Alternatives to the Commonwealth Scholarship
If Commonwealth is not the right fit — or you want to apply to several scholarships in the same cycle — these are the strongest alternatives.
ScholarshipUnion Editorial
1 min read
Updated Oct 5, 2026
At a Glance
| Scholarship | Where | Level | Open to | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chevening | Any UK university | Master's only | 160+ countries | Leadership & influence |
| DAAD | Germany | Master's & PhD | Most countries | Academic excellence |
| Gates Cambridge | Cambridge only | Any postgraduate degree | All non-UK countries | ~70 awards a year |
| Rhodes | Oxford only | 2–3 years of study | Selected countries | Character & leadership |
Chevening Scholarship
Guide →A direct online application (no nomination) for a one-year Master's, open to 160+ countries worldwide. It requires 2,800 hours of work experience. If you're a working professional focused on leadership and influence, Chevening may be more aligned — and you can apply to both simultaneously.
DAAD Scholarship (Germany)
Guide →Focused on academic excellence, with a stipend of EUR 992/month for Master's and EUR 1,400/month for doctoral candidates, and tuition-free study at most public universities. It has a strong development focus similar to the CSC (especially the EPOS programmes) and many English-taught programmes. If your Development Impact statement is strong for Commonwealth, it translates well to DAAD.
Gates Cambridge Scholarship
Guide →One of the most prestigious global scholarships, at Cambridge only, with around 70 full-cost awards a year for applicants from all non-UK countries. Extremely competitive. Covers any postgraduate degree at Cambridge, and about two-thirds of awards go to PhD students.
Rhodes Scholarship
Guide →The oldest international scholarship, with about 100 awards a year focused on character and leadership. It covers full study at Oxford for 2–3 years and is open to selected Commonwealth and other countries.
The application timelines often overlap. Apply to both Commonwealth and Chevening, adapting your core story for each, and double your chances.
Ready to Apply?
Start with our step-by-step application guide.