Applications are now open for the Commonwealth Scholarship Program for the academic year 2026/27 to study in the UK. The Commonwealth Scholarship is a fully funded scholarship program, Funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). The scholarship awards a one-year master’s degree and a three-year Ph.D. The Scholarship is open to students from low and middle-income Commonwealth countries. Commonwealth scholarship counts as one of the most important UK scholarships, like Chevening, Gates Cambridge, and Rhodes. The academic period will begin in September 2026. The step-by-step application process for the UK Commonwealth Scholarship is below.
Details About the UK Commonwealth Scholarship 2026/27
- Host Country: UK
- Scholarship Name: Commonwealth Scholarship Commission
- Who can Apply: For Master, and PhD
- Financial Coverage: Fully Funded
- Deadline for Commonwealth Masters Scholarship: 14th October 2025
- Deadline for Commonwealth PhD Scholarship: 14th October 2025
Also Check: Doha Institute for Graduate Studies Scholarship 2026 (Fully Funded)
Financial Coverage
The Commonwealth Scholarship will provide each scholarship holder:
- Return Air Ticket
- Covers Full Tuition Fee
- Monthly stipend
- Also covers the warm clothes allowance.
- Thesis Allowance
- Additional Study Travel Grants
- If the candidates are widowed, divorced, or single parents, the scholarship pays the child £622 for the first child and £154 per month for the second and third child under the age of 16.
- Additional allowance for a disabled person.
Also Check: Open Doors Scholarship 2026 in Russia (Fully Funded)
How to Apply for the UK Commonwealth Scholarship?
Applicants must apply online for the CSC Scholarship as well, and applicants must apply to a nominating agency. The Nominating agency will select the applicants and forward them to the commonwealth committee.
There are two stages involved in applying for the Commonwealth Scholarship:
1) Commonwealth Online Application System
Applications to the CSC must be made using the CSC’s online application system. The CSC will not accept applications or documentation not submitted via the online application system.
Applicants are advised to complete the application form as early as possible. Dont wait for the last date, the online application system will be very busy in the last days, and it can cause issues.
2) Apply to the Nominating Agency
As well as applying to the CSC, applicants must apply to a nominating agency. The nominating agency is the Higher education body in your country.
There are two types of nominating agencies for Master’s scholarships. Check your country name in the links below.
- National nominating agencies – this is the main route of application
- Selected non-governmental organisations and charitable bodies
There are three types of nominating agencies for PhD Scholarships:
- National nominating agencies – this is the main route of application
- Selected universities/university bodies, which can nominate their academic staff
- Selected non-governmental organisations and charitable bodies
The nominating agency will forward the scholarship candidates to the CSC for consideration. The CSC does not accept direct applications for these scholarships.
Applicants must check the additional eligibility criteria by the nominating agency when they announce the Commonwealth scholarship on their website.
Advice for low GPA/Academic Applicants
If you have a low CGPA, then go for the universities that are in smaller cities. You may check our detailed blog on studies in the UK With Low CGPA
Outcome of Application
Applicants can expect to hear the outcome by July 2026.
Supporting Documents
Applicants must upload the following documents with the application:
- Proof that they are a citizen of a commonwealth-eligible country.
- A Copy of a Valid Passport
- 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 on institutional letterhead or an email clearly showing the sender’s details.
Also Check: Brazil PEC-PG Postgraduate Scholarship 2026 (Fully Funded)
Advice for Applicants
Applicants may find general information for a Commonwealth Scholarship on the advice for applicants page.
Tips for Choosing a University/Course in the UK
Applicants have to choose their choice of University and course. Below are the links that will help you choose the university and course for yourself.
- Study UK – British Council website, with guidance for international students and a course and institution search
- Steps to Postgraduate Study – A guide to asking the right questions about taught postgraduate study in the UK
- Postgrad.com – information for postgraduate students, with a course search
- Prospects – information on postgraduate study in the UK
- Research Excellence Framework 2021 results – results of a system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions
- UCAS Postgraduate – guidance on how to find and apply for a postgraduate course
- Discover Uni– the official website for comparing UK higher education course data
- UKCISA (UK Council for International Student Affairs) – advice for international students on choosing a course of study.
Eligible countries for the Commonwealth UK Scholarship
- 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
Also Check: King Abdullah Scholarship 2026 in Saudi Arabia (Fully Funded)
Eligibility Criteria for Applicants
- Be a citizen of or have been granted refugee status in the above-mentioned country.
- Permanent resident of one of the above-mentioned countries.
- Be available to start academic studies in September 2026.
- By September 2026, hold a first degree of at least upper second-class (2:1) honors standard, or a lower second-class degree and a relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a Master’s degree).
- Provide all supporting documentation in the required format.
Scholarship Tenure
- One Year taught Master’s programs
- Three Years of full-time study
Application Link Commonwealth Scholarship
- To Apply for the Commonwealth Master Scholarship: https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/scholarships/commonwealth-masters-scholarships/
- To Apply for the Commonwealth Ph.D. Scholarship: https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/scholarships/commonwealth-phd-scholarships-for-least-developed-countries-and-fragile-states/
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