The UK's Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) is accepting applications for Commonwealth Shared Scholarships 2027/28. They pay for a one-year master's degree at a UK university, including tuition, return flights and a monthly living allowance. Citizens of 43 low- and middle-income Commonwealth countries across Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and the Pacific can apply. The deadline is 4:00 p.m. GMT on 8 December 2026.
Old College at the University of Edinburgh, a UK university campus (file photo). Photo: Kim Traynor / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
- The stipend is not "£24,000 a year" for everyone. The official rate is £1,712 a month (about £20,500 a year). Only students at London universities get £2,000 a month (£24,000 a year).
- There is no separate accommodation payment. You pay for housing from your monthly stipend.
- Master's only, for one year. It is not for undergraduate or PhD study.
- Not all Commonwealth countries qualify. Only 43 low- and middle-income Commonwealth countries are eligible. See the full list below.
- You must also apply to the university. Many universities want you to hold an offer by early January 2027, so start now.
- Scholarship: Commonwealth Shared Scholarships 2027/28
- Funded by: the UK Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (FCDO) together with UK universities
- Level: full-time, one-year taught master's at participating UK universities
- Start: September/October 2027
- Eligible: citizens of 43 low- and middle-income Commonwealth countries (full list below)
- Deadline: 8 December 2026, 4:00 p.m. GMT (4:00 p.m. in Accra, Banjul and Freetown; 5:00 p.m. in Lagos; 7:00 p.m. in Nairobi and Kampala)
- Results: universities nominate candidates in March 2027; successful scholars are usually told by June 2027
What the scholarship covers
- Full tuition fees
- Return economy flight between your home country and the UK
- Monthly stipend: £1,712, or £2,000 at universities in the London area
- Thesis grant and study travel grant, where applicable
- A contribution towards the TB test needed for your UK visa
- Extra allowances for single parents with children and for scholars with disabilities
Flights for family members are not covered.
Eligible countries (official 2027/28 list)
Africa: Botswana, Eswatini, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, The Gambia, Togo, Uganda, Zambia
Asia: Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, Maldives, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
Caribbean and the Americas: Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Pacific: Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu
Other: Saint Helena
Commonwealth countries not on this list (for example Cameroon, the UK, Canada and Australia) are not eligible for this scholarship.
Who can apply
- A citizen of (or refugee from) an eligible Commonwealth country, living permanently in an eligible Commonwealth country
- A first degree with at least upper second-class honours (2:1), or a lower second-class degree plus a relevant postgraduate qualification
- You must not have studied or worked for a year or more in a high-income country
- You must be unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship
- Available to start in the UK by September 2027
How selection works
Each participating university chooses its own candidates from the courses it has approved, then nominates them to the CSC. Selection is based on academic merit, the quality of your plans, and the likely impact of your studies on your home country's development. Some universities offer only one or two scholarships, so competition is strong.
How to apply (two applications)
- Choose an approved course. Check the official list of participating universities and eligible master's courses on the CSC website: eligible courses.
- Apply for admission to that university on the university's own website, as early as possible. Check its deadline. Many want you to hold an offer by early January 2027.
- Apply for the scholarship on the CSC online system: portal.csccentralonline.org.uk. Upload your passport or national ID, full transcripts, and two signed references in PDF.
- Submit before 4:00 p.m. GMT on 8 December 2026. The CSC does not accept applications by email.
You can apply to more than one course and university, but you can accept only one scholarship.
Faddabah Newsroom tips
- Apply for admission today. The university offer is often the step that takes longest.
- Ask your referees now. Both references must be signed and uploaded before the deadline.
- Focus on development impact. Explain clearly how your master's will help your home country in your field, with real examples from your work or community.
- Check your grade. If your degree is below 2:1, you need a relevant postgraduate qualification to qualify.
- Apply only through official websites. Nobody can sell you a Commonwealth Scholarship.
Sources
- Commonwealth Scholarship Commission: Commonwealth Shared Scholarships (official)
- CSC: participating universities and contacts (official)
- SOAS University of London: Commonwealth Shared Scholarships 2027/28 (example university page)
- Scholarship Region: Commonwealth Shared Scholarship (aggregator notice)
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