How Tanuj Samaddar, an Indian Scholar, Secured a Fully Funded Master’s in Public Policy at University College London (UCL), United Kingdom Through the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship

I am Tanuj Samaddar, a Commonwealth Scholar from India, bound to pursue an MSc in Public Policy at University College London (UCL) this fall. I graduated from the University of Delhi this year with an Honours degree in Geography. I am an artist, youth activist, and public policy researcher, having previously worked with institutions such as the Indian National Science Academy (INSA), the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), IIT Guwahati, CSIR, and the Ministry of Education. I am a two-time President’s Awardee, recipient of the UNDP-backed Karmaveer Chakra award, a Kentucky Colonel (the highest civilian award of the Commonwealth of Kentucky), and a Billion Acts Peace Fellow. My research interests lie at the intersection of developmental policy and governance frameworks, particularly examining how institutional structures enable or constrain upward social mobility. I am a former fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a member of the Development Studies Association, UK, and a Commission Member at IUCN.

Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship Details

I have received the FCDO-funded Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship to pursue an MSc in Public Policy at University College London (UCL). I am the first from my state to have received this scholarship to pursue a postgraduate degree in public policy at UCL. This year, I am the youngest Commonwealth Master’s Scholar from India.

The Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship is among the world’s most prestigious and competitive international scholarship programmes for postgraduate study. It is administered by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) and funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) of the UK Government. The programme is designed to support talented individuals from eligible Commonwealth countries who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership potential, and a strong commitment to contributing to sustainable development in their home countries. Beyond providing access to world-class academic institutions, the scholarship seeks to develop a network of future leaders whose expertise can contribute to addressing complex social, economic, institutional, and developmental challenges across the Commonwealth. Each year, there are only 90-93 seats available for applicants around the world, specifically for the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship

Receiving the scholarship to study Public Policy at UCL is particularly significant to me because it aligns closely with my longstanding interest in strengthening public institutions and improving the effectiveness and inclusiveness of policy interventions in India. My academic and research experiences have increasingly focused on the intersection of education, socioeconomic vulnerability, rural development, climate resilience, and public policy.

Were You Offered Any Other Scholarships?

I emerged as a finalist in the highly competitive Erasmus Mundus Scholarship in the GLOBED programme and was in the top 2.3% of the applicants globally. In addition to this, I received the Humanities and Social Sciences International Masters Scholarship issued by the University of Strathclyde and the University of Bath Postgraduate Merit Scholarship granted by the University of Bath.

Total Scholarship Amount: 6000 (Humanities and Social Sciences International Masters Scholarship ) + 5000 (University of Bath Postgraduate Merit Scholarship ) + 65000 (Commonwealth Masters Scholarship) = 76000

Educational Background

I graduated from Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi, with an Honours degree in Geography and a minor in Political Science. Throughout my undergraduate studies, I maintained a strong academic record, consistently securing a CGPA above 8.0 on a 10-point scale. Alongside my academic commitments, I actively pursued professional and extracurricular engagements, striving to maintain a careful balance between academic rigour and practical experience. These experiences allowed me to complement my classroom learning with exposure to research, public policy, and professional responsibilities, while developing a broader and more interdisciplinary academic profile. I aim to use my postgraduate degree as a natural extension of my past academic expertise and interests. The degree will be a launchpad for my long-term goal of pursuing research in the field of governance and public policy.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to University College London (UCL)?

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

Although standardised tests such as the GRE or GMAT were not mandated for my program, I undertook the IELTS examination to validate my language proficiency. Benefiting from a lifelong education in English-medium institutions alongside extensive professional engagements, I possessed a strong, organic command of the language. Despite concurrently managing university examinations, work obligations, and application deadlines, I completed a targeted five-day preparation period and achieved an overall Band Score of 8.0

Because my academic and professional background was entirely in English, preparation did not focus on foundational language learning, but on mastering test mechanics, time management, and official scoring rubrics. With only five days to prepare alongside concurrent work and academic commitments, the focus was on executing a targeted, module-specific strategy.

I practiced for the IELTS Speaking test by engaging in timed conversations with AI voice assistants to refine my fluency and coherence. To establish test-day stamina and pacing, I completed full-length, uninterrupted mock tests under simulated exam conditions, ensuring that I could execute strategies efficiently without time-induced stress. For those with limited time, dedicating two hours daily is ideal. Reviewing past exam questions helps familiarise you with the format, while taking full-length mock tests ensures solid preparation and confidence.

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

My preparation began long before I wrote a single essay, starting with a systematic mapping of the specific policy delivery bottlenecks I wanted to tackle back in India. Rather than starting with abstract ideas, I spent time dissecting administrative friction, implementation gaps, and data constraints on the ground. Gathering empirical evidence early ensured that my core research proposal was rooted in real-world governance mechanics rather than broad theoretical concepts.

Furthermore, I conducted an honest self-audit. Rather than treating my application as a showcase of past accomplishments, I critically evaluated where my practical work was hitting a ceiling. I identified the exact analytical and methodological blind spots that were preventing my field-level insights from translating into scalable policy. This allowed me to frame the scholarship not as an award for past success, but as a necessary bridge to my next professional stage. Next, I conducted a deep dive into UCL’s School of Public Policy. I went beyond generic course prospectuses to analyse working papers, module frameworks, and the quantitative evaluation tools used by faculty. This allowed me to explicitly link UCL’s technical offerings.

I approached the writing process with strict editorial discipline. I established a months-long drafting timeline centred on reducing cognitive load for the reviewers. I wrote early passes to exhaust all technical ideas, and then spent weeks systematically stripping away unnecessary complexity. Testing the narrative on non-specialist readers ensured that my core logic was transparent, compelling, and effortless to digest.

