Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships 2027/28 – Are you a graduate from an eligible Commonwealth country hoping to pursue a fully funded Master’s degree in the United Kingdom? The Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships, funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), offer talented graduates the opportunity to undertake postgraduate study while developing the knowledge and skills needed to contribute to sustainable development in their home countries.
The scholarship supports eligible candidates from low- and middle-income Commonwealth countries who could not otherwise afford to study in the UK. Benefits include approved tuition fees, return airfare, a monthly living allowance and other eligible study-related support.
Applications for the 2027/28 academic year are currently open. The deadline is 20 October 2026 at 16:00 British Summer Time (BST). However, submitting an application to the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) is only part of the process. Applicants must also apply through an approved nominating agency or participating organisation, which may set an earlier deadline.
This guide explains the scholarship benefits, eligible countries, academic requirements, required documents, application process and practical steps to prepare a competitive application.
Scholarship Summary
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Scholarship name | Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships |
| Host country | United Kingdom |
| Funding organisation | UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office |
| Administering body | Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK |
| Study level | Postgraduate taught Master’s |
| Duration | Normally 12 months |
| Eligible applicants | Citizens or eligible residents of participating Commonwealth countries who meet the criteria |
| Study start | September/October 2027 |
| Funding type | Fully funded |
| Tuition fees | Covered through the scholarship arrangement |
| Living allowance | Monthly stipend |
| Travel support | Approved return airfare |
| Application system | CSC Central |
| CSC deadline | 20 October 2026, 16:00 BST |
| Official website | Commonwealth Scholarship Commission |
About the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships
The Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships are part of the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan. They are funded by the UK government through the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and administered by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission.
The programme is intended to help talented graduates from eligible countries gain advanced knowledge and professional skills that can support development when they return home. It particularly targets candidates who have strong academic potential but would be unable to afford postgraduate study in the UK without financial assistance.
Unlike scholarships designed only to reward academic performance, the Commonwealth programme places considerable emphasis on development impact. Applicants must explain how their proposed studies relate to challenges in their countries and how they intend to use their new knowledge after completing the scholarship.
For example, a candidate proposing a Master’s degree in public health could explain how the training would strengthen disease prevention, health policy or healthcare delivery. Someone applying for an environmental programme might focus on climate adaptation, environmental protection or sustainable resource management. These are illustrative examples, not a list of guaranteed eligible courses.
The programme supports full-time taught Master’s degrees at approved UK universities and higher education institutions. It does not fund undergraduate degrees, PhD programmes under this particular scholarship, or MBA degrees.
Applications are competitive. Candidates must meet the CSC’s requirements and the additional conditions of their nominating agency. A nomination does not guarantee a scholarship, because final selection is made from the eligible candidates put forward for consideration.
Financial Benefits and Coverage
The Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship is a fully funded opportunity designed to cover the main costs of studying in the UK. Its benefits include the following.
- Full tuition fees: Approved tuition fees are covered through the funding agreement between the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission and the host university. Scholars are not expected to pay the covered tuition fees themselves.
- Return airfare: The scholarship provides approved travel from the scholar’s home country to the UK and a return journey at the end of the award. The CSC does not cover flights for dependants or journeys taken before the award is confirmed.
- Monthly living allowance: Scholars receive a stipend to help meet everyday living costs, including accommodation, food and local expenses. The CSC’s published rates are £1,712 per month, or £2,000 per month for scholars studying at universities in the London metropolitan area. These are the rates currently displayed by the CSC and may change before the 2027/28 academic year.
- Study travel grant: Eligible scholars can receive support towards approved study-related travel within the UK or overseas, subject to the applicable rules.
- Child allowance for eligible scholars: Certain scholars who are widowed, divorced or single parents and have eligible children living with them in the UK may qualify for child allowances. The published rates are £622 per month for the first child and £154 per month for each of the second and third children under 16. Conditions apply, and these allowances are not available to every recipient.
- Additional support where eligible: Scholars who disclose a disability can receive an assessment of their needs and eligibility for additional financial assistance.
Does the scholarship cover every expense?
The award covers the principal costs specified in its terms, but applicants should not assume that every personal or family expense will be paid.
