Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships 2027/28

About this opportunity

Commonwealth Master's Scholarships are UK government scholarships, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and run by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC). They pay for talented people from lower- and middle-income Commonwealth countries to take a one-year, full-time taught Master's at a UK university, starting in September or October 2027, and are aimed at people who could not otherwise afford to study in the UK.

The scholarship is comprehensive: approved return airfare, full tuition fees, a monthly living allowance, and a grant towards study-related travel. The idea behind it is development — the CSC wants scholars who will use what they learn to make a difference in their home countries.

The key thing to understand is that you cannot apply to the CSC on your own. You must apply through a nominator — usually your country's national nominating agency, or one of the approved NGOs and charitable bodies — and also submit your application on the CSC's online system, CSC Central. Nominators run their own selection and may have extra rules and earlier closing dates, so check with yours first. Only one-year taught Master's courses at participating UK universities qualify; MBAs are not funded.

Purpose & benefits

• Approved return airfare between your home country and the UK.
• Full tuition fees, covered by agreement between the CSC and the university.
• Living allowance of £1,712 a month, or £2,000 a month in the London area (current rates).
• Study travel grant.
• Child allowance for widowed, divorced or single-parent scholars whose children live with them in the UK.

Eligibility

You must:

• be a citizen of (or have refugee status in) one of the eligible Commonwealth countries, or be a British Protected Person, and be permanently resident in an eligible country;
• by September 2027, hold at least an upper second-class (2:1) first degree, or a lower second-class degree plus a relevant postgraduate qualification;
• be able to start in the UK by September 2027;
• be unable to afford UK study without the scholarship;
• be nominated by an approved nominator.

Disabled applicants without a 2:1 may be considered through the Commonwealth Disabled People's Forum nominator.

• Nationality: Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, Maldives, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & Grenadines, Botswana, Eswatini, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, St. Helena, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu.
• Country of residence: Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, Maldives, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & Grenadines, Botswana, Eswatini, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, St. Helena, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu.
• Where it takes place: United Kingdom.
• Field of study or work: Any field linked to the CSC development themes; one-year taught Master’s courses (not MBAs)

Citizenship requirements

Citizen of, or refugee in, an eligible Commonwealth country (or British Protected Person).

Residency requirements

Permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country.

Required qualifications

First degree of at least upper second-class (2:1), or lower second-class plus a relevant postgraduate qualification, by September 2027.

Who should consider applying

Graduates from eligible Commonwealth countries — including Nigeria — with a strong degree, a clear development goal, and a one-year taught Master’s course in mind that they could not otherwise afford.

Important restrictions

• Direct applications to the CSC are not accepted: you must go through a nominator.
• Only one-year taught Master's programmes are funded; MBAs are not.
• Full-time study only, at an approved UK university.
• The CSC does not fund support for the fossil-fuel energy sector.
• Late applications are not accepted.

How to apply

1. Find your nominator — your national nominating agency (the main route) or an approved NGO/charitable body — and follow its rules and closing date.
2. Register on CSC Central (it uses two-factor authentication, so you need a smartphone or a second email address).
3. Complete the application and upload all supporting documents, including references, by 16:00 BST on 20 October 2026.
4. Nominators put forward candidates to the CSC by December 2026; applicants hear the outcome by July 2027.

Documents you'll need

• Copy of a valid passport or national ID showing citizenship (or proof of refugee status)
• Full transcripts of all higher education qualifications (certified translations if not in English)
• References from at least two people, signed, in PDF

How applicants are selected

Applications are assessed on candidate merit (including academic record), the quality of the proposal, and the potential impact on the development of the candidate’s home country. A nomination does not guarantee selection.

Preparing a strong application

• Contact your nominating agency now — its deadline may be earlier than the CSC's.
• Choose up to three suitable UK universities and courses, in order of preference, and explain why.
• Link every answer to the CSC selection criteria, especially development impact.
• Ask referees early: references must be signed, on letterhead (or a clearly identifiable email), and uploaded by the deadline.
• Submit early — the CSC warns the system gets very busy just before the deadline.