Commonwealth Shared Scholarships

• Full tuition fees, by agreement between the CSC and the university.
• Stipend of £1,452 per month, or £1,781 per month at universities in the London metropolitan area, paid by the university (current rates).
• Approved return airfare between your home country and the UK, paid by the CSC (not for dependants).
• Child allowance for widowed, divorced or single parents with children living with them in the UK: £622 per month for the first child and £154 per month for each of the second and third children under 16.
• Where applicable: warm clothing allowance (university-funded), thesis grant and study travel grant (CSC-funded, paid by the university), and a contribution to TB testing (receipts required).
• Needs assessment and possible additional support for scholars who disclose a disability.

2026/27 cycle (most recent published):

• Application deadlines are set by each participating university; applications for 2026/27 are closed.
• Universities nominate candidates to the CSC in March 2026.
• Study starts September/October 2026.

1. Find an approved Master's course at a participating UK university (each university lists its Shared Scholarship courses and deadlines).
2. Apply separately to the university for admission, following its own requirements and deadlines.
3. Complete the scholarship application on CSC Central (two-factor authentication) and upload all documents; submitted applications cannot be edited and there is no fee.
4. You may apply to several courses and universities but may accept only one offer.
5. If provisionally selected, the university notifies you once the CSC confirms eligibility; a Confirmation of Award letter follows once admission terms are agreed.

• Proof of citizenship or refugee status: valid passport or national ID card showing photo, date of birth and citizenship.
• Full transcripts for all higher education qualifications, including current courses, with certified translations if not in English. Missing transcripts or pages make the application ineligible.
• At least two references as signed PDFs on institutional letterhead or from an identifiable email account, uploaded through CSC Central.
• Before Confirmation of Award: a Health and Disability Form.

Application form content

• Three referees (one your current employer, if applicable), a plan of study, career plans, a personal statement and details of voluntary work and leadership.
• A four-part Development Impact statement.

• Participating universities make the initial selection and nominate candidates; the CSC approves the final selection.
• Criteria: academic merit, quality of the study proposal, and potential impact on the development of the candidate's home country.