For example, the scholarship does not cover dependants’ airfare. Family allowances, where applicable, are contributions towards the cost of maintaining a family in the UK and may not cover the full amount required. Personal travel, extensive leisure activities and expenses outside the approved funding arrangements may also require additional money.
Applicants should read the current Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships guidance and the scholar handbook to understand the terms that apply to their award.
Eligible Courses and Areas of Study
The scholarship supports one-year, full-time taught Master’s programmes at approved UK universities or higher education institutions participating in the scheme.
The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission organises its awards around development priorities. Its six development themes cover areas such as:
- Science and technology for development
- Strengthening health systems and capacity
- Promoting global prosperity
- Strengthening global peace, security and governance
- Strengthening resilience and response to crises
- Access, inclusion and opportunity
The exact development themes and wording should be checked against the current CSC guidance. Applicants must demonstrate how their proposed course connects to the relevant development priorities.
Eligible programmes are not necessarily the same across all UK universities. The Commission works with approved institutions, and the university and course options available to applicants depend on the scholarship arrangements.
The CSC advises candidates to identify up to three preferred universities and courses, in order of preference, and explain why each is suitable. Including alternatives is important because the Commission makes the final placement decision and may not be able to place every selected candidate at their first choice.
Applicants should also apply for admission to their preferred universities. Scholarship eligibility does not automatically mean that a university will admit a candidate, and admission requirements may differ from the scholarship’s academic criteria.
The scholarship funds taught Master’s degrees, not MBA programmes or research degrees under this particular scheme. Check the official CSC website for approved institutions, course guidance and current conditions.
Eligibility Requirements
To be considered for a Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship for the 2027/28 academic year, applicants must meet the eligibility conditions published by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission.
- Citizenship or eligible status: Applicants must be citizens of, or have been granted refugee status by, an eligible Commonwealth country, or qualify as a British Protected Person under the programme’s rules.
- Permanent residence: Applicants must be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country.
- Academic qualification: By September 2027, applicants must hold a first degree equivalent to at least an upper second-class honours degree, commonly called a 2:1, in the UK system. Applicants with a lower second-class degree may qualify if they also hold a relevant postgraduate qualification, usually a Master’s degree.
- Financial need: Applicants must be unable to afford to study in the UK without the scholarship.
- Availability to begin study: Applicants must be available to begin their academic studies in the UK at the start of the academic year in September/October 2027.
- Complete documentation: Applicants must submit the required supporting documents in the specified format by the deadline.
- Development commitment: Applicants must demonstrate their potential to contribute to the development of their home country using the skills and knowledge gained through the scholarship.
- Return-home commitment: Successful scholars are expected to return to their home countries after completing their awards and contribute to national or local development. The scholarship is not designed as a route to remain in the UK for employment after the award.
The CSC does not impose a general age limit for its applications. However, individual nominating agencies may have additional requirements, so applicants should check the rules that apply to their country.
The Commission also states that it normally prefers candidates who have already completed their undergraduate degrees and would not normally fund a second Master’s degree. Candidates who have already studied at Master’s level at a UK institution, or who have previously received a Commonwealth Scholarship at Master’s level, are not eligible under the published conditions.
Eligible countries
The countries listed by the CSC for the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships include:
Bangladesh, Belize, Botswana, 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, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu and Zambia.
The list is programme-specific. Do not assume that citizenship of any Commonwealth country automatically makes you eligible. Check the current official list and any conditions attached to your status.
Required Documents
Applicants must provide all required documents through the CSC’s online application system. The Commission states that applications missing required documentation may be considered ineligible.
Prepare the following documents and information.
- Proof of citizenship or eligible status: A copy of a valid passport or national identity card showing the applicant’s photograph, date of birth and country of citizenship. Refugee-status documentation may be relevant where applicable.
- Full academic transcripts: Provide transcripts detailing all higher education qualifications, including transcripts to date for any programme currently in progress. Documents that are not in English must have certified translations. Missing pages or incomplete transcripts can make an application ineligible.
- At least two references: References must be signed and provided as PDFs, on institutional letterhead or in an email format that clearly identifies the sender. They must be uploaded through the application system by the deadline.
- Academic and professional history: Prepare accurate details of your undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications, employment history, publications and prizes. The application asks candidates to list up to ten publications and prizes.
