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Commonwealth Scholarship Interview Preparation

You may face interviews at two levels: your nominating body and the CSC. Each has a different focus — here is what to expect at both.

ScholarshipUnion Editorial 1 min read Updated Oct 5, 2026

Nominating Body Interview

Conducted by your country's national agency, it assesses whether you are the best candidate from your country. Expect questions on:

Relevance to national development priorities
Why this specific course and university
Commitment to returning and contributing
Your professional background

CSC Panel Interview

A UK-level assessment by academics and development professionals. By this stage you are already a strong candidate — they want to confirm fit. Focus areas:

A deep dive into your Development Impact statement
Research proposal scrutiny (PhD)
Your SDG connection and broader development understanding

Check your route

The CSC's 2027/28 Master's and PhD pages describe selection from nominations against three criteria — candidate merit, the quality of your plan or proposal, and development impact — and don't promise a CSC-stage interview. Ask your nominator what to expect for your country.

Avoid Common Pitfalls

Before you submit, read the common mistakes that sink otherwise strong candidates.