Step Into Global Education: Commonwealth Shared Scholarship 2026/27 — Don’t Miss the 9 December Deadline
The Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Programme is one of the three Master’s-level awards offered by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (CSC). Designed to support talented individuals from across the Commonwealth, this programme provides fully funded opportunities to study in the UK, focusing on international development and long-term global impact.
About the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC)
The CSC manages the UK government’s scholarship scheme aimed at advancing international development objectives. Operating under the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP), the Commission reflects the UK’s commitment to strengthening the Commonwealth by supporting education, innovation, and sustainable development.
The programme identifies exceptional individuals with strong academic potential who would not otherwise be able to study in the UK. Scholarship recipients are expected to return home equipped with knowledge, skills, and leadership capacity to contribute to the development of their countries.
Purpose and Target Beneficiaries
The Commonwealth Shared Scholarship aims to meet the development needs of participating countries by offering high-level academic training to:
- Skilled professionals and emerging academics
- Individuals from Least Developed, lower-middle, and conflict-affected Commonwealth countries
- Candidates who have not studied for more than one year in a high-income country
- Students who cannot afford to study in the UK without financial support
- Postgraduates with strong potential to contribute to national development upon return
Scholarships typically support 12 months of full-time Master’s study in the UK.
Also read: AFEPA Elite Master’s Programme: A Fully Funded Journey Through Europe’s Top Policy Universities
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify, applicants must:
- Be a citizen or refugee from an eligible Commonwealth country
- Be permanently resident in an eligible country
- Be ready to start study in the UK by September 2026
- Hold a 2:1 undergraduate degree, or a 2:2 plus a relevant postgraduate qualification
- Not have studied or worked for more than one academic year in a high-income country
- Demonstrate financial need
- Submit all required documents in the correct format
There is no age limit, and the CSC strongly encourages applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including persons with disabilities.
Applicants will be required to declare whether any previous studies with high-income country institutions were completed via distance learning.
Eligible Countries
Applicants must be residents of one of the eligible Commonwealth countries, which include:
Bangladesh, Belize, Botswana, Cameroon, Dominica, Eswatini, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Montserrat, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Saint Helena, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and The Grenadines, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, The Gambia, Togo, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, and Zambia.
How to Apply
Applications for the 2026/27 academic year open on 12 November 2025 at 16:30 GMT and close on 9 December 2025 at 16:00 GMT.
All applications must be submitted online through CSC Central, the official application portal. The CSC does not accept applications or documents submitted by email or any method other than the online system.
Important Application Information
- Candidates must apply for an approved Master’s programme at a participating UK university.
- Applicants may apply to multiple courses/universities but may accept only one scholarship offer.
- Candidates must also meet the university’s admission requirements and secure an offer from the institution.
- Universities will review applicants and submit their nominations to the CSC in March 2026.
CSC Central uses two-factor authentication (2FA), so applicants must have a smartphone or secondary email. The system provides a unique reference number and passcode needed to re-access the form.
Guidance for Applicants
- Begin applications early to avoid system congestion near the deadline.
- Save your progress frequently to avoid data loss.
- Use the system’s navigation buttons rather than browser back buttons.
- Applications cannot be edited after submission.
- Prepare your answers offline and paste them into the final form.
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