How Arunkumar Singh Irungbam, an Indian Scholar, Secured a Fully Funded Master’s in Development Studies at the University of Sussex, United Kingdom Through the Commonwealth Scholarship

My name is Arunkumar Singh Irungbam, and I am from Manipur, in Northeast India. I hold a BA (Hons) in Sociology and Philosophy from Dhanamanjuri University, awarded with First Class honours. I am currently pursuing an MA in Development Studies at the Institute of Development Studies (IDS), University of Sussex. My decision to pursue this field stems directly from my work as the Founder of Khut-Sha, a social enterprise dedicated to connecting artisan communities in Northeast India with global markets. I chose to further my education in Development Studies to acquire the rigorous academic and analytical frameworks necessary to design a sustainable, evidence-based model for this venture.

Commonwealth Scholarship Details

I was awarded the Commonwealth Scholarship (CSC), funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in partnership with the University of Sussex, to pursue my MA in Development Studies at the Institute of Development Studies (IDS). The scholarship is a full award — it covers full tuition fees, a monthly stipend (which includes a warm clothing allowance), return flights to and from the UK, a study travel grant, and a thesis grant. It's a highly competitive, prestigious international scholarship that has supported over 31,000 scholars and fellows since 1959.

Educational Background

I hold a BA (Hons) in Sociology and Philosophy from Dhanamanjuri University, India, graduating with First Class honours. Studying Sociology gave me the analytical tools to understand social structures, inequality, and community dynamics — directly relevant to development studies. Philosophy sharpened my ability to think critically and construct rigorous arguments, which has been valuable both academically and in designing the logic behind my social enterprise, Khut-Sha. Together, this background gave me both the theoretical foundation and the critical thinking skills needed to approach development challenges from an interdisciplinary perspective.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to the University of Sussex?

I began preparing seriously for scholarships from the 4th semester of my Bachelor's, researching options like Erasmus Mundus and the Commonwealth Scholarship well in advance. I took the IELTS right after my 4th semester exams, preparing for just about 5 days using YouTube resources, and scored an overall band of 7. For my Master's, I researched several institutions including LSE, SOAS, and Sussex. I chose Sussex specifically because of the strength and relevance of its Development Studies programme at IDS — I wasn't chasing a university's general public reputation; I wanted somewhere that would genuinely equip me for my future goals.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the Commonwealth Scholarship?

For the Commonwealth Scholarship, I built my application around my own lived experience and the venture I had already founded — Khut-Sha. Rather than treating the personal statement as a generic essay, I used it to tell a genuine, evidence-based story: growing up in Manipur, witnessing the exploitation of artisan communities, and founding Khut-Sha as a direct response to that problem. I made sure my proposed course of study, my development impact statements, and my career plan were all tightly aligned around this one central mission, rather than trying to sound broadly "impressive.

I also secured strong referees who knew me well from different angles: my head of department and a professor who had also coached my college football team, so the application reflected both my academic ability and my leadership experience.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

I believe what distinguished my application was its grounding in genuine, demonstrated action rather than theoretical intent. Prior to applying, I had already founded Khut-Sha, a social enterprise addressing a real development challenge in my home state, and was actively developing its model and groundwork. This meant my proposal was not a hypothetical idea but a real venture in development, supported by a clear, evidence-based plan for how the scholarship would enable its full launch and growth. I also ensured that every component of my application, including my personal statement, development impact statements, and career plan, formed one coherent and consistent narrative, rather than reading as separate, disconnected sections.

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

Honestly, I would take the same path again. I believe the mistakes I made along the way were not obstacles to avoid but necessary parts of the journey. There is no shortcut to becoming a scholar; the process of learning from your own missteps is what genuinely prepares you for it. If anything, going through those difficulties is what taught me the discipline and resilience the scholarship itself demands.

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

My advice would be this: do not chase the scholarship for its own sake; chase the purpose that makes you deserving of it. A scholarship is not merely a transaction of merit for funding; it is, in essence, a form of trust, an investment made in who you are becoming, not only in what you have already achieved. Know your "why" with complete clarity before you begin, because that clarity will carry you through every essay, every setback, and every moment of self-doubt along the way. The process will test your patience and your character as much as your intellect, but if your purpose is genuine, the application will write itself as an honest reflection of that purpose, rather than a performance for someone else's approval.