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Who can apply

Three different things not to mix up: the country where you study, your nationality and the country where you live when you apply.

Country of study
United Kingdom
Accepted nationalities
Bangladesh, Belize, Botswana, 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, St. Helena, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & Grenadines, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Gambia, Togo, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu and Zambia
Required country of residence
Bangladesh, Belize, Botswana, 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, St. Helena, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & Grenadines, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Gambia, Togo, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu and Zambia
Degree already heldRequired
Bachelor’s
Target level
Master’s
Fields of study
All fields
Minimum grade
By September 2027, a first degree of at least upper second-class (2:1) honours standard, or a lower second-class degree together with a relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a master's degree).
Other conditions
  • Be a citizen of an eligible Commonwealth country, or have been granted refugee status by one.RequiredOrganisation’s wording: Be a citizen of or have been granted refugee status by an eligible Commonwealth country.
  • Not have studied or worked for more than one (academic) year in a high-income country.RequiredOrganisation’s wording: Not have studied or worked for more than one (academic) year or more in a high income country
  • Be unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship.RequiredOrganisation’s wording: Be unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship.
  • Be available to start studying in the UK by the start of the UK academic year in September 2027.RequiredOrganisation’s wording: Be available to start academic studies in the UK by the start of the UK academic year in September 2027.
  • Apply for an approved master's course at a participating UK university. The scholarship does not fund undergraduate or PhD study.RequiredOrganisation’s wording: Candidates must apply to study an approved Master’s course at a participating UK university. Please note the links below relate to the 2026 programme and the courses and participating universities for 2027 will be published in advance of the opening date.
  • The CSC does not require an English test (IELTS), but the university may ask for proof of a given level of English as a condition of the scholarship.Organisation’s wording: The CSC does not require any candidates to take an IELTS (English language) test. Universities may require candidates to provide evidence of a particular level of English language proficiency as a condition of the scholarship.
  • Sign an undertaking to return to your home country as soon as possible after the end of the award.RequiredOrganisation’s wording: Candidates will be required to sign an undertaking to return to their home country as soon as possible after the end of the award.
  • Not be an employee, former employee or relative of an employee of the UK Government, a staff member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities or the British Council, or a Commonwealth Scholarship Commissioner (or a relative of one). Former employees of these organisations may apply three years after leaving.RequiredOrganisation’s wording: The following are not eligible to apply for a Commonwealth Scholarship or Fellowship; an employee, a former employee, or relative of an employee of the Government of the United Kingdom; or a staff member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities or the British Council; or a Commonwealth Scholarship Commissioner, former Commonwealth Scholarship Commissioner or a relative of a Commonwealth Scholarship Commissioner. Former employees of the organisations listed above are eligible to apply three years after ceasing their employment with them.

The real funding

What the opportunity pays, what is left for you to pay and the money to plan before leaving.

Fully funded
Tuition and living costs paid.
  • The organisation does not say whether insurance is paid.
  • The organisation does not say whether visa fees are paid.
Paid
Tuition and plane ticket
Allowance
£1,712 a month
What is left for you to pay
  • Your family's costs if they come with you: the CSC family allowances are only a contribution and the true costs are likely to be much higher. Dependants' airfares are not reimbursed.
Application fee
Free

Dates

Applications open
10 November 2026 at 00:00 GMT (Europe/London)
Applications close
8 December 2026 at 16:00 GMT (Europe/London)
Studies start
September or October 2027

Application steps

In the order set by the programme. Open a step to see the details.

  1. Step 1: Choose an approved master's course at a participating UK university (the 2027 list is published before applications open) and apply for admission to that university, in addition to the scholarship application.To do at the same time as: step 2
    With whom
    The chosen UK university
    By when
    According to the university's own timetable: many courses have strict admission deadlines
  2. Step 2: Complete and submit the scholarship application online on CSC Central. Nothing sent any other way is accepted. The form uses two-factor authentication (a smartphone or a second e-mail account).To do at the same time as: step 1
    With whom
    The CSC, on the CSC Central platform
    By when
    8 December 2026 at 16:00 GMT (Europe/London) — From 10 November 2026 to 8 December 2026 at 4 PM (GMT)
    Documents to provide
    • Copy of a valid passport (or national ID card) showing a photograph, date of birth and country of citizenship
    • Full transcripts of all higher-education qualifications (certified translations if not in English)
    • At least two references in PDF, signed and on institutional letterhead or as an e-mail clearly showing the sender
  3. Step 3: The university runs its own selection and puts its candidates forward to the CSC, which checks that they meet the eligibility criteria.
    With whom
    The UK university, then the CSC
  4. Step 4: If you are provisionally selected: submit the Health and Disability Form before the Confirmation of Award can be issued.
    With whom
    The CSC
    Documents to provide
    • Health and Disability Form

Where to apply

Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (CSC) (opens in a new tab)

Official title (in English): Commonwealth Shared Scholarships

Edition 2027-2028 · Verified on 30 October 2026

Apply on the official website (opens in a new tab)

Official website of Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (CSC): portal.csccentralonline.org.uk

See the official page of the opportunity(opens in a new tab)