.jpg.jpeg "Commonwealth Scholarship 2027/28: Fully Funded Master’s and PhD in the UK")
Commonwealth Scholarship 2027/28: Fully Funded Master’s and PhD in the UK
The Commonwealth Scholarship 2027/28 is now open for
applications, offering an excellent opportunity for students from eligible
Commonwealth countries to pursue postgraduate study in the United Kingdom. The
programme is funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
(FCDO) and provides comprehensive financial support to successful candidates.
The scholarship is available for both one-year taught Master’s programmes and three-year PhD study, with the academic session scheduled to begin in September 2027. Bangladesh is among the countries eligible for the scholarship, making this a significant opportunity for Bangladeshi students planning to pursue higher education in the UK.
Commonwealth Scholarship 2027/28 at a Glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Scholarship | Commonwealth Scholarship 2027/28 |
| Study destination | United Kingdom |
| Degree level | Master’s and PhD |
| Funding | Fully funded |
| Academic session | September 2027 |
| Master’s duration | One year |
| PhD duration | Three years |
| Eligible applicants | Students from selected Commonwealth countries |
| Bangladesh | Eligible |
| Application deadline | 20 October 2026 |
The Commonwealth Scholarship is administered through the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC). Applicants should carefully review both the CSC requirements and the requirements of their relevant nominating agency before submitting an application.
What Does the Commonwealth Scholarship Cover?
One of the main attractions of the Commonwealth Scholarship is its extensive financial package. Successful scholars receive funding intended to cover major costs associated with studying in the UK.
The available benefits include:
- Return airfare to and from the United Kingdom
- Full tuition fee coverage
- A monthly living allowance or stipend
- Warm clothing allowance
- Thesis allowance
- Additional study-related travel grants
- Child allowance for eligible widowed, divorced or single parents
- Additional financial support for scholars with disabilities
For eligible single, widowed or divorced parents, the
scholarship provides an allowance of £622 for the first child and £154 per
month for the second and third child, provided the children are under 16.
Who Can Apply?
The Commonwealth Scholarship is intended for applicants from
eligible low- and middle-income Commonwealth countries. Applicants must meet
the citizenship or residency requirements as well as the academic conditions
set for the programme.
- For the 2027/28 intake, applicants generally need to meet the following conditions:
- Be a citizen of, or have been granted refugee status by, an eligible Commonwealth country.
- Be a permanent resident of an eligible country.
- Be available to begin the proposed academic programme in September 2027.
- By September 2027, hold a first degree equivalent to at least an upper second-class 2:1 honours standard.
- Applicants with a lower second-class degree may also be considered if they have a relevant postgraduate qualification, usually a Master’s degree.
- Submit all required supporting documents in the specified format.
Applicants should also remember that individual nominating
agencies may introduce additional eligibility requirements. Therefore, meeting
the general CSC criteria does not necessarily mean an applicant will
automatically qualify for nomination.
Eligible Countries for Commonwealth Scholarship 2027/28
| No. | Eligible Country | No. | Eligible Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bangladesh | 23 | Mozambique |
| 2 | Belize | 24 | Namibia |
| 3 | Botswana | 25 | Nauru |
| 4 | Cameroon | 26 | Nigeria |
| 5 | Dominica | 27 | Pakistan |
| 6 | Eswatini | 28 | Papua New Guinea |
| 7 | Fiji | 29 | Rwanda |
| 8 | Gabon | 30 | Saint Helena |
| 9 | Ghana | 31 | Saint Lucia |
| 10 | Grenada | 32 | Saint Vincent and The Grenadines |
| 11 | Guyana | 33 | Samoa |
| 12 | India | 34 | Sierra Leone |
| 13 | Jamaica | 35 | Solomon Islands |
| 14 | Kenya | 36 | South Africa |
| 15 | Kiribati | 37 | Sri Lanka |
| 16 | Lesotho | 38 | Tanzania |
| 17 | Malawi | 39 | The Gambia |
| 18 | Malaysia | 40 | Togo |
| 19 | Maldives | 41 | Tonga |
| 20 | Mauritius | 42 | Tuvalu |
| 21 | Montserrat | 43 | Uganda |
| 22 | Mozambique | 44 | Vanuatu |
| 23 | Namibia | 45 | Zambia |
How to Apply for the Commonwealth Scholarship 2027/28
The application process involves more than simply completing a scholarship form. Candidates need to submit an application through the CSC’s online system and also apply through an appropriate nominating agency.
