Commonwealth Shared Scholarships

Full tuition fees, return airfare, monthly stipend of GBP 1,452 (GBP 1,781 in London, paid by the university), thesis and study travel grants. Rates shown are from the 2026/27 round.

Fields: Any field

Citizens of 20 listed countries

Eligible country codes: BW, CM, SZ, GA, GH, KE, LS, MW, MU, MZ, NA, NG, RW, SL, ZA, TZ, GM, TG, UG, ZM

• You must be a citizen or refugee of an eligible country and permanently resident there. Eligible African countries (2026/27): Botswana, Cameroon, Eswatini, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia.
• You need at least a 2:1 first degree, or a lower second plus a relevant postgraduate qualification.
• You can have had no more than one academic year of study or work in a high-income country, and must show you cannot afford UK study without the scholarship.
• Only specific master's courses at participating UK universities are funded, and study must be full-time for one degree.

Applied for through participating universities. The 2026/27 round is closed (universities passed applications to the CSC in March 2026). The 2027/28 round has not been announced on the CSC page, so check the CSC site and your chosen universities.

Deadlines move a little every year and some close early. Confirm the date on the official page before you plan around it.

• Passport or national ID.
• Full transcripts.
• Two references.
• Application on CSC Central after nomination by the university, plus any English evidence the university asks for.

1. 1

   Step 1: Find funded courses

   Check the CSC Shared Scholarships page and university pages for courses that hold Commonwealth Shared Scholarships.
2. 2

   Step 2: Apply to the university

   Apply for admission and the scholarship through the university, which makes the first selection and nominates candidates.
3. 3

   Step 3: CSC approval

   The CSC approves nominated candidates, who apply through CSC Central.
4. 4

   Step 4: Check university timelines

   Internal university deadlines are earlier than the CSC date, so contact the course team directly.

• You must return home after the award.
• You must live in the UK and need CSC approval for paid work or overseas travel.
• You cannot hold another scholarship that covers the same costs.

• Confirm that the 2027/28 round is running before you invest time. It was not announced on the CSC page when checked.
• Contact the university early, because the university sets its own deadline and selection.
• Ask whether the university needs IELTS or another English proof, even though the CSC does not.

Winning the award does not include the visa. Plan your application with our guide for the host country.

• United Kingdom student visa

Checked against these official pages on 17 Oct 2026.

• CSC Commonwealth Shared Scholarships (opens in a new tab)
• CSC scholarships overview (opens in a new tab)