Applications for the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships 2027/2028 open on Tuesday, 8 September 2026, giving eligible students from Nigeria, The Gambia and other low- and middle-income Commonwealth countries an opportunity to undertake a fully funded one-year taught Master’s degree in the United Kingdom.
The scholarships are funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and administered by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (CSC).
They are aimed particularly at academically strong candidates who have the potential to contribute to the development of their home countries but who could not otherwise afford to study in the UK.
Applications open: 8 September 2026
CSC application deadline: 20 October 2026 at 16:00 BST
Study begins: September/October 2027
What does the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship cover?
The Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship provides comprehensive financial support.
Successful scholars receive:
full approved tuition fees, paid through arrangements between the CSC and the UK university;
approved economy airfare from the scholar's home country to the UK;
return airfare at the end of the scholarship;
a monthly living allowance of £1,712 at the current rate;
a higher monthly allowance of £2,000 for scholars studying at universities in the London metropolitan area;
a study-travel grant towards approved study-related travel within the UK or overseas;
additional disability-related support following an individual assessment where applicable; and
certain child allowances for qualifying single-parent scholars.
The current child allowance is £622 per month for the first child and £154 per month for the second and third children under 16 where the scholar is widowed, divorced or a single parent and the children live with the scholar in the UK.
The published stipend figures are the current rates and may be revised before scholars begin their studies in 2027.
Who can apply?
To qualify for the 2027/2028 Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship, applicants must:
be a citizen of an eligible Commonwealth country, have refugee status granted by one, or be a British Protected Person;
be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country;
be available to begin studies in the UK by the start of the academic year in September 2027;
by September 2027, hold at least a Second Class Upper (2:1) first degree, or a Second Class Lower degree together with a relevant postgraduate qualification, normally a Master’s;
demonstrate that they could not afford to study in the UK without the scholarship; and
submit all required supporting documents correctly and on time.
There is no general age limit for Commonwealth Scholarship applications.
Can someone with a 2:2 apply?
Yes, but a 2:2 Bachelor's degree alone does not normally satisfy the standard requirement.
An applicant with a Second Class Lower degree normally needs an additional relevant postgraduate qualification, usually a Master’s degree.
The CSC also provides a contextualised nomination route for some applicants with disabilities who have faced barriers affecting their academic attainment.
Can you apply for a second Master’s degree?
The CSC normally prefers candidates who have not already completed a Master’s degree.
A candidate applying for a second Master’s must provide a strong explanation of why another Master's qualification is necessary.
Applicants who have already studied at Master’s level at a UK institution, or who have previously received a Commonwealth Scholarship at Master’s level, are not eligible for this programme.
What courses can you study?
The scholarship funds one-year, full-time taught Master’s programmes at approved UK universities.
It does not fund MBA programmes.
Applicants are encouraged to identify three suitable UK universities and courses and rank them in order of preference.
The CSC strongly recommends including second and third choices because if it cannot place a selected candidate at the only university listed, the scholarship may be unable to proceed.
Applicants should also apply directly to their chosen universities rather than waiting for the Commonwealth Scholarship decision.
Many UK universities have their own admission deadlines, and being selected for the scholarship does not automatically secure university admission.
The six Commonwealth development themes
Applicants must connect their proposed studies with one of the CSC's six development themes:
Science and technology for development
Improving population health, health systems and capacity
Promoting innovation and entrepreneurship
Strengthening peace, security and governance
Strengthening resilience and response to crises
Access, inclusion and opportunity
This means the scholarship is not simply looking for excellent grades.
Applicants need to explain how their proposed Master's degree will help address real development problems in their home country.
Application documents
Applicants should begin preparing their documents before the application portal opens.
The CSC requires:
a valid passport or national identity card showing photograph, date of birth and citizenship;
complete transcripts for all higher-education qualifications;
current transcripts for programmes still being studied, where applicable;
certified English translations for documents not originally in English; and
at least two references, signed and submitted as PDF documents on institutional letterhead or in an email clearly showing the referee's details.
Missing pages from a transcript can make an application ineligible.
References also have to be included by the scholarship deadline. The CSC will not accept missing references or documents by email after the deadline.
Three referees are requested
The application asks candidates to provide details of three referees.
Where applicable, one should be the applicant's current employer. At least two reference letters must be included with the application.
Referees should be capable of commenting on the applicant's:
academic and intellectual ability;
motivation and perseverance;
suitability for the proposed programme;
strengths and weaknesses; and
potential to contribute to development in their home country.
Applicants should therefore choose referees who genuinely know their academic or professional work.
The Development Impact Statement is very important
A major part of the Commonwealth Scholarship application is the Development Impact Statement.
Applicants are required to explain:
Part 1 — The development problem
Explain how the proposed studies relate to development challenges at:
global level;
national level;
local/community level; and
within the chosen CSC development theme.
Part 2 — What you will do after the scholarship
Explain how you will use the knowledge and skills gained in the UK when you return home.
Part 3 — What will actually change?
Applicants should identify:
expected development outcomes;
how long those changes may take;
who will benefit; and
how the proposed work will contribute to solving the identified problem.
Part 4 — How will the impact be measured?
Explain how the results of your work could be monitored and demonstrated with evidence.
Applicants should avoid vague statements such as:
"I want to return home and contribute to the development of my country."
