Commonwealth Shared Scholarships 2026/2027 for Master’s Study in the UK | Fully Funded for Developing Commonwealth Countries
- Omran Aburayya
- 1 day ago
- 6 min read
Updated: 2 hours ago
If you’re a bright and motivated postgraduate candidate from a Commonwealth country, the applications are now open for the Commonwealth Shared Scholarships 2026/2027 — a fully funded opportunity to pursue a one-year Master’s programme in the United Kingdom. This scheme, run by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (CSC) as part of the wider Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP), seeks to support future leaders and change-makers by combining UK higher-education excellence with a strong development-impact focus.
🎓 Scholarship Summary
Location: United Kingdom (UK)
Host institution: Participating UK universities that have been approved by the CSC
Study level: Master’s (full-time)
Target group: High-quality postgraduate students from eligible Commonwealth countries (least developed and middle-income, including fragile and conflict-affected states) who would not otherwise be able to study in the UK.
Fields of study: Any Master’s course approved under one of the CSC’s six development themes:
Science and technology for development
Improving population health, health systems and capacity
Promoting global prosperity (innovation, entrepreneurship)
Strengthening peace, security and governance
Strengthening resilience and response to crises
Access, inclusion and opportunity
Value & coverage: Fully funded scholarship covering tuition fees, approved airfare (home country ↔ UK return), a monthly stipend (living allowance), warm clothing allowance (where applicable), thesis grant, study travel grant, TB test contribution, and child allowances under certain conditions.
Duration: Normally 12 months (one academic year) for full-time Master’s study.
Application deadline: For the 2026/2027 round the application opens 12 November 2025 at 16:30 GMT, and closes Tuesday 9 December 2025 at 16:00 GMT.
Start date: UK academic year begins September/October 2026. Applicants must be available to start by that time.
📚 Scholarship Overview
Although this is not a structured “programme” in the sense of predetermined workshops, the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship scheme works as follows:
UK universities bid to the CSC for places on specific Master’s courses which have a demonstrable development impact.
Once the university’s bid is accepted, the university advertises those specific courses (eligible under the scheme) and selects candidates from those who apply. Then the CSC gives final approval.
The award is tenable for one year of full-time study at the UK university for the approved Master’s course. The scholar will enroll, attend lectures/seminars, complete requisite modules, a thesis or dissertation (where applicable), and engage with UK academic and extra-curricular opportunities.
Scholars are expected to reside in the UK during the tenure, engage fully with their course and any associated dissemination/impact activities, and return to their home country at the end of the award to apply their learning for development impact.
📖 Eligible Study Programmes
🎁 Benefits of the Scholarship
Full coverage of tuition fees at the UK university so the scholar is not liable for any part of the fees.
Approved airfare: Scholar’s travel from home country to UK and return at end of award.
Monthly stipend / living allowance: about £1,452 per month, increasing to ~£1,781 per month for those at universities in the London metropolitan area (rates at current levels).
Warm clothing allowance (where applicable) and study-travel grant (within UK or overseas, study-related travel) paid by the university (funded by CSC)
Thesis/dissertation grant (where applicable)
If the scholar is a widowed, divorced or single parent with children under 16 living with them, a child allowance is available: e.g., ~£622/month for the first child and ~£154/month for second and third child.
Disabled scholars may be eligible for additional financial support after a full assessment of their needs.
✅ Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must satisfy the following (among other) requirements:
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 2026.
By September 2026 hold a first degree of at least upper second class (2:1) honours standard—or a lower second class (2:2) degree AND a relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a Master’s) in some cases.
Not have studied or worked for one academic year or more in a high-income country. Distance learning from a university in a high-income country while resident in the home country is permitted, but this must be clearly described.
Be unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship.
Provide all required supporting documentation in the correct format and upload via the CSC online application system. Missing documentation by closing date will result in ineligibility.
📝 Application Procedure
Applicants apply via the online application system “CSC Central” when the application opens.
Select the eligible Master’s courses (offered by Approved UK universities). Use the list of eligible courses on the CSC website.
Receive an offer of admission (or be in process) from a participating UK university for one of the eligible courses.
Complete the online application form, listing qualifications, employment history, referees, development impact statement, plan of study, etc.
Once the university shortlists candidates, the CSC gives final approval.
🗂️ Documents required
Proof of citizenship or refugee status: Valid passport (or national ID card) showing photograph, date of birth, country of citizenship.
Full transcripts (and if current course, up-to-date transcripts) for all higher education qualifications, including certified translations if not in English. If any pages missing or incomplete, application is ineligible.
Two or more references (in PDF format), signed, on institutional letterhead or email clearly showing sender’s details. References must accompany the online application.
Detailed plan of study and personal statement, development impact statement (4-part) covering how the course relates to development issues at global/national/local levels; how one intends to apply new skills; expected changes/outcomes/beneficiaries and how impact will be measured.
List of employment history and explanation of how experience supports proposed programme and development impact.
Names and positions of three referees: one must be current employer (if applicable).
ℹ️ Extra Useful Information
The list of eligible countries for the shared scholarship round includes (but is not necessarily limited to): 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.
The CSC indicates around 180 new Shared Scholarships may be allocated for 2026/27 across UK universities.
Applicants should check the eligible courses list (via CSC website) to ensure their chosen Master’s is approved under the scheme.
Make sure you apply early — the online system may be busy near the deadline. It is advised to prepare responses offline and upload.
Be mindful of the requirement that you must not have studied or worked for a year or more in a high-income country. If you have done any distance learning from a high-income country while resident in your home country, you must clearly indicate it in the application.
👌🏻 Tips for Applicants
Choose a university course that aligns strongly with your home country’s development needs and the CSC’s development themes. The more direct the link you can make between your course choice, your home country context, and your future impact, the stronger your case will be.
Draft your “Development Impact Statement” and “Plan of Study” carefully and in advance. These sections ask for clear and measurable outcomes, beneficiaries, time-frames and evidence. Revisit these after your admission offer to ensure alignment with the course and your home country objectives.
Secure strong references: Preferably one from your current employer (if applicable) and another academic referee who can speak to your academic potential and suitability. Ensure referees are aware of the development-impact focus of the award.
Prepare and upload all required documents in the correct format before the deadline. Missing or incorrectly formatted transcripts can render your application ineligible.
Demonstrate financial need clearly — show that without this scholarship you would not be able to pursue the UK Master’s.
If you have aspirations beyond the Master’s (e.g., PhD, research, leadership in your home country), make sure your long-term career plan in the application reflects how the Master’s is a stepping stone to that broader goal.
Review the eligible courses list on the CSC site and ensure your chosen programme is included. If not, consider choosing another eligible course or checking with the university.
Stay aware of the application timeframe (November–December 2025 for the 2026/27 cycle) and set internal deadlines to gather documents, references and draft statements well in advance.
After being selected, bear in mind post-scholarship expectations: the scheme expects that scholars return to their home country and apply their new skills and knowledge for development. Make sure you are prepared for that phase.