Frequently Asked Questions: how to complete an application

Questions about the general application process Q: What is a Nominating Agency? Q: Can I apply direct to the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission? Q: How do I download the application form from the website? Questions about the Electronic Application System Q: Where do I find the password when using the password recovery system? Q: Why havent I received an email with a link to retrieve my password? The password recovery system indicated that my attempt was successful, but the email was never sent to me. Q: Where do I find my ID? Q: How do I find my In Tray? Q: What can I do with my In Tray? Q: Why could I not move to the next page after completing the second page? Q: Why could I not move from the section on qualifications to the following section? The page kept recurring with the result that my form ended up with repeated details of my academic records. Q: Why could I not log out? Q: Why doesn't the Print Form button actually print the form? Q: After completing/submitting my form, how do I know if the Nominating Agency has received it? Q: I have completed/submitted my application but why can I no longer see it in my In Tray? Q: I am applying for a Commonwealth Professional Fellowship. I have started my application but why can I no longer find it? Q: In my In Tray, what does 'References: 2 &_ of 3' under Received So Far mean? Q: Why can't I see the references that my In Tray tells me have been completed online? Questions about the information required on the application form Q: What is the difference between an academic qualification and a professional qualification? Q: What is the difference between Leadership potential and Benefit to home country? Q: If I realise I have omitted important information in my application after I have submitted it, can I add it? Q: I have completed/submitted my application, but can I change the email address of the second referee to joe.bloggs@cscuk.org.uk instead of drjoe.bloggs@cscuk.org.uk? Q: I am applying for a Commonwealth Shared Scholarship. Why arent I asked to include the names and email addresses of referees? Q: A: What is a Nominating Agency? A Nominating Agency is an organisation that directly or indirectly selects candidates to nominate to the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC). A Nominating Agency can be: For Commonwealth Scholarships a Commonwealth Government Ministry, such as a Ministry of Education, or a Commonwealth national body, such as a University Grants Commission, or a Commonwealth university or a UK organisation invited to nominate by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission For Commonwealth Scholarships for academic staff and Commonwealth Academic Fellowships a Commonwealth national body, such as a University Grants Commission, or a Commonwealth university Commonwealth universities nominate candidates either directly or indirectly to the CSC. If Commonwealth universities nominate candidates indirectly to the CSC, the nominations go to a national body which then makes its selection to nominate to the CSC. See http://bit.ly/cscuk-eas for details. For Commonwealth Shared Scholarships a UK university For Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships a department of a UK university For Commonwealth Professional Fellowships a UK organisation or a department of a UK university Q: A: Can I apply direct to the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission? No.

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How do I download the application form from the website? You do not download the application form when using the Electronic Application System (EAS). You complete the form sitting in front of the computer. Your entries are automatically saved as you complete the different parts of the form. You can save and log out when the form is partially complete and log in again later to continue completing the form. Where do I find the password when using the password recovery system? You will receive an automatically-generated email with a link to obtain a password. An example password (EHVYW8VY) is shown below:

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If you copy and paste this password to use when you log on, make sure you copy it from left to right (not right to left). We recommend that once youve used the password to get back into your application, you either click on My Details or go into Personal Information and change your password to something easier to remember. Q: A: Q: A: Why havent I received an email with a link to retrieve my password? The password recovery system indicated that my attempt was successful, but the email was never sent to me. Check your email spam/trash folder. If the email is not there, there is a problem with the email address you gave in your Personal Information on the EAS. Where do I find my ID? If you have not completed/submitted the application, you find the ID in the blue-coloured section on the Attachments page. If you have completed/submitted the application, the ID is the number at the left-hand edge of the application listed on your In Tray.

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How do I find my In Tray? If you log on after starting or completing/submitting an application, the EAS will open in your In Tray.

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What can I do with my In Tray? You can open an incomplete application form (by clicking on Open) and you can monitor the progress of a completed/submitted application. If you have submitted an application, the In Tray also tells you which of your referees have completed a reference about you and which of your potential supervisors in the UK have completed supporting statements. You can also read (and print) a PDF version of your application.

