Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scholar Md Yeasir Yunus from Bangladesh Shares His Journey of Securing a Fully Funded Master's at the St. Mary’s University, United Kingdom

My name is Md Yeasir Yunus, and I am from Bangladesh. I completed both my Bachelor’s and first Master’s degrees in Population Sciences at the University of Dhaka in 2018 and 2020, respectively. My father was an immigrant working in the Middle East, which led me to focus early on human migration from a social science perspective. Then, during my final-year research project, I became increasingly interested in the forced migration area, particularly those affecting displaced Rohingya communities in Bangladesh from Myanmar. My undergraduate monograph focused on the quality of life of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, which later shaped many of my academic and professional interests.

Because of these experiences, I wanted to pursue higher education in a field related to migration studies from an interdisciplinary and policy-oriented perspective. This motivated me to apply for the MA in Human Trafficking, Modern Slavery, Migration and Organised Crime at St. Mary’s University in the United Kingdom.

Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Details

In 2022, I received the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship jointly funded by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK and St. Mary’s University.  The scholarship was fully funded and covered my full tuition fees, return airfare, a monthly living allowance, thesis grant, and a warm clothing allowance.

Were You Offered Any Other Scholarships?

At that stage, the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship was my major funded scholarship opportunity.

Educational Background

I completed my Bachelor of Social Sciences in Population Sciences from the University of Dhaka with a CGPA of 3.28 out of 4.00 and later completed my Master of Social Sciences in Population Sciences with a CGPA of 3.63 out of 4.00. I would not say I had a very good GPA, but I have worked hard to offset it with my volunteer activities, documentary filmmaking, research publication, and work experience. For example, I founded Dhaka Diaries, a social platform that worked on a couple of projects to improve community health in Dhaka city. Also, I believe my university teachers gave us the opportunity to learn about research methodology and statistics, and I was very serious about learning statistical analysis software and various research methods. I really enjoyed working with statistical software and learning different experimental methods and research designs. It was a hobby of mine to write research proposals, collect data, and analyse it. It was kind of a game for me, and the joy I felt when my hypothesis was proved is what keeps me going.

I think that was also a big factor in getting a full-time job when I was doing my master’s degree. I worked as a Research Officer at Disaster Management Watch, where I contributed to projects related to trafficking, migration, Rohingya refugee communities, and humanitarian issues in Bangladesh.  Another important experience during that period was getting the opportunity to publish about the Rohingya community with Professor Mainul, one of my university teachers, in The Lancet Global Health during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a student, contributing to an internationally recognized journal was highly motivating.

These experiences aligned closely with the development-focused goals of the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship.

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

I took the IELTS test as part of the application process (got Band 7). I haven't got much time for the IELTS test, but one of my teachers (Professor Kishowar) has pushed me to register, and I only have one month to prepare. He also pushed me to get into GRE preparation so that I could apply to universities in the USA, but when I got confirmation from the Commonwealth, I stopped (ha ha ha!)

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

I believe my application stood out because it had a clear and coherent story. My academic background, research interests, professional experiences, and future goals were all connected to migration, refugees, trafficking, and development issues in Bangladesh. Rather than trying to present a perfect profile, I focused on presenting an authentic narrative that demonstrated both academic commitment and long-term social impact. I just created a good flow and shared my story in my SOP.

How is Your Experience at St Mary’s University, UK?

Very good, honestly very good. Because I was in a small cohort and there were many international students from the USA, Canada, and the European Union who already had experience in the human trafficking and migration area. I really learned from the fellow students, and also the teachers were very helpful, especially the group discussions we had in the class, which was top-notch.

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

If I were going through the process again, I would probably start preparing earlier and apply to more scholarships simultaneously. I just applied to this scholarship, and I believe I am extremely lucky, Alhamdulillah.

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

I would strongly recommend choosing the university and subject very carefully. Many students apply broadly without thinking strategically, but I believe it is important to apply to programs where your profile fits naturally and convincingly. Your experiences, research interests, and future goals should align clearly with both the course and the scholarship objectives. Being specific and intentional in your choices can make your application much stronger than simply applying to many universities randomly.

I would also encourage students not to underestimate themselves. Many students believe they are not competitive enough and therefore never apply. Scholarship applications are highly competitive, but a strong personal story, consistency, and clear motivation can make a significant difference.