The highly sought-after Commonwealth Shared Scholarship program is now open, offering fully funded Master’s opportunities for students across the Commonwealth. This program is a joint initiative between the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) and participating universities across the United Kingdom.
This significant scholarship forms a core part of the UK’s international development efforts. It is specifically designed for postgraduate students hailing from Least Developed and middle-income nations.
By training skilled professionals and academics, the program directly addresses development needs and fosters lasting international partnerships. The anticipated deadline for application is December 9, 2025.
Full Financial Package and Benefits
The Commonwealth Shared Scholarship offers extensive financial support, ensuring that recipients are not hindered by cost. The scholarship covers several key areas:
- Tuition Fees: Full tuition costs are covered entirely through an agreement between the CSC and the hosting UK university. Scholars are not required to pay any part of the fees.
- Airfare: Approved air travel from the scholar’s home country to the UK and the return journey at the end of the award period is funded by the CSC.
- Living Stipend (Maintenance): A monthly stipend (living allowance) is provided. The current standard rate is pounds1,452$ per month, increasing to pounds1,781$ per month for scholars studying at universities located within the London metropolitan area. These funds are paid by the university. The average annual stipend is approximately pounds21,372$.
- Additional Grants: Scholars may also receive:
- A warm clothing allowance (where necessary).
- A thesis grant to cover preparation costs for dissertations.
- A study travel grant for approved, study-related travel inside the UK or overseas.
- Reimbursement for the cost of a mandatory tuberculosis (TB) test required for a visa application.
- Family Support: For scholars who are single parents (widowed, divorced, or single), a child allowance is provided if their children (under 16) reside with them in the UK.
Note: Recipients may not hold other scholarships, awards, or bursaries that cover the same costs concurrently with this award.
Essential Eligibility Criteria
To be considered for the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship starting in September 2026, candidates must meet all the following requirements:
- Citizenship: You must be a citizen of, or have been granted refugee status by, an eligible Commonwealth country.
- Residency: You must be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country.
- Availability: You must be available to begin academic studies in the UK by the start of the academic year in September 2026.
- Academic Record: You must hold a first degree of at least upper second-class (2:1) honours standard by September 2026.
- Alternative Pathway: Candidates holding a lower second-class degree (2:2) must also possess a relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a Master’s degree) to qualify. This ensures demonstrated academic expertise.
- Financial Need: You must be genuinely unable to afford to finance your studies in the UK without this scholarship.
- Travel/Work History: You must not have studied or worked for a cumulative period of one academic year or more in a high-income country.
- Documentation: All required supporting documents must be provided in the format requested.
Selection Process
The selection for these scholarships is managed in two stages:
- University Nomination: Each participating UK university conducts its own recruitment process. They select a specified number of eligible candidates who are then put forward to the CSC for the award.
- CSC Confirmation: The CSC then reviews the nominated candidates to confirm they meet all the foundational eligibility criteria for the program.
Applications are assessed based on three core criteria:
- Academic merit demonstrated by the candidate.
- The quality and relevance of the candidate’s research proposal.
- The potential positive impact the candidate’s training will have on the development of their home country.
Applicants must review these criteria closely and ensure their application responses clearly link their background and goals to each point listed.
The final step is to include the identity of the official body that manages the list of eligible countries.
The body responsible for defining and maintaining the list of eligible developing Commonwealth countries for the Shared Scholarship scheme is the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC), which is funded by the UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
The list includes countries classified as low and middle-income, such as Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, India, Pakistan, South Africa, and many others.
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