Call for application – Commonwealth Shared Scholarship 2026/27: Fully Funded Master’s Study in the UK for Developing Countries. The Commonwealth Shared Scholarship is one of three Master’s programs managed by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) in the United Kingdom.
The CSC oversees the UK government’s international scholarship initiative, designed to advance global development goals. Operating under the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP), the program highlights the UK’s continued commitment to supporting education and development across Commonwealth nations.
Through this scholarship, exceptional students from diverse backgrounds gain access to postgraduate study in the UK. Recipients are expected to apply their knowledge and skills to drive innovation and leadership upon returning to their home countries. The initiative promotes sustainable development, strengthens global collaboration, and supports mutual growth between the UK and other Commonwealth member states.
Purpose: To contribute to development needs of Commonwealth countries by providing training for skilled and qualified professionals and academics who would not otherwise have been able to study in the UK.
Intended beneficiaries: High-quality postgraduate students from Least Developed and middle-income countries (including fragile and conflict affected states), who have not studied for a year or more in a high-income country before, who would not otherwise afford to study in the UK, and who have the potential to enhance the development of their home countries with the knowledge and leadership skills they acquire.
Award duration: normally 12 months
Application process: UK universities bid for scholarships for specific courses with demonstrable development impact and must agree to fund the living cost component of the scholarships. Applications are made via successful universities, which make the initial selection of candidates, who are subsequently approved by the CSC.
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Eligible countries
Please note that only applicants from the eligible countries listed below can apply for Commonwealth Shared Scholarships.
Bangladesh
Belize
Botswana
Cameroon
Dominica
Eswatini
Fiji
Gabon
Ghana
Grenada
Guyana
India
Jamaica
Kenya
Kiribati
Lesotho
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mauritius
Montserrat
Mozambique
Namibia
Nauru
Nigeria
Pakistan
Papua New Guinea
Rwanda
Saint Helena
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and The Grenadines
Samoa
Sierra Leone
Solomon Islands
South Africa
Sri Lanka
Tanzania
The Gambia
Togo
Tonga
Tuvalu
Uganda
Vanuatu
Zambia
Financial assistance
Commonwealth Shared Scholarships are jointly funded by the CSC and participating UK universities.
Each scholarship provides:
- Approved airfare from the Scholar’s home country to the UK and return at the end of the award (the CSC will not reimburse the cost of fares for dependants, nor the cost of journeys made before the award is confirmed) – funded by the CSC.
- Approved tuition fees: full fees are covered by agreement between the CSC and the UK university, and scholars are not liable to pay for any part of the tuition fee.
- Stipend (living allowance) at the rate of £1,452 per month, or £1,781 per month for those at universities in the London metropolitan area (rates quoted at current levels) – paid and funded by the university.
- Warm clothing allowance, where applicable – paid and funded by the university.
- Thesis grant towards the cost of preparing a thesis or dissertation, where applicable – paid by the university, funded by the CSC.
- Study travel grant towards the cost of study-related travel within the UK or overseas – paid by the university, funded by the CSC.
- Contribution towards the cost of a mandatory tuberculosis (TB) test, where required for a visa application (receipts must be supplied) – paid by the university, funded by the CSC.
If a Scholar has children and is widowed, divorced, or a single parent, child allowance of child allowance of £622 per month for the first child, and £154 per month for the second and third child under the age of 16, if their children are living with them at the same address in the UK.
If a Scholar shares that they have a disability, a full assessment of their needs and eligibility for additional financial support will be offered by the CSC.
The CSC’s family allowances are intended to be only a contribution towards the cost of maintaining a Scholar’s family in the UK. The true costs are likely to be considerably higher, and Scholars must be able to supplement these allowances to support any family members who accompany them to the UK.
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Supporting documentation
Commonwealth Shared Scholarship 2026/27 Applications must include supporting documentation to be eligible.
Candidates must upload the following documents with the application:
- Proof that they are a citizen or have refugee status in an eligible Commonwealth country: a copy of a valid passport (or national ID card) showing a photograph, date of birth, and country of citizenship.
- Full transcripts detailing all higher education qualifications, including to-date transcripts for any courses currently being studied, with certified translations if not in English.
- Where any transcripts are missing or do not include all pages, the application will be considered ineligible.
- References from at least two individuals, in PDF format, signed and either on institutional letterhead or an email clearly showing the sender’s details. References must be uploaded to CSC Central as part of the application.
Commonwealth Shared Scholarship 2026/27 Applications will be considered ineligible if any of the required documentation is not included by the closing date.
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Selection process
Each participating UK university will conduct its own recruitment process to select a specified number of candidates to be awarded Commonwealth Shared Scholarships and put these forward to the CSC. The CSC will then confirm that these candidates meet the eligibility criteria for the programme.
Applications will be considered according to the following selection criteria:
- Academic merit
- Quality of research proposal
- Potential impact on the development of the candidate’s home country
How to apply
Applications for Commonwealth Shared Scholarships for the 2026/27 academic year open at 16:30 GMT on Wednesday 12 November 2025. The scholarships are for study in the UK beginning in September/October 2026.
The closing date for applications is Tuesday 9 December at 16:00 GMT.
Applications to the CSC must be made using the application system, CSC Central.
For more Information: Visit the website for Commonwealth Shared Scholarship 2026/27
