Commonwealth Master's Scholarship Scholar Chuma from Nigeria Shares His Journey of Securing a Fully Funded Master's at the University of Nottingham, United Kingdom

My name is Chuma, and I am Nigerian. My academic journey began in Mechatronics Engineering, a field that trained me to think in systems. Over time, I became increasingly drawn to a different kind of systems challenge: energy transition. I was fascinated not only by the technologies involved, but also by the human and institutional questions behind them – who benefits, who bears the costs, and what it takes to move from promising ideas to scalable solutions.

I have been fortunate to receive fully funded opportunities to pursue postgraduate studies, including the Commonwealth Master's Scholarship for an MSc in Sustainable Energy and Entrepreneurship at the University of Nottingham, United Kingdom. I chose this program intentionally because of its interdisciplinary design – bridging engineering and business. I wanted to understand how clean-energy technologies become viable in the real world: how projects are financed, how markets and incentives shape decisions, and how entrepreneurship can translate innovation into impact. That foundation shaped my next step: moving deeper into the socio-economic dynamics of the energy transition through doctoral research at Wageningen University, where I now examine energy challenges through the lens of institutions, stakeholders, and economic realities. Outside my studies, I enjoy exploring nature and pushing the boundaries of knowledge, a curiosity that has quietly guided my path from engineering to business and now to economics.

Commonwealth Master's Scholarship Details

I received the Commonwealth Master's Scholarship to study for an MSc. in Sustainable Energy and Entrepreneurship at the University of Nottingham, United Kingdom. It was full funding, covering tuition and related costs, and valued at around ~£40,000.

Educational Background

I earned my Bachelor's degree in Mechatronics Engineering from Bells University of Technology, Nigeria. It was toward the final phase of my degree that my interest shifted more deliberately toward the clean energy transition. Nigeria, as well as much of Africa, is heavily dependent on fossil fuels. Beyond the climate implications, this has visible local consequences, including air quality and public-health burdens in many cities. That context shaped my interest in the energy transition, and so the MSc in Sustainable Energy and Entrepreneurship at the University of Nottingham became a natural next step. The program allowed me to extend my engineering background into the energy domain while adding a complementary understanding of how clean technologies scale, through business models, investment decisions, and policy environments.

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

I did keep a list of scholarships that I was interested in, and also took the time to study the requirements. I did a lot of research on the host universities and countries to see if they fit my study interests and had a good track record of hosting international students. I took both the SAT and IELTS, but looking back now, I did not need to take them. This is because, first, the SAT applies if you were to study in the United States, and if you studied at a university in which the language of instruction was English, then you can provide proof of instruction in English to your receiving university.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the Commonwealth Master's Scholarship?

Well, I did apply for a couple of scholarships during that period. And in the process, I learned from the rejections how to better sell my experiences to the evaluating committee. I also connected with a few people who already got these scholarships to learn from their experiences. In some cases, it was through direct contact, and in others, it was through their social media outlets, i.e., YouTube channels. It is also important to look out for and join good groups of scholarship applicants or recipients that one has access to. You may learn a thing or two there.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

I believe that having some strong leadership experiences can make your application stand out. It is one thing to go through (experience) an academic institution and come out as a straight-A student, and it is another for the institution to experience you. The same can be said about society. What I mean by this is, apart from your academics, there should be other extracurricular activities (like volunteering) that you are or were engaged in to contribute to the system, driving social impact.

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

I have already mentioned some key points, but I will also add that you should apply for multiple scholarships because rejections do occur. This is because there are other equally (or more) qualified candidates. Also, do your research and be sure that you are well-suited for the study you are applying for. Finally, scholarship applications are a lesson in resilience – you might get a ‘no’ sometimes, but you pick yourself up, learn from setbacks, and try again.