- Provider: UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)
- Host country: United Kingdom
- Study level: Master’s, PhD
- Funding: Fully funded: Covers airfare, tuition and examination fees, monthly stipend (£1,378 or £1,690 in London), study travel grant, and warm clothing allowance.
- Who can apply: Citizens or refugees from eligible developing Commonwealth countries who are permanently resident there and hold a first degree of at least upper second class (2:1) honours standard.
- Fields of study: Any eligible Master’s or PhD programme at a UK University
- Deadline: 20 October 2026
About the scholarship
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides fully funded Commonwealth Scholarships for Master’s and PhD study in the United Kingdom. These awards are designed to support citizens of developing Commonwealth countries who wish to pursue postgraduate research or study that contributes to the development of their home nations.
What it covers
- Airfare to and from the United Kingdom
- Tuition and examination fees
- Monthly stipend (£1,378 per month, or £1,690 per month for universities in the London metropolitan area)
- Study travel grant
- Warm clothing allowance
Who can apply
- Citizens of or refugees from eligible developing Commonwealth countries
- Permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country
- Available to start studies in the UK 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
- Unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship
How to apply
Applications open on 8 September 2026 and close on 20 October 2026. The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) does not accept direct applications. You must apply through a nominating body, such as a national nominating agency, a selected non-governmental organisation, or a selected university (for PhD candidates). Each nominating body has its own selection process and deadlines, so you must check with them for specific advice. All applications must be submitted via the CSC’s Electronic Application System (EAS) by 20 October 2026 at 16:00 BST.
Apply on the official website →
Always apply on the official website. Genuine scholarships never ask you to pay an application or processing fee.
