About this opportunity
The Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships 2027/28 give talented graduates from eligible low and middle income Commonwealth countries the chance to study a full-time taught Master’s degree at a United Kingdom university. The programme is funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and administered by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK, commonly known as the CSC, under the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan.
This is a development scholarship, not simply a tuition award. The CSC is looking for people whose chosen course connects to one of its six development themes and who can show how the knowledge, skills and networks gained in the UK will be put to work when they return home. Academic merit, financial need, leadership potential and a realistic plan for contributing to your country all carry weight in the selection.
Two things are worth understanding early. First, this is an agency nominated scholarship, so you apply both through the CSC online system and through an approved nominating agency in your country, and agencies often set earlier internal deadlines than the CSC does. Second, the scholarship does not fund MBAs or research-based Master’s programmes, so confirm that your chosen course is an eligible taught programme before you invest time in the application.
Applications opened on 8 September 2026 and the CSC closing
Application timeline
is 20 October 2026 at 16:00 British Summer Time. Successful candidates are expected to begin their studies in September or October 2027, with results expected in July 2027.
What you receive
- Full funding for a full-time taught Master’s degree at a UK university
- Support covering tuition fees, as set out in the official CSC guidance for the application year
- Living and maintenance support during the period of study
- Travel arrangements to and from the United Kingdom
- Allowances and other approved expenses where applicable
- Study in a programme aligned to one of the six CSC development themes
- Membership of a wider Commonwealth network of scholars, alumni, institutions and development partners
Who can apply
- Be a citizen of an eligible Commonwealth country, hold refugee status granted by an eligible Commonwealth country, or be a British Protected Person
- Be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country
- Normally hold a first degree of at least upper second-class honours standard, commonly a 2:1, or a lower second-class degree together with a relevant postgraduate qualification such as a Master’s degree
- Be unable to afford postgraduate study in the United Kingdom without this scholarship
- Be available to begin academic study in the UK at the start of the 2027 academic year in September or October 2027
- Come from a country listed by the CSC as eligible for the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships, checked against the current list
- Meet any additional requirements and internal deadlines set by your national nominating agency
Who should not apply
- MBAs are not funded by this scholarship programme
- Research-based Master’s programmes are not funded, only taught Master’s programmes are supported
- Applicants who cannot begin study in the UK in September or October 2027 may not be able to take up the award
- A nomination is not a scholarship award, and a university offer does not guarantee the scholarship
- Temporary residence, study residence or a short-term stay in an eligible country may not satisfy the permanent residence requirement
- Applications cannot be edited after submission, and late applications may not be accepted
Documents to prepare
- Academic certificates
- University transcripts
- Evidence of degree classification
- Curriculum vitae or resume
- Personal statement
- Study or development impact statement
- Proof of citizenship
- Proof of permanent residence
- Passport or identity document
- Evidence of English language proficiency, if required
- University course information
- University admission application details
- Employment or professional experience information
- Details of publications, awards or leadership activities
How to apply
- Read the official Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships information on the CSC website and confirm your country is on the current eligible-country list
- Identify the national nominating agency for your country, or an approved non-governmental nominating body, and check its requirements, submission method and internal deadline
- Research eligible full-time taught Master’s programmes at UK universities and confirm they align with one of the six CSC development themes
- Prepare your academic, personal and professional documents, keeping names, dates and qualifications consistent across everything you submit
- Create an account on the CSC Central online application system at https://portal.csccentralonline.org.uk/application
- Complete the CSC application form carefully, saving regularly with the system save function and using the on-screen navigation buttons rather than the browser back button
- Upload all required supporting documentation and submit before 20 October 2026 at 16:00 BST
- Complete the separate application process required by your nominating agency, which may close earlier than the CSC deadline
- Apply for admission to your chosen UK university and programme as early as possible, since the scholarship application and university admission are connected but separate
- Monitor your email for updates from the CSC and your nominating agency, and start the application at https://portal.csccentralonline.org.uk/application
Selection process
- Applications are reviewed for eligibility and completeness, and incomplete applications or applications missing required supporting documents may not be considered
- Academic merit is assessed through academic records, degree classifications and relevant qualifications, and the ability to succeed in postgraduate study
- Development impact is assessed by how clearly the proposed course connects to a development challenge and to the applicant’s future plans
- Leadership potential is assessed through concrete examples from community initiatives, research, professional responsibilities, volunteering, youth development, entrepreneurship, public service, advocacy or educational work
- Commitment to home-country development is assessed through the applicant’s stated plans to apply the training after completing the scholarship
- Financial circumstances are considered because the programme is aimed at candidates who could not otherwise afford UK study
- Nominating agencies submit their candidates in December 2026 and the CSC runs its selection process after that
- Successful candidates are expected to be notified in July 2027
Sources and verification
- Official source , Discovered by the opportunity automation module.
Questions applicants ask
When does the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships 2027/28 round close?
The CSC closing deadline is 20 October 2026 at 16:00 British Summer Time. Applications opened on 8 September 2026.
Does my nominating agency have the same deadline?
Not necessarily. Nominating agencies may set their own internal deadlines, which can be earlier than the CSC deadline. An applicant who misses the agency deadline may not be considered even if the CSC portal is still open.
Can I apply for an MBA?
No. The CSC’s guidance indicates that the programme does not fund MBAs or research-based Master’s programmes, only full-time taught Master’s programmes.
Do I need to apply to a UK university as well?
Yes. The scholarship application and university admission are connected but separate processes. The CSC advises applicants to seek admission at the time of, or as soon as possible after, submitting the scholarship application.
Does being nominated mean I have the scholarship?
No. A nomination is not an award. The CSC reviews nominated applications and runs its own selection process, with results expected in July 2027.
Can I edit my application after submitting it?
No. Submitted applications cannot be edited, so check every field and upload before you submit.
Is Small Island Developing States applicant status given any priority?
The CSC has indicated that it particularly welcomes applications from Small Island Developing States, in line with commitments associated with the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
Important disclaimer
Nextali researches and curates useful opportunities to make discovery easier. Before applying, verify every timeline, requirement, fee and application link on the official provider website. Do your own research into the organisation, its background and the authenticity of the offer. Nextali does not guarantee selection, funding or the conduct of third party providers.
