Top 10 Commonwealth Scholarships for Commonwealth Countries

Commonwealth Scholarships are funded through the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP). Under this plan, member countries offer awards to citizens of other member countries, so students from developing or developed Commonwealth countries can study in other developed or developing member countries. Some universities also run their own scholarships aimed at Commonwealth students. Not every Commonwealth country offers these awards, and not every award is open to every Commonwealth country. A list of current countries offering Commonwealth Scholarships is available.

Commonwealth Scholarships »

UK Commonwealth Scholarships for Developing Commonwealth Countries
These awards are for students from developing Commonwealth countries who want to do a Master's or PhD in the UK. The UK Department for International Development (DFID) funds them. Each scholarship covers airfare to and from the UK, tuition and examination fees, a personal maintaining allowance, a thesis grant (if applicable), an initial arrival allowance, and other items.

Commonwealth Shared Scholarships Scheme at UK Universities
These Master's awards in the UK are for citizens of developing Commonwealth countries who could not otherwise afford to study in the UK. Each scholarship provides approved tuition and examination fees, approved airfare from your home country to the UK and back at the end of your award, a stipend, a thesis grant, a warm clothing allowance, a study travel grant, and an excess baggage allowance.

Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships
These scholarships let candidates from developing Commonwealth countries study Master's degree courses. The courses are either offered in partnership with universities in developing countries or delivered directly by UK institutions.

Commonwealth Scholarships in UK for Developed Commonwealth Countries
Citizens of developed Commonwealth countries can apply for these awards for PhD and split-site (PhD) study in the UK. The UK Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and the Scottish Government fund them together with UK universities. Each scholarship includes tuition and examination fees, a maintenance allowance, airfare costs, an initial arrival allowance, and other items.

Commonwealth Scholarships in Low and Middle Income Countries
These awards are available through the CSFP endowment fund, established in 2009. They allow citizens of Commonwealth countries to pursue Master's level study in low and middle income member countries.

New Zealand Commonwealth Scholarships
As part of the CSFP programme, New Zealand offers these scholarships to candidates from developing Commonwealth countries for postgraduate study (Master's and PhD) at New Zealand universities on a contestable basis. They are highly competitive and intended for top level graduates.

Malaysian Commonwealth Scholarships
The Malaysian Government awards these scholarships under the Malaysian Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan to nominated students from Commonwealth countries for post-graduate study in Malaysia. This is a Government to Government scheme, and Malaysia imposes no bond.

University Scholarships for Commonwealth Countries »

Nottingham Developing Solutions Scholarships
These scholarships are for international students who want to study at the University of Nottingham in the UK and make a difference to development in their home country. They target citizens of Africa, India, or one of the countries of the Commonwealth. The awards are full tuition fees or 50% tuition fees. About 105 scholarships are available.

Professor Arthur Li Scholarship at University of the West of England
This scholarship commemorates the progressive thinking and contribution to education of Professor Arthur Li. It is open to all Commonwealth countries and covers the full tuition fees of a Master's programme at the University of the West of England.

Singapore Commonwealth Scholarships at National University of Singapore (NUS)
These awards go to talented students from any Commonwealth country with an aptitude for innovative, high calibre PhD research at the NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering. Scholarship holders receive a monthly stipend, full tuition fees, and allowances for up to 4 years of PhD studies.

*Note that not all Commonwealth Scholarships are offered to all Commonwealth countries, and not all member countries offer Commonwealth Scholarships. See this link for a list of current countries offering Commonwealth Scholarships.