Development Policy and Practice at The Open University (U.K.) secures 5 Commonwealth Scholarships for Global Development Masters students in Malawi

Five Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships, worth a total of £90, 000 have been awarded to The Open University to fund Malawian  development practitioners to study for a MSc in Global Development

The scholarships are funded by the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office, to enable talented students to access training not otherwise available in their home country, via distance learning.

The OU’s Development Policy and Practice group has successfully secured an award of five places, continuing a tradition of welcoming Commonwealth Scholars, which has enabled more than 220 students in East Africa to study for an MSc in Global Development since 2006.

These Scholarships are the fifth to be awarded for the university’s MSc in Global Development. Scholars will join in October 2026 and study for three years.

The course is taught by The Open University and will be delivered in close collaboration with Civil Society Agriculture Network (CISANET), an organisation in Malawi, with many years’ experience in policy advocacy and development projects.  

DPP’s Dr Frangton Chiyemura, the Scholarship project director, said: “Whilst the course builds up skills for managing development generally, the focus will be on strengthening peace, security and governance."

He added: “We are very pleased to have secured these scholarships, which will ensure that we continue to support development policy and practice in Malawi through our teaching.”

Who can apply?

Applicants for the Scholarships must be Malawian nationals employed by a development agency – government, NGO or private sector – and have a minimum of two years’ experience working in Malawi on development issues.

They should have a good undergraduate degree, preferably in a field related to development and be highly motivated, with a strong, demonstrable commitment to local and national development. More information is available on the Scholarship website.  

How to apply

The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) has its own application system.  Applicants will find details at https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/scholarships/commonwealth-distance-learning-scholarships-candidates/  When applicants look at the list of ‘eligible courses’ on that site they will find ours (MSc Global Development) in Group 4: Strengthening global peace, security and governance.  You must choose The Open University, MSc Global Development (distance learning).

Applicants should complete and submit the Commonwealth Distance Learning application online (https://fs29.formsite.com/m3nCYq/qwx3ti73hb/login) by 16:00 GMT on 31 March 2026. Applicants should complete all sections of the application form as fully as possible as the form will be the basis for the selection of candidates. Applicants should pay particular attention to describing in detail how they intend to achieve in-country benefit because of your study of the MSc in Global Development.

Should applicants require any assistance or encounter challenges, please they should send an e-mail with the subject ‘Commonwealth Scholarships Malawi 2026 MSc in Global Development’ to Dr Frangton Chiyemura, who is the project director: [email protected]