The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) administers the UK government’s scholarship program, which is geared toward international development aims.It follows the standards of the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP) and is an excellent example of the United Kingdom’s ongoing commitment to the Commonwealth. The work of the CSC helps people with exceptional talent and identifiable potential from all backgrounds become leaders and innovators when they return home, thereby integrating sustainable development with the UK national interest and providing opportunities for international partnerships and collaboration.

Commonwealth PhD Scholarships are open to applicants from least developed countries (LDCs) and fragile states (DAC) who want to undertake a full-time PhD program at a UK university. International students can apply for the fully financed Commonwealth Scholarship 2025-2026 for master’s and doctoral programs. The Commonwealth Scholarship covers education costs, a monthly living stipend of £1,348 (or £1,690 for students attending universities in the London metropolitan region), return economy flight to the UK, and a variety of grants and allowances for living expenses.

The Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships are funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO). It is meant for talented and motivated students who otherwise wouldn’t have the money to study in the UK. They make it possible for grantees to get the expertise required for sustainable development.

Research with a developmental impact is funded by Commonwealth PhD scholarships, which helps the Commonwealth countries meet their development needs. Intended for people who couldn’t otherwise afford to study in the UK. Additionally, they enhance each person’s ability to teach and conduct research, which boosts institutional capacity in Commonwealth nations’ academic and other sectors. Furthermore, by attracting highly educated overseas applicants and promoting connections and collaboration, they will support UK higher education and research.

Field of Study / Subjects

Applicants can choose any field from the following for masters and Phd program under this scholarship. This resource might be helpful to applicants as they explore the UK universities and courses they want to study.

Duration of Scholarship

Masters degree programs are taught full-time for a year in any subject, and doctoral programs require 36 months of full-time study in a particular research program. 

Scholarship Description / Details

The following benefits are offered to recipients of Commonwealth Scholarships:

For Master’s Applicant:

  •     Authorized Scholar travel to and from their native country in the UK upon completion of the award; the CSC will not cover dependents’ plane tickets or any out-of-country expenditures for travel made before the award is confirmed.
  • Authorized tuition fees: The agreement between the CSC and the UK institution fully covers the permitted tuition expenditures, and scholars are not required to pay any share of them.
  • Monthly stipend of £1,690 for London-based university students (quotations based on current levels) or £1,378 per month (quotations based on current levels).
  • Make allowances for warm clothing when necessary.
  • A study travel grant can assist with the cost of domestic or foreign travel for academic purposes.
  • If a Scholar is a single parent, widowed, divorced, and has children. They will receive a monthly child allowance of £590 for the first child and £146 for the second and third children under the age of sixteen who live in the same household in the United Kingdom.
  • If a Scholar discloses that they are disabled, the CSC will conduct a comprehensive assessment of their needs and eligibility for further financial assistance.
  • The family allowances provided by the CSC are only meant to help with the expenses associated with keeping a Scholar’s family in the UK. It is expected that the actual expenses would be far more, and scholars will need to increase these stipends in order to provide for any family members they bring with them to the UK.

For more information, see the current Handbook for Commonwealth Scholars and Fellows.

For Phd. Applicants

  • Authorized Scholar travel to and from their native country in the UK upon completion of the award; the CSC will not cover dependents’ plane tickets or any out-of-country expenditures for travel made before the award is confirmed.
  • Authorized tuition fees: The agreement between the CSC and the UK institution fully covers the permitted tuition expenditures, and scholars are not required to pay any share of them.
  • Monthly stipend of £1,690 for London-based university students (quotations based on current levels) or £1,378 per month (quotations based on current levels).
  • Make allowances for warm clothing when necessary.
  • A study travel grant can assist with the cost of domestic or foreign travel for academic purposes.
  • Amount, if granted, provided to cover the cost of doing fieldwork overseas (one economy class return ticket to the study site).
  • provided return airfare for the scholar’s midterm visit to their home country, unless the scholar has been awarded a return ticket for fieldwork there, or if the scholar intends to claim allowances for their spouse and/or children while on scholarship.
  • The family allowance rates listed below, provided at the current rates:
  • A spousal stipend of £297 per month, for a maximum of nine months, will be given to a scholar who is traveling with their spouse and does not have children, as long as they both live at the same UK address (unless the spouse is also receiving a scholarship; further conditions also apply).
  •     A scholar is entitled to a monthly payment of £146 for second and third children under 16 years old, £297 for the spouse and the first child (unless the scholar’s spouse is also receiving a scholarship; additional conditions apply) if they are living in the UK with their spouse and kids.
  • If a Scholar is a single parent, widowed, divorced, and has children. They will receive a monthly child allowance of £590 for the first child and £146 for the second and third children under the age of sixteen who live in the same household in the United Kingdom.
  • If a Scholar discloses that they are disabled, the CSC will conduct a comprehensive assessment of their needs and eligibility for further financial assistance.
  • The family allowances provided by the CSC are only meant to help with the expenses associated with keeping a Scholar’s family in the UK. It is expected that the actual expenses would be far more, and scholars will need to increase these stipends in order to provide for any family members they bring with them to the UK.

