Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme 2026: Fully Funded Opportunity for Master’s Study in the United Kingdom

Introduction

The Commonwealth Shared Scholarship programme is one in all three Master’s programmes supplied by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission.

The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (CSC) supplies the UK authorities scholarship scheme led by worldwide growth aims. It operates inside the framework of the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP) and presents a vivid demonstration of the UK’s enduring dedication to the Commonwealth. By attracting people with excellent expertise and identifiable potential from all backgrounds and supporting them to change into leaders and innovators on returning to their home nations, the CSC’s work combines sustainable growth with the UK nationwide curiosity and supplies alternatives for worldwide partnerships and collaboration.

Purpose: To contribute to growth wants of Commonwealth nations by offering coaching for expert and certified professionals and teachers who wouldn’t in any other case have been in a position to study in the UK.​

Intended beneficiaries: High-quality postgraduate college students from Least Developed and middle-income nations (together with fragile and battle affected states), who haven’t studied for a 12 months or extra in a high-income nation earlier than, who wouldn’t in any other case afford to study in the UK, and who’ve the potential to boost the growth of their home nations with the data and management abilities they purchase.

Award length: usually 12 months

Application course of: UK universities bid for scholarships for particular programs with demonstrable growth influence and should conform to fund the dwelling value part of the scholarships. Applications are made by way of profitable universities, which make the preliminary number of candidates, who’re subsequently accepted by the CSC.

Scholarship Benefits

Successful candidates will get pleasure from a variety of advantages to help their educational journey in the United Kingdom:

• Approved Airfare: Travel bills from the scholar’s home nation to the UK and return.
• Approved Tuition Fees: Full protection of tuition charges.
• Stipend (Living Allowance): A month-to-month stipend for these finding out in the London metropolitan space.
• Warm Clothing Allowance: Provided the place relevant.
• Study-Related Travel Grant: Available for journey inside the UK or abroad.
• Child Allowance: Applicable to widowed, divorced, or single-parent students

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for these scholarships, candidates should meet the following standards:

• Citizenship: Be a citizen of or have been granted refugee standing by an eligible Commonwealth nation, or be a British Protected Person.
• Residency: Be completely resident in an eligible Commonwealth nation.
• Commencement of Studies: Be out there to start out educational research in the UK by the starting of the UK educational 12 months in September 2024.
• Educational Qualifications: Hold a primary diploma of no less than higher second-class (2:1) honors commonplace by September 2024, or a decrease second-class diploma (2:2) with a related postgraduate qualification.
• Prior Study/Work: Not have studied or labored for one educational 12 months or extra in a high-income nation.
• Financial Need: Be unable to afford to study at a UK college with out this scholarship.
• Supporting Documentation: Provide all required supporting documentation in the specified format.

Application Requirements

Applicants should submit the following paperwork with their application:

1. Proof of Citizenship or Refugee Status: A duplicate of a legitimate passport (or nationwide ID card) displaying {a photograph}, date of beginning, and nation of citizenship.
2. Full Transcripts: Detailed transcripts of all greater schooling {qualifications}, together with present course transcripts, with licensed translations if not in English.

Applications for Commonwealth Shared Scholarships for the 2026/27 educational 12 months open at 16:30 GMT on Wednesday 12 November 2025. The scholarships are for study in the UK starting in September/October 2026.

The deadline for functions is Tuesday 9 December at 16:00 GMT.

Applications to the CSC have to be made utilizing the application system, CSC Central.

The CSC is unable to just accept any functions or documentation not submitted by way of the on-line application system.  

Candidates should apply to study an accepted Master’s course at a taking part UK college:

Candidates can apply for a couple of course and to a couple of college, however they could solely settle for one provide of a Commonwealth Shared Scholarship. Please observe, these scholarships are for Master’s programs solely and never for undergraduate or PhD study.

Candidates should additionally apply and safe admission for the chosen college course in addition to making use of for a Commonwealth Shared Scholarship. Please check together with your chosen college for particular recommendation on when to apply, admission necessities, and guidelines for making use of.

