Commonwealth Startup Fellowship

The Commonwealth Startup Fellowship is now accepting applications for its third cohort. This is not a degree program. It is a six-month, practical bootcamp for entrepreneurs who have already built a business with paying customers and are ready to scale. If you are from a low- or middle-income Commonwealth country and your business has traction, this might be for you.

The program is run by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) in partnership with Imperial College London. It combines online learning with two in-person events: a two-week bootcamp in Accra, Ghana (estimated 25 January – 4 February 2027) and a weeklong capstone series in London, UK (estimated 14–21 May 2027). You must be available to attend both events.

Applications open on 3 August 2026 and close on 1 September 2026 at 16:00 BST. No late submissions will be considered. The selection process is competitive, and the CSC is looking for individuals who can demonstrate real progress, customer demand, and a sustainable business model, not just an idea on a napkin.

Program Details

• Host Institutions: Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) and Imperial College London, United Kingdom, a two-week bootcamp in Accra, Ghana.
• Number of awards: Not specified; competitive.
• Duration: Six months (November 2026 – May 2027).
• Eligible Countries: Bangladesh, Belize, Botswana, Cameroon, 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, St Helena, St Lucia, St Vincent and The Grenadines, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia.
• Target group: Entrepreneurs with graduate-level qualifications, citizens or refugees of eligible Commonwealth countries, permanently resident in an eligible country.

Commonwealth Startup Fellowship Benefits

Selected fellows receive:

• Return travel – approved economy flights from your home country to the bootcamp in Accra, Ghana.
• Return travel – approved economy flights from your home country to the capstone week in London, UK.
• Accommodation, travel, and catering – for both in-person events.
• Visa fee reimbursement – standard visa application fees are covered.
• Equity‑free grant – up to £2,000 for business or participation‑related costs.
• Additional support for disabilities – a full assessment of needs and eligibility for extra financial support is available for fellows who declare a disability.

Commonwealth Startup Fellowship Eligibility Criteria

To apply for this Commonwealth Fellowship, you must:

• Be of at least a graduate level.
• Be a citizen of, or have been granted refugee status by, an eligible low- or middle-income Commonwealth country.
• Be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country.
• Be fluent in written and spoken English.
• Not have undertaken a Commonwealth Professional Fellowship within the last five years (at the time of taking up the award).
• Be available to undertake the fellowship from the prescribed start date (16 November 2026).
• Be available to attend the bootcamp in Accra, Ghana (estimated 25 January – 4 February 2027).
• Be available to attend the Capstone Week in London, UK (estimated 14 – 21 May 2027).

In addition, your startup must:

• Be registered as a legal entity in accordance with local regulations.
• Demonstrate evidence of innovation in product, service, business model, or approach.
• Have progressed beyond the idea, prototype, and pilot stages.
• Have been actively operating for at least twelve months with meaningful progress.
• Have a product or service that is available to customers.
• Have demonstrated customer demand through paying customers and evidence of ongoing adoption (repeat purchases, contract renewals, recurring revenue, or sustained usage).
• Operate through a sustainable business model, not primarily dependent on donations, philanthropy, or grant funding.
• Create positive economic, social, or environmental outcomes through its core activities.
• Have evidence of commercial traction, growth, and the potential to scale.
• Be seeking to scale their customer base, operations, impact, or geographic reach.

General Conditions and Disclaimers

• The CSC will conduct due diligence checks on all candidates before proceeding with any formal agreement. Further information may be requested.
• If you do not agree to your personal data being used for due diligence, the CSC will not be able to proceed with your application.
• Fellows are ambassadors for the CSC and their home country. The CSC Code of Conduct applies; high standards of behavior and respect are expected.
• The following are not eligible: employees, former employees, or relatives of employees of the UK Government; staff members of the Association of Commonwealth Universities, the British Council, or Imperial College London; Commonwealth Scholarship Commissioners or former Commissioners; or relatives of Commissioners. Former employees are eligible three years after ceasing employment.
• Any applicant convicted of bribery will be banned from reapplying for up to five years.
• An award may be terminated for unsatisfactory conduct, progress, attendance, violation of visa conditions, or if the delivery partner cannot proceed.

How to Apply for the Commonwealth Startup Fellowship

Applications must be submitted online via the Commonwealth Startup Fellowship application form. The CSC cannot accept any applications or documentation submitted through any other channel.

Once you submit, you cannot edit your application. Double-check everything before clicking “Submit”. Incomplete applications, missing documents, references, or links – will be automatically disqualified.

Required Documents and Information

1. Business and team details – information about your business, your role, and your team.
2. Two referees – names and positions of two referees who can comment on your capacity to benefit from the fellowship.
3. One‑minute video elevator pitch – in MP4 format or another format compatible with Windows and Mac. Clearly explain the problem your business solves, your solution, your progress so far, and what difference this program will make. If your video is password‑protected, list the password in the application form. Any video that cannot be easily accessed will not be viewed.
4. Passport or national ID – a scan of your passport or national identity card.

Important notes on the video: The video is a mandatory part of the application. If it is not playable, your application will be discontinued. Technical support may not be available at the last minute, so do not wait until the deadline to submit.

The application deadline is 1 September 2026 at 16:00 BST (GMT+1). For more details on the Commonwealth Startup Fellowship, please visit the official website.