Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships 2026

Overview

The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (CSC) provides the UK government scholarship scheme led by international development objectives. It operates within the framework of the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP) and offers a vivid demonstration of the UK’s enduring commitment to the Commonwealth. By attracting individuals with outstanding talent and identifiable potential from all backgrounds and supporting them to become leaders and innovators on returning to their home countries, the CSC’s work combines sustainable development with the UK national interest and provides opportunities for international partnerships and collaboration.

Benefits / Support

• Full flight coverage to the United Kingdom at the beginning of the study and back to the scholar's home country at the end of the award (the CSC will not cover the cost of fares for dependents, nor the cost of journeys made before confirmation of the scholarship).
• A full tuition fee coverage agreement between the CSC and the UK university, which implies that the successful scholars will not pay for any part of the tuition fee.
• A living allowance of £1,452 per month, or £1,781 per month for scholars studying in universities in the London metropolitan area.
• Warm clothing allowance, where applicable.
• A grant that covers the cost of study-related travel within the UK or overseas.
• Child allowance for scholars who have children and are widowed, divorced, or single parents.
• Additional support for scholars with disability based on a full assessment of their needs.

Requirements for Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships

• Be a citizen of a Commonwealth eligible Country or have refugee status for an eligible Commonwealth country, or be a British Protected Person.
• Be a permanent resident in an eligible Commonwealth country.
• Be available to start academic studies in the UK at the start of the September 2026 academic year.
• Hold a first degree of at least second-class upper (2:1) honours, or a second-class lower degree and a relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a Master’s degree) by September 2026.
• Demonstrate that they are unable to study in the UK without this scholarship.
• Have submitted all the required documents in the stated format.

Selection Process

The selection is made from a pool of nominations. Please note that being nominated does not guarantee that you will be selected. Candidates will be selected based on the following:

• Candidate merit (including academic experience)
• The quality of the research proposal
• Potential impact on the development of the candidate’s home country

If an application is successful, the CSC will notify the applicant that they have been provisionally selected (selected for an award subject to the CSC agreeing to the terms of admission to the university), making the applicant a provisional scholarship candidate. Applicants will get feedback on their applications by July 2026.

Application Documents

• Proof of citizenship or refugee status in an eligible Commonwealth country. These include a copy of a valid passport (or national ID card) showing a photograph, date of birth, and country of citizenship.
• Full transcripts detailing all higher education qualifications, including up-to-date transcripts for any courses currently being studied (with certified translations if not in English). The application will be considered ineligible if any transcripts are missing or do not include all the requested pages.
• Signed references from at least two individuals, in PDF format. The reference must be on institutional letterhead or an email showing the sender’s details.