Commonwealth PhD Scholarships 2026

Commonwealth PhD Scholarships fund full-time doctoral study at a UK university for citizens of the Commonwealth's least developed countries and other vulnerable states, currently Bangladesh, the Gambia, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Pakistan, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, the Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda and Zambia. Applicants need at least an upper second-class (2:1) undergraduate degree, or a lower second-class degree with a relevant postgraduate qualification, must not already be registered for a PhD or an MPhil leading to one at a UK university, and must show they could not otherwise afford to study in the UK. As part of the application, candidates need a supporting statement from a prospective UK supervisor. The award pays full tuition fees, a monthly stipend of GBP 1,712 (GBP 2,000 in the London area), return airfare, a mid-study visit home, one economy fieldwork return airfare where fieldwork is required, and family allowances for a spouse and children. As with all Commonwealth Scholarships, applications go through the CSC Central online system together with a nomination from an approved national nominating agency; direct applications to the CSC are not accepted.