The Commonwealth Shared Scholarship programme is one of three Master\u2019s programmes offered by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission.<\/p>\n
The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (CSC) provides the UK government scholarship scheme led by international development objectives. It operates within the framework of the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP) and offers a vivid demonstration of the UK\u2019s enduring commitment to the Commonwealth. By attracting individuals with outstanding talent and identifiable potential from all backgrounds and supporting them to become leaders and innovators on returning to their home countries, the CSC\u2019s work combines sustainable development with the UK national interest and provides opportunities for international partnerships and collaboration.<\/p>\n
Purpose:<\/strong>\u00a0To contribute to development needs of Commonwealth countries by providing training for skilled and qualified professionals and academics who would not otherwise have been able to study in the UK.\u200b<\/p>\n Intended beneficiaries:<\/strong>\u00a0High-quality postgraduate students from Least Developed and middle-income countries (including fragile and conflict affected states), who have not studied for a year or more in a high-income country before, who would not otherwise afford to study in the UK, and who have the potential to enhance the development of their home countries with the knowledge and leadership skills they acquire.<\/p>\n Award duration:\u00a0<\/strong>normally 12 months<\/p>\n Application process:\u00a0<\/strong>UK universities bid for scholarships for specific courses with demonstrable development impact and must agree to fund the living cost component of the scholarships. Applications are made via successful universities, which make the initial selection of candidates, who are subsequently approved by the CSC.<\/p>\n Successful candidates will enjoy a range of benefits to support their academic journey in the United Kingdom:<\/p>\n To be eligible for these scholarships, applicants must meet the following criteria:<\/p>\n Applicants must submit the following documents with their application:<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n The closing date for applications is\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Tuesday 9<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong>\u00a0December at 16:00 GMT<\/strong>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Applications to the CSC must be made using the\u00a0<\/span>application system,\u00a0<\/span>CSC Central<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n The CSC is unable to accept any applications or documentation not submitted via the online application system<\/span><\/b>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Candidates must apply to study an approved Master\u2019s course at a participating UK university:<\/p>\n 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\u2019s courses only and not for undergraduate or PhD study.<\/p>\n Candidates must also apply and secure admission for the chosen university course in addition to applying for a Commonwealth Shared Scholarship.\u00a0Please check with your chosen university for specific advice on when to apply, admission requirements, and rules for applying.<\/strong><\/p>\n Applications will be shared with the universities that will nominate their chosen candidates to the CSC in March 2026.<\/p>\n Applying through CSC Central<\/strong><\/p>\n We have introduced a new application system for this\u00a0<\/span>round<\/span>\u00a0and the form will look and feel different to that of previous years. Should you experience any issues, please contact\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>info@cscuk.org.uk<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>\u00a0for assistance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Candidates<\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0are\u00a0<\/span>advised to complete<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>submit<\/span>\u00a0applications as early as possible because the online application system will be\u00a0<\/span>very busy<\/span>\u00a0in the days leading up to the application deadline.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Candidates wishing to save a copy of their applications\u202fcan\u202feither print the\u202fsummary page when submitting the application or access the system again after submitting\u202fusing the \u2018view a submitted application\u2019 section.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n We recommend preparing your answers outside of the system and then adding them to the form once they have been finalised.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n Please refer to the\u00a0template application form<\/a>, which includes all questions in the online application,<\/span>\u00a0and the\u00a0technical guidance<\/a>\u00a0before beginning your application<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n CSC Central uses a\u00a0<\/span>two-factor authentication (2FA) system and will require access to either a smartphone or a second email account when registering for an account. The 2FA system must be passed each time you log in to access the form<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n When logging in to view a saved or completed application,\u00a0<\/span>you<\/span>\u00a0will be asked for a reference (in the format 01234-SSP-UK-15) and a passcode. These can be found in the Application Reference Number email you received upon registering for an account on the \u2018enter your details\u2019 page. Remember to keep this email and the details in it safe.\u00a0<\/span>Please be aware that th<\/span>e details are case sensitive. If you do not have a surname, you are\u00a0<\/span>advised to enter a full stop in the relevant field.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Candidates are asked to note that:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Users should use system back buttons rather than those on the browser. Please note that clicking on the CSC logo will return you to the login screen where you will need to pass 2FA again to enter.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Applications must include supporting documentation to be eligible.<\/p>\n Candidates must upload the following documents with the application:<\/p>\n Applications will be considered ineligible if any of the required documentation is not included by the closing date.<\/p>\n The CSC will not accept supporting documentation submitted outside the online application system.<\/strong><\/p>\n Please note that the CSC does not charge apply for any of its scholarships or fellowships through its online application system.<\/p>\n Applicants can find general information about applying for a Commonwealth Scholarship on our\u00a0advice for applicants page<\/a>.<\/p>\n Please read and complete the\u00a0Shared Scholarships eligibility checklist<\/a>\u00a0before submitting your application.<\/p>\n Applicants may find the following resources useful when researching their choices of institution and course of study in the UK:<\/p>\n The CSC is not responsible for the content of external sites.<\/p>\n Applicants can also discover how Commonwealth Alumni are making an impact and leading change across critical development issues by visiting our\u00a0Development impact stories page<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n To be considered for these scholarships,\u00a0candidates<\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0must:<\/p>\nScholarship Benefits<\/h2>\n
\n
Eligibility Criteria<\/h2>\n
\n
Application Requirements<\/h2>\n
\n
How to apply<\/h1>\n
\n
\n
Supporting documentation<\/h1>\n
\n
Advice for applicants<\/h1>\n
Choosing a university\/course<\/h1>\n
\n
Candidate eligibility<\/h1>\n
\n