The nominating agency reviews candidates and puts forward
selected applicants for consideration by the Commonwealth Scholarship
Commission. The CSC does not accept direct applications for these scholarships
outside the prescribed nomination routes.
Applicants should therefore pay close attention to the
following two stages.
1. Submit the CSC online application
The scholarship application must be completed through the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission’s online application system. Required documents must also be submitted through the system in the specified format.
Applicants are advised not to wait until the final days of
the application period. Completing the application early can help avoid
potential problems caused by heavy traffic or last-minute technical issues.
2. Apply through a nominating agency
Applicants must also identify and apply through an
appropriate nominating agency. The exact process may vary depending on the
country and the type of scholarship.
For Master’s scholarships, the available nomination routes include:
- National nominating agencies
- Selected non-governmental organisations and charitable bodies
For PhD scholarships, nomination can be made through:
- National nominating agencies
- Selected universities or university bodies
- Selected non-governmental organisations and charitable organisations
Applicants should check the relevant agency’s own
announcement because additional conditions may apply.
Required Documents
Applicants should prepare their supporting documents well before the deadline. According to the provided scholarship information, the application requires documents including:
- Proof of citizenship or eligible Commonwealth status
- A valid passport
- Complete transcripts covering all higher education qualifications
- Current transcripts for programmes that are still in progress
- Certified translations where academic documents are not in English
- References from at least two people
References should be provided in PDF format and should be signed and presented on institutional letterhead, or sent through an email that clearly identifies the sender. Incomplete transcripts or missing pages may result in the application being considered ineligible.
Choosing a UK University and Course
Applicants are responsible for selecting an appropriate
university and course for their proposed study. Before making a final choice,
candidates should examine the course content, university profile, research
environment, entry requirements and relevance of the programme to their
academic or professional goals.
Several resources can help applicants explore postgraduate
study opportunities in the UK, including Study UK, UCAS Postgraduate, Discover
Uni and other postgraduate study information platforms.
For PhD applicants in particular, it is important to carefully consider the research area and the suitability of the proposed university and academic environment.
Scholarship Duration
The duration depends on the degree programme:
| Programme | Duration |
|---|---|
| Taught Master’s | 1 year |
| PhD | 3 years of full-time study |
The academic session for the 2027/28 scholarship is expected to begin in September
Application Deadline
The deadline listed for both the Commonwealth Master’s
Scholarship and the Commonwealth PhD Scholarship is:
- 20 October 2026
Applicants should not leave the application until the final day. Since the process involves preparing academic documents, references and nomination-related requirements, starting early can give applicants more time to resolve any missing-document or application issues.
How to Apply
Interested applicants should first review the official Commonwealth Scholarship information and determine which nomination route applies to them. They should then complete the required online CSC application and separately follow the application process of their relevant nominating agency.
Official application pages:
- Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship: Official Master’sScholarshipPage
- Commonwealth PhD Scholarship: Official PhD ScholarshipPage
Applicants should always rely on the official CSC
information and the relevant nominating agency’s announcement for the latest
requirements, application instructions and country-specific conditions.
Final Words
The Commonwealth Scholarship 2027/28 provides an opportunity
for eligible students to pursue postgraduate education in the UK with
substantial financial support. With funding covering tuition and other major
study-related expenses, the programme can be particularly valuable for talented
students who may otherwise find the cost of studying in the UK difficult to
manage.
For Bangladeshi applicants, the first important step is to
verify their eligibility, prepare the required academic and personal documents,
identify the appropriate nominating route and submit the applications before
the 20 October 2026 deadline.
Because nomination procedures and additional requirements
can vary, applicants should carefully read the official scholarship guidance
before submitting their applications.
