Written by Christian Chinonso
Founder, LearnViaHub | Academic Credential & International Student Research
✓ Last checked: 21 October 2026Official CSC sources cited
Quick answer
The Commonwealth Scholarship is the UK government’s postgraduate scholarship scheme. The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) runs it, and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) funds most awards (CSC).
The main 2027/28 round for Master’s and PhD Scholarships closed at 16:00 BST on 20 October 2026 (Master’s Scholarships page). The next deadline to plan for is the Shared Master’s Scholarship: applications open on 10 November 2026 and close at 16:00 GMT on 8 December 2026 (Shared Scholarships page).
A Master’s award covers full tuition, a return flight and £1,712 a month (£2,000 in London). There is no age limit, and the CSC does not require an IELTS test (Master’s Scholarships page).
MBA degrees are not funded. Distance Learning Master’s and Split-site PhD Scholarships are paused and will not run in 2026 or 2027 (CSC Scholarships and Fellowships page).
This page is the overview. For the details of each stage, see our eligibility guide, application guide, Shared Scholarship guide, PhD Scholarship guide and interview guide. It also sits within our fully funded scholarships guide.
2027/28 status by award
The CSC offers several awards, and each has its own route and dates. Start here to see which one applies to you and whether it is open.
| Award | Who it is for | How you apply | Status for 2027/28 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master’s Scholarships | Full-time one-year taught Master’s at a UK university, for candidates from eligible low- and middle-income countries. MBA not funded. | A nominator (usually a national nominating agency) and the CSC’s online system, CSC Central | Closed at 16:00 BST on 20 Oct 2026. Nominators send candidates to the CSC by December 2026; results by July 2027. |
| Shared Master’s Scholarships | Selected one-year Master’s courses at participating UK universities, which share the cost with the CSC. | The university course (admission) and CSC Central. No national nominating agency. | Opens 10 Nov 2026. Closes 16:00 GMT on 8 Dec 2026. |
| PhD Scholarships | Full-time doctoral study at a UK university (36 months), for candidates from 17 least developed countries and fragile states. | A nominator, CSC Central and a supporting statement from a proposed UK supervisor | Closed at 16:00 BST on 20 Oct 2026. Nominators send candidates to the CSC in December 2026; results by July 2027. |
| Distance Learning Master’s Scholarships | Master’s study through participating universities without moving to the UK. | Not applicable while paused | Paused. Will not run in 2026 or 2027. |
| Split-site PhD Scholarships | Graduates who already have a PhD place at a university in an eligible Commonwealth country with a link to a UK university. | Not applicable while paused | Paused. Will not run in 2026 or 2027. |
| Commonwealth Fellowships (Professional and Academic) | Short UK programmes of up to three months, starting March 2027. For candidates from non-ODA eligible Commonwealth countries, not degree study. | A UK host organisation’s programme and CSC Central | The CSC’s page lists the 2027 round as closed. Check the page for the current position. |
| PhD Scholarships for high-income countries | Full-time PhD at a UK university for candidates from high-income Commonwealth countries, funded by the UK Department for Education. | A supporting statement from a proposed UK supervisor, references and an offer of admission, per the CSC’s page | The CSC’s page describes only the 2024/25 round, which is closed. We did not see the scheme on the CSC’s current list, so check the CSC for any 2027/28 round. |
| Commonwealth Startup Fellowships | Support for high-potential startups from eligible Commonwealth countries. | See the CSC page | See the CSC page for dates. |
The CSC’s Master’s and PhD pages still described the round as open when we checked on 21 October 2026, even though the stated closing time of 16:00 BST on 20 October had passed. Check the CSC Central page and your nominator for any change.
What the Commonwealth Scholarship is
The CSC says more than 34,000 people have taken up a Commonwealth Scholarship since the first group of 175 scholars arrived in the UK in 1960 (CSC Scholarships and Fellowships page). The scheme operates within the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan and is led by international development goals (Master’s Scholarships page).
Awards are aimed at people who could not otherwise afford to study in the UK. Scholars commit to returning home when the award ends so they can contribute to their country’s development (Master’s Scholarships page).
Who can apply
For the Master’s, Shared and PhD Scholarships, the CSC sets these baseline conditions (Master’s, Shared, PhD):
- Be a citizen of an eligible Commonwealth country or have refugee status there. The Master’s and PhD pages also include British Protected Persons.
- Be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country.
- Be able to start study in the UK by the start of the UK academic year in September 2027.
- Hold, by September 2027, a first degree of at least upper second-class (2:1) honours standard, or a lower second-class degree plus a relevant postgraduate qualification, usually a Master’s. Disabled applicants without a 2:1 may be considered through the Commonwealth Disabled People’s Forum nominator (CSC nominator list).
- Be unable to afford UK study without the scholarship.
- Upload all required supporting documents. An application missing any of them is ineligible.
Age. The CSC has no age limit. It advises applicants to check any age rules on leave entitlement with their employer (Master’s Scholarships page).
