How Ian Cawich, a Belizean Scholar, Secured a Fully Funded Master’s Through the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship

My name is Ian Cawich. I’m a proud Belizean, specifically from a small northern town called Orange Walk, which serves as the backbone of the country’s sugar industry. Being exposed to such an integral yet vulnerable part of the Belizean economy from a young age made me realize how imperative public policy is to both the survival of industries and the citizens who support them.

This passion for development inspired me to pursue a Master’s degree in Economics at the University of Manchester in the UK under the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship. There, I completed modules such as Labour Economics and Poverty, Inequality and Governance in Less Developed States, with the aim of contributing to the creation and implementation of sustainable development policies across Latin America and the Caribbean.

Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship Details

I was awarded the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship in 2024, which allowed me to complete a one-year taught master’s-level degree at a recognized university in the UK.

The scholarship is funded by the UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and is open to citizens of eligible Commonwealth countries. It is a fully funded opportunity, covering tuition fees, airfare, visa costs, and a living allowance, making postgraduate study in the UK accessible to scholars from across the Commonwealth.

Were You Offered Any Other Scholarships?

While applying for the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship, I also applied for the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship and the Chevening Scholarship. I was offered the Manaaki Scholarship as well and made it to the interview round of the Chevening Scholarship.

Similar to Commonwealth, Chevening is a fully funded opportunity sponsored by the UK FCDO for study at a recognized UK university.

Manaaki is also a fully funded master’s degree scholarship, but it is for study at recognized universities in New Zealand and is sponsored by the New Zealand Aid Programme

Educational Background

At the undergraduate level, I was proud to be one of the recipients of the Sir Arthur Lewis Award for Indigenous People, a fully funded three-year scholarship programme open to citizens of Belize, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to complete a Bachelor’s degree at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Cave Hill Campus, in Barbados.

While at UWI, I pursued a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Finance, completing the degree with First Class Honours. UWI is known for its academic rigour and emphasis on real-world application. During my degree, several of my professors made it a point to relate theory to real-world, Caribbean-focused applications. This truly helped me gain a clearer picture of my career goals and the trajectory I wanted to pursue.

Additionally, during my undergraduate studies, I served on the committees of several student-led clubs and organizations, including the Belize Students’ Association, the International Affairs Office, and the Young Economists Association. These experiences helped me develop the leadership capabilities that the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship looks for.

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

Did You Take Any Standardized Tests? If So, How Did You Prepare for Them?

Narrowing down your preferred universities from the thousands that exist in the UK is a time-consuming process. A lot of people focus on the academic side of it, which is important, but I think it’s also important to consider the location and culture of where you’ll be living. Master’s programmes in the UK tend to be intense, so you want to choose a city that inspires you.

I began narrowing down my search by examining the course details of the programmes I was considering. My goal was to find a programme that was internationally recognized and balanced academic rigour with real-world application. After this, I started looking through the profiles and publications of the instructors who taught these courses, as I wanted to learn from academics who were familiar with the Latin American and Caribbean context.

Lastly, I went down a bit of a rabbit hole with YouTube videos about student experiences and daily life at the universities and in the cities I was considering. For me, the University of Manchester stood out as the perfect mix of all the aspects I was looking for.

Fortunately, most UK universities recognize degrees from UWI, so I did not have to take any standardized tests.

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

I’ve known I wanted to study in the UK since around high school. Every year in Belize, around the time applications for Commonwealth and Chevening open, alumni go on talk shows and host events to share their experiences of applying for and later receiving these opportunities. So, I tuned into several of these conversations before applying myself.

I even reached out to a couple of alumni personally and had one-on-one conversations with them to get their advice on putting together a strong application. Following that, I began drafting my essays using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, and Results) to structure my responses to the essay prompts.

In preparation for the interviews, I went over my essays and prepared some practice questions with a couple of friends. I expected the first question to be about myself, so I crafted a two-minute elevator pitch about my background and my passion for my area of study.

What Did You Pursue After the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship?

Currently, I am working at the Inter-American Development Bank as a Research Fellow for the Central American and Hispaniola Economics Department.

Most of my work involves macroeconomic monitoring, knowledge creation, and explaining economic jargon and trends in Belize to keep the country office and wider management informed about developments in the country.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

I believe my development impact and career plan made my application stand out.

This was the part of the application that took the most time for me to develop, as I wanted to make the point that studying in the UK was a natural progression in my career that would allow me to accomplish my wider goals after completing my degree.

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

Enjoy every single moment.

We are often so focused on the end goal that we forget to appreciate the process. The application, moving, admissions, visa struggles, and general uncertainty are all part of the journey.

Once you’re in this position, you realize how truly short the year is, so appreciate every moment of the experience.

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

Apply, apply, apply!

I’ve seen too many brilliant candidates compare themselves to alumni and psych themselves out of applying.

The Commonwealth scholarship does not have a single mould! Even if you are not successful on your first attempt, reapply. The majority of scholars are individuals who refused to give up and reapplied. So trust that when the timing is right, it will happen for you.