Students from the least developed and lower-middle-income Commonwealth countries seeking an opportunity to study in the United Kingdom are invited to apply for the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship. It’s a fully funded scholarship covering all the expenses of Master’s studies for the 2026-27 academic year. 

The Commonwealth Shared Scholarship aims to facilitate students who are unable to afford Master’s studies in the UK and who are committed to returning to their home country and contributing to its development. It’s an initiative of the Commonwealth and Development Office, the UK Foreign Office, and UK institutions.

The scholarship encourages talented individuals to acquire the knowledge and skills needed for sustainable development. The duration of this scholarship program is 12 months. The deadline to apply for the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship is 09 December 2025.

Details of the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship 2026-27

Here is complete information on the fully funded Commonwealth Shared Scholarship in the United Kingdom.

Offered Degree Program

Applicants can study courses that align with the following themes under the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship in the UK.

• Strengthening Global Peace, Security and Governance
• Science & Technology for Development
• Promoting Global Prosperity
• Strengthening Health Systems and Capacity
• Strengthening Resilience and Response to Crises
• Access, Inclusion & Opportunity

Benefits of Scholarship

The Commonwealth Shared Scholarship in the United Kingdom for the 2026-27 academic year offers the following benefits.

• Scholars will receive two round-trip airfare tickets from their home country to the UK and return at the end of their degree.
• Scholars will get full coverage of tuition fees.
• Scholars will receive a monthly stipend of £1,450 or £1,781, depending on whether they are at a university in London.
• Scholars will get a warm clothing allowance, if applicable.
• Scholars will receive a thesis allowance to prepare their thesis.
• Scholars will receive a study travel grant for study-related travel within the country or overseas.
• Scholars will receive an excess baggage grant.
• Scholars who are single parents, widowed, or divorced with kids will receive a monthly child allowance of £622 for the first child and £154 for the second and third children under 16, if their children stay with them during the funded period.

Eligibility Criteria

Students applying for the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship in the United Kingdom must meet the requirements below.

• Only students from the eligible countries are eligible to apply.
• You must hold a Bachelor’s degree in the relevant field.
• You must not have studied or worked for one year or more in a high-income country.
• You must be unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship
• You must be proficient in English.

How to Apply

You can submit your applications for the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship in the United Kingdom via the instructions below.

• Firstly, apply for admission to a Master’s degree at a participating UK university.
• Then, you must submit a separate online scholarship application through the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission’s (CSC) CSC Central system.
• The universities will nominate their shortlisted candidates to the CSC for final selection.

Documents Required for Commonwealth Shared Scholarship 2026-27 

• Passport
• CV
• Proof of citizenship
• Academic transcripts
• Language proficiency certificate 
• Ten publications and prizes
• Employment history 
• Development impact statement in four parts

Last Date to Apply

The last date to submit your application for the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship in the United Kingdom is 09 December 2025.

FAQs

Can we apply to any other scholarship while applying for the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship?

For sure, students are usually allowed to apply to more than one scholarship at a time across multiple courses while applying for the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship.

Is work experience required for the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship?

No, students don’t need to possess work experience to apply for the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship. However, if you have work experience in the relevant field, it strengthens your academic profile and increases your chances of securing the scholarship.

Is there an age limit for applicants?

No, there is no age restriction for Commonwealth Shared Scholarship applicants as long as they meet the other eligibility requirements.

Will the host provide a child allowance to students during the funded period?

If a scholar is widowed, divorced, or a single parent, and has kids, they will receive a monthly child allowance of £622 for the first child and £154 for the second and third children under 16, if their children stay with them during the funded period.