Applications will probably be shared with the universities that may nominate their chosen candidates to the CSC in March 2026.

Applying via CSC Central

We have launched a brand new application system for this spherical and the kind will feel and appear completely different to that of earlier years. Should you expertise any points, please contact info@cscuk.org.uk for help. 

Candidates are suggested to finish and submit functions as early as attainable as a result of the on-line application system will probably be very busy in the days main as much as the application deadline.

Candidates wishing to avoid wasting a duplicate of their functions can both print the abstract web page when submitting the application or entry the system once more after submitting utilizing the ‘view a submitted application’ part. 

We advocate making ready your solutions outdoors of the system after which including them to the kind as soon as they’ve been finalised.

Please seek advice from the template application form, which incorporates all questions in the on-line application, and the technical guidance earlier than starting your application. 

CSC Central makes use of a two-factor authentication (2FA) system and would require entry to both a smartphone or a second electronic mail account when registering for an account. The 2FA system have to be handed every time you log in to entry the kind. 

When logging in to view a saved or accomplished application, you will probably be requested for a reference (in the format 01234-SSP-UK-15) and a passcode. These may be discovered in the Application Reference Number electronic mail you obtained upon registering for an account on the ‘enter your details’ web page. Remember to maintain this electronic mail and the particulars in it protected. Please remember that the particulars are case delicate. If you wouldn’t have a surname, you might be suggested to enter a full cease in the related discipline. 

Candidates are requested to notice that: 

1. The save operate needs to be used to keep away from lack of information.
2. Refreshing the browser window will trigger you to exit the kind and can end result in any unsaved information being misplaced. 
3. Applications can’t be edited after submitting.

Users ought to use system again buttons slightly than these on the browser. Please observe that clicking on the CSC brand will return you to the login display the place you will want to move 2FA once more to enter. 

 

Applications should embody supporting documentation to be eligible.

Candidates should add the following paperwork with the application:

• Proof that they’re a citizen or have refugee standing in an eligible Commonwealth nation: a duplicate of a legitimate passport (or nationwide ID card) exhibiting {a photograph}, date of beginning, and nation of citizenship.
• Full transcripts detailing all greater schooling {qualifications}, together with to-date transcripts for any programs at present being studied, with licensed translations if not in English. Where any transcripts are lacking or don’t embody all pages, the application will probably be thought-about ineligible.
• References from no less than two people, in PDF format, signed and both on institutional letterhead or an electronic mail clearly exhibiting the sender’s particulars. References have to be uploaded to CSC Central as part of the application.

Applications will probably be thought-about ineligible if any of the required documentation shouldn’t be included by the deadline.

The CSC is not going to settle for supporting documentation submitted outdoors the on-line application system.

Please observe that the CSC doesn’t cost apply for any of its scholarships or fellowships via its on-line application system.

Applicants can discover basic details about making use of for a Commonwealth Scholarship on our advice for applicants page.

Please learn and full the Shared Scholarships eligibility checklist earlier than submitting your application.

Applicants could discover the following sources helpful when researching their selections of establishment and course of study in the UK:

• Study UK – British Council web site, with steering for worldwide college students and a course and establishment search.
• Steps to Postgraduate Study – a information to asking the proper questions on taught postgraduate study in the UK.
• Postgrad.com – info for postgraduate college students, with a course search
• Prospects – info on postgraduate study in the UK.
• Research Excellent Framework 2021 results – outcomes of a system for assessing the high quality of analysis in UK greater schooling establishments.
• UCAS Postgraduate – steering on the right way to discover and apply for a postgraduate course.
•  Discover Uni – the official web site for evaluating UK greater schooling course information.
• UKCISA (UK Council for International Student Affairs) – recommendation for worldwide college students on selecting a course of study.

The CSC shouldn’t be accountable for the content material of exterior websites.

Applicants also can uncover how Commonwealth Alumni are making an influence and main change throughout essential growth points by visiting our Development impact stories page.

