How to apply
Applications for Commonwealth Shared Scholarships for the 2026/27 academic year open at 16:30 GMT on Wednesday 12 November 2025. The scholarships are for study in the UK beginning in September/October 2026.
The closing date for applications is Tuesday 9 December at 16:00 GMT.
Applications to the CSC must be made using the application system, CSC Central.
The CSC is unable to accept any applications or documentation not submitted via the online application system.
Candidates must apply to study an approved Master’s course at a participating UK university:
- View full list of approved courses
- View details of all participating UK universities
Candidates can apply for more than one course and to more than one university, but they may only accept one offer of a Commonwealth Shared Scholarship. Please note, these scholarships are for Master’s courses only and not for undergraduate or PhD study.
Candidates must also apply and secure admission for the chosen university course in addition to applying for a Commonwealth Shared Scholarship. Please check with your chosen university for specific advice on when to apply, admission requirements, and rules for applying.
Applications will be shared with the universities that will nominate their chosen candidates to the CSC in March 2026.
Applying through CSC Central
We have introduced a new application system for this round and the form will look and feel different to that of previous years. Should you experience any issues, please contact info@cscuk.org.uk for assistance.
Supporting documentation
Applications must include supporting documentation to be eligible.
Candidates must upload the following documents with the application:
- Proof that they are a citizen or have refugee status in an eligible Commonwealth country: a copy of a valid passport (or national ID card) showing a photograph, date of birth, and country of citizenship.
- Full transcripts detailing all higher education qualifications, including to-date transcripts for any courses currently being studied, with certified translations if not in English. Where any transcripts are missing or do not include all pages, the application will be considered ineligible.
- References from at least two individuals, in PDF format, signed and either on institutional letterhead or an email clearly showing the sender’s details. References must be uploaded to CSC Central as part of the application.
Applications will be considered ineligible if any of the required documentation is not included by the closing date.
The CSC will not accept supporting documentation submitted outside the online application system.
Please note that the CSC does not charge to apply for any of its scholarships or fellowships through its online application system.
Candidate eligibility
To be considered for these scholarships, candidates must:
- Be a citizen of or have been granted refugee status by an eligible Commonwealth country.
- Be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country.
- Be available to start academic studies in the UK by the start of the UK academic year in September 2026.
- By September 2026, 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 (usually a Master’s degree).
- Not have studied or worked for more than one (academic) year or more in a high income country
- Be unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship.
- Have provided all supporting documentation in the required format.
The CSC aims to identify talented individuals who have the potential to make change. We are committed to a policy of equal opportunity and non-discrimination and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants. For further information on the support available to scholars who share that they have a disability, see the CSC disability support statement.
There is no age limit for CSC applications. Candidates are advised to confirm with their employers any age restrictions on leave entitlement they may have in place.Please note that candidates will be asked at the end of the form to declare that they have not studied in a high income country. Study by distance learning at a university in a high income country while resident in the home country is permitted. Candidates must make it clear in the form whether any previous studies completed at a university in a high income country were undertaken remotely.