Fully Funded Commonwealth Master's Scholarship
- Organization: Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (CSC)
- Type: Scholarship
- Location: Global
- Deadline: October 20, 2026
- Funding: Fully Funded
The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK, funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, pays for people from 43 low and middle income Commonwealth countries and territories to take a one-year taught Master's at a UK university. It is for talented people who could not otherwise afford to study in the UK and who want to use what they learn for sustainable development back home. You cannot apply to the CSC alone: you must also apply through a nominator, usually your country's national nominating agency, which may set its own closing date, and that date can fall before the CSC's own 20 October deadline. **What you get:** - Full tuition fees at your UK university, covered by agreement between the CSC and the university, with no part of the fee left for you to pay - Approved airfare from your home country to the UK, and home again at the end of the award - A living stipend of £1,712 a month, or £2,000 a month at universities in the London area (current rates) - A study travel grant towards study-related travel within the UK or overseas - Your Student visa application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge covered - A child allowance if you are widowed, divorced or a single parent and your children live with you in the UK: £622 a month for the first child, and £154 a month for the second and third child under the age of 16 - A full assessment of your needs, and of your eligibility for extra financial support, if you share that you have a disability **What you'll do:** - Apply to a nominator: your country's national nominating agency, which is the main route, or one of six selected charities and NGOs. Each runs its own selection, may set its own closing date and may add its own criteria - Complete the CSC application on CSC Central by 16:00 BST on 20 October 2026: a four-part development impact statement, a study plan, a personal statement, up to three UK university and course choices in order of preference, full transcripts, your passport or national ID, and at least two signed references - Apply for admission to your chosen UK courses yourself, ideally before you submit: the programme page tells you to apply in advance of your scholarship application, though an offer letter is not required to apply - If selected, study a one-year, full-time taught Master's at a CSC partner university from September or October 2027, in a subject linked to one of the CSC's six development themes - Return home when the scholarship ends and put your new skills to work on development there **Key dates:** - Applications for 2027/28 are open now - Your nominator's own closing date, which varies by country and can fall before the CSC's - CSC applications close at 16:00 BST (15:00 UTC) on Tuesday 20 October 2026, with every document and reference uploaded - Nominators put their candidates forward to the CSC by December 2026 - Outcomes by July 2027 - Study begins in September or October 2027 **More information:** - Applying to the CSC is free: it says it does not charge to apply for any of its scholarships or fellowships. The UK universities you choose run their own admissions and may charge their own application fee - The CSC accepts no direct applications. Besides national agencies, the selected nominators for this scheme are the Canon Collins Educational and Legal Assistance Trust (eight southern African countries), the Commonwealth Disabled People's Forum (disabled candidates), The Commonwealth Equality Network (study that improves the position of LGBTI+ people), the Forum for African Women Educationalists (women from listed African countries), the HALI Access Network (students affiliated with a member organisation) and Windle Trust International (refugees and people affected by conflict in Kenya and Uganda) - A nomination is no guarantee: the CSC selects from the pool of nominees on academic merit, the quality of your study plan and your potential impact on development at home - The six development themes are science and technology for development; population health and health systems; innovation and entrepreneurship; peace, security and governance; resilience and response to crises; and access, inclusion and opportunity - The CSC does not require IELTS or any English test, though your university may - The application form uses two-factor authentication, so you need a smartphone or a second email account. Applications cannot be edited after you submit, and late applications are not accepted