 

To be thought-about for these scholarships, candidates should:

• Be a citizen of or have been granted refugee standing by an eligible Commonwealth nation.
• Be completely resident in an eligible Commonwealth nation.
• Be out there to start out educational research in the UK by the begin of the UK educational 12 months in September 2026.
• By September 2026, maintain a primary diploma of no less than higher second-class (2:1) honours commonplace, or a decrease second-class diploma and a related postgraduate qualification (normally a Master’s diploma).
• Not have studied or labored for a couple of (educational) 12 months or extra in a excessive revenue nation
• Be unable to afford to study in the UK with out this scholarship.
• Have offered all supporting documentation in the required format.

The CSC goals to determine gifted people who’ve the potential to make change. We are dedicated to a coverage of equal alternative and non-discrimination and encourage functions from a various vary of candidates. For additional info on the help out there to students who share that they’ve a incapacity, see the CSC disability support statement.

There isn’t any age restrict for CSC functions. Candidates are suggested to substantiate with their employers any age restrictions on depart entitlement they could have in place.

Please observe that candidates will probably be requested at the finish of the kind to declare that they haven’t studied in a excessive revenue nation. Study by distance studying at a college in a excessive revenue nation whereas resident in the home nation is permitted. Candidates should make it clear in the kind whether or not any earlier research accomplished at a college in a excessive revenue nation have been undertaken remotely. 

 

Please observe that solely candidates from the eligible nations listed under can apply for Commonwealth Shared Scholarships.

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

 

In the application kind, candidates are requested to:

• List all undergraduate and postgraduate college {qualifications} obtained.
• List as much as 10 publications and prizes.
• Provide particulars of employment historical past and clarify how the expertise gained helps and is related to the programme to be undertaken in the UK.
• List names and positions of three referees who’re certified to touch upon each their capability to profit from the proposed Scholarship in the UK and their potential to ship growth influence afterwards. One of the referees have to be a present employer (if relevant).
• Provide a Development Impact assertion in 4 components.

In the first part candidates ought to clarify how the proposed scholarship pertains to:

1. Development points at the world, nationwide, and native degree.
2. Development points related to the chosen CSC growth theme and the wider sector.

The second part ought to clarify how they intend to apply their new abilities as soon as the Scholarship ends.

The third part ought to define what they anticipate will change in growth phrases following the Scholarship, together with:

1. The outcomes that they purpose to attain
2. The timeframe for their implementation
3. Who the beneficiaries will probably be

In the fourth part candidates ought to write about how the influence of their work could possibly be finest measured and evidenced.

Applicants are additionally requested to:

• Confirm what their award aims are and the way every of them will probably be met by the Scholarship programme.
• Confirm what their profession plans are for the 5 years following the Scholarship.
• Confirm their long-term profession plans.
• Provide an in depth plan of study.
• Provide a private assertion to summarise the methods in which their private background has inspired them to wish to make an influence in their home nation. Applicants could want to spotlight any areas the place they’ve already made important contributions, together with overcoming private or group boundaries in accessing greater schooling or inside their discipline.
• Summarise the methods in which they’ve engaged in voluntary actions and the alternatives they’ve needed to exhibit management.
• Provide a Development Impact assertion in 4 components:
  • In the first part candidates ought to clarify how the proposed scholarship pertains to: 
    • Development points at the world, nationwide, and native degree. 
    • growth points related to the chosen CSC growth theme and the wider sector. 
  • The second part ought to clarify how they intend to apply their new abilities as soon as the Scholarship ends. 
  • The third part ought to define what they anticipate will change in growth phrases following the Scholarship, together with: 
    • The outcomes that they purpose to attain.
    • The timeframe for their implementation.
    • Who the beneficiaries will probably be. 
• In the fourth part candidates ought to write about how the influence of their work could possibly be finest measured and evidenced. 

