Applications are now open for the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships 2027/2028, offering students from eligible low- and middle-income Commonwealth countries an opportunity to pursue a fully funded master’s degree in the United Kingdom.
Funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and administered by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (CSC), the scholarships support talented individuals who have the potential to contribute to sustainable development in their home countries but would otherwise be unable to afford postgraduate study in the UK.
The 2027/28 application cycle opened on 8 September 2026, and successful scholars will begin their studies in the UK in September/October 2027. The application deadline is 20 October 2026 at 16:00 BST.
Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships 2027/2028 at a Glance
Host Country: United Kingdom
Study Level: Master’s degree
Study Mode: Full-time
Funding: Fully funded
Programme: Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships
Funded by: UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)
Administered by: Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK
Application Opening Date: 8 September 2026
Application Deadline: 20 October 2026 at 16:00 BST
Study Start: September/October 2027
The scholarship supports one-year taught master’s programmes at participating UK universities. MBA programmes are not funded by this scheme.
What Does the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship Cover?
Successful Commonwealth Master’s scholars receive comprehensive financial support for their studies in the United Kingdom.
The scholarship provides:
- Approved return airfare between the scholar’s home country and the United Kingdom.
- Full approved tuition fees.
- A monthly living allowance of £1,712, or £2,000 per month for scholars studying at universities in the London metropolitan area, at the currently quoted rates.
- A study travel grant is available for approved study-related travel within the UK or overseas.
- Additional child allowance in specified circumstances for scholars who are widowed, divorced or single parents.
- Additional financial support may also be available to scholars with disabilities following an assessment of their needs.
This makes the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship one of the major fully funded postgraduate opportunities available to eligible Commonwealth students who wish to study in the UK.
Who Can Apply?
To qualify for the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships 2027/2028, an applicant must:
- Be a citizen of an eligible Commonwealth country, have refugee status granted by an eligible Commonwealth country, or be a British Protected Person.
- Be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country.
- Be available to begin academic study in the UK in September 2027.
- By September 2027, normally hold at least an upper second-class (2:1) first degree, or a lower second-class degree together with a relevant postgraduate qualification, typically a master’s degree.
- Demonstrate that they would be unable to afford to study in the UK without the scholarship.
- Submit all required supporting documents in the prescribed format.
There is no general age limit for CSC applications.
The CSC also states that it would not normally fund a second master’s degree. Applicants seeking funding for a second master’s programme must explain why this additional degree is necessary.
Eligible Countries
Applicants must come from one of the countries currently listed as eligible for the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship:
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.
For African applicants, eligible countries include Botswana, Eswatini, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda and Zambia.
Applicants should always confirm their country’s eligibility on the official Commonwealth Scholarship Commission website before submitting an application.
Eligible Courses and UK Universities
The Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship supports one-year full-time taught Master’s programmes at approved UK universities that participate in the programme.
MBA programmes are not eligible for funding.
Applicants are advised to identify three universities and courses, ranked in order of preference. Including second and third choices is important because the CSC may not always be able to place a successful candidate at their first-choice institution.
Applicants should also take the necessary steps to apply separately for admission to their preferred universities. University admission and the Commonwealth Scholarship application are not necessarily the same process.
Some UK universities and programmes may have separate or earlier admission deadlines, so applicants should begin researching and applying to suitable programmes as early as possible.
CSC Development Themes
Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships operate within six broad CSC development themes:
- 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.
Applicants should demonstrate how their proposed programme relates to development challenges and how the knowledge and skills gained in the UK could contribute to development after they return home.
Required Documents
Applicants must upload all required supporting documents before the application deadline.
These include:
- A valid passport or national identity card showing the applicant’s photograph, date of birth and country of citizenship.
- Complete transcripts for all higher-education qualifications, including transcripts for studies currently in progress where applicable.
- Certified English translations where documents were not originally issued in English.
- References from at least two individuals, submitted in the required format.
Applicants should carefully verify the official instructions regarding the format of their supporting documents.
An application may be declared ineligible if required documentation is missing by the closing date. Supporting documents must be submitted through the official application system rather than sent separately to the CSC.
What Will You Write in the Application?
The Commonwealth Scholarship application goes beyond academic grades.
Applicants are required to provide information about their academic qualifications, employment history, proposed programme of study, career objectives, leadership experience and voluntary activities.
One of the most important components is the Development Impact statement.
Applicants are expected to explain the development problem connected to their proposed studies, how their chosen programme will help them address that problem, and how they intend to use the knowledge and skills they gain after returning home.
Candidates should be prepared to explain:
- The development issue they want to address.
- Why the issue matters in their country or community.
- How their proposed Master’s programme relates to the issue.
- How they intend to use the knowledge and skills acquired in the UK.
- Who will benefit from their work.
- The outcomes they expect to achieve.
- The timeframe for achieving those outcomes.
- How their impact could be measured.
Applicants must also provide a personal statement explaining how their background has influenced their desire to create positive change in their home country.
How Are Candidates Selected?
Applications are assessed using criteria that include:
- Academic merit.
- The quality of the proposed study plan is also a key criterion.
- Potential impact on the development of the applicant’s home country.
Applicants should therefore avoid treating the scholarship application simply as an explanation of why they want to study in the United Kingdom.
A strong application should establish a clear connection between the applicant’s previous academic and professional experiences, the development challenge they want to address, their proposed Master’s programme, their future career plans and the measurable impact they intend to create after completing their studies.
How to Apply for the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship 2027/2028
Applicants must complete their application through CSC Central, the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission’s official online application system.
Candidates must also apply through an eligible nominating body.
The principal nomination route is through national nominating agencies, although selected non-governmental organisations and charitable bodies may also participate.
Applicants should carefully review the requirements of the nominating body in their country because individual nominating organisations may have their own selection procedures, additional requirements or earlier application deadlines.
Candidates should therefore not assume that 20 October 2026 is the only deadline they need to meet.
Important Application Advice
Applicants should begin preparing their applications well before the deadline.
Prepare your essays and important written responses before entering them into the online application system. This allows you enough time to review your answers for clarity, consistency and accuracy.
Do not wait until the final day to submit your application.
Applicants should also begin researching suitable UK Master’s programmes early and should carefully check the admission requirements of their preferred universities.
The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission itself does not require applicants to take IELTS as a condition of the scholarship application. However, individual UK universities may have their own English-language admission requirements.
Applicants must therefore check the requirements of each university and programme separately.
Application Deadline
The deadline for the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships 2027/2028 is:
20 October 2026 at 16:00 BST.
Applicants should remember that their national or other nominating agency may impose an earlier deadline.
The scholarships are intended for programmes that begin in the United Kingdom in September/October 2027.
Official Application and Further Information
Applicants are strongly advised to read the complete eligibility requirements and application instructions on the official Commonwealth Scholarship Commission website before applying.
Official Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship information:
https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/scholarships/commonwealth-masters-scholarships/
Official CSC application portal:
https://portal.csccentralonline.org.uk/