Master’s only. The CSC funds one-year taught Master’s programmes and does not fund MBA degrees. It does not normally fund a second Master’s, so you must justify one. Anyone who has already studied at Master’s level at a UK institution, or already held a Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship, is ineligible (Master’s Scholarships page).
Shared Scholarship only. You must not have studied or worked in a high-income country for one academic year or more. Distance study at a high-income-country university while living at home is allowed. The CSC’s wording on this is slightly inconsistent, so confirm borderline cases with the university (Shared Scholarships page).
PhD only. You must not already be registered for a PhD or an MPhil leading to a PhD. Check the cut-off date on the CSC PhD page.
Language. The CSC does not require an IELTS test. For Shared Scholarships, universities may ask for evidence of English proficiency as a condition of the award (Shared Scholarships page).
Who cannot apply. UK government employees or their relatives, staff of the Association of Commonwealth Universities or the British Council, and current or former Commissioners or their relatives are not eligible. Former employees may apply three years after leaving (Master’s Scholarships page).
Each nominator runs its own selection and may add criteria of its own, so check its rules before you apply (Master’s Scholarships page). To see whether your degree meets the 2:1 standard, use our GPA to percentage converter and then confirm with your nominator. See also our full eligibility guide.
Eligible countries by award
The CSC publishes 43 eligible countries for both the Master’s and Shared Scholarships. The PhD Scholarship uses a shorter list of 17 least developed countries and fragile states (Master’s list, Shared list, PhD list). Fellowships use a separate list of non-ODA countries (Fellowships page).
| Country | Master’s | Shared Master’s | PhD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangladesh | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Belize | Yes | Yes | No |
| Botswana | Yes | Yes | No |
| Dominica | Yes | Yes | No |
| Eswatini | Yes | Yes | No |
| Fiji | Yes | Yes | No |
| Gabon | Yes | Yes | No |
| The Gambia | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Ghana | Yes | Yes | No |
| Grenada | Yes | Yes | No |
| Guyana | Yes | Yes | No |
| India | Yes | Yes | No |
| Jamaica | Yes | Yes | No |
| Kenya | Yes | Yes | No |
| Kiribati | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Lesotho | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Malawi | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Malaysia | Yes | Yes | No |
| Maldives | Yes | Yes | No |
| Mauritius | Yes | Yes | No |
| Montserrat | Yes | Yes | No |
| Mozambique | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Namibia | Yes | Yes | No |
| Nauru | Yes | Yes | No |
| Nigeria | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pakistan | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Papua New Guinea | Yes | Yes | No |
| Rwanda | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Saint Helena | Yes | Yes | No |
| Saint Lucia | Yes | Yes | No |
| Saint Vincent and The Grenadines | Yes | Yes | No |
| Samoa | Yes | Yes | No |
| Sierra Leone | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Solomon Islands | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| South Africa | Yes | Yes | No |
| Sri Lanka | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Tanzania | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Togo | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Tonga | Yes | Yes | No |
| Tuvalu | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Uganda | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Vanuatu | Yes | Yes | No |
| Zambia | Yes | Yes | Yes |
The CSC says it particularly welcomes applications from Small Island Developing States (Master’s Scholarships page). Countries not in the table, including Cameroon, are not on the CSC’s lists for these awards. Lists can change between rounds, so check the CSC page for the award you want.
What the scholarship pays
The table shows what the CSC lists for scholars (Master’s, Shared, PhD). Fellowships are paid at different rates, which are on the Fellowships page.
| Item | What the CSC provides | Award |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition fees | Full approved fees, paid under the CSC’s agreement with the university. You pay no part of them. | All |
| Airfare | Approved return flight from your home country to the UK. Fares for dependants are not reimbursed. | All |
| Monthly stipend | £1,712 a month, or £2,000 a month at universities in the London area (rates quoted at current levels). For Shared Scholarships the university pays this. | All |
| Study travel grant | A contribution to study-related travel in the UK or overseas. | All |
| Family allowance (single parent, widowed or divorced) | £622 a month for the first child and £154 a month for the second and third child under 16, if the children live with you in the UK. This is only a contribution, and the real cost is likely to be higher. | All |
| Spouse and child allowance (with a spouse) | £313 a month spouse allowance for up to nine months, and £313 a month for the first child plus £154 for the second and third under 16. | PhD |
| Fieldwork and home visit | One economy return flight to the fieldwork location, where approved, and a paid mid-term visit home unless you claim family allowances or the fieldwork flight. | PhD |
| Thesis grant, warm clothing, TB test | A thesis or dissertation grant, a warm clothing allowance where applicable, and a contribution to a mandatory TB test for a visa. | Shared |
| Disability support | A full needs assessment and any additional financial support, if you tell the CSC about a disability. | All |
The CSC states these rates “at current levels” and says conditions can change. Confirm them in the CSC’s Handbook for Commonwealth Scholars before you budget. The CSC’s FAQs say that for UK-based study it covers airfare, visa costs and a living allowance (CSC FAQs), but the award pages give no visa-fee amount, so confirm what is covered with the CSC before you budget.
