CSC development themes
All Commonwealth Scholarships which are funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Department (FCDO) are offered under six CSC development themes.
Commonwealth Scholarships are offered across several science and technology subject areas to strengthen awardees’ capacity to apply relevant scientific discoveries, knowledge and skills to the needs, challenges, and opportunities of their respective low- or middle-income countries. Applicants should refer to the national or local development priorities of their home country, as appropriate.
Commonwealth Scholarships support the development of knowledge and skills intended to enhance health provision and health outcomes in low- and middle-income countries. These include applied health policy topics and public health research intended to improve disease prevention and health awareness programmes, as well as the development of better management systems and infrastructure. The scholarships also aim to develop equitable research partnerships between researchers and institutions in the UK and Commonwealth countries.
Commonwealth Scholarships help to support enterprise development and new value creation in low and middle-income countries. The knowledge and skills gained during the award period are intended to inspire a more entrepreneurial mindset and decision-making ability amongst individuals, including youth and women, businesses and governments, leading to innovative products and services, startups and scale-ups, more jobs, enhanced trade capacity and economic development.
Commonwealth Scholarships help scholars to develop knowledge and skills that are crucial for strengthening peace and security at national, regional, or international levels. Awardees in particular subject areas gain expert understanding of approaches and strategies for promoting open and transparent governance; improving mutual understanding within and between societies; and building systems for defusing, mitigating and resolving conflicts.
Commonwealth Scholarships help to bolster national capacity for dealing with cataclysmic events, emergencies as well as longer term threats in low and middle-income countries. This is achieved through training scholars in subjects that address a broad range of threats, including natural and physical disasters, pandemics, climate change and sudden economic or technological disruption (e.g. to the supply of key resources).
Commonwealth Scholarships help to promote inclusive access to opportunity amongst historically disadvantaged groups in low and middle-income countries. Scholars working in this area focus on addressing the causes of disadvantage due to social, economic, gender, ethnic, regional or political grounds, and expanding educational opportunities, undertaking community outreach and enhancing access to decision-making roles amongst such groups.
