abroad earlier on a scholarshp offered by any other agencies give the
details:…………………………………………………………………………………….
…………………………………………………………………………...………………
…………………………………………………………………………..

(14). Highest examination passed in English :

(a) IELTS/ TOEFL ……………… Score ……………….. Year ……….........................
(b) Other………………………………………
(15).Particulars of research and publications if any :………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………...
…………………………………………………………………………………………………...
(16).Any other particulars :…………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………...
I hereby certify that the particulars furnished by me in this application are true and accurate,
and that I have not suppressed any essential information. I am also aware that if any
 particulars contained herein are found to be false or incorrect, I am liable to disqualification if
the inaccuracy is discovered before selection and withdrawal of the award if discovered after
selection.

Date :- ……………………….. Signature of the applicant ………………………

(17). Certificate of the Head of the Institution

(i) I certify that ;

(a) The training provided under this scholarship is essential / not essential for this institution.

(b) Details declared by the applicant in cages 8, 9, 10 of the application were verified by
me with the personal record of the officer and are correct* / should be corrected as
indicated here.

(c) The applicant has been confirmed in the post ....................... (Yes / No )

If No, Please give reasons ...................................................................

.....................................................................................................

(d) The applicant will*/ will not be released to take up this scholarship if selected.

(ii) Full name of the applicant : ..............................................................................

(iii) Any other special reasons : .............................................................................

Name of the Institution : .................................................................................

..............................................................

Signature of Head of the Institution

with the official frank

(this certificate should be signed personally by the Head of the Institution)

* Delete words inapplicable.