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The Association of Commonwealth Universities | ACU
Application guidance for QECS hosts

Applications will be assessed according to the quality of the responses to the assessed questions and the course justifications given in the course details section of the form.

Within the webform, applying institutions will be asked to complete/provide the following: 

  • Assessed statements

  • Course details and justification(s)  

  • Key documentation and information 

Assessed statements

Applying institutions are asked to provide written statements explaining their institution’s interest in becoming a QECS host and illustrating why they would be a good fit.  

Institutions are expected to demonstrate an understanding of the aims of the ACU and the QECS programme, with specific reference to their Commonwealth focus. 

Statement 1: Institutional Strategy (200-300 words) 

With reference to the Commonwealth, please describe: 

  • How your institution’s current international recruitment strategy aims to facilitate international collaboration, learning, and research. 

  • How becoming a QECS host would contribute to these efforts. 

Statement 2: Recruitment Strategy (100-200 words) 

The Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarship is committed to widening access to international scholarship opportunities and encouraging applications from individuals from underrepresented and disadvantaged backgrounds. * 

Please describe: 

  • How your institution would promote QECS opportunities to individuals from these backgrounds and encourage them to apply for a QECS award at your institution. 

  • How your institution would support and encourage eligible individuals from these backgrounds within your institution (including current students, staff, and alumni) to apply for QECS awards at other participating host institutions. 

*See the defining underrepresentation and disadvantage section below, which outlines those groups that may be considered as underrepresented and disadvantaged. 

Statement 3: Scholar Impact (300-400 words) 

Please describe how a QECS scholar would benefit from studying at your institution. In your response, please highlight: 

  • The support available to international students before arrival, during their studies, and after completing their award. 

  • The resources, services and facilities available beyond coursework to help students develop professional, academic, and research skills during their studies. 

  • The extra-curricular activities, networks and initiatives that enable international students to engage with the local community, both within the university and in the wider host country. 

  • Any other distinctive features of your institution, local community, or student experience that would make it an attractive and enriching destination for QECS scholars.

Course Justifications (100-300 words per course) * 

*You will be asked to justify the inclusion of each course that you wish to offer as an option to QECS applicants. Each course justification will be graded and an average of your scores for these questions will be added to your overall score. Please see the section below for further information.

Course details and justification(s)

Hosts can offer up to 3 suitable courses under the QECS. Please note: 

  • You will also be asked to justify the inclusion of each course that you wish to offer under the QECS. 

  • Applications are not judged based on the number of courses included. 

  • If your institution is selected as a QECS host, you will be allocated one scholarship place per academic year (this is not one scholarship place per course listed in your application). 

  • Each course justification will be graded, and we will take the average of these scores. The average will be added to the overall grade of the application. 

Host applicants must provide the following information for each course that they wish to offer: 

  • Course title 

  • Titles of core modules and an indication of pathways or optional modules that may benefit scholars from Commonwealth countries. 

  • Course Justification (100-300 words):  

With reference to the course title included above, please briefly describe the value of the course to Commonwealth scholars. Your response should highlight: 

  • Any opportunities that the course may present to the scholar to participate in cross-Commonwealth research or other partnerships whilst studying. 

  • The potential development impact for the scholar, their country, and/or their field of study should they undertake this course.  

  • Examples of case studies/Alumni that have benefitted from this course and their impact are welcome/appreciated 

  • Course tuition fees 

  • Course duration (months)  

  • Course entry requirements 

  • Link to course on your institution's website 

  • Opening date for course applications 

  • Course start date 

Key documentation and information

To help us to confirm an institution’s suitability as a QECS host and support successful hosts with next steps, host applicants are asked within the form to provide the following information and documentation: 

  1. Key Contacts: Details of key institution contacts that will support the scholar application, selection, and onboarding process for successful hosts. This includes: 

  1. Main Contact 

  1. Finance Contact 

  1. Accommodation Contact 

  1. Immigration Contact 

  1. Marketing Contact
     

  1. Admissions Process & Entry Requirements: Information relating to admissions processes at the host institution, which will be included on the QECS website, as well as confirming the suitability of the courses. 

  1. Applicant Review Processes: Confirming the host applicant’s agreement to follow the applicants review and selection processes outlined by the QECS team and providing details of the host’s review and shortlisting panel. 

  1. Scholar Wellbeing: Details that will help us to support selected and on-award scholars, including identifying a suitable stipend rate for postgraduate international students. 

  1. Compliance and Due Diligence: Key documentation relating to institutional policies and procedures. The following host institution documents are requested: 

  1. Business Registration Document 

  1. Safeguarding Policy (or relevant policies relating to bullying, sexual exploitation and harassment and abuse). 

  1. Anti-Fraud and Money Laundering Policies 

  1. Data Protection Policies 

Successful host applicants will be required to complete an acceptance form within 10 working days before they can be confirmed as a host for the upcoming year. To complete the form, you will be required to sign and return a copy of the QECS Host Agreement and International Data Transfer Agreement (IDTA). 

Defining underrepresentation and disadvantage

For Statement 2, institutions are requested to identify their strategy for promoting the programme to those from underrepresented and disadvantaged groups.  

The following table has been provided to help identify those that might be identified as fitting these criteria. 

Group

Background

Women 

Women remain underrepresented, especially in STEM fields.

Persons with disabilities 

People with disabilities have significantly lower rates of higher education completion compared to those without disabilities. 

Forcibly displaced people

Refugees and displaced people have much lower access to higher education than non-refugees, especially in low- and middle-income countries.

LGBT+ persons 

LGBT+ people face barriers to education and support in many Commonwealth countries, impacting participation and outcomes. 

People with limited economic means 

Lower income is strongly linked to reduced participation in higher education, with large gaps between the richest and poorest.

Ethnic minorities 

Ethnic minorities are underrepresented in higher education due to language, curriculum, and accessibility barriers.

People from remote/rural locations 

Those in remote or rural areas have limited access to quality education and essential services.

Indigenous peoples

Indigenous peoples often have less access to and lower quality of education than other groups.