A Ugandan Cancer Researcher Receives Multiple Fully Funded Scholarships to Study in Japan and the UK

My name is Annet Nakkazi, and I come from Southwestern Uganda. I am a 2nd year Ph.D. student at the University of Manchester, in the Cancer Sciences program.

Commonwealth Scholarship Details

The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) in the UK offers scholarships to support talented individuals from across the Commonwealth. These scholarships are aimed at helping students develop the skills and knowledge needed to contribute to sustainable development in their home countries.

The scholarship covers almost everything you need for your studies in the UK, including full tuition fees, airfare to and from the UK, and a monthly living allowance. Additionally, it provides support for warm clothing, study-related travel, fieldwork, and even a paid mid-term visit back home. With this generous coverage, scholars can focus fully on their education and personal growth while building valuable international connections.

For my Ph.D. I received the Cancer Research UK (CRUK) Scholarship, a fully funded scholarship that overs for years of tuition and an annual stipend of £21,000.

Educational Background

I did all my primary and secondary education in Southwestern Uganda, my bachelor’s degree in biological sciences at the University of Tsukuba (Japan), then my master’s in Radiation Biology at Oxford University (UK), and then a Ph.D. in Cancer Sciences at the University of Manchester (UK).

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the Commonwealth Scholarships and the University of Manchester?

I would say believing in myself and having friends and people who believed in my potential. Getting scholarships is more than just grades. I believe my inner passion for what I wanted and the character I showed during interviews also contributed to winning the awards. You do not have to be so fake, but I am learning that winning things requires you to show some specific qualities that you need to acquire/borrow from the universe.

Then, using the internet effectively! Even though I usually knew things to write about in my head, I still read a variety of essay samples and interview questions. This enabled me to copy some words or phrases that I could incorporate in my essays, and improve on my essay structure. From the online interview question samples, I would practice answering these in front of my friends.

What Would You Have Done Differently if You Were Going Through the Process Again?

I feel I did my best, and I was lucky that I had some people to help out. The application process was definitely time and energy-consuming but was worth it. For essays, I would start as early as I could. For interviews, I would make sure I know what I am talking about. No half-baked information! Where I do not know, I would clearly mention that but note it down to expand my learning.

What Advice Would You Give Those Looking to Apply for a Similar Scholarship?

When applying for courses and scholarships, I would invest so much in learning to write flowing stories and starting to write essays early.  I would read a lot about the current key issues in my field of interest, take time to understand the gaps I will enjoy addressing, and then be clear on where my efforts will be useful.

Connect with various people, and ask for feedback on your essays. In some cases, people will not connect to you or respond on time depending on various reasons, but keep trying as you improve your writing!

Also, make sure you establish some good connections with your teachers. Things can fail in life, so having that one teacher or fellow who never gets tired of writing good references for you is a good thing.