Scholarship
Commonwealth Shared Scholarships
Offered by Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK
Closed Applications closed. Next cycle: Not yet announced
Visit Official Scholarship Website
Last verified: September 26, 2026
Quick facts
- Study destination
- United Kingdom
- Level
- Master's
- Funding
- Fully Funded, Stipend, Travel Grant
- Amount
- GBP 1,452 per month (GBP 1,781 per month at universities in the London metropolitan area)
- Eligible students
- Citizens (or refugees) of eligible low and middle income Commonwealth countries, permanently resident there
- Deadline
- Applications closed. Next cycle: Not yet announced
- Duration
- One-year taught master's course (normally 12 months)
- Application method
- Through the university application; Government / provider online portal; Nomination by a university
Overview
Commonwealth Shared Scholarships are jointly funded by the UK government and UK universities. They support candidates from eligible low and middle income Commonwealth countries to take a one-year taught master’s degree at a participating UK university.
Candidates apply to the universities offering the scholarships, which nominate their preferred candidates to the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC).
To support talented candidates whose studies can contribute to the development of their home countries.
Who Can Apply
Citizens (or refugees) of an eligible Commonwealth country who live there permanently, hold at least an upper second-class first degree, have not studied or worked for more than a year in a high-income country, and could not afford UK study without the scholarship.
Am I eligible? A quick check
- Citizens (or refugees) of eligible low and middle income Commonwealth countries, permanently resident there
- Study in United Kingdom
- Level: Master's
- A first degree of at least upper second-class (2:1) honours standard.
This is a summary. The official eligibility rules decide who can apply.
Residency and citizenship
You must be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country.
Study Destination
Participating UK universities (each offers the scholarship for particular master's courses).
Education Level
Eligible Nationalities
Citizens (or refugees) of eligible low and middle income Commonwealth countries, permanently resident there
Show all 42 eligible countries
- Bangladesh
- Belize
- Botswana
- Cameroon
- Dominica
- Eswatini
- Fiji
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Grenada
- Guyana
- India
- Jamaica
- Kenya
- Kiribati
- Lesotho
- Malawi
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Mauritius
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Nauru
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Papua New Guinea
- Rwanda
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Samoa
- Sierra Leone
- Solomon Islands
- South Africa
- Sri Lanka
- Tanzania
- Togo
- Tonga
- Tuvalu
- Uganda
- Vanuatu
- Zambia
Eligibility can change between cycles. Confirm your country on the official website.
What Does This Scholarship Cover?
Tuition
- Full tuition fees (covered)
Living costs
- Monthly stipend (covered)
Travel
- Airfare (covered)
- Relocation allowance (covered)
- Travel grant (covered)
Research
- Thesis / dissertation support (covered)
Other
- Support for family / dependants (covered)
"Fully funded" here means the published coverage includes full tuition and a living allowance. Costs not listed above may not be covered.
Funding Details
Amount: GBP 1,452 per month (GBP 1,781 per month at universities in the London metropolitan area)
The scholarship covers an approved airfare (paid by the CSC), full tuition fees, a monthly stipend (GBP 1,452, or GBP 1,781 in the London metropolitan area, paid by the university), a warm clothing allowance, a thesis grant, a study travel grant and the cost of a TB test. Scholars who are widowed, divorced or single parents with children living with them in the UK can receive a child allowance.
Eligibility Requirements
Academic requirements
Degree: A first degree of at least upper second-class (2:1) honours standard.
English language requirements
The CSC does not require an IELTS test; the university may set its own English requirement for admission.
This requirement comes from university admission, not the scholarship itself.
Financial need
You must be unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship.
Other requirements
You must not have studied or worked for one academic year or more in a high-income country.
Application Deadline
- Status
- Closed Applications closed. Next cycle: Not yet announced
- Deadline
- March 31, 2026
- Deadline type
- University-specific
- Current cycle
- 2026/27 academic year (studies from September/October 2026)
- Next cycle
- Not yet announced
Applications for 2026/27 are closed. Each participating university sets its own closing date; universities nominated candidates to the CSC in March 2026.
Deadlines change every cycle. Always confirm the current dates on the official website.
How to Apply
Both, separately: The scholarship and university admission are separate applications, each with its own requirements and deadlines.
- Choose an eligible course at a participating UK university.
- Apply for admission and for the scholarship following the university's own process.
- Complete the CSC application in CSC Central.
- The university nominates its preferred candidates to the CSC, which makes the final selection.
Important: scholarship eligibility and university admission requirements may be different. Check both before applying.
Required Documents
- Passport
- Academic transcripts
- Recommendation letters / references
A copy of your passport or national ID card, transcripts of your higher education and two references.
The official application lists the exact documents for each cycle.
Duration and Renewal
Duration: One-year taught master's course (normally 12 months)
Renewal: Covers the whole programme
Important Conditions
- You must return to your home country after the award.
- Other awards covering the same costs cannot be held at the same time.
- Paid work during the award needs prior approval.
Official Links
Last verified: September 26, 2026
Application Abroad is not the scholarship provider and does not accept applications. Apply through the official provider; its website is the final source for eligibility, funding and deadlines.
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Free counselling
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