For more information, see the current Handbook for Commonwealth Scholars and Fellows.

Eligibility Criteria

For Master’s Applicant

Eligibility for these scholarships requires candidates to:

  •     You must be a British Protected Person or a citizen of a Commonwealth nation who has received refugee status.
  •     Possess a permanent residence in a Commonwealth nation that qualifies.
  •     When the academic year in the UK starts in September 2025, get ready to start your studies there.
  •     By September 2025, aim for a first degree with at least an upper second-class (2:1) honors standard, or a lower second-class degree with a relevant postgraduate degree (often a Master’s degree). A second master’s degree is generally not funded by the CSC. A rationale for pursuing this specific course of study must be mentioned in the application for a second Master’s degree.
  •     Without this scholarship, they would be unable to fund their studies in the UK.
  •     Provide required supporting documentation in the appropriate format.

For more details visit this link.

For Phd Applicant

Eligibility for these scholarships requires candidates to:

  •     You must be a British Protected Person or a citizen of a Commonwealth nation who has received refugee status.
  •     Possess a permanent residence in a Commonwealth nation that qualifies.
  •     When the academic year in the UK starts in September 2025, get ready to start your studies there.
  •     By September 2025, aim for a first degree with at least an upper second-class (2:1) honors standard, or a lower second-class degree with a relevant postgraduate degree (often a Master’s degree).
  •     Do not begin an MPhil or PhD program in their own country or at a UK university before September or October 2025.
  •     Require this funding to continue their studies in the UK.
  •     Possess the necessary supporting documentation that is requested in the format.

For more details visit this link.

Host Institutions 

Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships and PhD Scholarships for Least Developed Countries and Fragile States are only open to students enrolling in universities that have signed an MOU with the Commission.

Aberystwyth University, Anglia Ruskin University, Aston University, University of Bradford, University of Brighton, University of Bristol, Bangor University, Keele University, King’s College London, Kingston University, University of Surrey, University of Sussex, Lancaster University, Leeds Beckett University, Brunel University London, Cardiff University, Cardiff Metropolitan University City, University of London, Coventry University, Cranfield University, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, University of Birmingham, University of the West of England, University of the West of Scotland, University of Essex, London School of Economics and Political Science, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Durham University, Harper Adams University, Heriot-Watt University, University of St Andrews, University of Stirling, University College London, University of Aberdeen, Imperial College London, Liverpool Hope University, Loughborough University, Manchester Metropolitan University, Newcastle University, Northumbria University, Nottingham Trent University, Queen Margaret University Queen Mary, University of London, Queen’s University Belfast, Edinburgh Napier University, Falmouth University, Glasgow Caledonian University, University of Plymouth, University of Portsmouth, University of Reading Goldsmiths, University of London, University of Liverpool, University of Manchester, Swansea University, Royal Agricultural University, University of Strathclyde, University of West London, University of Warwick, Royal Veterinary College, University of Chester, University of Dundee, Sheffield Hallam University, Staffordshire University St George’s, University of London, University of Cambridge, University of Central Lancashire, University of East Anglia, University of Edinburgh, The Glasgow School of Art, University of Sheffield, University of Southampton, University of Nottingham, University of Oxford, University of Bath, University of Exeter, University of Glasgow, University of Greenwich, University of Hull, University of Kent, University of Leeds, SOAS, University of London, Robert Gordon University, University of Leicester, University of Lincoln, University of Salford, Birkbeck, University of London, Bishop Grosseteste University, Bournemouth University, University of Westminster, University of Worcester, University of York, Writtle University College

How to Apply / Download Scholarship Form / Documents Required

Please follow these procedures while applying for the Commonwealth Scholarship:

Masters Application Process

Step 1: Apply online.
 You may also apply as a nominator. For additional information, visit the official website.
 Step 2: Applicants must fill out the following information on the application form:

  •     List all of your undergraduate and graduate degrees from universities.
  •     List ten or more awards and publications.
  •     Give a thorough explanation of your work history and how your experience relates to and supports the programme you’re doing in the UK.
  •     Give the names and positions of three references who can attest to the applicant’s capacity to both benefit from and deliver development effect after the proposed UK scholarship. The application must include at least two references, one of whom must be a current employer (if applicable).

Describe the development impact in four sections.

  •     Applicants should describe in the first section how the suggested scholarship relates to:
  •     Global, national, and local development concerns
  •     Developmental concerns pertaining to the selected CSC development theme and the industry at large
  •     The second section should detail their plans for using their newly acquired abilities when the scholarship program concludes.
  •     The third section should include an outline of the expected changes in terms of development that will occur as a result of the Scholarship, along with the intended outcomes, the timeline for implementing them, and the identities of the beneficiaries.
  •     The applicant’s best method for measuring and demonstrating the impact of their effort should be discussed in the fourth section.

