Commonwealth Scholarship Guide 2027
Fully funded Master's and PhD awards in the UK for citizens of eligible low- and middle-income Commonwealth countries — tuition, a GBP 1,712/month stipend, flights and more. Everything for the 2027/28 cycle, in reading order.
ScholarshipUnion Editorial
6 min read
Updated Oct 5, 2026
What is the Commonwealth Scholarship?
The Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP) has been running since 1959 — one of the oldest and most established international scholarship programmes. In the UK it is delivered by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) and funded by the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). Since 1960 the CSC has funded more than 31,000 people to study in the UK. Its 2025–26 business plan targeted 624 new awards across all programmes, including 240 Distance Learning and Split-site awards — two programmes that are now paused.
Unlike Chevening or Gates Cambridge, Commonwealth Scholarships target citizens of eligible low- and middle-income Commonwealth countries. The programme is built around one idea: your studies should directly contribute to your home country's development.
If you have genuine plans to use a UK qualification to drive change back home, this scholarship was designed for you.
But the development impact statement is the single most important part of your application — more on that below.
Where Applicants Come From
For 2027/28, Commonwealth Master's Scholarships are open to citizens of 43 countries. Roughly by region:
Commonwealth PhD Scholarships are limited to 17 least developed countries and fragile states. The full lists are on our Eligibility page.
Award Types at a Glance
Compare →The CSC has historically run six programmes, each with its own criteria. Two of them are paused for the current cycle.
Full funding for a one-year taught Master's at a UK university, nominated through your national agency or an approved NGO. Covers tuition, a GBP 1,712/month stipend (GBP 2,000 in London), airfare and a study travel grant.
Full doctoral funding for 36 months, worth over GBP 100,000 in total by our estimate. For candidates from least developed countries and fragile states. Needs a strong research proposal; family allowances are available.
Co-funded with specific UK universities. You apply directly to a participating university, bypassing the national nominating body — smart for highly competitive countries. Normally 12 months.
Two strands: Professional Fellowships (6 weeks to 3 months in the UK for mid-career professionals with 5+ years' experience) and Academic Fellowships for PhD-holding university staff. Open to all Commonwealth countries. Not a degree — focused on skills transfer.
Up to 12 months at a UK university to enhance a PhD you are doing at home. The CSC says this programme is paused and will not run in 2026 or 2027.
A UK Master's studied online from your home country, with tuition and study costs covered. The CSC says this programme is paused and will not run in 2026 or 2027.
Not sure which fits? Take our Award Type quiz for a personalised recommendation.
The Big Difference: Development Impact
Statement guide →This is where most applications fail. Unlike Chevening (which focuses on leadership and networking) or DAAD (which emphasises academic excellence), Commonwealth Scholarships require you to demonstrate specific, measurable development impact plans for your home country.
You need to explain exactly how your proposed studies will address a development challenge in your country. Not vaguely. Not "I want to help my country develop." You need concrete plans: what problem you're tackling, what you'll learn, and how you'll apply it when you return.
Every FCDO-funded Commonwealth Scholarship is offered under one of six CSC development themes:
- Science and technology for development
- Improving population health, health systems and capacity
- Promoting innovation and entrepreneurship
- Strengthening peace, security and governance
- Strengthening resilience and response to crises
- Access, inclusion and opportunity
Learn how to write a strong impact statement in our Development Impact guide.
Do You Qualify?
Full rules →Tick each requirement you meet. Eligibility varies by award type.
You meet all core criteria! Take the full eligibility checker for a detailed assessment.
Full details by award type on our Eligibility page.
What You Get
All benefits →Commonwealth Scholarships are among the most comprehensive awards available. The CSC doesn't just cover tuition — it has thought about practically every expense you'll face.
| Benefit | Coverage |
|---|---|
| Tuition fees | Full tuition (paid directly to the university) |
| Living allowance | GBP 1,712/month (GBP 2,000 in the London area) |
| Return airfare | Approved airfare to and from the UK |
| Study travel grant | For study-related travel within the UK or overseas |
| Fieldwork & mid-term visit | PhD: one economy return flight for approved fieldwork; a paid mid-term visit home in some cases |
| Family allowances | PhD: spouse and child allowances; all scholars: child allowance for single parents |
| Warm clothing & thesis grant | Master’s: GBP 225/year thesis grant; warm clothing is built into the stipend (CSC Handbook). Shared: both listed separately |
If you bring your spouse and children, you may receive a spouse allowance of GBP 313/month (up to nine months) plus child allowances. This is a significant perk many applicants don't know about. See our Benefits page for the full breakdown.
The Nomination Process
Details →This is one of the most confusing aspects of the Commonwealth Scholarship for first-time applicants. Unlike most scholarships, you usually cannot apply directly to the CSC. Instead, you need to be nominated.
Each eligible country has a national nominating agency — usually a government ministry or scholarship body — that reviews applications and forwards the strongest candidates to the CSC. Selected NGOs and charitable bodies can also nominate, and for Shared Scholarships you apply through a UK university. The route depends on the award.
Unlike Chevening, where you submit your application directly online, Commonwealth Master's and PhD awards require nomination. You submit on the CSC's online system and apply to your nominator. Find your country's nominating body on the CSC website and check its internal deadline — it is often earlier than the CSC deadline.
Timeline: When Does Everything Happen?
Deadlines →The Commonwealth Scholarship cycle runs from late summer to the following September. These are the official CSC dates for the 2027/28 Master's and PhD scholarships. Your national nominating agency may close earlier.
- 18 September 2026CSC applications open
Applications open on the CSC's online system (CSC Central). Check with your national nominating agency — it may have an earlier internal deadline.
- 220 October 2026, 16:00 BSTCSC deadline
Official CSC closing date for 2027/28 Master's and PhD applications. References must be uploaded by then. You must also meet your nominator's own deadline.
- 3By December 2026Nominations reach the CSC
Nominators forward an agreed number of candidates. Selection panels then assess candidate merit, the quality of the study plan or research proposal, and potential development impact.
- 4By July 2027Results
The CSC says applicants can expect to hear the outcome by July 2027, by email. Check junk and spam folders.
- 5After resultsPre-departure
Visa applications, pre-departure briefings, flight arrangements and accommodation planning. The CSC provides detailed guidance for each step.
- September/October 2027Arrive in the UK
These scholarships are for study beginning in September/October 2027.
For exact dates by award type, check our Deadline page.
Explore All Guides
Dive into the specific topic you need help with.
Do you actually qualify?
Master's, PhD, or Fellowship?
Step-by-step process
How nominations work
What you actually get
The most critical section
Choosing the right referees
Complete checklist
What to expect
Errors that get you rejected
What happens next
UK student visa process
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