Applicants are additionally requested to: 

• Confirm what their award aims are and the way every of them will probably be met by the Scholarship programme. 
• Confirm what their profession plans are for the 5 years following the Scholarship. 
• Confirm their long-term profession plans. 
• Provide an in depth plan of study. 
• Provide a private assertion to summarise the methods in which their private background has inspired them to wish to make an influence in their home nation. Applicants could want to spotlight any areas the place they’ve already made important contributions, together with overcoming private or group boundaries in accessing greater schooling or inside their discipline. 
• Summarise the methods in which they’ve engaged in voluntary actions and the alternatives they’ve needed to exhibit management. 

Each taking part UK college will conduct its personal recruitment course of to pick out a specified variety of candidates to be awarded Commonwealth Shared Scholarships and put these ahead to the CSC. The CSC will then verify that these candidates meet the eligibility standards for the programme.

Applications will probably be thought-about in response to the following choice standards:

• Academic benefit
• Quality of analysis proposal
• Potential influence on the growth of the candidate’s home nation

For additional particulars, please seek advice from the Commonwealth Scholarships selection criteria. You can obtain a duplicate of the selection criteria right here.

Applicants ought to observe the standards fastidiously and hyperlink their solutions in the application kind to every level listed.

Scholarships are tenable for any accepted course supplied by a taking part UK college.

Scholarships are to acquire one diploma; funding is not going to be prolonged to allow candidates to finish a qualification in addition to or greater than that for which the choice was made.

Scholarships are made in respect of full-time study solely and no different course of study could also be undertaken at the similar time.

Candidates should take the needed steps to apply for admission to the most well-liked college. Many programs have strict admission deadlines and candidates ought to check admission necessities fastidiously when making use of.

 

Commonwealth Shared Scholarships are collectively funded by the CSC and taking part UK universities.

Each scholarship supplies:

• Approved airfare from the Scholar’s home nation to the UK and return at the finish of the award (the CSC is not going to reimburse the value of fares for dependants, nor the value of journeys made earlier than the award is confirmed) – funded by the CSC.
• Approved tuition charges: full charges are lined by settlement between the CSC and the UK college, and students aren’t liable to pay for any part of the tuition price.
• Stipend (dwelling allowance) at the charge of £1,452 per thirty days, or £1,781 per thirty days for these at universities in the London metropolitan space (charges quoted at present ranges) – paid and funded by the college.
• Warm clothes allowance, the place relevant – paid and funded by the college.
• Thesis grant in direction of the value of making ready a thesis or dissertation, the place relevant – paid by the college, funded by the CSC.
• Study journey grant in direction of the value of study-related journey inside the UK or abroad – paid by the college, funded by the CSC.
• Contribution in direction of the value of a compulsory tuberculosis (TB) take a look at, the place required for a visa application (receipts have to be equipped) – paid by the college, funded by the CSC.
• If a Scholar has youngsters and is widowed, divorced, or a single guardian, child allowance of child allowance of £622 per thirty days for the first child, and £154 per thirty days for the second and third child below the age of 16, if their youngsters live with them at the similar handle in the UK.

If a Scholar shares that they’ve a incapacity, a full evaluation of their wants and eligibility for further monetary help will probably be supplied by the CSC.

The CSC’s household allowances are meant to be solely a contribution in direction of the value of sustaining a Scholar’s household in the UK. The true prices are more likely to be significantly greater, and Scholars should be capable of complement these allowances to help any relations who accompany them to the UK.

For extra info, see the present Handbook for Commonwealth Scholars.

Please observe that the situations outlined in the Handbook are topic to alter.

 

A Commonwealth Shared Scholarship covers charges, accepted fares and private upkeep. Other scholarships, awards, or bursaries that cowl the similar prices will not be held concurrently.

For the CSC to manage the application successfully and effectively after submission, it will likely be essential to create a report in the applicant’s identify. If they apply for an award to the CSC, their particulars will probably be stored on file. Basic anonymised demographic information for all candidates will probably be stored for analytical analysis. The CSC is dedicated to defending private info and to being clear about the info we’re amassing about candidates and what we do with it. To discover out extra, see our privacy notice.

