Commonwealth Scholarships 2026-27 The UK Commonwealth Scholarships open opportunities to deserving postgraduate students in the developing Commonwealth countries. These are based on full funding awards that enable students to undertake a Master and PhD degree at a university in the United Kingdom including tuition and living allowance, as well as travel and other expenses. You will see updated deadlines, eligibility, application instructions, frequently asked questions, and more in this post to plan your application.
Key Highlights
| Feature | Details |
| Host Country | United Kingdom |
| University | Various UK institutions |
| Degree Level | Master’s & PhD |
| Coverage | Tuition, stipend, airfare, allowances |
| Eligibility | Commonwealth country citizens (developing) |
| Deadline | ~14 October 2025 |
Detailed Description
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) finances the Commonwealth Scholarships and the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission runs the scheme in the UK. They are aimed at students who can play a role in development in their home countries. The scholarship covers two levels of postgraduate:
- Masters (Commonwealth Master Scholarships): 1-2 years of postgraduate education, often in development-related disciplines such as environmental science, economics, public health and education.
- PhD (Commonwealth PhD Scholarships): PhDs allow scholars to undertake pioneering research in the UK universities up to a period of three years of full-time research.
Scholarship Benefits
- Full tuition coverage
- Monthly living stipend
- Airline costs back and forth home country-UK.
- Travel grants and warm clothing allowance.
- Extra dependent or disability allowances.
Eligibility Criteria
Applying to this program, the candidates must:
- Be a citizen of a developing country of the Commonwealth (Master’s & PhD ).
- A non-citizen or permanent resident of the UK.
- Normally have to be available in order to launch the programme by September/October of the award year.
- Have at least a bachelor’s degree with a first or high upper-second class standard (for Master’s) or an excellent Master’s level qualification (for PhD).
- Be dedicated to coming back to their home country to help improve their country.
- Pass institutional English language requirements e.g. IELTS or TOEFL (where required).
Required Documents
- Competent CSC online application.
- Educational records and diplomas.
- Passport/national ID proof
- References (two academic referees generally)
- PhD research proposal (or Master’s study/project statement).
- CV/resume
- Evidence in English language (where necessary as demanded by the host university)
In addition, in Shared Scholarships, you are required to have an offer of admission to the UK institution.
Application Process
- Check your eligibility such as developing country eligibility and degree requirements.
- Enroll in an appropriate programme (particularly with Shared Scholarships).
- Apply through your Nominating Agency or university or NGO as appropriate through the CSC online portal.
- Before the deadline (possibly 14 October 2025) submit all documents.
- Keep track of the application status and take action when needed and notified about interviews or updates.
Deadline
- Master’s & PhD (2026–27 intake): ~14 October 2025
- Distance Learning Master’s: 20 May 2025
How to Apply
To apply, visit the official website below:
- To Apply for the Commonwealth Master Scholarship: Apply Now
- To Apply for the Commonwealth Ph.D. Scholarship: Apply Now
FAQs
1. Can I apply for both Master’s and PhD in the same year?
No. Every year of application you are required to choose one level: Master or PhD.
2. Do I need to secure admission at a UK university before applying?
No. The scholarship makes the admission, you do not require an offer when applying.
3. How long does the application review take?
In general the decision is made in the 3 to 6 months of the deadline based on the country.
4. Are there age limits for applicants?
There is no official age limit, although there may be an internal age limit in most national agencies; see the eligibility page in your country.
5. Can scholarship duration be extended?
Extensions are rare and only granted in exceptional circumstances (e.g. illness or research delay).
6. Is work allowed during the scholarship?
You can accept part-time employment (e.g. teaching assistant) but it must not interfere with your studies, although you should always check what your award states.
Conclusion
UK Commonwealth Master and PhD Scholarships are a great opportunity to help high quality students in developing Commonwealth countries to study postgraduate in the UK. With this scholarship, the future leaders can be generated with a broad coverage area, academic excellence and development influence. It takes preparation and documentation and timely submissions to apply but the rewards are life changing. Get started on your application!