The Commonwealth Shared Scholarship programme is one of three Master’s programmes offered by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission.
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.
Purpose: To contribute to development needs of Commonwealth countries by providing training for skilled and qualified professionals and academics who would not otherwise have been able to study in the UK.
Intended beneficiaries: High-quality postgraduate students from Least Developed and middle-income countries (including fragile and conflict affected states), who have not studied for a year or more in a high-income country before, who would not otherwise afford to study in the UK, and who have the potential to enhance the development of their home countries with the knowledge and leadership skills they acquire.
Award duration: normally 12 months
Application process: UK universities bid for scholarships for specific courses with demonstrable development impact and must agree to fund the living cost component of the scholarships. Applications are made via successful universities, which make the initial selection of candidates, who are subsequently approved by the CSC.
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Candidate eligibility
To be considered for these scholarships, candidates must:
Be a citizen of or have been granted refugee status by an eligible Commonwealth country.
Be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country.
Be available to start academic studies in the UK by the start of the UK academic year in September 2026.
By September 2026, hold a first degree of at least upper second-class (2:1) honours standard, or a lower second-class degree and a relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a Master’s degree).
Not have studied or worked for more than one (academic) year or more in a high income country
Be unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship.
Have provided all supporting documentation in the required format.
The CSC aims to identify talented individuals who have the potential to make change. We are committed to a policy of equal opportunity and non-discrimination and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants. For further information on the support available to scholars who share that they have a disability, see the CSC disability support statement.
There is no age limit for CSC applications. Candidates are advised to confirm with their employers any age restrictions on leave entitlement they may have in place.
Please note that candidates will be asked at the end of the form to declare that they have not studied in a high income country. Study by distance learning at a university in a high income country while resident in the home country is permitted. Candidates must make it clear in the form whether any previous studies completed at a university in a high income country were undertaken remotely.
Eligible countries
Please note that only applicants from the eligible countries listed below can apply for Commonwealth Shared Scholarships.
Bangladesh
Belize
Botswana
Cameroon
Dominica
Eswatini
Fiji
Gabon
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
The Gambia
Togo
Tonga
Tuvalu
Uganda
Vanuatu
Zambia
To start your application visit the official portal here
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Hi, good day.
I am interested to participate in the scholarship. It has really been my dream to further my educational pursuit since after graduating in education at Rivers State university of science and technology (now Rivers State university), Port Harcourt with second class upper division in 2007, but I’d not been able to do so due to financial constraints. I believe strongly that this would be a good opportunity for me to advance my academic pursuit.
I am interested