Fully Funded Commonwealth Professional Fellowships 2025/2026

About the Commonwealth Professional Fellowships

Are you a mid-career professional looking to gain international experience and boost your professional development? The Commonwealth Professional Fellowships 2025/2026 offer a prestigious, fully funded opportunity for professionals from low- and middle-income Commonwealth countries to sharpen their skills, expand their networks, and make a lasting impact in their sector. Hosted in the United Kingdom, this fellowship is tailored to empower individuals working in development-related fields through hands-on experience and professional collaboration.

The Commonwealth Professional Fellowships are an initiative of the UK government, administered by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC), designed to provide mid-career professionals from eligible countries with a chance to undertake a period of professional development at a UK host organization. This fellowship is not an academic research programme, but a structured, sector-specific placement that enables fellows to enhance their practical skills and expertise.

Eligible Fields

While there is no fixed list of disciplines, fellowships are typically awarded to professionals in areas such as:

Education
Public Health
Agriculture
Technology and Innovation
Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability
Governance and Public Policy
Economic Development
Social Development
Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief

Applicants must apply to work with a UK host organization that aligns with their professional expertise.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for the Commonwealth Professional Fellowships 2025/2026, applicants must meet the following criteria:

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Be a citizen of, or have been granted refugee status by, an eligible Commonwealth country, or be a British Protected Person.
Be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country.
Have at least five years of relevant full-time professional experience (voluntary work not included) by the start of the fellowship.
Be currently employed in a role relevant to the fellowship field and commit to returning to their current employer after the fellowship ends.
Provide two references, including one from their current employer (applications without both references will be rejected).
Must not have received a Commonwealth Professional Fellowship in the last five years.
Must not be pursuing an academic research programme; academic professionals may only apply if the fellowship relates to academic management, not their research subject.
Be available to start the fellowship on the prescribed date.

Eligible Countries

Applicants must be from one of the eligible Commonwealth countries classified as low- or middle-income. A full list of eligible countries is available on the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission’s website.

Selection Criteria

Fellows are selected based on:

The quality of the professional development programme proposed.
The impact the fellowship will have on the applicant’s current role and organization.
The potential for the fellowship to enhance the candidate’s contribution to development upon returning home.
References and employer endorsements.
Alignment with CSC’s core principles of promoting development and strengthening partnerships.

Benefits of the Commonwealth Professional Fellowships

This fully funded programme covers a range of financial and logistical needs, ensuring that fellows can focus on professional growth:

Return airfare from your home country to the UK.
Visa fee reimbursement for standard UK visa applications.
Monthly stipend of:
- £2,104 (outside London), or
- £2,612 (within London metropolitan area) – based on 2024/2025 rates.
Arrival allowance of up to £1,183.20, including an allocation for warm clothing.
Disability support: Additional financial support provided after assessment.
Professional development funding: Up to £2,000 per fellow may be used for conferences, short courses, or visits to other UK-based organizations, as long as they are an integral part of the programme.

Why You Should Apply

This fellowship is more than just a trip to the UK. It’s a career-transforming opportunity that allows you to:

Gain hands-on professional experience in an international setting.
Build lasting partnerships with UK professionals and institutions.
Return home with enhanced skills, new ideas, and tools to create positive change in your country.
Be part of a vibrant community of Commonwealth changemakers.

How to Apply

Applications for the 2026 Commonwealth Professional Fellowship must be submitted online through the official application portal.

Application Deadline:
4:00 PM BST, Friday 22 August 2025

Application Steps:

Access the Professional Fellowship Application Form.
Complete the form in detail, ensuring accuracy in personal, professional, and reference information.
Upload all required supporting documents.
Ensure that your referees submit their letters before the deadline.
Submit your completed application before the cut-off time to avoid disqualification.

Final Thoughts

The Commonwealth Professional Fellowships 2025/2026 are your gateway to professional growth, global networking, and impactful change in your sector. If you’re a mid-career professional driven by purpose and working towards sustainable development in your country, don’t miss this opportunity.