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Commonwealth Scholarship Eligibility 2027

Before investing hours in an application, confirm you actually qualify. Use the quick checker, then work through each criterion: country, degree, financial need, residency and English.

ScholarshipUnion Editorial 5 min read Updated Oct 5, 2026

Quick Eligibility Checker

Answer all five questions to check if you qualify for a 2027/28 Commonwealth Master's or PhD Scholarship.

0 of 5 answered0 criteria met

1
Are you a citizen of an eligible Commonwealth country, and permanently resident there?

Citizens of the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Cyprus, Malta and Brunei are not eligible — and neither is any country missing from the official list below.
2
Will you hold a first degree of at least 2:1 (upper second class) standard by September 2027 — or a 2:2 plus a relevant postgraduate qualification?
3
Would you be unable to afford UK study without this scholarship?
4
Have you never held a Commonwealth Scholarship (or studied a Master's in the UK, if applying for a Master's)?
5
Can you start study in the UK by September/October 2027 (the official CSC start window)?

Result

You likely qualify! You meet all five core criteria. Start your application or read on for detailed requirements by award type.

Result

You may not be eligible. You did not meet all criteria. Check the alternatives page for other scholarships that may fit.

1. Country Eligibility

Only citizens (or refugees, or British Protected Persons) of eligible low- and middle-income Commonwealth countries can apply, and you must be permanently resident in one. Citizens of the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Cyprus, Malta and Brunei are excluded. For 2027/28 the Master's list has 43 countries:

Africa (incl. Saint Helena) — the largest applicant pool

Botswana, Eswatini, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Saint Helena, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda and Zambia.

South & South-East Asia — India and Bangladesh among the highest applicant numbers

Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, the Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Caribbean & Americas

Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

Pacific

Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. The CSC particularly welcomes applications from Small Island Developing States.

PhD Scholarships: a shorter list

Commonwealth PhD Scholarships are only for least developed countries and fragile states: Bangladesh, The Gambia, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Pakistan, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda and Zambia.

Tip

The exact list changes between cycles (Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, The Bahamas, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Kitts and Nevis and Cameroon are not on the 2027/28 Master's list). Always verify on the CSC website for your specific award type.

2. Academic Requirements

Requirements vary by award type. Here they are side by side.

Award	Minimum degree	Grade required	Work experience
Master's	Bachelor's degree	2:1, or 2:2 plus a relevant postgraduate qualification	Helpful but not required
PhD	First degree (a Master's helps)	2:1, or 2:2 plus a relevant postgraduate qualification; not already registered for a PhD before Sept/Oct 2026	Research experience valued
Shared	Bachelor's degree	2:1, or 2:2 plus a relevant postgraduate qualification; no more than a year of study or work in a high-income country	Development potential emphasised
Commonwealth Fellowships	Bachelor's + professional experience (PhD for the academic strand)	Emphasis on professional achievements	5+ years required (professional strand)
Split-site PhD (paused)	Currently enrolled in a PhD at home	Strong academic record	Active research required
Distance Learning (paused)	Bachelor's degree	As specified by host university	Less rigid requirements

What is "2:1 equivalent"?

Roughly a GPA of 3.3/4.0, or 60–69% in many Commonwealth grading systems. A "first division" or "distinction" usually qualifies. Disabled applicants without a 2:1 may be considered for a contextualised nomination through the Commonwealth Disabled People's Forum.

3. Other Key Criteria

Financial need

You must demonstrate inability to fund UK study without this scholarship. The CSC explicitly states that scholarships are for individuals who could not otherwise afford UK study. By our estimate, tuition and living costs come to roughly GBP 40,000–55,000 for a one-year Master’s. Being from a low-income country is itself a factor — be straightforward about why the scholarship is essential for you.

Work experience

It varies significantly by award type — from none to 5+ years.

Master's: not required but valued. Relevant work or volunteer experience strengthens your development impact narrative.
PhD: research experience is important. Publications, conference presentations or research assistant roles help.
Commonwealth (Professional) Fellowships: 5+ years in your field required. You must be at mid-career stage.

Age, residency and return commitment

No age limit. The CSC does not impose a cutoff — but check any age rules your employer has for study leave.
Residency: you must be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country. Those already in the UK generally cannot apply.
Return commitment: you sign an undertaking to return home before your student visa expires, and switching to a Graduate or other visa to stay in the UK is not permitted.
Previous holders: if you have already held a Commonwealth Scholarship at Master's level, or studied a Master's at a UK institution, you are not eligible for a Master's award. The CSC would not normally fund a second Master's.

English language

The CSC itself does not require an IELTS test or set a specific score. However, most UK universities require IELTS 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0) or equivalent for admission. If English is the medium of instruction in your country, some universities may waive this requirement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Generally, no. UK citizenship disqualifies you even if you also hold citizenship of an eligible country. Check directly with the CSC for edge cases.

In most cases, no. Scholarships are for applicants permanently resident in their home country. The one exception was Split-site PhD applicants visiting the UK briefly — and that programme is paused for 2026 and 2027.

Yes. Consider Chevening (160+ countries), DAAD (Germany), or Gates Cambridge. See our Alternatives guide.

You must apply for admission to your preferred universities in advance — the CSC says that if you are selected but have not applied and been accepted for a course, it may not be possible to proceed. For PhD, having a potential supervisor or provisional acceptance strengthens your application.

The CSC does not publish a rule against it, but each award has its own route and you can hold only one Commonwealth award. Focus on the award that best fits your career stage.

Award Types

Master's, PhD, Shared and Fellowships

How to Apply

Step-by-step process and timeline

FAQ

Answers to the most common questions