Applications are now open for the Commonwealth Shared Scholarships 2027/28, giving talented students from eligible Commonwealth countries the opportunity to pursue a fully funded Master’s degree in the United Kingdom.
If you are an African graduate with strong academic results, an interest in contributing to the development of your home country, and who would be unable to afford postgraduate study in the UK without financial support, this is an opportunity worth considering.
The scholarships are offered by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (CSC) in partnership with participating UK universities and are intended primarily for students from eligible least-developed and middle-income Commonwealth countries.
Successful scholars will begin their studies in the UK in September or October 2027.
Commonwealth Shared Scholarships 2027/28 at a Glance
| Scholarship | Commonwealth Shared Scholarships 2027/28 |
| Provider | Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK |
| Study Level | Master’s |
| Study Location | United Kingdom |
| Funding | Fully Funded |
| Duration | Normally 12 months |
| Eligible Applicants | Citizens/refugees of eligible Commonwealth countries |
| Application Fee | None |
| Deadline | 8 December 2026 |
| Study Begins | September/October 2027 |
What Are the Commonwealth Shared Scholarships?
The Commonwealth Shared Scholarship programme supports talented students with the potential to contribute to their countries' development but who would otherwise be unable to afford Master’s-level education in the United Kingdom.
The scholarship is specifically for full-time Master's study at participating UK universities and approved courses.
It is not available for undergraduate programmes or PhD study.
What Does the Scholarship Cover?
The Commonwealth Shared Scholarships are fully funded.
Successful applicants receive:
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Full approved tuition fees.
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Approved airfare from the scholar's home country to the UK and a return ticket at the end of the scholarship.
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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 published rates.
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Warm clothing allowance, where applicable.
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A thesis or dissertation grant, where applicable.
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Study-related travel support within the UK or overseas.
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Contribution towards the cost of a mandatory tuberculosis test when required for a UK visa application.
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Additional disability-related financial support may be available following an assessment of individual needs.
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Certain eligible scholars who are widowed, divorced or single parents may also qualify for a contribution towards the cost of supporting accompanying children.
This means successful applicants do not have to fund their tuition fees themselves and receive substantial support towards the costs of living and studying in the UK.
Who Can Apply?
You must meet all the core eligibility conditions.
You should be eligible if you:
- Are a citizen of, or have been granted refugee status by, an eligible Commonwealth country.
- Are permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country.
- Are available to begin your studies in the UK by the start of the academic year in September 2027.
- Will hold, by September 2027, at least a Second Class Upper (2:1) Bachelor's degree or equivalent OR
- Hold a Second Class Lower degree together with a relevant postgraduate qualification, normally a Master's degree.
- Have not studied or worked for more than one academic year in a high-income country.
- Would be unable to afford to study in the UK without the scholarship.
- Can provide all required supporting documents before the application deadline.
There is no age limit for Commonwealth Scholarship applications.
Which African Countries Are Eligible?
African applicants from the following countries are included in the current eligibility list:
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Botswana
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Eswatini
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Gabon
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Ghana
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Kenya
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Lesotho
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Malawi
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Mauritius
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Mozambique
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Namibia
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Nigeria
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Rwanda
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Sierra Leone
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South Africa
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Tanzania
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The Gambia
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Togo
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Uganda
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Zambia
Applicants should always confirm their country's eligibility against the current official scholarship information before submitting an application.
Can Nigerian Students Apply?
Yes.
Nigeria is one of the eligible countries for the Commonwealth Shared Scholarships 2027/28.
However, being Nigerian alone does not make you eligible. You must also satisfy the academic, residence, financial-need and other scholarship requirements.
Can Final-Year Undergraduate Students Apply?
Potentially, yes — but timing is important.
The requirement is that you must hold the required first degree by September 2027.
Therefore, a final-year undergraduate who is expected to graduate and obtain the required qualification before September 2027 may potentially satisfy the academic requirement.
However, an undergraduate in an earlier year who will not complete their Bachelor's degree by September 2027 would not qualify for this particular round.
What Documents Will You Need?
Applicants are required to upload supporting documents through the CSC's application system.
These include:
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A valid passport or national identity document showing your photograph, date of birth and citizenship.
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Complete transcripts for all higher education qualifications.
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Current transcripts if you are still completing a qualification.
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Certified English translations where documents are not originally in English.
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At least two references uploaded in PDF format and appropriately signed or issued in a form that clearly identifies the referee.
Missing required documentation by the deadline can make an application ineligible.
Start preparing these documents early.
Do not wait until the final week before the deadline to begin contacting referees or obtaining your transcripts.
What Will You Be Asked About in the Application?
The Commonwealth application is not based on academic grades alone.
Applicants may be asked to provide information about their:
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University qualifications.
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Employment history.
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Publications and prizes, where applicable.
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Career objectives.
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Proposed programme of study.
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Personal background.
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Volunteering and community activities.
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Leadership experience.
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Future career plans.
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Expected contribution to development in their home country.
Applicants are also expected to explain why the proposed scholarship and programme of study are relevant to development challenges.
How Are Applicants Selected?
Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee that you will receive a scholarship.
Participating universities initially assess applicants and nominate selected candidates to the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission.
Selection considers factors including:
1. Candidate merit
Your academic and broader profile should demonstrate that you have the ability to succeed at postgraduate level.
2. Quality of your proposed study
You should have a clear reason for choosing your programme and be able to explain how it fits your academic and professional objectives.
3. Development impact
This is particularly important.
You need to show how the knowledge and skills gained through the Master's programme could contribute to addressing problems or creating positive change in your home country.
How to Make Your Application More Competitive
Do not approach the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship as simply a request for someone to pay for your Master's degree.
A strong application should tell a coherent story:
Problem → Your experience → Proposed Master's → Skills you will gain → What you will do with those skills → Impact in your country.
For example, rather than simply saying:
“I want to study public health because I am passionate about healthcare.”
A stronger applicant should be able to demonstrate:
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the specific public-health problem they have observed;
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how their previous studies or work relate to that problem;
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why the proposed Master's programme is appropriate;
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what expertise they expect to gain;
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what they intend to do after graduating; and
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what measurable impact this could have in their community or country.
Your academic results get you into the competition.
Your clarity of purpose and potential impact can help distinguish you from other academically qualified candidates.
Leadership and Volunteering Matter
The application asks candidates to discuss their voluntary activities and opportunities in which they have demonstrated leadership.
Leadership does not necessarily mean being president of a major organisation.
You might demonstrate leadership by:
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Starting a community project.
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Coordinating volunteers.
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Leading a student initiative.
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Solving a problem at work.
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Mentoring other students.
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Organising an educational programme.
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Running a social-impact project.
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Leading a research or professional initiative.
What matters is being able to demonstrate what you did, why you did it and what changed because of your contribution.
Do You Need IELTS?
The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission itself does not require applicants to take IELTS.
However, your chosen university may require evidence of English-language proficiency as a condition of admission.
You should therefore check the admission requirements of your specific university and programme.
You Must Also Apply to a UK University
This is extremely important.
Submitting the Commonwealth scholarship application does not replace your university application.
You must:
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Identify an approved Master's programme at a participating UK university.
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Check that university's admission requirements and deadlines.
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Apply for admission to the university/course.
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Submit your Commonwealth Shared Scholarship application through CSC Central.
Applicants may apply for more than one eligible course and university, although they may ultimately accept only one Commonwealth Shared Scholarship.
How to Apply
Step 1: Confirm that you are eligible
Check your nationality, residence, academic qualification and other eligibility requirements.
Step 2: Find an approved Master's programme
Your course must be among the programmes approved for Commonwealth Shared Scholarships at a participating UK university.
Step 3: Check the university's admission requirements
Individual universities may have additional academic, English-language or documentation requirements.
Step 4: Apply to the university
You must separately seek admission to your selected Master's programme.
Step 5: Prepare your Commonwealth Scholarship application
Prepare your essays, career plans, development-impact answers and supporting documents before entering everything into the online portal.
Step 6: Register and apply through CSC Central
Applications must be submitted through the official Commonwealth Scholarship Commission application platform.
Step 7: Submit before the deadline
The deadline is:
Tuesday, 8 December 2026 at 16:00 GMT.
Do not plan to submit at the last minute. The CSC specifically advises candidates to submit early, as the application system can become very busy near the deadline.
Not Eligible Yet? Here's How to Position Yourself
If you are currently an undergraduate and will not graduate by September 2027, don't simply ignore this opportunity.
Use the requirements as a roadmap for a future Commonwealth Scholarship application.
If you're in your first or second year
Focus on building your foundation.
Aim for a strong academic record, preferably at least the equivalent of a 2:1.
Begin participating in meaningful extracurricular, volunteering or community activities.
Don't chase certificates. Look for activities where you can demonstrate actual contribution and impact.
If you're in your penultimate year
Start thinking about the development problem you want your career to address.
Ask yourself:
What problem in my country do I want to help solve?
Then begin building academic, professional and volunteer experience around that area.
For example, someone interested in climate policy could combine:
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Relevant university coursework.
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Research.
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Environmental volunteering.
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Internships.
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Student leadership.
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Climate advocacy or community projects.
That creates a far stronger future scholarship story than unrelated activities collected simply for a CV.
If you're in your final year
Start preparing now.
Build relationships with lecturers who could provide substantive references.
Improve your CV.
Obtain your academic records.
Research Master's programmes.
Develop a clear career plan.
Document examples of leadership, volunteering and measurable impact.
The strongest scholarship applications are often built years before the application form is opened.
What If You Have a 2:2?
A Second Class Lower Bachelor's degree alone does not ordinarily satisfy the published academic requirement.
The CSC states that applicants with a lower second-class degree may qualify where they also hold a relevant postgraduate qualification, usually a Master's degree.
If you currently have only a 2:2 and no relevant postgraduate qualification, consider strengthening your academic profile before targeting a future round.
What If You Have No Work Experience?
Do not automatically disqualify yourself.
Employment experience is not generally a mandatory requirement for Commonwealth Scholarships.
However, you still need to demonstrate your merit, objectives, potential impact, leadership and preparedness for your chosen programme.
Internships, volunteering, research, projects, student leadership and other substantive experiences may help you demonstrate these qualities.
Before You Apply: Final Checklist
Before submitting your application, confirm that:
☐ Your country is eligible.
☐ You will have completed the required degree by September 2027.
☐ Your academic result meets the requirement.
☐ Your proposed Master's course is approved for the scholarship.
☐ You have checked the university's separate admission requirements.
☐ You have started or completed your university application.
☐ Your transcripts are complete.
☐ Your identification document is ready.
☐ Your references are ready in the required format.
☐ Your career plan is clear.
☐ Your development-impact answers are specific.
☐ You have explained your leadership and volunteering experience.
☐ You have proofread every section of the application.
☐ You are submitting well before 8 December 2026.
Application Deadline
8 December 2026 at 16:00 GMT
Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.
Apply for the Commonwealth Shared Scholarships 2027/28
Applications must be submitted directly through the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission's official application platform.
There is no application fee for applying for a Commonwealth Scholarship through the CSC's online application system.
Important
Always submit your application through the official scholarship platform. You should never pay an individual or third party to submit a Commonwealth Scholarship application on your behalf.
