Commonwealth Master's Scholarships 2027: Fully Funded Scholarships in UK

Commonwealth Master's Scholarships 2027/28 provide fully funded opportunities for talented citizens of eligible low- and middle-income Commonwealth countries to pursue full-time taught Master's degrees at approved universities in the United Kingdom.

The scholarships are funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) through the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC). They are designed for candidates who have the academic ability and potential to contribute to sustainable development in their home countries but who could not otherwise afford to study in the UK.

For the 2027/28 academic year, applications are open for Master's study beginning in September or October 2027. The CSC application deadline is 20 October 2026 at 16:00 BST. Applicants must also apply through an eligible nominating agency, which may have an earlier deadline.

The Commonwealth Master's Scholarships are offered under six CSC development themes and are intended to produce graduates who can use their knowledge and skills to create development impact after returning home.

The Commonwealth Master's Scholarship provides comprehensive financial support for successful scholars.

Benefits include:

• Full approved tuition fees
• Monthly living allowance of £1,712
• Monthly living allowance of £2,000 for scholars studying at universities in the London metropolitan area
• Approved airfare from the scholar's home country to the UK
• Return airfare at the end of the scholarship
• Study travel grant for approved study-related travel within the UK or overseas
• Additional financial support for eligible scholars with disabilities
• Child allowance for eligible scholars who are widowed, divorced or single parents and have dependent children living with them in the UK

The CSC currently lists the stipend rates above as its current rates; applicants should check the scholarship conditions for any updated rate applicable to the 2027/28 award.

There is no fixed subject list for Commonwealth Master's Scholarships.

The CSC states that there are no restrictions on the subject of study as long as the proposed study relates to one of the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission's development themes. Applicants are also required to connect their proposed study and potential impact to one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The six CSC development themes are:

• Science and technology for development
• Strengthening health systems and capacity
• Promoting global prosperity
• Strengthening global peace, security and governance
• Strengthening resilience and response to crises
• Access, inclusion and opportunity

Accordingly, applicants may pursue Master's degrees across a broad range of academic disciplines, including:

• Agriculture
• Agricultural Sciences
• Artificial Intelligence
• Architecture
• Biotechnology
• Business and Management
• Climate Science
• Computer Science
• Data Science
• Economics
• Education
• Engineering
• Environmental Sciences
• Finance
• Food Science
• Health Sciences
• Information Technology
• International Development
• International Relations
• Law
• Mathematics
• Medicine and Public Health
• Natural Sciences
• Nursing
• Political Science
• Public Administration
• Public Health
• Renewable Energy
• Social Sciences
• Sustainable Development
• Technology
• Telecommunications
• Water and Environmental Management

The specific Master's course must be approved and available through an eligible UK university or institution participating in the Commonwealth Scholarship programme.

Applicants must be citizens of, or have refugee status in, an eligible Commonwealth country and must be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country.

For the 2027/28 Commonwealth Master's Scholarship, the CSC currently lists:

Bangladesh, Belize, Botswana, Dominica, Eswatini, Fiji, Gabon, The Gambia, 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, Togo, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia.

Applicants for the Commonwealth Master's Scholarships 2027/28 must generally:

• Be a citizen of or have been granted refugee status by an eligible Commonwealth country, or be a British Protected Person.
• Be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country.
• Be available to begin academic study in the UK in September 2027.
• By September 2027, hold a first degree equivalent to at least a UK upper second-class (2:1) Honours standard.
• Applicants with a lower second-class degree may be considered if they also hold a relevant postgraduate qualification, usually a Master's degree.
• Be unable to afford to study in the UK without the scholarship.
• Provide all required supporting documentation in the specified format.
• Meet any additional requirements established by the relevant nominating agency.

There is no age limit for CSC applications.

The CSC normally prefers applicants who have not previously completed a Master's degree and will not normally fund a second Master's degree. Applicants seeking a second Master's must provide a strong justification. Anyone who has already studied at Master's level at a UK institution or has already received a Commonwealth Master's Scholarship is not eligible.

All Commonwealth Scholars are expected to return to their home country after the scholarship and contribute to its development.

Applicants must upload all required supporting documents through the CSC Central application system.

Required documents include:

• Valid passport or national identity document showing photograph, date of birth and citizenship.
• Full transcripts of all higher education qualifications.
• Current transcripts for qualifications still in progress.
• Certified English translations where transcripts are not in English.
• At least two reference letters.
• References must be signed and provided on institutional letterhead or through an email that clearly identifies the referee.
• Other information and documents required by the application form.

Applicants should prepare their documents carefully because the CSC states that applications missing required documentation by the deadline will be considered ineligible. Supporting documents cannot be submitted by email or post.

The application also requires applicants to provide information about:

• Undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications
• Up to 10 publications and prizes
• Employment history
• Three referees
• Development impact
• Study plan
• Personal background
• Voluntary activities
• Leadership experience
• Five-year career plans
• Long-term career plans

The Commonwealth Master's Scholarship application involves both the CSC and a nominating agency.

Applicants should:

• Check that their country is eligible.
• Identify an eligible taught Master's programme at an approved UK university.
• Research up to three preferred UK universities and courses.
• Apply for admission to the preferred UK university or universities.
• Identify the appropriate Commonwealth nominating agency for their country.
• Check the nominating agency's own eligibility requirements and deadline.
• Create an account in the CSC Central application system.
• Complete the Commonwealth Master's Scholarship application.
• Prepare the Development Impact statement.
• Provide details of academic qualifications, employment, leadership and voluntary activities.
• Upload the required transcripts and identification documents.
• Upload at least two references.
• Submit the CSC application by 20 October 2026 at 16:00 BST.
• Complete the separate nominating-agency process by its own deadline.
• Wait for the nomination and CSC selection process.

The CSC does not accept direct applications for the Commonwealth Master's Scholarship. Candidates must apply to a participating nominating agency as well as completing the CSC application.

Important Dates

For the Commonwealth Master's Scholarships 2027/28:

• Application opening: 8 September 2026
• CSC application deadline: 20 October 2026
• Closing time: 16:00 BST
• Nominating agencies submit nominations: By December 2026
• Expected scholarship outcome: By July 2027
• Study begins in the UK: September/October 2027

Nominating agencies may set earlier deadlines, so applicants should not wait until the CSC deadline if their national agency closes applications earlier.

Commonwealth Master's Scholarship applications are assessed competitively.

The CSC's main selection criteria include:

• Candidate merit, including academic experience
• Quality of the proposed study/research plan
• Potential development impact on the applicant's home country

Applicants should clearly connect their proposed Master's study with development needs and explain how they intend to use their new skills after returning home.

The CSC also considers applicants' personal circumstances and is committed to widening access to candidates from disadvantaged and marginalised backgrounds.

Being nominated by a national agency does not guarantee that an applicant will receive a scholarship. Final selection is made from the pool of nominations.

Nominating Agencies

The Commonwealth Master's Scholarship is not a purely direct scholarship application.

The main route is through national nominating agencies. Selected NGOs and charitable organisations can also nominate candidates.

Nominating agencies conduct their own selection processes and may have additional requirements or earlier deadlines. Candidates must therefore satisfy both the CSC requirements and the requirements of their nominating agency.

For Pakistan, the CSC's current national nominating agency information lists the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training. The CSC instructs applicants using the online system to select the relevant Pakistan nominating-agency option shown in the application.