Scholarship

Commonwealth Scholarships

Commonwealth Scholarship Commission UK

Verified · Aug 2026

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Master'sPhD

Region

Deadline

varies by scholarship type and country

Funding

covers tuition + stipend + travel

Overview

Commonwealth Scholarships are funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office to support candidates from eligible Commonwealth countries. They enable full-time taught Master’s or PhD study at UK universities, focusing on development themes. The program aims to contribute to development in home countries through higher education.

Eligibility

Candidates must be citizens of or refugees in an eligible Commonwealth country. Applicants for Master’s scholarships should typically be from lower and upper middle income countries, while PhD scholarships target least developed countries and vulnerable states. Specific eligibility criteria depend on the scholarship type and are detailed in respective program guidelines.

Relevant fields

Health, agriculture, STEM

Key Requirements

completed application form
supporting documentation
proof of eligibility
academic transcripts
references

How to Apply

1Check eligibility based on country and scholarship type.
2Choose a UK university and course.
3Submit application through national nominating agency or directly as specified.
4Provide required supporting documents.
5Await selection results.

Application checklist generator

Deadline on the provider page

Generated from this listing's level, funding and requirements. Use it as the starting point, then confirm every detail on the official page.

Documents to prepare (14)

Academic CVRequired
Research-focused CV: techniques, model systems, publications, conference posters and funding.
Lead time: 2–3 days
Motivation letter / statement of purposeRequired
Tailored to Commonwealth Scholarship Commission UK: why this programme, what you bring, and where it takes your career.
Lead time: 1–2 weeks
Transcripts and degree certificatesRequired
Official copies, plus certified English translations if the originals are in another language.
Lead time: 2–4 weeks (registrar)
Reference lettersRequired
Usually two or three, at least one from a research supervisor who has seen you at the bench.
Lead time: 3–4 weeks
Passport / ID copyRequired
Valid for at least six months beyond the intended start date.
Lead time: Same day
English proficiency proofRequired
IELTS / TOEFL score, or an official waiver letter if your degree was taught in English.
Lead time: 4–8 weeks (booking + results)
Research proposal or project outlineRequired
1–3 pages: question, rationale, methods you can already run, feasibility and fit with the host group.
Lead time: 1–3 weeks
Supervisor / PI contact emailRecommended
A short, specific email to the host researcher. Most funded research posts are decided here first.
Lead time: 1 day to write, 1–2 weeks to hear back
Funding and budget detailsRecommended
Check what the award actually covers (tuition, stipend, travel, insurance) and prepare proof of any co-funding.
Lead time: 2–3 days
completed application formRequired
Listed explicitly by the provider — treat as mandatory.
Lead time: Varies
supporting documentationRequired
Listed explicitly by the provider — treat as mandatory.
Lead time: Varies
proof of eligibilityRequired
Listed explicitly by the provider — treat as mandatory.
Lead time: Varies
academic transcriptsRequired
Listed explicitly by the provider — treat as mandatory.
Lead time: Varies
referencesRequired
Listed explicitly by the provider — treat as mandatory.
Lead time: Varies

Suggested timeline

8 weeks before
Confirm eligibility and contact the host
Re-read the eligibility on Commonwealth Scholarship Commission UK's own page and email the supervisor or programme office with a short, specific enquiry.
6 weeks before
Ask your referees
Send each referee your CV, the listing link and the submission date. Chase politely after a week of silence.
5 weeks before
Order transcripts and language proof
Registrars and test centres are the slowest link in the chain — start them before you start writing.
4 weeks before
First draft of your statement
Write the motivation letter and (if required) the research proposal end-to-end. A rough full draft beats a polished half.
2 weeks before
Feedback and revision
Get one researcher and one non-specialist to read it. Cut anything that could be said about any other applicant.
1 week before
Assemble and check the package
File names, formats, page limits, word counts, and every mandatory field in the portal.
2 days before
Submit
Submit early. Portals crash on deadline day and time zones are rarely yours.
After the deadline
Follow up and keep applying
Note the decision date, send one polite follow-up if it passes, and keep two backup listings running in parallel.

Next steps

Open the official listing and copy the exact requirement list into your checklist below.
Verify the current deadline directly on Commonwealth Scholarship Commission UK's page — aggregated dates can lag behind.
Email the supervisor or PI with a three-paragraph enquiry: who you are, what you can run at the bench, what you want to ask.
Add every document above to your checklist and give each one a due date.
Line up two backup listings in the same region so a single rejection doesn't cost you the cycle.

Application Checklist

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Deadlines, amounts, and requirements shift between cycles. Always confirm details on the official page before applying. If you spot an outdated link, let us know on WhatsApp.