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Why could I not move to the next page after completing the second page? This was probably because of heavy traffic on the internet. At times it is necessary to be patient. Be assured that the information you enter is automatically saved on a regular basis, but it is sensible to save the form yourself from time to time. Why could I not move from the section on qualifications to the following section? The page kept recurring with the result that my form ended up with repeated details of my academic records. This was probably because of heavy traffic on the internet and frequent clicking of the Refresh button on your part. If you have not been able to log out, close your browser and try again later. Why could I not log out? This may occur if you leave the application open without entering any information for some time. When you go back to log out or to enter more information, you are likely to find an error message. If you do, click on the button in the error message and this will let you re-open the application. You can then log out normally. Why doesn't the Print Form button actually print the form? You cannot print the PDF of your application until you have downloaded it onto your computer. When you click on the Print Form button and then click on the Print button on the Print to PDF screen, the PDF is generated and downloaded onto your computer. You can then print and/or save it. Be patient, particularly if you have attached several transcript pages. After completing/submitting my form, how do I know if the Nominating Agency has received it? If you log off after completing/submitting your form and then log on again, you will go straight to your In Tray. The In Tray will show you where your application is. The Nominating Agency does not receive an email saying your application has 'arrived'. It is the responsibility of the staff of the Nominating Agency to check their In Tray to see when applications arrive. I have completed/submitted my application but why can I no longer see it in my In Tray? This probably means that the Nominating Agency has rejected your application; you should have received an email telling you so. If, however, you are applying for a Commonwealth Professional Fellowship, it may mean the UK organisation offering the programme has decided to revise the programme. When the revisions have been made, you will be able to continue with your application. All the information you previously entered will still be there.

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I am applying for a Commonwealth Professional Fellowship. I have started my application but why can I no longer find it? This means either that the UK organisation offering the programme has rejected your application (you should have received an email telling you so), or that the UK Organisation offering the programme has decided to revise the programme. When the revisions have been made, you will be able to continue with your application. All the information you previously entered will still be there. In my In Tray, what does 'References: 2 &_ of 3' under Received So Far mean? It means that Referee2, and only Referee2, on the list of referees in your application has completed an online reference about you. Similarly, 'References: 1 & 3 of 3' means that Referee1 and Referee3, but not Referee2, have completed references online.

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'References: all 3' means that all 3 referees have completed references online.

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Why can't I see the references that my In Tray tells me have been completed online? Only Nominating Agencies and the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) can see your references. What is the difference between an academic qualification and a professional qualification? An academic qualification is awarded by a university or other higher education institution for example, a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree. A professional qualification is awarded by a professional body for example, membership of an engineering professional body obtained by examination. What is the difference between Leadership potential and Benefit to home country? Candidates from developed Commonwealth countries are expected to complete the section of the application form entitled 'Leadership potential'. Candidates from developing Commonwealth countries are expected to complete the section of the application form entitled 'Benefit to home country. The Notes for Candidates are the same for candidates from both developed and developing countries.

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If I realise I have omitted important information in my application after I have submitted it, can I add it? No. Once you have submitted your application, you can only change the email addresses of your Referees (and the email address of the Vice-Chancellor/Rector or Executive Head of your university, if relevant), and you cannot delete your application. So if you want to include the missing information, you will have to start a new application AND: warn your Nominating Agency that you have made a second application warn your Referees that they will each receive a second email requesting another online reference warn your potential Supervisors, if relevant, that they will each receive a second email requesting another online supporting statement warn the Vice-Chancellor/Rector or Executive Head of your university, if relevant, that you have made a second application I have completed/submitted my application, but can I change the email address of the second referee? Yes. You go back into your application by clicking View Form:

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Then you go back to the References page and click on Change:

Then the following pop-up opens:

In the screenshot below, the email address of Referee2 has been changed. You then click on Resend:

Then the following pop-up opens:

If you click OK, the following pop-up opens:

Finally, you click on Exit to return to your In Tray:

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I am applying for a Commonwealth Shared Scholarship. Why arent I asked to include the names and email addresses of referees? In the case of Commonwealth Shared Scholarships, UK universities are responsible for selecting candidates (and the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) usually accepts their decisions). As the universities involved have different selection procedures, candidates should look at the relevant university's website or contact the university directly to find out what references are required.