Commonwealth Scholarship: Arjun did it with elan, but he had to forgo it

Arjun Babu, 24, was in South Korea, when he got the intimation that he got a 'prized catch,' the Commonwealth Scholarship worth Rs one crore to pursue his research in the UK. By the time the information reached him, Arjun, a native of Palakkad, was in the midst of his research in Pusan National University in South Korea. He is now pursuing PhD in IBS Centre for Climate Physics at Pusan. He decided halfheartedly though, not to accept the scholarship, as he was unwilling to drop his research midway. But that doesn't take the sheen off his achievement: he was one among the 19 winners from India to be selected for the scholarship.

After completing his Plus Two from Kannadi Higher Secondary School in Palakkad, Arjun, a young promising student from Nellikkattil, Vadakkanchery boarded a train to New Delhi. He did his BSc in Physics (Hons) at St. Stephen's College. Later, he did an MSc in Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences from Hyderabad Central University. In 2015, he tried for the Commonwealth Scholarship. But that time he faulted in the final lap. He tried again in 2016. This time, he hit the bull's eye.

Higher studies and research in UK

The Human Resource Development Ministry (HRD Ministry), every year, gives away the Commonwealth Scholarship for students from India to do their higher studies and research in the UK. The scholarship includes flight charges, tuition and examination fee, accommodation fee and family allowance for those who need to stay for over 18 months. Every year, 25-30 students from India will be selected for the scholarship to do their masters (one year) and doctoral research (3-4 years) in the UK. But the number of the students selected for the scholarship varies each time. The students also have to prove their proficiency in English as stipulated by the institute in which they want to pursue their studies.

Application: Things to remember

When you submit the application for the scholarship, you have to forward it not only to the HRD Ministry but also to the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission. Applicants for PhD should contact the institutes concerned in the UK and decide in advance about the guide and topic of research. While applying for the scholarship, the candidate should start the procedures to get an admission in a university in the UK. Because, the application for the scholarship must have the details of the university in which the candidate plans to join, the topic of research and the guide. The student should also be able to convince what India stands to gain from the outcome of the research.

Arjun says that the main drawback of the Commonwealth Scholarship is the long wait for the results. Simply because of this, when he got another chance, he had to opt for it. The process of the scholarship which starts in September will be completed only in June.

Five things to remember

· The HRD Ministry calls for applications for the Commonwealth Scholarships in the beginning of September. The candidates should also be able to submit their application to the Commonwealth Commission by the end of October.

·The first phase of the interview will take place in New Delhi by mid-November.

·The results of the interview will be published by mid-December. But this is not the final results. It is only a kind of nomination from the ministry to the Commonwealth Commission that the selected candidate could be considered for the scholarship.

·The Commonwealth Commission's final decision will come out by the end of May. In between, the candidate should be able to pass the IELTS examinations.

·By June-July, the ministry publishes the final results.

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Source: Commonwealth Scholarship: Arjun did it with elan, but he had to forgo it