The Commonwealth Shared Scholarships are designed for individuals from the least developed and lower-middle-income countries within the Commonwealth, offering full-time Master’s degree opportunities in select fields.
These scholarships, which are jointly supported by UK universities, are not available for undergraduate studies, PhD programs, or any pre-sessional English language courses.
Participating Institutions:
The scholarships are available at various UK universities that participate in the program.
Fields of Study:
The scholarships are offered under six key themes:
- Access, inclusion, and opportunity
- Promoting global prosperity
- Science and technology for development
- Strengthening global peace, security, and governance
- Strengthening health systems and capacity
- Enhancing resilience and crisis response
For 2025, applicants can view the list of eligible courses under these themes.
Number of Scholarships:
The exact number of scholarships available is not specified.
Eligible Countries:
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These scholarships are open to nationals from Commonwealth countries that are classified as least developed or lower-middle-income. The eligible countries include:
- Bangladesh, Cameroon, Eswatini, The Gambia, Ghana, India, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia.
Value and Duration:
The Commonwealth Shared Scholarships cover the following:
- Full tuition and examination fees
- Approved airfare to and from the UK
- A monthly stipend of £1,378, or £1,690 for those studying at universities in London
- Warm clothing and thesis allowances
- Study and excess baggage grants
These scholarships typically last for one year.
Eligibility Criteria:
To apply for the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Be a citizen or a refugee status holder of an eligible Commonwealth country or a British Protected Person
- Be a permanent resident of a developing Commonwealth country
- Be available to start studies in the UK by September 2025
- Hold a first degree of at least upper second class (2:1) or a lower second class degree with a relevant postgraduate qualification
- Not have worked or studied for one academic year or more in a developed country
- Be financially unable to study in the UK without the scholarship
- Submit all required supporting documentation in the correct format
Application Process:
Applicants must apply to a participating UK university for an eligible Master’s course and secure admission before applying for the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship. The application process requires submission through the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission’s (CSC) online system, in addition to the application required by the chosen university. All applications must be submitted by 16:00 (GMT) on December 12, 2024. Be sure to verify each university’s admission deadlines.
For More Information:
Detailed information on the application process can be found on the official Commonwealth Scholarship website.
Official Website: Commonwealth Shared Scholarships