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Bloomsbury Institute London Postgraduate Scholarship for Small States in the Commonwealth

Supporting postgraduate students from small states: a unique opportunity for business and finance scholars

Friday 7th March 2025

On 10 March 2025 on Commonwealth Day and days before the first woman from Africa becomes the Commonwealth Secretary General, Bloomsbury Institute London announces a Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme in Business and Finance for Small States in the Commonwealth.

For the 2025/26 academic year, we will award a full tuition fee scholarship to one postgraduate applicant in one of our MBA, MSc Management, MSc Accounting and Finance, or MSc Finance and Wealth Management programmes from each of the following countries in each of these regions: Namibia (Africa); Maldives (Asia); St. Kitts and Nevis (Caribbean); and Samoa (Pacific).

As a proud member of the London Chamber of Commerce, Bloomsbury Institute is situated in the heart of the Knowledge Quarter (KQ) – London’s Innovation District, which is home to a £35bn economy, larger than Canary Wharf, and rapidly becoming a new focal point for the city. The economic output of KQ has significantly outpaced other areas of London and the UK, which is one of the reasons why we were among the first higher education institutions in the UK to establish a joint Employability and Enterprise Strategy. This strategy has helped leverage numerous opportunities from being based in this dynamic ecosystem.

Our decision to launch this scholarship programme reflects our recognition of the historic moment for the Commonwealth, as it is chaired by Heads of Government from two Small States in succession for the first time: Samoa following the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in 2024, and Antigua and Barbuda, which will host the next CHOGM in June 2026.

It is also significant that this initiative is being launched 100 days before the first Commonwealth Trade Ministers to be held outside of London (in Namibia) which highlights the need to bring information and analysis about Commonwealth trade and international business into business education, an area where Bloomsbury Institute London has led.

The Bloomsbury Institute London Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme for Small States in the Commonwealth emerged from our engagement in the following discussions and initiatives:

  • The 10th Commonwealth Youth Ministers’ Meeting in September 2023 in London, which we addressed and achieved groundbreaking outcomes on delivering more for young people through the power of technology and exploring opportunities in youth entrepreneurship and employment
  • The launch and roadmap of the Commonwealth Plan of Action for Investment at the last CHOGM, in which we are involved, co-chaired by the UK and St. Kitts and Nevis Governments
  • The Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) Higher Education Taskforce Working Group on Employability, Entrepreneurship, and Skills, in which we play a key role.

In addition to the knowledge gained through the taught programme, we will provide key opportunities for co-curricular activities to support employability and entrepreneurship for Scholarship Awardees, including:

  • Participation in events with key Commonwealth stakeholders in London, including Commonwealth organisations, the Commonwealth Secretariat, High Commissions, and the London Chamber of Commerce. These may involve internships, placements, shadowing, and opportunities for capstone projects. Scholarship recipients will also be supported to attend the Commonwealth Business and Youth Fora during CHOGM in Antigua and Barbuda in June 2026
  • Internships and placements with entrepreneur networks, such as the Global Entrepreneurship Network and the Organisation of Pakistani Entrepreneurs (OPEN) London, with which we partner and support
  • Training and support through Bloomsbury Radio, a live 24/7 community station based at our state-of-the-art facilities in central London. Scholarship recipients will have opportunities to contribute to and develop the Business Show on Bloomsbury Radio, available on our dedicated channel on Spotify.

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“At Bloomsbury Institute London, we are driven by a desire to break down the barriers that hold people back – Breaking Down Barriers Together. It is timely and appropriate that we are launching this major initiative on Commonwealth Day, coinciding with the 2025 Commonwealth Theme of ‘Together We Thrive’. This reaffirms that we are stronger and more resilient when we work together, rather than standing alone. In these uncertain and challenging times, this has never been more important, and our Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme for Small States in the Commonwealth is a tangible contribution to underscoring this message“.

John Fairhurst
Principal and Chief Executive Officer (Executive Director)

Eligibility Criteria

The scholarship is open to students who: Are citizens of or normally resident in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) of the Commonwealth Are from the following regions:

  • Africa: Namibia
  • Asia: Maldives
  • Caribbean: St. Kitts and Nevis
  • Pacific: Samoa

  • Awardees will be drawn from one Small State in each of the regions. In future years, we will continue to offer this to another country which is a Small State in each of these Regions.