King's College London

The School for Government at King’s College London is delighted to announce the continuation of the Ben Delo Commonwealth Leadership Programme, a scholarship for mid-career civil servants of Commonwealth member states, as well as officials of British overseas territories and Hong Kong SAR.

Since commencing in Spring 2023, King’s has welcomed more than 170 nominations, resulting in 138 offers of study and 117 participants joining this scholarship programme, including officials from across 20 member states.

The programme offers scholarships to study our master's level, online, four-week short courses. Each course, across our broad curriculum, blends academic rigour and practical application to equip civil servants across the world with the skills they need to maximise their professional effectiveness and impact, and advance in their careers. The short courses at King’s are accredited at master’s level and offer new perspectives on contemporary governance issues.

Thanks to ongoing funding by British entrepreneur, mathematician and philanthropist Ben Delo, the programme will continue in the 2025 and 2026 calendar years, supporting as many as 125 students.

“I’m so happy that I was a recipient of the Ben Delo Commonwealth Leadership Programme Scholarship because it helped me to solidify what my next steps need to be in the area of public policy and public administration. The class I took was regulatory policy and politics, and that class created an opportunity for me to find my passion, and I was able to link that passion with where I am now at the Attorney General’s chambers.” – Arliene T. Penn, participant from the British Virgin Islands

“This scholarship programme was launched in 2023 to provide talented and motivated individuals a unique opportunity to gain access to King’s academics, the knowledge and skills required to advance in their careers. We are delighted with the uptake to-date and the positive impact this programme has had globally, advancing the development and career prospects of 117 participants across 20 member states. We are grateful to Ben for his continued support of this programme and for enabling its continuation in the years ahead.” – Professor Michael Sanders, Director, School for Government, King’s College London

“It has been a great privilege to see participants of such a high calibre, from every corner of the Commonwealth, participate in the Ben Delo Commonwealth Leadership Programme. It is the people who live within the Commonwealth that serve as the primary actors that shape, sustain, and realise its potential. In continuing to support the Programme, I hope we can encourage even more member states to nominate the next generation of leaders to access the world-leading expertise and experience of King’s College London, strengthen connections, and spread prosperity across the Commonwealth and beyond.” – Ben Delo, sponsor of The Ben Delo Commonwealth Leadership Programme

Applications for nominations to the programme are now open.

In order to be eligible, candidates must be civil servants of Commonwealth countries (which includes British Overseas Territories) or civil servants of Hong Kong SAR, and have at least three years’ relevant work experience.

Following nominations from Commonwealth member states, recipients of the scholarships and offers to study will be assessed and offered by King’s. Further information can be found here or please contact isfg-scholarships@kcl.ac.uk