Overview
The Commonwealth Scholarships for Master’s and PhD are prestigious awards funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and administered by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC). These scholarships are designed to enable talented and motivated individuals from eligible Commonwealth countries to gain the knowledge and skills required for sustainable development, and are aimed at those who could not otherwise afford to study in the UK.
Operating within the framework of the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP), the CSC awards around 800 scholarships and fellowships each year. By attracting outstanding individuals from all backgrounds and supporting them to become leaders and innovators in their home countries, the CSC’s work combines sustainable development with the UK national interest and fosters international partnerships and collaboration.
What’s Included?
Commonwealth Scholarships for Master’s and PhD provide a comprehensive package of financial support, covering all major costs associated with studying in the UK. The scholarship covers the following:
- Tuition Fees: Fully covered by agreement between the CSC and the UK university — scholars are not liable to pay any part of the tuition fee.
- Living Stipend: £1,452 per month (or £1,781 per month for universities in the London metropolitan area).
- Return Airfare: Approved economy class airfare from the scholar’s home country to the UK and back at the end of the award.
- Study Travel Grant: Towards the cost of study-related travel within the UK or overseas.
- Warm Clothing Allowance: Where applicable.
- Child Allowance (if applicable): £622 per month for the first child, and £154 per month for the second and third child under 16, if children reside with the scholar in the UK (for widowed, divorced, or single parent scholars).
- Disability Support: A full assessment of needs and eligibility for additional financial support for scholars who disclose a disability.
Eligibility
To be considered for a Commonwealth Scholarship, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Be a citizen of, or have been granted refugee status by, an eligible Commonwealth country, or be a British Protected Person.
- Be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country.
- Be available to begin academic studies in the UK by the start of the UK academic year in September 2026.
- Hold a first degree of at least upper second-class (2:1) honours, or a lower second-class degree plus a relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a Master’s degree).
- Be unable to afford to study in the UK without the scholarship.
Eligible countries include Bangladesh, Botswana, Cameroon, Ghana, India, Kenya, Malawi, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and many more Commonwealth low and middle income nations. The CSC has no age limit for applications, and there is no IELTS requirement. Applicants who have already studied at Master’s level in the UK are not eligible.
How to Apply
Applications for Commonwealth Scholarships are made through the CSC’s online application system, CSC Central. The CSC does not accept direct applications — candidates must apply through a national nominating agency or an approved non-governmental organisation or charitable body in their home country. Nominators have their own selection processes and may set their own internal closing dates before nominating candidates to the CSC by December 2025.
When applying, candidates are required to submit the following documents:
- A valid passport or national ID showing nationality, photograph, and date of birth.
- Full transcripts of all higher education qualifications (with certified English translations where necessary).
- At least two academic or professional references on institutional letterhead or official email, uploaded in PDF format.
- A Development Impact Statement (in four parts) outlining how the scholarship relates to development issues, how new skills will be applied, expected outcomes, and how impact will be measured.
- A detailed Plan of Study and a Personal Statement.
Applicants should also apply directly to their preferred UK universities, as admission offers may be required before the scholarship can be confirmed. Selection is based on candidate merit, quality of the research proposal, and potential development impact in the home country.
Key Dates
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Nominator Deadline (to CSC) | December 2025 |
| Expected Notification to Applicants | By July 2026 |
| Scholarship Start | September/October 2026 |
Contact Information
For general inquiries and FAQs, visit the official Commonwealth Scholarship Commission website at cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk. For specific queries not addressed on the website, use the Contact Us form on the CSC website. For safeguarding concerns, email: csc.safeguarding@cscuk.org.uk.
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