The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission will be celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2009.

The CSC manages Britain’s contribution to the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan, which also turns 50 in the same year. Set up at the first Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers in 1959, the Plan has enabled over 24,000 Commonwealth citizens to study in other Commonwealth countries.

The CSC is planning a year-long programme of activities to celebrate the anniversary and look forward to the next 50 years. More information will be available soon.

Did you know?

• Over 16,000 Scholars and Fellows have been funded by the UK government since 1960.
• UK Commonwealth scholarships have been awarded to citizens of all the Commonwealth countries.
• 983 people have people have been able to study for a UK degree whilst remaining in their home country, thanks to the CSC’s innovative Distance Learning programme.
• The CSC launched its Professional Fellowships scheme in 2002, enabling over 300 mid-career professional from developing countries to spend time with a UK host organisation in the same field.