Commonwealth Scholarships 2027 for Nigerians: Master’s, PhD and Shared Scholarships (Shared Scholarships Open 10 November)

Commonwealth Scholarships pay for Nigerians to do a master’s or PhD in the UK, with full tuition, flights and a monthly stipend. There are three routes, and they have different dates. For 2027/28, the Master’s and PhD routes closed on 20 October 2026. The Commonwealth Shared Scholarships open on 10 November and close on 8 December 2026, so that is the one to apply for now.

Quick facts

• Funder: the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (CSC), funded by the UK government.
• Study: a one-year taught master’s, or a full-time PhD, at a UK university, starting September/October 2027.
• Pays: full tuition, return airfare and a stipend of £1,712 a month (£2,000 in London), plus travel and other allowances.
• Nigeria: eligible for all three routes.
• Open now: Commonwealth Shared Scholarships, 10 November to 16:00 GMT, 8 December 2026.

Which Commonwealth scholarship should you apply for?

Commonwealth Shared Scholarships: open 10 November to 8 December 2026

For master’s study only. You choose an approved master’s course at a participating UK university, apply to that university for admission, then apply on the CSC’s online system, CSC Central. No national nomination is needed: the UK university nominates candidates to the CSC. The list of courses and universities is on the CSC’s Shared Scholarships page.

Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships: closed for 2027/28

For a one-year taught master’s (not an MBA). Nigerians apply through the Federal Ministry of Education’s Department of Scholarship Awards (formerly the Federal Scholarship Board), which nominates candidates to the CSC, and on CSC Central at the same time. The 2027/28 deadline was 16:00 BST on 20 October 2026; the CSC receives nominations in December and applicants hear by July 2027.

Commonwealth PhD Scholarships: closed for 2027/28

For a three-year PhD, and only open to 17 countries, including Nigeria. You need a UK supervisor’s signed supporting statement. Nigerians apply through the Department of Scholarship Awards, or, if you are on academic staff, through a listed Nigerian nominating university. The 2027/28 deadline was also 20 October 2026.

What the scholarships pay

• Full tuition fees.
• A monthly stipend of £1,712, or £2,000 at universities in the London area.
• An approved return airfare to the UK.
• A study travel grant, and allowances for children if you are a single parent (PhD scholars may also get a spouse allowance).

Eligibility: who can apply

• A Nigerian citizen permanently resident in Nigeria (or a refugee or British protected person).
• At least an upper second class (2:1) first degree, or a lower second plus a relevant postgraduate qualification.
• Unable to afford UK study without the scholarship, and available to start in September/October 2027.
• For the Master’s route: not already holding a UK master’s or a previous Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship.
• For the PhD: not registered for a PhD before September/October 2026.

How to apply for the Shared Scholarships

1. Check the 2027 list of eligible courses and universities on the CSC website when it opens on 10 November.
2. Apply to the UK university for admission to an eligible master’s course. This is a separate application.
3. Apply for the scholarship on CSC Central by 16:00 GMT on 8 December 2026. The CSC does not accept anything sent outside CSC Central.
4. The university reviews applicants and nominates its chosen candidates to the CSC.

Documents you need

• A passport or national ID card showing your photo, date of birth and citizenship.
• Full transcripts for all your higher education, with certified English translations if needed.
• Two signed references (as PDFs on letterhead or from an identifiable email).
• For a PhD: a signed supporting statement from your proposed UK supervisor.

Applications are ineligible if any required document is missing by the closing date.

Key dates for 2027/28

• Shared Scholarships: open 10 November 2026; deadline 16:00 GMT, 8 December 2026.
• Master’s and PhD: closed 16:00 BST, 20 October 2026; nominations to the CSC in December 2026; results by July 2027.
• Study starts: September/October 2027.
• Next Master’s and PhD round (2028/29): usually opens around September and closes in October. Watch the Federal Ministry of Education and the CSC.

Official links

• Commonwealth Shared Scholarships
• Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships
• Commonwealth PhD Scholarships
• National nominating agencies (Nigeria: Federal Ministry of Education, Department of Scholarship Awards)

More scholarships open now

• UK scholarships for Nigerian students
• Master’s scholarships 2027 for Nigerians and Africans
• Scholarships for Africans 2027, fully funded and partial
• Oxford-Weidenfeld and Hoffmann Scholarships 2027–28
• Cambridge Mastercard Foundation Scholarship 2027

Checked against the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission’s official pages on 4 November 2026.