Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships for 2027-2028

Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships are for candidates from low- and middle-income Commonwealth countries to undertake full-time taught master’s study at a UK university. Fully funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), the Commonwealth Master’s scholarships enable talented and motivated individuals to gain the knowledge and skills required for sustainable development and are aimed at those who could not otherwise afford to study in the UK.

Applications for the 2027/28 academic year are now open. The closing date is 16:00 BST on Tuesday 20 October 2026. This opportunity is for study in the UK beginning in September/October 2027. Applicants must take the necessary steps to apply for admission to their preferred universities in advance of their scholarship applications. Candidates should check course requirements and admission deadlines and apply on time. If you are selected for a scholarship and have not applied and been accepted for the course(s) for which you are selected, your scholarship will be lost.

Applicants should be aware that the Commonwealth Scholarships Commission (CSC) does not charge candidates to apply for any of its scholarships or fellowships through its online application system, and it does not charge organizations to nominate candidates. This post is only for master’s degree program applicants. If you wish to apply for a doctoral program, please click on the Commonwealth PhD Scholarships for Least Developed Countries.

Program Details

• Host Institution: Universities in the United Kingdom with a CSC part-funding agreement.
• Fields of Study: Scholarships are offered under six development themes (Science and technology for development; strengthening health systems and capacity; promoting global prosperity; strengthening global peace, security, and governance; strengthening resilience and response to crises; and access, inclusion, and opportunity).
• Number of awards: Not specified.
• Duration: One-year taught Master‘s programs only. MBA degrees are not funded.
• Target group: Open to citizens or persons with refugee status of eligible Commonwealth countries. See the full list below.

Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships Benefits

This scholarship to study in Europe provides successful applicants with:

• Approved airfare from your home country to the UK and return at the end of your award (the CSC will not reimburse the cost of fares for dependents, nor the cost of journeys made before your award is confirmed)
• Approved tuition fees: full fees are covered by agreement between the CSC and the UK university, and scholars are not liable to pay for any part of the tuition fee.
• Stipend (living allowance) at the rate of £1,712 per month, or £2,000 per month for those at universities in the London metropolitan area (rates quoted at current levels).
• Study travel grants towards the cost of study-related travel within the UK or overseas.
• If you are widowed, divorced, or a single parent, child allowance of £622 per month for the first child and £154 per month for the second and third child under the age of 16, if you are accompanied by your children and they are living with you at the same address in the UK (rates quoted at current levels).
• If you declare a disability, a full assessment of your needs and eligibility for additional financial support will be offered by the CSC.

Participating Universities in the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships

Below is the list of universities that have part funding agreements with the CSC for Commonwealth Scholarships for candidates from low- and middle-income countries. Scholarships are tenable at any approved UK university or higher education institution with which the CSC has a part-funding agreement.

1. Aberystwyth University
2. Aston University
3. Bangor University
4. Bath Spa University
5. Birkbeck, University of London
6. Birmingham City University
7. Brunel University London
8. Cardiff University
9. City, University of London
10. Coventry University
11. Cranfield University
12. Durham University
13. Glasgow Caledonian University
14. Goldsmiths, University of London
15. Harper Adams University
16. Heriot-Watt University
17. Imperial College London
18. Keele University
19. King’s College London
20. Kingston University
21. Lancaster University
22. Leeds Beckett University
23. Liverpool Hope University
24. Liverpool John Moores University
25. Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
26. London School of Economics and Political Science
27. London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
28. London South Bank University
29. Loughborough University
30. Manchester Metropolitan University
31. Newcastle University
32. Northumbria University
33. Nottingham Trent University
34. Open University
35. Oxford Brookes University
36. Plymouth University
37. Queen Mary, University of London
38. Queen’s University Belfast
39. Robert Gordon University
40. Royal Agricultural University
41. Royal Holloway, University of London
42. Royal Veterinary College
43. Sheffield Hallam University
44. SOAS, University of London
45. St George’s, University of London
46. Swansea University
47. Teesside University
48. Ulster University
49. University College London
50. University of Aberdeen
51. University of Bath
52. University of Birmingham
53. University of Bradford
54. University of Bristol
55. University of Cambridge
56. University of Central Lancashire
57. University of Chester
58. University of Dundee
59. University of East Anglia
60. University of East London
61. University of Edinburgh
62. University of Essex
63. University of Exeter
64. University of Glasgow
65. University of Greenwich
66. University of Huddersfield
67. University of Hull
68. University of Kent
69. University of Leeds
70. University of Leicester
71. University of Lincoln
72. University of Liverpool
73. University of Manchester
74. University of Northampton
75. University of Nottingham
76. University of Oxford
77. University of Portsmouth
78. University of Reading
79. University of Roehampton
80. University of St Andrews
81. University of Salford
82. University of Sheffield
83. University of Southampton
84. University of Stirling
85. University of Strathclyde
86. University of Surrey
87. University of Sussex
88. University of the West of England
89. University of Warwick
90. University of Westminster
91. University of West London
92. University of Wolverhampton
93. University of Worcester
94. University of York

Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships Eligibility

To qualify for this Europe scholarship, applicants must be:

1. a citizen of or have been granted refugee status by an eligible Commonwealth country, or be a British Protected Person
2. permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country
3. available to start your academic studies in the UK by the start of the UK academic year in September 2027
4. By September 2027, 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). The CSC would not normally fund a second UK master’s degree. If you are applying for a second UK master’s degree, you will need to provide justification as to why you wish to undertake this study
5. unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship
6. able to provide all supporting documentation in the required format.

The CSC recognizes that disabled people have often faced and overcome challenges or barriers in their education journey that have prevented them from achieving the academic requirement for a Commonwealth Scholarship. Disabled applicants who can demonstrate their potential to contribute to international development but who do not hold a 2:1 undergraduate degree may be considered for a contextualized nomination through the Commonwealth Disabled People’s Forum nominator.

There is no age limit for CSC applications. The CSC has a preference for applicants who have already completed their undergraduate degrees and would not normally fund a second master’s degree. Applicants who have already studied at the master’s level at a UK institution or have already received a Commonwealth Scholarship at the master’s level will not be considered eligible. All Commonwealth Scholars commit to returning home following the end of their scholarships. Switching to a graduate or other visa to remain in the UK is not permitted.

Eligible Countries

Please note that only candidates from the eligible countries listed below can apply for Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships.

Bangladesh, Belize, Botswana, Dominica, Eswatini, Fiji, Gabon, The Gambia, 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, Togo, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, and Zambia.

In line with the commitments made at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2024, the Commission particularly welcomes applications from Small Island Developing States.

Selection Criteria

Candidates for the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships will be selected using the following criteria:

• Academic merit of the candidate
• Quality of the plan of study
• Potential impact on the development of the candidate’s home country

Applicants should note the criteria carefully and link their answers in the application form to each point listed.

How to Apply for the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships?

Applications to the CSC are made using the application system, CSC Central. The CSC is unable to accept any applications or documentation not submitted via CSC Central.

As well as applying to the CSC, applicants must apply to a nominator. There are two types of nominators invited to participate in the Master’s Scholarship programme:

• National nominating agencies. This is the main route of application
• Selected non-governmental organizations and charitable bodies

Participating nominators put forward an agreed number of candidates to the CSC for consideration. The CSC does not accept direct applications for these scholarships. Each nominator oversees its own selection process and may have additional eligibility criteria. Applicants must check with the nominator for their specific advice and rules for applying and their own eligibility criteria. Nominators may set their own closing dates for applications. They will nominate candidates to the CSC by December 2026.

Selections are made from the pool of nominations. Candidates are asked to note that a nomination is no guarantee of selection. Applicants can expect to hear the outcome of their applications by July 2027. We will contact all applicants by email, and they should ensure all folders of their email accounts are monitored, including junk mail and spam folders. A scholarship offer may be withdrawn if a candidate is emailed but does not respond within a specified time.

Using CSC Central

• The form uses a two-factor authentication (2FA) system and will require access to either a smartphone or a second email account when registering. The 2FA system must be passed each time a user logs in to access the form.
• When logging in to view a saved or completed application, a user will be asked for a reference (in format 01234-SSP-UK-15) and a 22-character passcode. These are found in the Application Reference Number email you received upon completing the “Enter your details” page.
• The save function should be used to avoid loss of data. Refreshing the browser window will cause candidates to exit the form and will result in any unsaved data being lost.
• Applications may not be edited after submitting.
• Candidates are advised to complete and submit applications as early as possible, as the online application system will be very busy in the days leading up to the application deadline.
• Users should use system back buttons rather than those on the browser.