Candidates are also requested to:

  •     Verify the goals of each award and the ways in which the Scholarship program will fulfill them.
  •     Verify their goals for their career in the five years after receiving the scholarship.
  •     Verify their long-term professional goals.
  •     Provide a thorough study plan.
  •     Give a brief personal statement summarizing how their upbringing inspired them to wish to have an influence in their native nation. Candidates may want to emphasize any areas in which they have previously made a major impact, such as overcoming obstacles in their community or personal life that prevented them from pursuing higher education or careers in their industry.
  •     Provide a brief summary of their volunteer work and the chances they’ve had to show leadership.

Step 3: Supporting Documents

  •     Any accepting Commonwealth country will accept as proof of citizenship or refugee status a valid passport (or national ID card) bearing the bearer’s photograph, birthdate, and country of citizenship.
  •     Full transcripts attesting to any degrees obtained from higher education, including transcripts for any courses completed thus far, together with certified translations in the event that the original language is not English. If any transcripts are missing pages or are incomplete, the application will be denied.
  •     References from two or more persons, in an email with the sender’s information clearly visible, in PDF format, and signed on formal letterhead.

For more details visit this official website.

Phd Application Process

Step 1: Applications must be submitted online. 

You can also apply as a nominator. For more details visit the official website.

Step 2: Applicants must complete the following on the application form:

  •     List all of your undergraduate and graduate degrees from universities.
  •     List ten or more awards and publications.
  •     Give a thorough explanation of your work history and how your experience relates to and supports the programme you’re doing in the UK.
  •     Give the names and positions of three references who can attest to the applicant’s capacity to both benefit from and deliver development effect after the proposed UK scholarship. The application must include at least two references, one of whom must be a current employer (if applicable).

Describe the development impact in four sections.

  •     Applicants should describe in the first section how the suggested scholarship relates to:
  •     Global, national, and local development concerns
  •     Developmental concerns pertaining to the selected CSC development theme and the industry at large
  •     The second section should detail their plans for using their newly acquired abilities when the scholarship program concludes.
  •     The third section should include an outline of the expected changes in terms of development that will occur as a result of the Scholarship, along with the intended outcomes, the timeline for implementing them, and the identities of the beneficiaries.
  •     The applicant’s best method for measuring and demonstrating the impact of their effort should be discussed in the fourth section.

Candidates are also requested to:

  •     Verify the goals of each award and the ways in which the Scholarship program will fulfill them.
  •     Verify their goals for their career in the five years after receiving the scholarship.
  •     Verify their long-term professional goals.
  •     Provide a thorough study plan.
  •     Give a brief personal statement summarizing how their upbringing inspired them to wish to have an influence in their native nation. Candidates may want to emphasize any areas in which they have previously made a major impact, such as overcoming obstacles in their community or personal life that prevented them from pursuing higher education or careers in their industry.
  •     Provide a brief summary of their volunteer work and the chances they’ve had to show leadership.

Step 3: Supporting Documents

  •     Any accepting Commonwealth country will accept as proof of citizenship or refugee status a valid passport (or national ID card) bearing the bearer’s photograph, birthdate, and country of citizenship.
  •     Full transcripts attesting to any degrees obtained from higher education, including transcripts for any courses completed thus far, together with certified translations in the event that the original language is not English. If any transcripts are missing pages or are incomplete, the application will be denied.
  •     References from two or more persons, in an email with the sender’s information clearly visible, in PDF format, and signed on formal letterhead.
  •     A letter of recommendation, in PDF format, signed by a prospective supervisor in the UK from at least one of the universities indicated on the application, on institutional letterhead or in an email that is readily visible to the sender and includes the sender’s contact information.

For more details visit this official website.

Selection process and criteria

The following selection criteria will be applied to master’s and doctoral applications:

  •     Academic excellence
  •     Research proposal quality
  •     Potential influence on the candidate’s native country’s growth

For further details, see the Commonwealth Scholarships selection criteria.

Contact us

Reporting a complaint

 To file a complaint, please email us at complaints@cscuk.org.uk
Please review the CSC Complaints Policy and Procedure before contacting us.
 Report Fraud, Bribery, or Corruption

 Please report fraud, bribery, or corruption to us at fraud@cscuk.org.uk
Prior to contacting us, please review the CSC Anti-Fraud, Bribery and Corruption Policy Procedure

In case of emergency fill this form.

Last Date to Apply / Deadline

The application deadline is October 15, 2024, at 16:00 BST (15:00 GMT). Scholarship recipients must begin their studies in the UK in September or October of 2025.

Official Website

Visit the official website.

https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/scholarships/commonwealth-masters-scholarships/

https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/scholarships/commonwealth-phd-scholarships-for-least-developed-countries-and-vulnerable-states/