Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships 2026

Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships are funded by the United Kingdom government through the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and administered by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the United Kingdom. The programme is designed for students from eligible low and middle income Commonwealth countries who would not otherwise be able to study in the UK.

These scholarships support Master-level study at approved universities in the United Kingdom, usually for one year on a full-time taught master’s course. The award is generally considered fully funded and commonly includes tuition fees, a living allowance, return airfare, and additional allowances in certain circumstances.

Applicants are typically expected to be citizens of, refugees in, or British protected persons from an eligible Commonwealth country, to be permanently resident in an eligible country, and to hold a first degree of at least upper second class standard or a relevant lower second class degree with a suitable postgraduate qualification. Candidates must also show that they cannot afford to study in the UK without this support and that their proposed study will contribute to development in their home country.

Applications are usually made through a national nominating agency, a selected non-governmental organisation, or in some cases directly via the Commission’s application system, depending on the applicant’s country. Applicants must also secure admission to an eligible UK master’s programme and submit academic records, references, and supporting documentation as required by both the scholarship scheme and the university.