Commonwealth Shared Scholarship 2027/28 | Fully Funded UK Masters

Scholarship Overview

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What Is the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship?

The Commonwealth Shared Scholarship is one of three Master’s programmes offered by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC), the UK government’s scholarship scheme led by international development objectives. It operates within the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP) and demonstrates the UK’s commitment to sustainable development across the Commonwealth.

The programme specifically targets high-quality postgraduate students from Least Developed and middle-income Commonwealth countries—including fragile and conflict-affected states—who have not previously studied for a year or more in a high-income country and who would not otherwise be able to afford UK study.

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Who Can Apply: Eligibility for African and SADC Applicants

Candidates must meet all of the following criteria:

• Be a citizen of or have refugee status in an eligible Commonwealth country
• Be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country
• Hold a first degree of at least upper second-class (2:1) honours standard by September 2027, or a lower second-class degree plus a relevant postgraduate qualification
• Not have studied or worked for more than one academic year in a high-income country
• Be unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship
• Be available to start studies in September/October 2027

Eligible countries include: Botswana, Eswatini, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, The Gambia, Uganda, Zambia, and others. Zimbabwe is not currently listed as eligible—applicants should verify their country’s status before applying.

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There is no age limit for CSC applications. Distance learning from a high-income country while resident in your home country is permitted, but must be declared.

What Does the Scholarship Cover?

Commonwealth Shared Scholarships are jointly funded by the CSC and participating UK universities. Each scholarship provides:

• Approved airfare: Return flights from home country to the UK (CSC-funded)
• Full tuition fees: Covered by agreement between CSC and university—scholars pay nothing
• Monthly stipend: £1,712 per month, or £2,000 per month for London metropolitan area universities (university-funded)
• Warm clothing allowance where applicable (university-funded)
• Thesis grant towards dissertation preparation costs
• Study travel grant for UK or overseas study-related travel
• TB test contribution where required for visa (receipts needed)
• Child allowance: £622/month for first child, £154/month for second and third child under 16, if widowed, divorced, or single parent with children living at the same UK address

Additional disability support is available following a full needs assessment by the CSC.

Application Timeline and Deadlines

Applications are made via CSC Central, the CSC’s online application system. The CSC cannot accept applications or documentation submitted outside this system.

How to Apply: Step-by-Step Process

Step 1: Choose your course and university

Candidates must apply for an approved Master’s course at a participating UK university. You can apply to multiple courses and universities, but may only accept one scholarship offer. Check the CSC website for the list of approved courses and participating universities—these will be published before applications open.

Step 2: Apply for university admission

You must separately apply for and secure admission to your chosen university course. Check with each university for specific deadlines, admission requirements, and application rules.

Step 3: Complete the CSC Central application

Register on CSC Central using two-factor authentication (2FA), which requires a smartphone or second email account. Complete all sections including:

• Academic qualifications and transcripts
• Employment history with relevance to proposed study
• Three referees (one must be current employer if applicable)
• Four-part Development Impact statement
• Personal statement on background and motivation
• Voluntary activities and leadership experience
• Career plans for 5 years post-scholarship and long-term goals
• Detailed study plan

Step 4: Upload supporting documents

Applications missing required documents by the deadline are ineligible.

Step 5: University nomination

Applications are shared with universities, which nominate candidates to the CSC in March 2026. The CSC then confirms eligibility and makes final selections based on academic merit, research proposal quality, and development impact potential.

Required Supporting Documents

All documents must be uploaded to CSC Central by the deadline:

• Proof of citizenship/refugee status: Valid passport or national ID card showing photograph, date of birth, and country of citizenship
• Full academic transcripts: All higher education qualifications, including current to-date transcripts; certified English translations if needed
• Two references: PDF format, signed, on institutional letterhead or email clearly showing sender’s details

Applications with missing transcripts or pages will be deemed ineligible. The CSC does not charge application fees.

Selection Criteria

Applications are assessed on:

• Academic merit
• Quality of research proposal
• Potential impact on development of home country

Link your application answers directly to these criteria. The CSC is committed to equal opportunity and encourages diverse applications, including from candidates with disabilities.

Important Conditions

• Scholarships are for full-time Master’s study only—no concurrent courses
• Scholars must reside in the UK throughout the award
• No paid employment without CSC approval
• Overseas travel requires CSC approval
• Scholars must return to their home country immediately after the award ends
• The CSC will not support requests to remain in the UK for work or postdoctoral study
• Extensions are only considered for progression to PhD study, with strict conditions

All award conditions are subject to UK law and may change. See the current Handbook for Commonwealth Scholars for full details.

Key Tips for Applicants

• Submit applications early—the system becomes very busy near deadlines
• Prepare answers outside the system before entering them
• Use the save function frequently; refreshing the browser loses unsaved data
• Keep your Application Reference Number email safe—you’ll need it to log back in
• Read the Shared Scholarships eligibility checklist before submitting
• Contact your chosen university directly for nomination enquiries

Official scholarship page: https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/scholarships/commonwealth-shared-scholarships-applications/

Apply on the official site →

You apply directly with the provider. We never charge for applications or ask for payment details. How we verify scholarships