- Development Impact statement: Applicants must explain the development problem they want to address, how their proposed studies relate to that problem, what they intend to do after the scholarship and how the impact of their work could be measured.
- Detailed study plan: Explain the proposed course of study and why it is appropriate for your development objectives.
- Personal statement: Describe how your background and experiences have shaped your interest in contributing to development in your home country.
- Career plans: Prepare a realistic account of your intended career direction over the five years following the scholarship, alongside your longer-term professional plans.
- University and course preferences: Identify up to three suitable university and course choices in order of preference, explaining why each fits your academic and development objectives.
The exact form may request further information. Use the official application instructions and template rather than relying solely on this checklist.
How to Apply
Applying for a Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship requires attention to both the CSC application and the nominating organisation’s process.
Step 1: Confirm your eligibility
Be sure that your degree results meet the minimum academic standard and that you will be available to start the programme in September/October 2027.
Step 2: Identify your nominating agency
Applicants must apply to a nominator as well as the CSC. Nominators include national nominating agencies and selected non-governmental organisations or charitable bodies.
Visit the CSC’s national nominating agencies directory and its list of participating organisations to identify the route applicable to your country and circumstances.
Your nominator may have its own application form, eligibility criteria and deadline. These can be earlier than the CSC deadline, so check them immediately.
Step 3: Research suitable universities and courses
Identify taught Master’s programmes that match your academic background and development goals. Check the course content, admission criteria, duration and whether the university and course are approved for the scholarship.
Choose up to three preferences and explain why each course would help you address the development issue you intend to work on.
Step 4: Apply for admission to your preferred universities
Submit the required university applications according to each institution’s admission process.
The CSC does not generally require a UK university offer letter at the initial scholarship application stage for the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship. However, the Commission strongly advises applicants to seek admission at the time of application or as soon as possible afterwards. Your nominator may also have its own admission requirements.
Step 5: Prepare the supporting documents
Collect your transcripts, identification documents and references. Make sure the transcripts are complete and any required translations are certified.
Ask your referees early. Give them the information they need to write detailed references and allow sufficient time for the letters to be uploaded before the deadline.
Step 6: Develop your Development Impact statement
Explain the development problem you want to address at global, national or local level. Link it to the relevant CSC development theme and show how the proposed Master’s degree will help you build the skills needed to address it.
Describe the results you hope to achieve after returning home, who will benefit, the timeframe for your plans and how you will measure progress.
Avoid making vague promises. A focused plan with realistic goals and a clear connection between your course and your intended contribution is more useful than a broad statement about wanting to help your country.
Step 7: Complete the CSC Central application
Create an account and submit the scholarship application through CSC Central.
The CSC does not accept applications or supporting documents submitted by email or post. Follow the application system’s instructions, save your progress regularly and keep your application reference details secure.
The Commission warns that refreshing the browser can cause unsaved information to be lost and that applications may not be edited after submission. Prepare your responses in advance and review the entire form before submitting.
Step 8: Apply through your nominator
Complete the nominator’s process as instructed. The nominator will carry out its own selection and put forward an agreed number of candidates to the CSC.
Submitting the CSC form does not replace the nominator application. You must satisfy the requirements of both routes.
Step 9: Submit before the deadline
The CSC deadline is 20 October 2026 at 16:00 BST. Your nominator may set an earlier deadline, so follow the earlier applicable date.
The Commission states that late applications and documents cannot be accepted. Do not wait until the final day to upload references or complete the form.
Application Deadline and Current Status
As of October 9, 2026, applications for the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships for the 2027/28 academic year are open.
The confirmed deadline published by the CSC is:
- 20 October 2026, at 16:00 BST: Deadline for the CSC application.
The programme is intended for candidates beginning their studies in September/October 2027. Nominating agencies have their own selection processes and may set earlier deadlines. They are expected to nominate candidates to the CSC by December 2026.
The CSC expects applicants to hear the outcome by July 2027. The Commission advises candidates to monitor all email folders, including spam and junk mail.
Because the application deadline is approaching, prospective applicants should check their eligibility, identify their nominator and begin preparing documents immediately. Confirm the current rules and deadline on the official scholarship page.
Selection Process and Application Tips
The Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships are competitive. The CSC considers candidate merit, the quality of the proposed study or research plan, and the potential impact on development in the applicant’s home country.
