Applications are now open for the highly regarded Commonwealth Shared Scholarships for the 2025-2026 academic year intake, act fast!
The Commonwealth Shared Scholarships are prestigious awards aimed at supporting talented students from developing Commonwealth countries to pursue Master's degree studies in the UK. These scholarships are designed to foster sustainable development by enabling students to gain the knowledge and skills needed to contribute to their home countries' growth. The program is jointly funded by the UK government's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and UK universities.
Commonwealth Shared Scholarships Programme Summary
• Host Country: United Kingdom
• Host Institution(s): Various UK universities
• Funding: Full tuition fees, monthly stipend, travel costs, and other allowances
• Eligibility:
Citizens of Commonwealth countries,
Refugee status in a Commonwealth country, or
British Protected Person;
permanent residency in Commonwealth country;
Upper second class (2:1) or lower second class (2:2) with a relevant postgraduate qualification;
English language proficiency;
Not studied or worked in a high-income country for one year or more
• Application Deadline: December 12, 2024
• Study Fields: Various Master's degree courses in fields such as health, education, science and technology, and more
Intended beneficiaries
High-quality postgraduate students from Least Developed and middle-income countries (including fragile and conflict affected states), who have not studied for a year or more in a high-income country before, who would not otherwise afford to study in the UK, and who have the potential to enhance the development of their home countries with the knowledge and leadership skills they acquire.
Financial assistance
Commonwealth Shared Scholarships are jointly funded by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) and participating UK universities.
Each scholarship provides:
Approved airfare from the Scholar’s home country to the UK and return at the end of the award
Approved tuition fees: full fees are covered by agreement between the CSC and the UK university, and scholars are not liable to pay for any part of the tuition fee.
Stipend (living allowance): at the rate of £1,378 per month, or £1,690 per month for those at universities in the London metropolitan area (rates quoted at current levels)
Warm clothing allowance: where applicable – paid and funded by the university.
Thesis grant: towards the cost of preparing a thesis or dissertation, where applicable – paid by the university.
Study travel grant: towards the cost of study-related travel within the UK or overseas – paid by the university
Contribution towards the cost of a mandatory tuberculosis (TB) test, where required for a visa application (receipts must be supplied) – paid by the university, funded by the CSC.
Additional Benefits
If a Scholar has children and is widowed, divorced, or a single parent, child allowance of child allowance of £590 per month for the first child, and £146 per month for the second and third child under the age of 16, if their children are living with them at the same address .
If a Scholar shares that they have a disability, a full assessment of their needs and eligibility for additional financial support will be offered by the CSC.
ℹ️ For more information, see the current Handbook for Commonwealth Scholars.
Applicant eligibility
To be considered for these scholarships, applicants must:
Be a citizen of or have been granted refugee status by an eligible Commonwealth country.
Be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country.
There is no age limit for CSC applications
Be available to start academic studies in the UK by the start of the UK academic year in September 2025.
By September 2025, hold a first degree of at least upper second-class (2:1) honours standard, or a lower second-class degree and a relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a Master’s degree).
Not have studied or worked for more than one (academic) year or more in a high-income country
Be unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship.
Have provided all supporting documentation in the required format.
Eligible Study Courses and Participating Universities
During their applications, Applicants must apply to study an approved Master’s course at a participating UK university.
View full list of approved courses
View details of all participating UK universities
Applicants can apply for more than one course and to more than one university, however they may only accept one offer of a Shared Scholarship. Note these scholarships are only for Master’s courses and not for undergraduate or PhD study.
Choosing a university/course
Before starting their applications, students are advised to refere to this webpage and click on 'Choosing a university/course', there you can find useful resources when researching your choices of institution and course of study in the UK
Application Procedure
The application process for the Commonwealth Shared Scholarships 2025 involves several steps:
1. Choose a Course and University
Identify a Master's course at a participating UK university and ensure you meet the course-specific requirements.
2. Apply to the University
Submit your application for admission to the chosen university. Make sure to indicate your interest in applying for a Commonwealth Shared Scholarship.
3. Complete the Online Application
Use the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission's online application system to submit your scholarship application. This system will require you to upload supporting documents, such as proof of citizenship, academic transcripts, and a personal statement.
💡 Refer to this webpage and click on 'Completing the application form' tab for a complete guide on how to fill the application form.
4. Submit Supporting Documents
Ensure you include all necessary documents, such as a valid passport, full transcripts, study plan, and proof of English language proficiency..
5. University Nomination
Universities will nominate their chosen candidates to the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in March 2024.
6. Selection Process
The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission will review applications and select scholars based on their eligibility and potential to contribute to sustainable development in their home countries.
Applications will be considered according to the following selection criteria:
Academic merit
Quality of research proposal
Potential impact on the development of the candidate’s come country
ℹ️ For further details, see the Commonwealth Scholarships selection criteria.
7. Notification
Successful candidates will be notified and will receive guidance on the next steps, including visa application and travel arrangements.
🗓️ Application Deadline: Thursday 12 December at 16:00 GMT.
Advice for applicants
Applicants can find general information about applying for a Commonwealth Scholarship on our advice for applicants page.
Please read and complete the Shared Scholarships eligibility checklist before submitting your application.
ℹ️ For extra information, visit the official website of Commonwealth Shared Scholarships by clicking button below.
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