Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scholar, Zahra Didarali, from Kenya Shares Her Journey of Securing a Fully Funded Master's at the University of Oxford, United Kingdom

I am a South-Asian Kenyan, blessed to have been born and raised in wonderful Kenya. At university, I double majored in Environmental Science and Geology at Rhodes University, South Africa. These majors were inspired by equal parts passion and confusion. After realizing how much I enjoy the breadth of Environmental Sciences, I went on to pursue an MSc in Environmental Change and Management at the University of Oxford, where I received a full Commonwealth Shared Scholarship. I am very grateful to have received this scholarship, as it gave me the opportunity to give my full attention to the program without having to work part-time or financially strain my family. Following this, I worked in international development with a focus on sustainable land management, where my interests gradually converged on agricultural economics. And somewhere along the line, I managed to convince myself to pursue a PhD in Land Economics at the University of Bonn.

Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Details

Institution: University of Oxford

Scholarship name: Commonwealth Shared Scholarship

Value: ~£40,000 – £45,000

Were You Offered Any Other Scholarships?

In fact, I was a Rhodes Scholarship finalist and, unfortunately or fortunately, did not get it. This only fueled my passion for continuing to pursue opportunities that align with my purpose, proving to myself that resilience and persistence matter more than a single outcome.

Educational Background

As I mentioned earlier, my BSc choices were a mix of passion and a bit of confusion. Before starting my Bachelor’s in South Africa, I had the opportunity to work with Prof Alex Awiti at the East African Institute. I always give him a shout-out because I don’t think he quite knows how pivotal his mentorship was during that in-between period, waiting to start university, but also wanting to do something meaningful (and, honestly, something that would strengthen my CV).

At the time, I knew I was interested in sustainable land management, regenerative agriculture, and community-led work, but those ideas were mostly just living in my head. That experience helped bring them to life and gave me the confidence to pursue Environmental Science as one of my majors.

Geology, on the other hand, came from a bit more uncertainty. I wasn’t entirely sure what I wanted as a second major, so I chose something I enjoyed and was relatively strong in, and it ended up giving me a really useful technical foundation.

My postgraduate studies were much more intentional. They were strategic choices to fill gaps I felt my undergraduate degree hadn’t fully addressed and to better align my academic background with the kind of work I do and want to continue improving in. That said, I don’t plan on collecting degrees forever; I see each one as a step towards building a more coherent and applied skill set.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship?

I developed an organized tracker covering scholarship deadlines, institutions, and funding details, which helped me manage multiple applications efficiently. I also streamlined my materials for reuse across applications and connected with past recipients to learn from their experiences.

How Do You Rate the University of Oxford Academically?

Academically, it was highly stimulating, with a strong interdisciplinary student body. That said, there is still progress to be made in diversifying the curriculum and broadening institutional representation, especially in terms of decolonizing perspectives and voices.

What Did You Pursue After the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship?

Research and work

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

Being authentic and telling my story. I’ve read applications that end up feeling disconnected from the scholarship’s vision. Some rely on overly complex or superfluous language that doesn’t really say much. I focused on clear storytelling and always tying it back to my values, making sure they aligned with the institution’s values. I do wonder how applications will evolve with AI, but I think authenticity will matter even more.

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

I would have started earlier and applied to more scholarships to have more choices.

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

1) Plan ahead: Scholarship applications are due well before the institution’s application deadline. 2) Talk to other scholarship winners and familiarize yourself with the process and their experiences. 3) Be brave and take that step to apply. 4) Do not procrastinate.