Commonwealth Shared Scholarship in UK

The Commonwealth Shared Scholarship is part of the UK's international development efforts, offering Master's programs to postgraduate students from Least Developed and middle-income countries.

The program addresses development needs by providing training to skilled professionals and academics, contributing to sustainable development and fostering international partnerships.

A Commonwealth Shared Scholarship covers fees, approved fares, and personal maintenance. Other scholarships, awards, or bursaries that cover the same costs may not be held concurrently.

For the CSC to administer the application effectively and efficiently after submission, it will be necessary to create a record in the applicant’s name.

If they apply for an award to the CSC, their details will be kept on file. Basic anonymised demographic data for all applicants will be kept for analytical research.

• Be a citizen of, or have been granted refugee status by, an eligible Commonwealth country.

• Be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country.

• Be available to start academic studies in the UK by the start of the UK academic year in September 2027.

• By September 2027, hold a first degree of at least upper second-class (2:1) honours standard, or a lower second-class degree and a relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a Master’s degree).

• Not have studied or worked for more than one (academic) year or more in a high-income country

• Be unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship.

• Have provided all supporting documentation in the required format.

Each scholarship provides:

• Approved airfare from the Scholar’s home country to the UK and return at the end of the award (the CSC will not reimburse the cost of fares for dependants, nor the cost of journeys made before the award is confirmed) – funded by the CSC.

• Approved tuition fees: full fees are covered by agreement between the CSC and the UK university, and scholars are not liable to pay for any part of the tuition fee.

• Stipend (living allowance) at the rate of £1,712 per month, or £2,000 per month for those at universities in the London metropolitan area (rates quoted at current levels) – paid and funded by the university.

• Warm clothing allowance, where applicable – paid and funded by the university.

• Thesis grant towards the cost of preparing a thesis or dissertation, where applicable – paid by the university, funded by the CSC.

• Study travel grant towards the cost of study-related travel within the UK or overseas – paid by the university, funded by the CSC.

• Contribution towards the cost of a mandatory tuberculosis (TB) test, where required for a visa application (receipts must be supplied) – paid by the university, funded by the CSC.

• If a Scholar has children and is widowed, divorced, or a single parent, a child allowance of £622 per month for the first child, and £154 per month for the second and third child under the age of 16, if their children are living with them at the same address in the UK.

Applications to the CSC are made using the application system, CSC Central.

You must first apply to study an approved Master’s course at a participating UK university.

• 1

  View the full list of approved courses

• 2

  View details of all participating UK universities

Click the button below to submit your application.