The following suggestions can help you prepare a stronger application.
- Connect your course to a development need. Explain why the subject matters in your country and how the knowledge gained will help address a specific problem.
- Make your goals measurable. Describe the changes you hope to achieve, the people or communities that may benefit and how you will assess progress.
- Explain your academic preparation. Show how your previous studies, work or other relevant experience have prepared you for the proposed Master’s degree.
- Choose appropriate references. Ask referees who can comment on your academic ability, motivation, analytical skills, perseverance and potential contribution to development.
- Research all three course preferences. The CSC makes the final placement decision. Include alternatives that are genuinely suitable rather than listing three programmes without explaining their relevance.
- Follow the document requirements precisely. Upload complete transcripts and references in the required format. Check that all pages are included and translations are certified where necessary.
- Check the nominator’s rules. The nominating organisation may have additional eligibility criteria or an earlier deadline. Missing its deadline may prevent you from being nominated even if the CSC portal remains open.
- Prepare early and submit carefully. Draft responses outside the online form, review them and save regularly. Leave time to correct errors before submission.
- Be realistic about your development plan. A strong proposal links the course, the problem, the intended outcomes and the applicant’s future role. Avoid claims that are too broad to measure or achieve.
- Understand the return-home commitment. The scholarship is intended to support development in eligible countries. Applicants should be prepared to explain how they will use their training after completing their studies and comply with the award’s conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Are Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships fully funded?
Yes. The scholarship covers approved tuition fees, approved return airfare and a monthly living allowance. It may also provide eligible study travel and certain additional allowances. Applicants should read the current terms to understand the conditions and expenses that are not covered.
2. What is the deadline for the 2027/28 scholarship?
The CSC application deadline is 20 October 2026 at 16:00 BST. A nominating agency may set an earlier deadline, so applicants must check both.
3. Can Nigerians apply?
Yes. Nigeria is included in the CSC’s eligible country list. Nigerian applicants must still meet the academic, residence, financial and other eligibility requirements and follow the relevant nominating agency’s process.
4. Do I need a UK university admission offer before applying?
The CSC generally does not require an admission offer at the initial application stage for the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship. However, applicants are strongly advised to seek admission to their preferred university at the time of application or as soon as possible afterwards. Nominators may impose additional requirements.
5. Can I apply for an MBA?
No. The Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships fund eligible one-year taught Master’s programmes and do not fund MBA degrees.
6. Can I apply if I already have a Master’s degree?
The CSC normally prefers applicants who have completed their undergraduate degree and would not usually fund a second Master’s degree. Applicants who have already studied at Master’s level at a UK institution or previously received a Commonwealth Scholarship at Master’s level are not eligible under the published conditions. Review the official rules for details.
7. Do I need IELTS to apply?
The CSC states that it does not require candidates to take IELTS as a general scholarship requirement. However, the university may require proof of English-language proficiency for admission, so check the requirements of your chosen programme.
8. Can I remain in the UK after the scholarship?
The scholarship is intended to support development in the scholar’s home country. Recipients are expected to return home after completing the award and cannot use the scholarship as a route to remain in the UK for employment. The CSC states that only limited exceptions may be considered under specific conditions, such as a move from Master’s to PhD study.
9. Where do I submit my application?
Applicants must use CSC Central and apply through an approved nominating agency or participating organisation. The CSC does not accept direct applications that bypass the nominator.
Conclusion
The Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships 2027/28 offer eligible graduates from low- and middle-income Commonwealth countries an opportunity to pursue a fully funded taught Master’s degree in the UK. With tuition fees, approved return travel and a living allowance covered, the programme can make postgraduate study accessible to candidates who could not otherwise afford it.
However, applicants must demonstrate more than academic ability. They need to show how their proposed course relates to development needs in their home country and how they intend to apply the knowledge and skills gained after their studies.
The CSC application deadline is 20 October 2026 at 16:00 BST, and nominating agencies may close their own applications earlier. Confirm your eligibility, prepare your documents and submit through both required routes as soon as possible.
References
- cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk – Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships
- cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk – Commonwealth Scholarships Frequently Asked Questions
- cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk – Commonwealth Scholarships Selection Criteria
- cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk – National Nominating Agencies
- gov.uk – Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