Supporting Documentation

Applications must include supporting documentation to be eligible. Please note that applicants are required to collect references, on institution letterhead or an email clearly showing the sender’s details, from referees and then upload them in PDF format to the application system with their other supporting documentation.

Applicants must upload the following documents with the application:

• Proof that they are a citizen or have refugee status in an eligible Commonwealth country: a copy of a valid passport (or national ID card) showing a photograph, date of birth, and country of citizenship.
• 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 either on institutional letterhead or an email clearly showing the sender’s details.

Applications will be considered ineligible if any of the required documentation is not included by the closing date. The CSC will not accept supporting documentation submitted outside the online application system.

Advice for Applicants

Applicants can find general information about applying for a Commonwealth Scholarship on the advice for applicants page.

Choosing a University or Course

Applicants may find the following resources useful when researching their choices of institution and course of study in the UK:

• 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
• 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

Completing the Application Form

In the application form, applicants are asked to:

• List all undergraduate and postgraduate university qualifications obtained.
• List up to 10 publications and prizes.
• Provide details of employment history and explain how the experience gained supports and is relevant to the program to be undertaken in the UK.
• List names and positions of three referees who are qualified to comment on both their capacity to benefit from the proposed scholarship in the UK and their ability to deliver development impact afterwards. One of the referees must be a current employer (if applicable), and at least two references must be included with the application.
• Provide a development impact statement in four parts.

In the first part applicants should explain how the proposed scholarship relates to development issues at the global, national, and local level, and development issues connected to the chosen CSC development theme. The second part should explain how they intend to apply their new skills once the Scholarship ends. The third part should outline what they expect will change in development terms, including outcomes, timeframe, and beneficiaries. In the fourth part applicants should write about how the impact of their work could be best measured and evidenced.

Applicants are also asked to confirm their award objectives and how each will be met, their career plans for the five years following the Scholarship, their long-term career plans, provide a detailed plan of study, provide a personal statement, and summarise their engagement in voluntary activities and leadership.

Tenure and Placement

Scholarships are available at any approved UK university or higher education institution with which the CSC has a part-funding agreement for a specific programme of study. Scholarships are to obtain one degree; funding will not be extended to enable candidates to complete a qualification in addition to or higher than that for which the selection was made. Scholarships are made in respect of full-time study only, and no other course of study may be undertaken at the same time. The CSC funds one-year taught Master’s programmes only and does not fund MBA degrees.

Applicants are advised to list three universities and courses that they think are the most appropriate for their study, in order of preference, and to explain their reasons. It is strongly recommended to include a second and third choice in case placement at the first choice is not possible. If three choices are not included and the CSC are not able to place an applicant at the institutions included, the scholarship will not be able to proceed.

Selection Process

Applications will be considered according to the following selection criteria: candidate merit (including academic experience), quality of research proposal, and potential impact on the development of the candidate’s home country. For further details, please refer to the Commonwealth Scholarships selection criteria.

General Conditions

A Commonwealth Scholarship covers fees, approved fares, and personal maintenance. Other scholarships, awards, or bursaries that cover the same costs may not be held concurrently. The CSC does not require any candidates to take an IELTS (English language) test. Candidates will be required to submit a Health and Disability Form before the Confirmation of Award can be issued. Candidates will be required to sign an undertaking to return to their home country before the expiration of their student visa.

The following are not eligible to apply for a Commonwealth Scholarship or Fellowship: an employee, a former employee, or a 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 organizations listed above are eligible to apply three years after ceasing their employment with them.

In line with the UK Bribery Act 2010, any applicant convicted of bribery will be banned from reapplying for a Commonwealth Scholarship or Fellowship for a period of up to five years. An award may be terminated at any time for reasons of unsatisfactory conduct, progress, or attendance, or if registration is suspended or terminated by the university for any reason.

FAQs and Enquiries

For general information about applying for Commonwealth Scholarships or Fellowships, please see the FAQs page. For queries not covered on the website, please use the contact us form.

The deadline to submit applications is 16:00 BST on Tuesday 20 October 2026. Please visit the official page to know more about the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships.