Quick Information
| Country | United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Degree Level | Master's |
| Funding Type | Fully Funded |
| Scholarship Value | Full tuition + £1,712 per month stipend (£2,000 per month in London) for 12 months; return airfare and allowances |
| Application Deadline | December 8, 2026 |
| Last Verified Date | November 11, 2026 |
| Official Source | https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/scholarships/commonwealth-shared-scholarships-applications/ |
What the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Is
The Commonwealth Shared Scholarship is one of the Master’s programmes run by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK, funded jointly by the Commission and participating UK universities. Its purpose is clear: to give skilled graduates from low- and middle-income Commonwealth countries a year of Master’s study in the UK that they could not otherwise afford, and to send them home with knowledge they can use for their country’s development. The award normally lasts 12 months and covers a full-time taught Master’s course only.
What It Covers
This is a full package. Tuition fees are covered in full by agreement between the Commission and the university, so the scholar pays no part of the fee. A monthly living allowance is paid by the university — £1,712 a month, or £2,000 a month in London. Approved return airfare from the home country is included, along with a warm clothing allowance where it applies, a thesis grant, a study travel grant and a contribution towards a mandatory tuberculosis test for the visa. Family allowances exist for single parents in limited cases, but the Commission is open that these are only a contribution, not full family support.
Who Can Apply
Citizens of one of the 43 eligible low- and middle-income Commonwealth countries can apply. Applicants need a first degree of at least upper second-class (2:1) standard, or a lower second-class degree plus a relevant postgraduate qualification, by the time study starts in September 2027. They must not have studied or worked for a year or more in a high-income country, and they must show they could not afford UK study without the scholarship. There is no age limit, which makes it open to working professionals as well as recent graduates.
How to Apply
Apply in two places. First, apply for admission to an approved Master’s course at a participating UK university. Second, submit the scholarship application through the Commission’s online system, CSC Central, with a passport or ID, full transcripts and references from at least two people. The university selects its candidates first and puts them forward to the Commission, which checks eligibility. For the 2027/28 round, applications open on 10 November 2026 and close at 16:00 GMT on 8 December 2026, so preparation should start well before the system gets busy in the final days.
What Makes a Strong Application
Selection looks at academic merit, the quality of the study plan and the potential impact on the home country. The application asks for a development-impact statement in four parts, career plans for the five years after the award, and a personal statement about background and voluntary work. The strongest candidates connect their chosen course directly to a real development need in their home country and explain, in concrete terms, what they will do differently when they return.
Official source: Commonwealth Scholarship Commission — Commonwealth Shared Scholarships