How Do You Rate University College London (UCL) Academically?

University College London (UCL) is one of the most prestigious institutions in the world, with a QS ranking of 8. Consistently ranked among the top 10 universities globally, it stands out not just for its prestige, but for its ethos of disruptive thinking and real-world application.

What truly distinguishes UCL and why it was my premier choice for the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship is the calibre of its Department of Political Science and School of Public Policy. The School operates at the cutting edge of evidence-based policymaking, seamlessly combining rigorous quantitative and qualitative analytical tools with practical governance frameworks. Furthermore, UCL's location in central London provides an unprecedented ecosystem. Being minutes away from Westminster, major think tanks, and global non-profits allows academic research to directly engage in real-time political decision-making.

For my MSc in Public Policy, this environment offers the precise multidisciplinary toolkit required to evaluate complex socio-economic challenges, design resilient public interventions, and measure policy impact effectively. Earning a Commonwealth Scholarship to study here is both a privilege and a commitment: it places me in a world-class intellectual environment where I can develop the analytical rigour and leadership needed to drive transformative, evidence-driven policy solutions back home.

When UCL was established in 1826, it was a radically disruptive institution. It was explicitly founded as a secular alternative to Oxford and Cambridge, becoming the first university in England to admit students regardless of their religion or social background. Half a century later, in 1878, it broke barriers again by becoming the first university in the UK to admit women on fully equal terms with men. That progressive, reformist heritage still actively drives the institution today. Today, UCL rightfully embraces its title as 'London’s Global University.' It is profoundly welcoming to international scholars, which is evident in the fact that over 50% of its student body comes from outside the UK.

For a Commonwealth Scholar studying Public Policy, this is perhaps the greatest pedagogical asset of all. You cannot study global governance in a vacuum. The sheer diversity of the UCL campus means that when we debate health policy, climate action, or economic development, I am not just reading Western theories; I am debating alongside peers who have lived under entirely different socio-political systems.

How Does University College London (UCL) Support International Students?

Building directly on that historic commitment to inclusivity we just discussed, UCL ensures that being "London's Global University" is more than just a tagline: it is backed by concrete, robust support systems.

From the moment you arrive, the university provides a structured landing pad. It begins with its dedicated International Student Orientation Programme, which is specifically designed to remove the friction of relocating to a new country. But the support extends far beyond those first few weeks. Academically, UCL provides resources like the Academic Communication Centre to help international students seamlessly adapt to the specific rigours and expectations of the UK's academic framework. Furthermore, the Students’ Union has dedicated international representation, ensuring our specific needs, whether related to visa guidance, cultural transition, or mental wellbeing, are consistently advocated for.

Ultimately, knowing this comprehensive safety net exists is invaluable. It means that as a Commonwealth Scholar, I won't have to expend my energy merely surviving the transition to the UK. Instead, I can channel my focus entirely into my MSc in Public Policy, leveraging the London ecosystem and maximising the opportunity to its fullest potential.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

I feel it’s imperative to be extremely clear and precise about the research that you want to pursue in your postgraduate studies. My development impact essays for the scholarship were very coherent and to the point. It’s generally advisable not to overuse jargon and to keep the statements simple but well-structured. I was very specific with my research goals and what I want to do once I am back in India.

The Commonwealth Scholarship seeks candidates who can translate higher education into immediate public value. My Development Impact essay avoided vague idealist statements. I laid out a realistic, step-by-step post-return roadmap: identifying specific institutional levers, implementation barriers, and measurable milestones in India.

Furthermore, instead of making sweeping claims about "driving development in India," I targeted a hyper-specific policy gap. I framed my research around concrete, ground-level delivery challenges, proving I understood the actual mechanics of the problem before claiming I could solve it. Ultimately, it wasn't about attempting to sound overly sophisticated; it was about demonstrating coherence. Showing how my background, my precise research focus at UCL, and my commitment to driving systemic policy change in India aligned into a singular, purposeful trajectory is what truly set my application apart.

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

In the initial drafting stages, I spent considerable time synthesising broad theoretical policy literature before narrowing down to practical implementation realities. If I were to do it again, I would invert that sequence, anchoring my proposal immediately in ground-level data constraints, administrative mechanics, and delivery bottlenecks before layering on the overarching policy frameworks. While I ultimately mapped my goals to the School of Public Policy's curriculum, I would have engaged much earlier with the specific working papers, policy labs, and quantitative evaluation tools currently emerging from the department. This would have allowed me to calibrate my proposed methodology directly against the specific analytical models utilised by UCL faculty.

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

My single biggest piece of advice is to trade broad idealist statements for radical clarity and a hyper-focused problem definition. Scholarship panels aren't looking for vague promises about "driving social change" or "making a difference." They want to see that you genuinely understand the administrative mechanics of a specific issue in your home country, that you have isolated a bounded implementation gap or a delivery bottleneck that you are uniquely equipped to tackle.

Prioritise plain, precise language over heavy academic jargon. Stripping away the fluff doesn't weaken your application; it signals that your thinking is disciplined, realistic, and grounded. If you treat your application not as a request for financial aid, but as a tight, credible project proposal for public value creation, where your past experience, master’s study, and future roadmap lock together seamlessly, you will instantly stand out.

Navigating an application of this scale can easily feel daunting, which is why giving yourself a long runway is critical. Starting early prevents last-minute fatigue and gives you the mental breathing room to iterate on your narrative until it’s seamless. I would also strongly encourage reaching out to former scholars and connecting with alumni who have already navigated this exact path provides invaluable, ground-level insights into the subtle friction points, blind spots, and practical hurdles you might otherwise overlook.