Commonwealth Shared Scholarships fund one year of Master’s study in the UK. The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (CSC) and the host universities share the cost. The awards are for people from eligible developing Commonwealth countries who could not otherwise afford UK study.
Scholars take an approved course at a participating university, grouped under six CSC development themes. The aim is to train professionals and academics who will contribute to their home country’s development. The CSC expects to allocate around 180 new awards for 2027/28.
At Oxford, the approved list includes the Blavatnik School of Government’s Master of Public Policy. There may be one award each year through that route, in partnership with The Queen’s College.
Benefits & funding
- Full tuition fees, covered by agreement between the CSC and the university; the scholar pays no part of the fee.
- Approved return airfare between the home country and the UK, funded by the CSC.
- Monthly stipend of £1,712, or £2,000 at universities in the London metropolitan area, using current figures that will be updated before the academic year; paid by the university.
- Warm clothing allowance where applicable, paid by the university.
- Thesis grant and study travel grant, paid by the university and funded by the CSC.
- A contribution toward a mandatory TB test where a visa requires one.
- For widowed, divorced or single-parent scholars whose children live with them in the UK: £622 a month for the first child and £154 a month each for the second and third child under 16.
- Awards normally last 12 months.
Eligibility
- Citizenship of, or refugee status granted by, an eligible Commonwealth country, or status as a British Protected Person.
- Permanent residence in one of these countries or territories: 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, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu and Zambia; individuals from Cameroon are currently not eligible.
- By October 2027, a first degree at upper second-class (2:1) honours or above, or a lower second-class degree plus a relevant postgraduate qualification, usually a Master’s, must be held.
- Must not have studied or worked for one academic year or more in a high-income country.
- Unable to afford UK study without the scholarship.
- Available to start UK study at the beginning of the academic year in September or October 2027.
- Master’s courses only, on the approved list; undergraduate and PhD study are not funded.
- No age limit.
- Scholars sign an undertaking to return home as soon as possible after the award.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
Residence required
Bangladesh · Belize · Botswana · Dominica · Eswatini · Fiji · Gabon · Gambia · Ghana · Grenada · Guyana · India
+ 31 more
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
Education required
Bachelor Enrolled · Bachelor · Master
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Application process
- 1Choose an approved course at a participating university from the CSC’s eligible-courses list, such as the Oxford MPP.
- 2Apply for admission to that course by the university’s own deadline; a place must be secured separately from the scholarship.
- 3Complete the CSC Central application: education, employment, referees (one a current employer where applicable), study plan, personal statement, five-year career plan and a four-part development impact statement.
- 4Upload proof of citizenship or refugee status, transcripts for all higher education (with certified English translations where needed) and at least two signed PDF references.
- 5The university reviews applications and nominates its chosen candidates to the CSC.
Program timeline
2026/27 applications closed (date published for the Oxford MPP award).
Dec 9, 2025, 16:00 GMT
March 2026
Universities nominated their 2026/27 candidates to the CSC.
September–October 2026
2026/27 scholars began study in the UK.
Early November 2026
2027/28 applications scheduled to open.
Mid-December 2026
2027/28 applications scheduled to close.
Early 2027
University nominations for 2027/28; the CSC will publish the exact timetable nearer the time.