Commonwealth Scholarship

Study Abroad Course Specialist | Updated 3+ months ago

The Commonwealth Scholarship is an international program for students from Commonwealth countries Bangladesh, Belize, Botswana, Cameroon, Dominica, Eswatini, Fiji, Gabon, 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, The Gambia, Togo, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia. Students from India can use this scholarship to study in three countries—New Zealand, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. However, it is most popular for studying in the UK.

This scholarship can be taken for master’s or doctorate programs in universities in the UK, Singapore, and other participating countries. Financial support is given only for the official duration of the degree. Extra semesters will not be covered.

Most scholarships are fully funded which means that, as well as covering your tuition fees, you will also receive your airfare to and from the UK and a living allowance to support you while you are here. This is a great chance for students to study at world-class universities and build a successful future.

Read More: Popular Scholarships in UK

Highlights

Scholarship Type	Merit-Based
Offered by	Corporate
Organization	N/A
Application Deadline	Aug 22 ,2025
Number of Scholarships	175
Amount	₹125,109 ($1,347)
Renewability	No
International Student Eligible	Yes
Scholarship Website Link	http://cscuk.dfid.gov.uk/

Eligibility Criteria

To apply for the Commonwealth Scholarship, you must meet certain academic, citizenship, and financial requirements. The criteria vary slightly for Master’s and PhD programs

Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships

To apply for the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship, you must:

Be a citizen of, or have refugee status in, an eligible Commonwealth country, or be a British-Protected Person.
Live permanently in an eligible Commonwealth country.
Be ready to start studies in the UK by September 2026.
Hold a first degree with at least upper second-class (2:1) honors, or a lower second-class degree with a relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a Master’s).
Not applying for a second Master’s. If you are, you must explain why.
Applicants should be able to provide proof regarding financial inability of arranging funds.
Provide all required documents in the correct format.
Disabled applicants who do not meet the 2:1 requirement may still be considered through a special nomination process.

Required documents:

Proof of citizenship or refugee status (passport or national ID).
Full academic transcripts (with translations if not in English).
Two references in PDF format, signed and on institutional letterhead or showing sender details.

Commonwealth PhD Scholarships

To apply for the Commonwealth PhD Scholarship, you must:

Be a citizen of, or have refugee status in, an eligible Commonwealth country, or be a British-Protected Person.
Live permanently in an eligible Commonwealth country.
Be ready to start studies in the UK by September 2026.
Hold a first degree with at least upper second-class (2:1) honors, or a lower second-class degree with a relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a Master’s).
Not already be registered for a PhD or MPhil leading to a PhD in the UK or your home country before September/October 2026.
Applicants should be able to provide proof regarding financial inability of arranging funds.
Provide all required documents in the correct format.
Disabled applicants who do not meet the 2:1 requirement may still be considered through a special nomination process.

Required documents:

Proof of citizenship or refugee status (passport or national ID).
Full academic transcripts (with translations if not in English).
Two references in PDF format, signed and on institutional letterhead or showing sender details.
A supporting statement from a proposed UK supervisor, signed and on institutional letterhead or showing sender details.

Application Process

The applications for Commonwealth Scholarships will open on 2nd September 2025 for 2025-26 academic year.

How to Apply?
- Submit your application via CSC Central (online system only).
- Prepare answers offline and paste them into the form.
Apply to a Nominator:
- Two types:
  - National nominating agencies (main route)
  - Selected NGOs/charitable bodies
- Each nominator has its own rules, deadlines, and eligibility criteria.
Nomination Process:
- Nominators send their selected candidates to the CSC by December 2025.
- Nomination does not guarantee selection.
Results:
- Final outcome by July 2026 via email.
- Check all folders, including spam/junk.
- Offers may be withdrawn if not accepted in time.

Selection Process

Applications are assessed on three main areas:

Academic Merit:
- Primary: Exam results, academic transcripts, referee reports.
- Secondary: Academic awards, other achievements, publications.
Quality of Study/Research Plans:
- For PhD: Clear research abstract, well-researched work plan, relevance to field and development policy, engagement with host supervisor.
- For Master’s: Clear study objectives, strong link between course and goals, well-researched institution and program.
- Secondary: Clarity, feasibility, existing admission offer (for Master’s); likelihood of completion (for PhD).
Development Impact:
- Primary: Link between study and development in home country, expected outcomes, application of skills, potential beneficiaries.
- Secondary: Reference to national priorities, CSC themes, measurable impact, past commitment to development work.

Grant Details

Commonwealth Scholarships offer full financial support to help students from Commonwealth countries study in UK without financial stress. Following are the Grant Details of Commonwealth Scholarship award:

Airfare: One approved return ticket from home country to the UK.
Tuition Fees: Fully covered by agreement between CSC and the UK university.
Stipend: £1,452 (INR 1.72 Lakhs)/month or £1,781 (INR 2.11 Lakhs)/month (London universities).
Warm Clothing Allowance: Where applicable.
Study Travel Grant: For study-related travel in the UK or overseas.
Fieldwork Grant: Cost of one economy airfare to fieldwork location (if approved).
Mid-Term Visit: Paid airfare to home country (conditions apply).
Family Allowances:
- Spouse (no children): £313 (INR 37,075)/month (max 9 months).
- Spouse + Children: £313 (INR 37,075)/month for spouse, £313 (INR 37,075)/month for first child, £154 (INR 18,241)/month for second and third child (under 16).
- Single Parent: £622 (INR 73,678)/month for first child, £154 (INR 18,241)/month for second and third child (under 16).
Disability Support: Full assessment and additional financial support, if eligible.