Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships 2025/2026 (Full-Time Study)

Applications are now open for the 2025/2026 Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships, with a deadline of 15 October 2024. The Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship is one of three Master’s programmes offered by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) in the UK. The CSC administers the UK government scholarship scheme, which supports international development goals and operates under the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP). This initiative highlights the UK’s commitment to education within the Commonwealth.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for the Commonwealth Master’s scholarship, applicants must:

• Be a citizen of or hold refugee status in an eligible Commonwealth country, or be a British Protected Person.
• Be a permanent resident of an eligible Commonwealth country.
• Be available to start their academic studies in the UK by September 2025.
• Hold a first degree with at least upper second-class (2:1) honours or a lower second-class degree with a relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a Master’s degree) by September 2025. The CSC does not generally fund second Master’s degrees unless a strong justification is provided.
• Demonstrate financial need, showing that they would be unable to study in the UK without this scholarship.
• Provide all supporting documents in the required format.

Financial Support

The scholarship covers:

• Approved airfare from the Scholar’s home country to the UK and return at the end of the award (dependants’ travel costs are not included).
• Full tuition fees, which are paid directly to the UK university by the CSC.
• A monthly living allowance of £1,378, or £1,690 for those studying in London.
• A warm clothing allowance, if applicable.
• A study travel grant for travel related to the scholar’s studies within the UK or abroad.
• A child allowance of £590 per month for the first child and £146 per month for the second and third children under 16, for scholars who are widowed, divorced, or single parents, if their children live with them in the UK.

Required Documents

Applicants must submit the following with their application:

• Proof of citizenship or refugee status, such as a valid passport or national ID card showing photo, date of birth, and nationality.
• Full academic transcripts for all higher education qualifications, including current courses, with certified translations if not in English. Applications with incomplete or missing transcripts will be considered ineligible.
• Signed references from at least two individuals, either on institutional letterhead or sent from an email clearly showing the sender’s details.

Completing the Application Form

In the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship application form, applicants must:

• List all undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications obtained.
• Provide details of up to 10 publications and awards.
• Detail their employment history and explain how their experience is relevant to the programme they intend to undertake in the UK.
• List the names and positions of three referees qualified to comment on their suitability for the scholarship and their potential to contribute to development after their studies. One referee should be a current employer (if applicable), and at least two references must be included in the application.
• Submit a four-part Development Impact statement.

Application Process

Applicants should submit their Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship applications as early as possible, as the online system becomes very busy closer to the deadline. In addition to applying to the CSC, applicants must apply through a nominator.

There are two types of nominators for the Master’s programme:

1. National nominating agencies – the primary application route.
2. Selected non-governmental organisations and charitable bodies.

For more details, visit the official webpage of the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships.