Commonwealth Shared Scholarships 2027/28: Fully Funded UK Master’s for Commonwealth Students

The Commonwealth Shared Scholarship pays for a complete master’s degree in the United Kingdom for students from eligible Commonwealth countries who could not otherwise afford to study there. It covers full tuition, a monthly living allowance, return flights, and several study grants. Unusually, your university pays your stipend and nominates you for the award.

Applications open on 10 November and close at 16:00 GMT on Tuesday 8 December. The round is not yet open, so prepare your documents and shortlist courses now — the official page warns the system gets very busy near the deadline.

What the scholarship covers

The award is jointly funded by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission and the participating UK university: the university pays your monthly stipend, and the Commission covers flights and other grants. The official page confirms:

• Full tuition fees, paid in full by agreement between the Commission and the university
• Monthly stipend of £1,712, or £2,000 in the London metropolitan area
• An approved return airfare from home to the UK
• A warm clothing allowance where applicable
• A thesis grant and a study travel grant
• A contribution towards the mandatory TB test where needed for the visa

The £1,712 stipend covers rent, food, transport, and daily life for twelve months. A child allowance exists for widowed, divorced, or single parents with children in the UK, but it is only a contribution, so extra funds are needed to support a family.

Who can apply, and who cannot

The rules are strict. You must be a citizen of, or have refugee status from, an eligible Commonwealth country, live there permanently, and hold at least an upper second-class (2:1) degree, or a lower second-class degree plus a relevant postgraduate qualification. Two filters catch many applicants: no studying or working for one academic year or more in a high-income country, and genuine inability to afford UK study without this scholarship. There is no age limit, and the Commission requires no IELTS test, though your university may ask for proof of English. You must also sign an undertaking to return home after the award.

The eligible countries

Only applicants from these countries can apply: Bangladesh, Belize, Botswana, Dominica, Eswatini, Fiji, Gabon, 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, The Gambia, Togo, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, and Zambia.

How the selection works

Each participating UK university runs its own recruitment and puts forward a set number of candidates, which the Commission confirms and awards via a formal Confirmation of Award letter. Candidates are judged on academic merit, research proposal quality, and development impact on the home country.

If you are comparing UK options, the Clarendon Scholarship at Oxford and the Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarship also target talented students from developing countries.

Prepare these documents now

Gather documents now: a missing one makes your application ineligible, with no second chance. You need a valid passport or national ID showing your photo, date of birth, and citizenship; full transcripts of all higher education qualifications (certified translations if not in English); and at least two references in signed PDF form on institutional letterhead.

The form also asks for employment history, publications, three referees, a study plan, and a personal statement linking your background to impact at home. The biggest task is the four-part Development Impact statement: your course’s link to development issues, how you will use your new skills, the expected change with timeframes and beneficiaries, and how the impact can be measured.

Write your answers outside the system and paste them in when finalised, since nothing can be edited after submitting. Save often, as refreshing loses unsaved data, and keep a smartphone or second email handy for two-factor authentication.

How to apply

1. From 10 November, review the approved courses and participating universities on the official page (the new list is published before the opening date).
2. Apply separately for university admission, following that university’s own process and deadlines.
3. Register on the CSC Central system and complete the scholarship application with all documents.
4. Submit well before the 16:00 GMT deadline on 8 December; the system is very busy in the final days.

Is this scholarship right for you?

Apply if you have a strong academic record (2:1 or equivalent), a clear course-to-development link, and no long stay in a high-income country. Professionals with development-related experience often stand out — the impact criterion rewards those who show what they will do back home.

Skip it if your country is not on the list, if you want undergraduate or PhD study, or if you need funding for dependants’ travel — neither is covered. Awards covering the same costs cannot be held together, and paid work during the award needs advance Commission approval.

Questions applicants usually ask