Conditions of the award
- You must return to your home country after the award and leave the UK within one month of the award or programme ending, whichever is earlier. The CSC does not support the Graduate route visa (CSC FAQs).
- The scholarship is for full-time study and one degree only, and no other course may be taken at the same time.
- You may not hold another scholarship or award that covers the same costs.
- You may not take paid work or travel overseas during the award without the CSC’s approval.
- The CSC will not change your university or course after selection unless unforeseeable information emerges, so list three choices in order of preference when you apply.
How to apply
- Find your award and check your country. Use the status table and the country table above.
- For Master’s and PhD Scholarships, apply to a nominator as well as the CSC. The CSC does not accept direct applications. Find your country’s national nominating agency and its closing date, which can be earlier than the CSC’s (Master’s Scholarships page).
- For a Shared Scholarship, apply to the university and to the CSC. Pick an approved course from the CSC’s eligible courses list and secure admission. You can apply to several courses but may accept only one offer (Shared Scholarships page).
- Seek university admission early. The CSC says an offer letter is not required when you apply for a Master’s or PhD Scholarship, but it strongly advises seeking admission at the time of, or as soon as possible after, applying (CSC FAQs). Shared Scholarship applicants must also apply and secure admission for the course.
- Submit through CSC Central only. The CSC cannot accept applications or documents sent any other way. The system uses two-factor authentication, applications cannot be edited after submission, and refreshing the browser loses unsaved data.
- Upload your documents by the deadline. You need a passport or national ID, full transcripts for all higher education, and at least two references in PDF. PhD applicants also need a supporting statement from a proposed UK supervisor.
The CSC does not charge a fee to apply. See our step-by-step application guide for more.
Development themes and the Development Impact statement
FCDO-funded scholarships are offered under six CSC development themes (CSC development themes):
- Science and technology for development
- Improving population health, health systems and capacity
- Promoting innovation and entrepreneurship
- Strengthening peace, security and governance
- Strengthening resilience and response to crises
- Access, inclusion and opportunity
The application asks for a Development Impact statement in four parts. Part one links your studies to development issues at global, national and local level and to your chosen theme. Part two explains how you will use your new skills afterwards. Part three sets out the change you expect, its timeframe and who benefits. Part four says how your impact could be measured (Master’s Scholarships page).
How selection works
The CSC assesses applications on candidate merit, the quality of the research proposal, and the potential for development impact in your home country. It asks applicants to link their answers to each criterion (CSC selection criteria). For Master’s and PhD Scholarships, nominators put forward an agreed number of candidates and the CSC selects from that pool, so a nomination does not guarantee an award (Master’s Scholarships page). For Shared Scholarships, each university selects its candidates and the CSC then confirms they meet the eligibility rules (Shared Scholarships page).
Avoid fake sites
The CSC has warned about an organisation calling itself the “Commonwealth Exchange Scholarship Council”, which is not an official partner of the CSC or the Association of Commonwealth Universities. It tells applicants to use only the official CSC website and systems, and says it will never ask applicants to attend in-person screening events (CSC Scholarships and Fellowships page). Be cautious of third-party sites that ask for personal information or documents.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Commonwealth Scholarship fully funded?
Master’s and PhD Scholarships cover full tuition, a return flight and a monthly stipend, plus other grants listed above (Master’s Scholarships page).
Is there an age limit?
No. The CSC has no age limit for its applications (Master’s Scholarships page). Your nominator may add its own criteria, so check its notice.
Do I need IELTS?
The CSC does not require an IELTS test. A UK university may ask for evidence of English proficiency, particularly for Shared Scholarships (Shared Scholarships page).
Does the Commonwealth Scholarship fund an MBA?
No. The CSC funds one-year taught Master’s programmes only and does not fund MBA degrees (Master’s Scholarships page).
Are Split-site and Distance Learning Scholarships open?
No. Both are paused and will not run in 2026 or 2027 (CSC Scholarships and Fellowships page).
Can I apply directly to the CSC?
Not for Master’s or PhD Scholarships, which go through a nominator. Shared Scholarships go through the university. In every case you submit the CSC application on CSC Central (Master’s Scholarships page, Shared Scholarships page).
Can I apply if my country is not in the tables?
No. Only candidates from the countries the CSC lists for each award can apply.
Continue your Commonwealth Scholarship research
About the author
Christian Chinonso is the founder of LearnViaHub, where he researches academic credentials and the practical questions international students face, such as scholarships, grade conversion and admissions requirements.
How we researched this
Last checked: 21 October 2026. We read the CSC’s Scholarships and Fellowships, Master’s, Shared Scholarships, PhD, Fellowships and development themes pages, its FAQs and its high-income PhD page. Every figure, date, country list and rule above comes from those pages unless another source is linked. Figures we could not match to an official CSC page are not included.
Rates, dates and country lists change between rounds, so confirm them on the CSC website and with your nominator or university before you apply.
Christian Chinonso is the founder of LearnViaHub, with 6+ years of research experience in international education — including GPA systems, scholarships, student financing, and study-abroad guidance — for students worldwide.