Commonwealth Shared Scholarships 2026

Commonwealth Shared Scholarships fund a UK taught master's degree for citizens of low income and lower middle income Commonwealth countries, with costs split between the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission and the UK university that hosts the course. Every year a different set of UK universities bids for a limited number of shared places on specific courses, so the exact list of available subjects and institutions changes annually rather than staying fixed. Applicants need a first degree of at least upper second-class (2:1) honours, or a lower second-class degree with a relevant postgraduate qualification, must be permanently resident in an eligible country, and must not have studied or worked for a year or more in a high income country. The scholarship pays full tuition fees, a monthly stipend of GBP 1,452 (GBP 1,781 in the London area), return airfare, a warm clothing allowance, a thesis grant, a study travel grant, help with a TB test where required, and a child allowance. Because participating universities are announced only after they win a funding bid, candidates should watch the CSC website from around November each year for that year's list of shared scholarship courses and then apply directly once the student application window opens.