Commonwealth Master’s and PhD Scholarships 2027/28: Fully Funded UK Study (Deadline 20 October 2026)

Applications are open for the Commonwealth Master’s and PhD Scholarships 2027/28. These UK government scholarships fully fund study at UK universities, starting in September/October 2027. They are funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and run by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC).

About the Commonwealth Scholarships

Commonwealth Scholarships are for talented people from eligible low- and middle-income Commonwealth countries who could not otherwise afford to study in the UK. They aim to build skills for sustainable development, and they are offered under the CSC’s six development themes. There is no age limit.

• Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships: full-time taught master’s study at a UK university
• Commonwealth PhD Scholarships: full-time doctoral study at a UK university, for applicants from least developed countries and vulnerable states

Benefits

• Full tuition fees, paid directly to the UK university
• Return airfare between your home country and the UK
• Monthly stipend of £1,712, or £2,000 a month at universities in the London area
• A study travel grant for study-related travel in the UK or overseas
• Extra support for scholars who share that they have a disability
• Master’s: a child allowance (£622 a month for the first child, £154 for the second and third) for scholars who are widowed, divorced or single parents with children living with them in the UK
• PhD: also covers one fieldwork airfare (where approved), a mid-term visit home in some cases, and spouse and child allowances

Eligible Countries

Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships: Bangladesh, Belize, Botswana, Dominica, Eswatini, Fiji, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Montserrat, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Saint Helena, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu and Zambia.

Commonwealth PhD Scholarships: Bangladesh, The Gambia, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Pakistan, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda and Zambia.

Who Can Apply?

You must:

• Be a citizen of, or have refugee status in, an eligible Commonwealth country (or be a British Protected Person)
• Be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country
• Be able to start studying in the UK by September 2027
• By September 2027, hold at least an upper second-class (2:1) first degree, or a lower second-class (2:2) degree plus a relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a master’s)
• Be unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship
• PhD only: not be registered for a PhD, or an MPhil leading to a PhD, before September/October 2026

Disabled applicants who do not hold a 2:1 but can show potential for development impact may be considered through the Commonwealth Disabled People’s Forum nominator.

Documents You Need

• Proof of citizenship or refugee status (valid passport or national ID card)
• Full transcripts of all higher education qualifications, with certified translations if not in English
• At least two references (signed, on institutional letterhead or by email showing the sender’s details), uploaded by the deadline. You list three referees in total, and one must be your current employer if you have one.
• PhD only: a supporting statement from your proposed UK supervisor

The application form also asks for your qualifications, up to 10 publications and prizes, your employment history, and a four-part Development Impact statement.

How to Apply

1. Contact your national nominating agency now. In Nigeria, that is the Federal Scholarship Board, Abuja ([email protected]). In Ghana, it is the Ghana Scholarships Secretariat, and in Kenya, the Ministry of Education. Follow their own process and deadline.
2. Apply on CSC Central, the CSC’s online application system, before 4:00pm UK time on 20 October 2026. Registration uses two-factor authentication, so you need a smartphone or a second email account.
3. Upload all documents and references with your application. The CSC will not accept documents any other way or after the deadline.
4. Submit early. The CSC warns that the system gets very busy just before the deadline.

Nominators send their candidates to the CSC in December 2026. Being nominated does not guarantee selection. For the PhD scholarships, the CSC says applicants should hear the outcome by July 2027.

Read the full guidance on the official pages for Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships and Commonwealth PhD Scholarships, and find your nominator on the national nominating agencies page.

APPLY FOR MASTER’S  |  APPLY FOR PHD

More Fully Funded Scholarships

• Mastercard Foundation Scholarships Open Now (2027 Intake): Cambridge, Sciences Po and UCT
• Atlantic Fellows for Social and Economic Equity (AFSEE) 2027–28 at LSE (closes 11 January 2027)
• NOHA Erasmus Mundus Scholarship 2027 (closes 15 December 2026)

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Nigerians apply for Commonwealth Scholarships 2027?

Yes. Nigeria is eligible for both the Master’s and PhD scholarships. Nigerian applicants must also be nominated by the Federal Scholarship Board.

Can I apply directly to the CSC?

No. You apply on CSC Central, but you must also be nominated by your national nominating agency or an approved NGO nominator.

Is there an age limit?

No. The CSC has no age limit.

What grade do I need?

At least a 2:1 first degree, or a 2:2 plus a relevant postgraduate qualification, by September 2027.

When is the deadline?

4:00pm UK time (4:00pm WAT) on Tuesday 20 October 2026. Your nominating agency’s deadline may be earlier.