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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.

Applying institutions will be asked to complete/provide the following: 

  • Assessed questions.  
  • Course details and justification(s).  
  • Key documentation and information.

Assessed questions

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 QECS is committed to encouraging those from underrepresented and disadvantaged backgrounds to apply. 

Please describe: 

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

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

See the Defining underrepresentation and disadvantage details 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 attending your institution. In your response, please highlight: 

  • What support is provided to international students upon arrival, throughout their studies, and after completing their award. 

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

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

Course details and justification(s)

Hosts can offer up to 5 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. 

Key documentation and information

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

    • Main contact. 
    • Finance contact. 
    • Accommodation contact.
    • Immigration contact.
    • Marketing contact.

  1. Admissions process and 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, as well as agreeing to comply with the relevant QECS and ACU policies. The following host institution documents are requested: 

    • Business registration document.
    • Safeguarding policy (or relevant policies relating to bullying, sexual exploitation and harassment and abuse). 
    • Anti-Fraud and money laundering policies.
    • Data protection policies. 

Host applicants are also requested to: 

  1. Provide a signed copy of the QECS Terms and Conditions (T&Cs). You can find a template of this document here. 

  1. Review and confirm their institution’s compliance with the ACU’s safeguarding policy (as per Appendix I of the policy). 

  1. Provide a signed copy of the International Data Transfer Agreement, available here.

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 people 

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