Commonwealth Shared Scholarships 2027/28 for Master’s study in the UK

Commonwealth Shared Scholarships are one of three Master's programmes run by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK. They are for high-quality postgraduate students from Least Developed and middle-income countries who would not otherwise be able to afford to study in the United Kingdom. UK universities bid for the scholarships for specific courses with a clear development impact, and applications are made through those universities and the CSC's online system, CSC Central.

Who can apply

Only citizens or refugees of eligible countries who are permanently resident in them can apply. The list includes Botswana, Eswatini, Gabon, Ghana, India, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Gambia, Togo, Uganda and Zambia, as well as other countries on the official list. By September 2027 you need a first degree of at least upper second-class honours, or a lower second plus a relevant postgraduate qualification. You must not have studied or worked for a year or more in a high-income country, and you must be unable to afford UK study without the award. The scholarships cover Master's courses only, not undergraduate or PhD study, and you must also secure admission to an approved course at a participating university.

What it covers

Full tuition fees are covered, together with approved return airfare and a monthly stipend of GBP 1,712, or GBP 2,000 for scholars at universities in the London area. A thesis grant and a study travel grant are also available. Awards normally last 12 months.

Deadline

Applications open on 10 November 2026 and close at 16:00 GMT on 8 December 2026. They are accepted only through the online system, which becomes very busy before the deadline, so submit early.