Applicant’s private info will probably be used to conduct needed due diligence checks to CSC’s satisfaction, earlier than CSC proceeds with any kind of formal settlement or contractual relationship. In most circumstances, the due diligence checks will probably be simple, nevertheless additional info could also be requested, so we ask for full co-operation to hurry up the course of.

If a applicant doesn’t agree to non-public information getting used for the function of conducting due diligence, sadly CSC won’t be able to proceed additional with the application course of.

If an application is profitable and the CSC has confirmed all eligibility necessities are met, the college will notify the applicant that they’ve been provisionally chosen (chosen for an award topic to the CSC agreeing phrases of admission to the college) at which level they are going to be a provisional scholarship candidate.

The CSC doesn’t require any candidates to take an IELTS (English language) take a look at. Universities could require candidates to supply proof of a specific degree of English language proficiency as a situation of the scholarship.

The CSC won’t be able to supply a scholarship if it could contravene the phrases and situations of one other scholarship beforehand held.

When phrases of admission to the college have been agreed, the CSC will present a proper Confirmation of Award letter.

Applicants will probably be required to submit a Health and Disability Form earlier than the Confirmation of Award may be issued.

Candidates will probably be required to signal an endeavor to return to their home nation as quickly as attainable after the finish of the award.

Candidates are anticipated to start out the award on the date said in the Confirmation of Award letter.

If a candidate requires a Student visa to come back to the UK to study, they need to meet all related immigration necessities set by UK Visas and Immigration. They ought to check the GOV.UK web site for up to date info.

All UK immigration laws are set by UK Visas and Immigration and are topic to alter. The CSC has no management over these laws.

Candidates will probably be chosen for an award primarily based on the plan of study outlined on the application kind, which isn’t anticipated to alter considerably throughout the award. Any such modifications have to be agreed by the CSC.

Throughout the award, Scholars are anticipated to reside in the UK, and should to hunt approval from the CSC in advance of any abroad journey.

Scholars should not undertake paid employment throughout the award with out approval from the CSC in advance.

The CSC will take into account a request to increase a scholar’s depart to stay in the UK after their award provided that they want to transfer from Master’s to PhD study. Strict situations will apply.

The CSC can not present a letter of help or permission for Scholars to stay in or return to the UK after the award to allow them to work or undertake postdoctoral study.

The following aren’t eligible to apply for a Commonwealth Scholarship or Fellowship; an worker, a former worker, or relative of an worker of the Government of the United Kingdom; or a employees 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 workers of the organisations 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 probably be banned from reapplying for a Commonwealth Scholarship or Fellowship for a interval of as much as 5 years.

Applicants are anticipated to stick to the CSC’s Code of Conduct for award holders and the Disciplinary Policy and Procedure.

An award could also be terminated at any time for causes of unsatisfactory conduct, progress, or attendance, or if registration is suspended or terminated by the college for any cause.

The CSC is dedicated to administering and managing its scholarships and fellowships in a good and clear method. For extra info, see the CSC Anti-Fraud Policy and Procedure at and the FCDO guidance on reporting fraud.

The CSC is dedicated proactively to safeguard and promote the welfare of our beneficiaries, and to guard its employees, Commissioners, beneficiaries and all these with whom the CSC comes into contact. The CSC requires employees, members of the Commission, candidates for and recipients of CSC awards and suppliers to behave persistently with its necessities for safeguarding. Applicants ought to observe the CSC Safeguarding Policy which units out the obligation for employees, members of the Commission, candidates for and recipients of CSC awards and suppliers to behave persistently with its necessities for safeguarding. Any safeguarding issues needs to be reported to the Commission at: csc.safeguarding@cscuk.org.uk

All situations of award are topic to UK native regulation and practices and are topic to alter by the CSC.

For extra info, see the present Handbook for Commonwealth Scholars. Please observe that the situations outlined in the Handbook are topic to alter.

Application Deadline

The deadline for functions is Tuesday 9 December at 16:00 GMT.

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