The Commonwealth Scholarship Scheme is a UK Government-sponsored program through the CSC (Commonwealth Scholarship Commission). The program was designed to empower talented individuals from the British colonial region with the potential to drive change, advance research and innovation, and offer solutions for sustainable development.
The 2026/2027 Commonwealth scholarship provides international students from developing countries with the opportunity for advanced study in their chosen sector, making it one of the most prestigious international scholarship schemes.
About the 2026/2027 Commonwealth Scholarship
The 2026 Commonwealth scholarship is for the 2025.2027 academic session for study in the United Kingdom (UK) and will begin September/October 2026.
Overview of the Commonwealth 2026/2027 Ph.D Scholarship
Commonwealth PhD Scholarships: This is a split-site scholarship designed for students from low- and middle-income countries that are members of the Commonwealth. Successful candidates will spend up to 12 months at a UK university for their doctoral studies.
The Ph.D. scholarship is fully funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). This funding includes tuition, accommodation, a study visa, and other related expenses. living up to its mandate of providing an enhanced research capacity and individual teaching.
Eligibility Requirements (2026/2027 Entry)
The 2026/2027 Commonwealth Ph.D. Scholarships are for suitably qualified candidates who meet any of these eligibility criteria.
- Citizenship Requirements: Candidates who wish to participate in the Commonwealth Scholarship Scheme must be citizens of a Commonwealth member country, live in a UK protected region, or have been granted refugee status by an eligible country.
- Residential Requirement: Applicants must reside permanently in a commonwealth eligible country.
- Availability Requirement: Applicants must be available to commence studies in the UK at the beginning of the academic session in September 2026.
- Academic Requirement: Applicants must be holders of a first degree with a minimum of a 2:1 second-class upper, or a relevant postgraduate degree (Master’s Degree). Applicants must not enroll for a Ph.D or MPhil program leading to a Ph.D at any UK university or in their home country before September/October 2026.
- Financial Requirement: Applicants must not have the financial ability to afford to study in the UK without a scholarship.
- Documents Requirement: Applicants must provide all supporting documents in their acceptable formats.
Scholarship Benefits & Financial Supports
The Commonwealth Ph.D. scholarship covers successful candidates’ expenses, such as approved fare, personal maintenance, and fees. Below is a breakdown of the CSC benefits and financial support.
| Tuition | All Fees Fully Covered |
| Living Allowance/Stipend | Covered (£1,452 per month, or £1,781 per month for those at universities in the London metropolitan area). |
| Airfare | Covered (to and from UK) |
| Personal Maintenance | Covered. |
| Warm Clothing | Covered (Where Applicable). |
| Study Travel Grant | Covered for study related travel with and outside the UK. |
| Family Allowance | Covered. |
Eligible Countries
- Zambia
- Uganda
- Tuvalu
- Togo
- Tanzania
- Sri Lanka
- Solomon Island
- Sierra Leone
- Rwanda
- Pakistan
- Nigeria
- Mozambique
- Malawi
- Lesotho
- Kiribati
- Kenya
- The Gambia
- Cameroon
- Bangladesh
Host Universities
The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) partners with a number of prestigious UK universities that have signed an MoU with the Commission. Below is a list of UK universities that partner with the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission.
- Liverpool John Moores University
- Kingston University
- King’s College London
- Keele University
- Imperial College London
- Heriot-Watt University
- Harper Adams University
- Goldsmiths, University of London
- Glasgow Caledonian University
- Falmouth University
- Edinburgh Napier University
- Durham University
- De Montfort University
- Cranfield University
- Coventry University
- York St John University
- Writtle University College
- University of Yoark
- University of Worcester
- University of Nottingham
- University of Manchester
- University of Brighton
- Liverpool Hope University
- Lincoln Bishop University
- Leeds Beckett University
- Lancaster University
- University of Bradford
- University of Birmingham
- University of Bath
- University of Aberdeen
- University College London
- Ulster University
- The Glasgow School of Art
- Swansea University
- SOAS, University of London
- Sheffield Hallam University
- Royal Veterinary College
- University of Glasgow
- University of Exeter
- University of Essex
- University of Edinburgh
- Staffordshire University
- University of East Anglia
- University of Dundee
- University of Derby
- University of Chester
- University of Central Lancashire
- University of Cambridge
- University of Bristol
- Royal Agricultural University
- Robert Gordon University
- University of Westminster
- University of West London
- University of Warwick
- University of the West of Scotland
- University of the West of England
- University of Sussex
- University of Surrey
- University of Strathclyde
- University of Stirling
- University of St Andrews
- University of Southampton
- University of Sheffield
- University of Salford
- University of Reading
- University of Portsmouth
- University of Plymouth
- University of Oxford
- Queen’s University Belfast
- Queen Mary, University of London
- Nottingham Trent University
- Northumbria University
- Newcastle University
- University of Liverpool
- University of Leicester
- Queen Margaret University
- Oxford Brookes University
- University of Leeds
- University of Kent
- University of Hull
- Manchester Metropolitan University
- Loughborough University
- Bangor University
- Aston University
- Anglia Ruskin University
- Aberystwyth University
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
- London School of Economics and Political Science
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
- City St George’s, University of London
- Cardiff University
- University of Hertfordshire
- University of Greenwich
- Cardiff Metropolitan University
- Brunel University London
- Bournemouth University
- Birkbeck, University of London
How to Apply
- Visit the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) application portal.
- Click on “New User”.
- Fill out the provided form with your name and email address.
- Verify two-factor authentication by entering the passcode sent to your email.
- Download the Microsoft Authenticator App and set up 2FA Authentication for a secure login.
- Fill out accurate details according to the on-screen instructions and submit your application.
PLEASE NOTE:
- The application may not be editable after submission. Ensure that all details are correct before submitting.
- Clicking on the Commonwealth logo will reload the page, which may result in loss of unsaved data.
- Always use the save function to avoid data loss.
Supporting Documents
- Evidence of citizenship or proof of refugee status in an eligible country: A copy of National ID card clearly showing date of birth, passport photography, and country of citizenship.
- Full academic transcript showing higher education qualifications.
- References from at least two individuals.
- A supporting statement signed either by using institution’s letterhead or an email that clearly shows the sender’s details.
Selection Process
The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) will select candidates based on the following criteria:
- Potential impact on the development of the candidate’s home country
- Quality of Research Proposal.
- Academic experience/Merit
Candidates must note:
That nomination is no guarantee for selection.
Key Dates and Deadlines
- 21 October 2025: Application Deadline.
- December 2025: Nomination of candidates to the CSC.
- July 2026: CSC begins contacting applicants via email.
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