A stronger application identifies a specific problem, proposed intervention, beneficiaries, timeline and measurable result.
Other important written sections
The application also asks candidates to provide:
scholarship objectives;
a detailed study plan;
career plans for the first five years after the scholarship;
long-term career plans;
a personal statement;
information about voluntary activities;
leadership experience;
employment history;
academic qualifications; and
publications and prizes, where applicable.
The personal statement provides an opportunity to explain how an applicant's background, experiences or challenges have shaped their desire to create positive change.
How are applicants selected?
Applications are assessed primarily on:
academic merit;
the quality and relevance of the proposed study;
and the applicant's potential to contribute to the development of their home country.
The Commonwealth Scholarship is therefore not determined solely by GPA.
An applicant with excellent academic results but a weak development plan may be less competitive than one who clearly connects their academic background, course choice, professional experience and future impact.
Very important: there are TWO application processes
This is one of the most misunderstood parts of the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship.
Applicants must:
1. Submit the Commonwealth Scholarship application through CSC Central; and
2. Apply through an approved Commonwealth Scholarship nominating agency.
The CSC does not accept direct applications without nomination.
National nominating agencies are the main route, although some approved NGOs and charitable organisations also nominate candidates.
Each nominating organisation may have:
additional eligibility requirements;
its own application procedure;
interviews or screening;
and a deadline that may be earlier than the CSC's 20 October deadline.
Applicants therefore need to satisfy both the CSC requirements and their nominator's requirements.
Nigeria: Federal Scholarship Board nomination
For Nigerian applicants, the official CSC directory lists the Federal Scholarship Board, Federal Ministry of Education as Nigeria's national nominating agency.
The Federal Scholarship Board is responsible for implementing Nigeria's commitments under Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship agreements.
The current CSC listing gives the Board's address as:
Federal Scholarship Board
Plot 245 Samuel Ademulegun Street
Opposite Arewa Suites
Central Business District
Abuja, Nigeria
Nigerian applicants should therefore monitor the Ministry closely once CSC applications open.
Official Federal Scholarship Board information:
Federal Scholarship Board — Nigeria
Official CSC national nominating-agency directory:
Commonwealth national nominating agencies
The Gambia: nominating agency
The official CSC directory lists the Ministry of Higher Education, Research & Science, Banjul as The Gambia's national nominating agency.
Gambian candidates should check the Ministry's requirements and nomination deadline once the application cycle opens.
Can applicants use an NGO nominator instead?
For some candidates, yes.
The CSC also permits selected NGOs and charitable bodies to nominate applicants.
For example, the Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) may nominate eligible female Master's candidates from countries including Nigeria and The Gambia.
The HALI Access Network also covers candidates from both countries, but its route is only available to applicants already affiliated with a HALI member organisation.
Other NGO nominators have their own country and applicant restrictions.
Applicants should not simply choose an NGO because they believe it offers an easier route. They must meet that organisation's specific requirements.
Do you need university admission before applying?
The CSC does not state that every applicant must already hold an unconditional university offer when the initial scholarship application is submitted.
However, applicants are strongly advised to apply to their selected UK universities early.
This is important because if a candidate is selected but cannot secure admission to an appropriate course, the scholarship may not proceed.
For Nigerian applicants in particular, the Federal Scholarship Board has historically imposed additional admission-related requirements during its national nomination process. Applicants should wait for the 2027/2028 Nigerian announcement rather than assuming that last year's requirements will remain exactly the same.
Is IELTS compulsory?
The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission itself does not require applicants to take IELTS.
However, the UK university to which the candidate applies may have its own English-language requirements.
Applicants should therefore check the admission requirements of each chosen programme.
Can scholars remain in the UK after graduation?
Commonwealth Scholars are expected to return to their home country after completing the scholarship.
The CSC states that scholars commit to returning home to contribute to their country's development, and switching to a graduate or other visa simply to remain in the UK after the award is not permitted under the scholarship conditions.
Applicants should therefore view the scholarship as an opportunity to gain skills and return home to create impact, rather than as a route to permanent migration.
How to apply
Applications will be completed through the official CSC Central system when it opens on 8 September.
Official Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship page:
Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships 2027/2028
Official application portal:
CSC Central application system
National nominating agencies:
Find your country's nominating agency
Approved NGO and charitable nominators:
CSC NGO and charitable-body nominators
CSC development themes:
Commonwealth Scholarship development themes
The CSC application is free of charge.
Important dates
22 August 2026: 2027/28 call announced but application portal not yet open
8 September 2026: Applications open
20 October 2026, 16:00 BST: CSC application deadline
By December 2026: Nominating agencies submit their nominated candidates to the CSC
By July 2027: Applicants should receive the outcome
September/October 2027: Successful scholars begin their Master's programmes in the UK.
What applicants should do before 8 September
Although the portal has not yet opened, candidates can use the next few weeks productively.
Start by:
identifying three suitable one-year taught Master's programmes;
checking each university's admission requirements and deadlines;
choosing the most appropriate CSC development theme;
preparing complete university transcripts;
checking passport or national ID validity;
identifying strong referees;
developing a clear development-impact argument;
planning five-year and long-term career goals; and
checking the requirements of your country's nominating agency.
The CSC itself recommends preparing application answers outside the online system first and transferring the final versions into the form once ready.
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