The School of Environmental and Natural Sciences has secured 10 distance learning scholarships from the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) for 2025 entry. These scholarships are for 3 years part time study on either MSc Agroforestry & Food Security or MSc Tropical Forestry. During years 1 and 2, students study ‘taught modules’ which are assessed via individual and group coursework assessments and exams. Year 3 is a self-directed dissertation.
The scholarships are worth £18,000; which covers tuition fees and a generous bursary to enable scholars to attend a compulsory two-week tropical study tour overseas. A small study grant is also available to help scholars with study costs associated with distance learning (e.g. internet usage). The current scholarships are only available for entrants who are able to start the programme in September 2025.
Scholarships are available for applicants from the following developing commonwealth countries: Bangladesh, Belize, Botswana, Cameroon, Dominica, Eswatini, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Montserrat, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Saint Helena, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, The Gambia, Togo, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia.
Programme specific details are available via the links below:
Entry Requirements
Applicants should have at least an upper-second class degree in a relevant subject (forestry, conservation, land management, natural sciences, economics). Candidates with lower qualifications (e.g. lower second class degree) who have significant relevant professional work experience may also be considered.
In order to study on this programme, students must have regular access to a computer with internet access: the University cannot provide such facilities to distance learning students. A small study grant (~GBP £150/year) will be provided to successful scholars to assist them with the costs of computing and internet access.
Applicants must ensure they are eligible for entry to the programme and that distance learning is an appropriate mode of study for them before applying for a CSC scholarship.
Scholarship Application Process
**IMPORTANT**
Applicants MUST apply directly to the CSC for these scholarships AND to ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ for their chosen course.
Application to the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC)
All applications must be submitted by 16:00 GMT on Tuesday 20th May 2025.
Please check on the for information on how to apply and what supporting documentation is required.
All queries from candidates about the CSC’s Online Application System should be directed to
Application to ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ
Do not delay preparing and submitting your application to ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ as it takes time for offer letters to be prepared.
¾«¶«Ó°Òµ scholarship nomination procedure
In order for us to nominate the most suitable applicants, we shall select candidates for scholarships based on the batch applications to the CSC’s Online Application System.
To assist us in this, please outline the following in a relevant section of your CSC’s Online Application System application form;
- Why you want to study your chosen course at postgraduate level
- Why distance learning is your preferred route for undertaking further education
- Why you are well-suited to study by distance learning
- How your registration on a distance learning forestry programme will fit into your existing work and personal commitments
- You may also add other relevant information and/or experience you feel is necessary to support your application.
Once we have reviewed all applications, we will be in touch with shortlisted candidates to arrange an interview. Online interviews will be held in the week commencing 16th June 2025. Therefore, you MUST include both your email address and a telephone number by which we can contact you.
Applicants who we are unable to contact via email or telephone will not be shortlisted.
Applicants who do not have access to reliable electricity and computing facilities will not be shortlisted.
Once the shortlisting process is complete, we will submit our nominations (10 nominees plus 5 reserves) to the CSC who will make the final decisions. We expect the CSC to announce their final decisions by July/August 2025.
Contact us
Further enquiries about the programme should be directed to distance@bangor.ac.uk or telephone 01248 382351.