Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship 2027/28 (Fully Funded)

The Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship 2027/28 pays for a full master’s degree in the United Kingdom. It is funded by the UK government through the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC). It covers your tuition in full, your return flights, and a monthly living allowance. Applications for study starting in 2027 close on 20 October 2026, at 16:00 BST. There is no application fee, ever.

This one is built for students from developing Commonwealth countries who could not pay for a UK master’s on their own. Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Cameroon, Bangladesh, India, Jamaica and many others are on the eligible list.

Overview

What is the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship?

It is a UK government scholarship for a one-year taught master’s at a UK university. The CSC runs it. The money comes from the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

The point of it is simple. Talented people from lower-income Commonwealth countries often cannot raise the fees for a UK degree. This scholarship removes that wall. You study, you go home, and you use what you learned where it is needed.

What you get

• Full tuition fees, paid straight to your university
• Return airfare to and from the UK
• A living allowance of about 1,712 pounds a month, or about 2,000 pounds a month if you study in London
• A grant for study-related travel inside the UK
• A child or family allowance, if you qualify for it

So the flight, the fees, and your monthly rent and food are covered. You are not paying to be there.

Who can apply

• You are a citizen of, or a refugee or British protected person living in, an eligible developing Commonwealth country
• You can start your master’s in the UK by the 2027 intake
• You hold, or expect to hold, a strong first degree (usually an upper second-class honours or higher)
• You could not afford this master’s without the scholarship

Small island states get priority. If you are from one, your odds are a little better, so apply.

Am I too old for this?

There is no age limit. What matters is your degree, your plan, and how your study helps your home country. If you finished your first degree years ago and you are working, you can still apply.

Do I need IELTS or TOEFL?

The CSC itself does not ask for an English test. But your UK university might, as part of your admission. Check the exact rule on the course page of the university you want.

Can I apply with a low CGPA?

It is honest to say this is competitive. Most winners have a solid first degree. A weaker grade does not lock you out on its own, but you will need a clear, strong plan and good references to make up for it. Do not let a low grade stop you from trying. Do let it push you to write a sharper application.

The part people get wrong

You do not apply to the CSC directly. You apply through a nominating agency in your own country, usually a government ministry or a listed university or body. Each agency runs its own selection and has its own deadline, and some close well before 20 October 2026.

So do this today. Find your country’s nominating agency on the CSC website, and check their deadline. That earlier date is the one that can catch you out.

How to apply

1. Confirm your country is on the eligible list and find your nominating agency on the CSC site.
2. Choose your UK university and master’s course. Some agencies want proof that you have applied or been admitted, so start this early.
3. Apply in the CSC online application system and to your nominating agency, before the agency’s deadline.
4. Add your references and documents: your degree transcripts, your references, and your plan for how the degree helps your country.
5. Submit before 20 October 2026, 16:00 BST, and before your agency’s own date if it is earlier.

What happens after you apply

Your nominating agency shortlists and nominates candidates to the CSC. The CSC then makes the final choice from all the nominations. Results come out in the months after the deadline. Watch the email you applied with.

Deadline: 20 October 2026, 16:00 BST. Your national agency may close earlier, so check now.

Which UK course are you eyeing? Tell us in the comments and where you are applying from.

Related reading

• Chevening Scholarship 2027/2028 (Fully Funded)
• Doha Institute for Graduate Studies Scholarship 2027 (Fully Funded)
• ADB-Japan Scholarship 2027 at Ritsumeikan APU (Fully Funded)
• Yenching Academy Scholarship 2027 (Fully Funded)

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