Commonwealth Scholar stories

The Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP) endowment fund supports international scholarships at universities in low and middle income countries, many of which cannot afford to provide such grants.

It builds on the reputation of one of the world’s most prestigious scholarship schemes – some 30,000 individuals from across the globe have already benefited from Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowships.

Scholarships are offered to citizens of all Commonwealth countries.

Andrew Harvey
2011 Commonwealth Scholar from Canada
MA Linguistics, University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Canadian Commonwealth Scholar Andrew Harvey was one of the first students from a developed country to take up a course of study at an institution in a developing country under the CSFP endowment fund. He used the opportunity to research an undocumented language known as Gorwaá, spoken in a remote part of central Tanzania. Read more

Christinah Matsuane
2013 Commonwealth Scholar from Botswana
MSc Horticulture, University of Swaziland

Christinah Matsuane studied for an MSc in Horticulture at the University of Swaziland. With a comparatively low level of horticultural production and crop research in Botswana, Christinah was interested in studying abroad to gain access to technologies and practices used in agriculture. Read more

Dinesh Kodituwakku
2012 Commonwealth Scholar from Sri Lanka
MSc Agriculture, University of the South Pacific, Samoa

Dinesh Kodituwakku completed a Master’s in Agriculture at the School of Agriculture and Food Technology at the University of the South Pacific (USP) in Samoa. The two-year programme included a Postgraduate Diploma in Agricultural Economics, which was awarded to Dinesh in 2012. Read more

Kevina Honajee
2013 Commonwealth Scholar from Mauritius
MSc Dietetics, University of Pretoria, South Africa

Commonwealth Scholar Kevina Honajee, from Mauritius, studied her MSc in dietetics at the University of Pretoria, South Africa, from 2013 to 2015. She is the first Commonwealth Scholar funded by the CSFP endowment fund to be hosted by this institution. Read more

Elizabeth Mantebeah
2013 Commonwealth Scholar from Ghana
MA Heritage Management, University of Mauritius

Ghanaian Commonwealth Scholar Elizabeth Mantebeah graduated with a Distinction in MA Heritage Management from the University of Mauritius in 2015. Elizabeth’s studies were funded by the CSFP endowment fund. She is the second such Commonwealth Scholar to graduate from the University of Mauritius. Read more

Wendy Wandile Dlamini
2015 Commonwealth Scholar from Swaziland
MSc Epidemiology, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa

'The two years of my scholarship at the University of the Witwatersrand were an amazing and fulfilling experience both academically and personally. I am convinced that my experience in such a highly reputable institution has helped me acquire intellectual expansion and equipped me with the qualitative and quantitative techniques required for research in the health sector.

'Other than academic aspect, one of the most rewarding and fulfilling parts of this experience was the ability to interact with people from different socio-cultural and economic backgrounds. This taught me to embrace individuals' distinctiveness, open up to new perceptions, and accept people as they are.'

Royronald Ongong'a
2015 Commonwealth Scholar from Kenya
MSc Medical Laboratory Science, University of Ghana

'I made many friends from different cultures and backgrounds, the students living around campus became my big family, the classes were engaging, and the lecturers too were our friends.

'I took sabbatical leave to pursue this Master's programme and I'll be going back to my work to instil the new skills and knowledge I gained in ensuring that the right standards are set in disease diagnosis. I'm also planning to develop a mentorship programme to benefit up-and-coming scientists in the field. I'm looking forward to becoming an agent of change within my community.'

Rashika Suman Kumari Abesinghe
2016 Commonwealth Scholar from Sri Lanka
MA Criminology, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh

'The top ten students of the first semester were selected for the last semester thesis and I am really very happy that I was selected for this great opportunity. Currently I am planning to conduct my thesis on accretive terrorism in Bangladesh. I have been lucky to proceed with my publications under the guidance of my teachers.

'My classmates are very friendly and they often invite me to join their weddings, family trips, and national and cultural programmes. I am lucky to have these people around me. Dhaka life is not just about studying Criminology, but also an opportunity to study culture, love, relationships, and cooperation too.'

Ahnivar Ancelmo Peralta
2015 Commonwealth Scholar from Belize
MSc Climate Change, University of the South Pacific, Fiji

'The past six months have been a very productive and exciting time due to my home stay family and my studies. At the end of January, the international office offered me the opportunity to stay with a Fijian family to experience the Fijian way of life. Since moving in, my Fijian experiences have been awesome. I have experienced and gained knowledge about the various traditions that Fijians observe for weddings, birthdays and other celebrations.'

Judith Ahimbisibwe
2017 Commonwealth Scholar from Uganda
MSc Agribusiness Management, Kenyatta University, Kenya

'Kenyatta University is a good and welcoming campus. I've joined the International Students' Society and have found it vital to be a part of this group. We recently organised a tour to the Mombasa coast to learn about East African history. As international students we have decided to be role models for our countries, and identify and address challenges for development, such as food insecurity, unemployment, and high population pressures.'

Philemon Xavery Mutabilwa
2017 Commonwealth Scholar from Tanzania
MSc Mechanical Engineering, University of Botswana

'I am honoured to be one of the recipients of, and an ambassador for, Commonwealth Scholarships. I am satisfied with the study facilities and lectures at the University of Botswana, and really enjoy studying with people from different backgrounds and cultures. I can say that the University of Botswana offers one of the finest programmes and educational experiences, making students realise the value of education; I am proud to be part of it.'

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Iris Keya
2018 Commonwealth Scholar from Kenya
MBA, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka

‘I want to really appreciate the commonwealth for this opportunity. I am not only gaining academically but also growing in my different aspects of life through interacting with the local community here. I have learned to prioritize things and become more focused in working towards achieving my goals. I have learned to be more patient with people and easily adjustable to a new culture.’

Joshua Kyeremateng
2018 Commonwealth Scholar from Ghana
LLM International Commercial Law, University of Johannesburg, South Africa

'I have joined the UJ debating union and the UJ community engagement programme in order to contribute my quota to the university community and South Africa in my own small way. My stay at UJ has been largely smooth and riveting. I am extremely grateful to the Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarship for this unique opportunity.'

Pierre Munezero
2018 Commonwealth Scholar from Rwanda
MSc Cellular and Molecular Immunology, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka

'I think it will be an opportunity for me to learn more and more and improve my knowledge and skills, as our programme includes intensive basic and advanced immunology techniques. This is a real period for achieving my dreams and advancing in the immensely complicated domain of immunology.'