Applications are now open for the UK Commonwealth Scholarship 2025-2026 academic year. This is a fully funded scholarship program funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). This program grants a one-year masters degree and a three-year PhD degree scholarship to applicants from low and middle-income Commonwealth countries to study in the UK.
This scholarship program is fully funded, enabling talented and motivated candidates to gain the knowledge and skills required for sustainable development. The program is designed for those who are unable to afford the tuition fee to study in the UK to gain first-hand knowledge in their field of study.
Details about the UK Commonwealth Scholarship 2025-2026
- Country: UK
- Program: Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC)
- Level: Masters and PhD
- Financial Coverage: Fully Funded
- Deadline: 15th October 2024
Check also: The Danish Government Scholarship 2025 (Fully Funded)
How to Apply for the UK Commonwealth Scholarship 2025-2026
Applications to the CSC must be made using the CSC’s online application portal. This is the only way through which to apply as the CSC will not accept any applications or documentation not submitted via the online application portal. There are two stages involved in applying for the commonwealth scholarship.
1) Commonwealth Online Application System
Applications to the CSC is done through the CSC application system. The CSC is unable accept any applications or documentation not submitted through the online application system. Applicants are advised to complete the application form as early as possible. Applicants may face difficulties applying in the last minutes as the application system will be very busy and maybe inaccessible.
2) Applying through a Nominating Agency
Apart from applying to the CSC, applicants must apply to a nominating agency. The nominating agency is the higher education body in your country of residence. Participating nominators will put forward an agreed number of candidates to the CSC for consideration. The CSC does not accept direct applications for these scholarships. There are two types of nominating agencies invited to take part in the Master’s scholarship program:
- National nominating agencies – this is the main route of application
- Selected non-governmental organisations and charitable bodies
There are 3 types of nominating agencies for the PhD
- National nominating agencies – which is the main route of application
- Selected universities/university bodies
- Selected non-governmental organisations and charitable bodies
These scholarships are offered under the six CSC development themes. Nominators may set their own closing dates for applications. They are able to nominate candidates to the CSC until December 2024. Applicants must check additional eligibility criteria set by the nominating agencies when they announce the commonwealth scholarship on their website. Selections are made from the pool of nominations and it’s not a guarantee for selection. Applicants can expect to hear the outcome of their applications by July 2025.
Scholarship Financial Coverage
- Full tuition fee coverage
- Monthly stipend
- Return air ticket
- Thesis allowance for PhD students
- Some additional study grants
- Warm clothes allowance
- If the candidates are widowed, divorced, or single parents, the scholarship pays the child £590 for the first child and £146 per month for the second and third child under the age of 16
- An additional allowance for a disabled person
Check also: UK Chevening Scholarship 2025/2026
Supporting Documentation
Applicants must include supporting documents to their application inorder to be eligible. Below are the supporting documents that applicants must upload with the application:
- Proof that they are citizens or have refugee status in a Commonwealth eligible country.
- A copy of a valid passport or national ID Card showing a photograph, date of birth, and country of citizenship
- Full transcripts detailing all higher education qualifications, including to-date transcripts for any courses currently been studied, with certified translations if not in English. Where any transcript is missing or do not include all pages, the application will be considered ineligible.
- References from at least two individuals, in PDF format, signed and either on institutional letterhead or an email clearly showing the sender’s details.
Note that applications will be considered ineligible if any of the required documents is not uploaded by closing date. as the CSC will not accept supporting documents submitted outside the online application system.
Advice for applicants
Applicants can find general information about applying for a commonwealth scholarship on the advice for applicants page.
Choosing a University/Course in the UK
Applicants wishing to apply for the scholarship must choose their choice of university and course. Below are useful links when researching the choice of institution and course of study in the UK
- Study UK – British Council website, with guidance for international students and a course and institution search
- Steps to Postgraduate Study – a guide to asking the right questions about postgraduate study in the UK
- Postgrad.com – information for postgraduate students, with course research
- Prospects – information on postgraduate study in the UK
- Research Excellent Framework 2021 results – results of a system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions
- UCAS Postgraduate – guidance on how to find and apply for a postgraduate course
- Discover Uni – the official website for comparing UK higher education course data
- UKCISA (UK Council for International Student Affairs) – advice for international students on choosing a course to study.
If you have a low CGPA, then go for the universities that are located in smaller cities.
Check also: University of Tokyo ADB Scholarship 2025 in Japan
Eligible Countries for the Commonwealth UK Scholarship
- Bangladesh
- Belize
- Botswana
- Cameroon
- Dominica
- Eswatini
- Fiji
- Gabon
- The Gambia
- 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
- Togo
- Tonga
- Tuvalu
- Uganda
- Vanuatu
- Zambia
Eligibility Criteria
Inorder to be considered for these scholarships, applicants must:
- Be a citizen of or be granted refugee status in any of the above-mentioned countries
- Be a permanent resident in any of the above-mentioned countries
- Be available to start academic studies in the UK by the start of September 2025
- By September 2025, hold a first degree of at least upper second-class (2:1) honours standard, or lower second class degree and a relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a Master’s degree)
- Be unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship
- Have provided all supporting documents in the required format
Selection Process
Below is how all applicants will be considered
- Academic merit
- Quality of research proposal
- Potential impact on the development of the candidate’s home country
Applicants should note the criteria carefully and link their answers in the application form to each point listed.
