Commonwealth Master's and PhD Scholarships for Developing Commonwealth Countries (DFID)

Commonwealth Master's and PhD Scholarships fund students from developing Commonwealth countries to study in the UK. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides the funding. The awards cover tuition, a monthly stipend, airfare and other costs. PhD scholarships support research that addresses development needs in Commonwealth countries.

• Host: UK Universities
• Level: Master's or PhD
• Study destination: United Kingdom
• Deadline: 20 October 2026, 16:00 BST (15:00 GMT)
• Awards: Not specified
• Coverage: Airfare, tuition and examination fees, stipend, study travel grant, warm clothing allowance, among others
• Start date: September 2027

UK Universities

Eligible Master's degree or PhD programme at a UK University

Not specified

You must be a citizen of or have been granted refugee status by an eligible Commonwealth country:

Commonwealth Masters Scholarships:

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, and Zambia

Commonwealth PhD Scholarships:

Bangladesh, Cameroon, The Gambia, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Pakistan, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, Zambia

Each scholarship provides airfare to and from the United Kingdom, tuition and examination fees, a stipend (at the current rate of £1,378 per month, or £1,690 per month for those at universities in the London metropolitan area), a study travel grant, a warm clothing allowance, among others.

To apply for both Commonwealth Masters and PhD scholarships, you must:

• 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 start your academic studies (Masters or PhD) in the UK by the start of the UK academic year in September 2027.
• By September 2027, hold a first degree of at least upper second class (2:1) honours standard, or a lower second-class degree and a relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a Master's degree).
• The CSC would not normally fund a second UK Master's degree. If you are applying for a second UK Master's degree, you will need to provide justification as to why you wish to undertake this study.
• Be unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship.
• Have provided all supporting documentation in the required format.

Applications open 8 September 2026.

The CSC does not accept direct applications for these scholarships. All applications must be made through one of these nominating bodies: national nominating agencies (this is the main route of application) or selected non-governmental organisations and charitable bodies. For Commonwealth PhD Scholarships, applicants can also be nominated by Selected universities/university bodies – which can nominate their own academic staff.

Each nominating body is responsible for its own selection process. You must check with your nominating body for their specific advice and rules for applying, their own eligibility criteria, and their own closing date for applications.

You must make your application using the CSC's Electronic Application System (EAS), in addition to any other application form that you are required to complete by your nominating body. All applications must be submitted by 20 October 2026, 16:00 BST (15:00 GMT) at the latest.

It is important to visit the official website (link found below) to access the EAS system and for detailed information on how to apply for this scholarship.

• Who can apply for these scholarships? Citizens of eligible Commonwealth countries, or those granted refugee status by one, and British Protected Persons. You must be permanently resident in an eligible country and unable to afford UK study without the award.
• What does the scholarship cover? Airfare to and from the UK, tuition and examination fees, a monthly stipend (£1,378, or £1,690 in the London metropolitan area), a study travel grant, a warm clothing allowance, among others.
• When is the deadline? All applications must be submitted by 20 October 2026, 16:00 BST (15:00 GMT). Applications open 8 September 2026.
• How do I apply? You must apply through a nominating body, such as a national nominating agency, an NGO, or for PhDs a selected university. You also need to use the CSC's Electronic Application System (EAS).
• Do I need to be accepted by a UK university first? You must be available to start your studies in the UK by September 2027. Check with your nominating body for their specific requirements.

• Read the official guidelines on the CSC website carefully before you start.
• Contact your nominating body early to learn their rules, criteria, and closing date.
• Prepare your supporting documents in the required format well before the deadline.
• Check whether you meet the academic and residency conditions before applying.
• Submit your EAS application and any nominating body forms before the deadline.