Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme 2026-2027

Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme 2026-2027

About Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme 2025-26

The Commonwealth Shared Scholarship programme is one of three Master’s programmes offered by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission.

The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (CSC) provides the UK government scholarship scheme led by international development objectives. It operates within the framework of the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP) and offers a vivid demonstration of the UK’s enduring commitment to the Commonwealth. By attracting individuals with outstanding talent and identifiable potential from all backgrounds and supporting them to become leaders and innovators on returning to their home countries, the CSC’s work combines sustainable development with the UK national interest and provides opportunities for international partnerships and collaboration.

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.

Applicant eligibility

To be considered for these scholarships, applicants must:

* Be a citizen of or have been granted refugee status by an eligible Commonwealth country.

* Be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country.

* Be available to start academic studies in the UK by the start of the UK academic year in September 2024.

* By September 2024, hold a first degree of at least upper second-class (2:1) honours standard, or a lower second-class degree and a relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a Master’s degree).

* 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.

* Have provided all supporting documentation in the required format.

The CSC aims to identify talented individuals who have the potential to make change. We are committed to a policy of equal opportunity and non-discrimination and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants. For further information on the support available to scholars who share that they have a disability, see the CSC disability support statement.

There is no age limit for CSC applications. Applicants are advised to confirm with their employers any age restrictions on leave entitlement they may have in place.

How to apply

Applications for Commonwealth Shared Scholarships for the 2025/26 academic year are now open. The closing date for applications is Thursday 12 December at 16:00 GMT. The scholarships are for study in the UK beginning in September/October 2025.

For more details and application process please refer the Official Website

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