Scholarship Guides Commonwealth Scholarships (UK): How to Apply

UK (Commonwealth) · Application Guide

Commonwealth Scholarships (UK): How to Apply

Commonwealth Scholarships support students from eligible low- and middle-income Commonwealth countries for postgraduate study in the UK (Master's, PhD and Split-Site programmes). You apply on the CSC's online system (CSC Central), and the application must also go through a nominating body in your country. The CSC does not accept direct applications.

Administered by: Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (CSC), funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Written by Zain Aqdas, Founder and lead researcher, Scholarships AtlasLast updated 3 September 2026

What it covers

Approved airfare from your home country to the UK and return
Approved tuition and examination fees
A personal maintenance allowance (to cover basic living costs)
A thesis-grant / research support allowance where applicable
In some cases a warm-clothing allowance and a contribution toward costs of supporting an accompanying spouse/children, as set by the terms

Eligibility

Citizen or refugee in an eligible Commonwealth country (proof of citizenship or refugee status required)
Not already hold or be studying for a degree at the same level as the one you are applying for (typically not hold a Master's when applying for a Master's)
Meet the level-specific academic requirements for Master's / PhD / Split-Site as defined by the CSC
Be nominated by an eligible nominator (a national nominating agency or selected NGO/charity), which carries out its own selection process
Not be able to afford to study in the UK without a scholarship, and be committed to returning to your home country afterwards

Application — step by step

1
Confirm eligibility and identify your nominator
Check you are a citizen/refugee of an eligible Commonwealth country and review the CSC's eligibility criteria for the level you want. Determine your nominator, normally the national nominating agency in your country, or a selected non-governmental organisation or charity for some programmes.
2
Applications open on CSC Central
Apply on the CSC online application system (CSC Central) once the cycle opens (in recent cycles applications opened in September and closed in mid-October, e.g. for 2027/28: opened 8 September, closed 16:00 BST on 20 October). The system uses two-factor authentication.
3
Apply to your nominator using their own process
As well as applying to the CSC, you must apply to (and be selected by) your nominator. The CSC does not accept direct applications. Nominators run their own selection, may have additional criteria, and set their own internal closing dates (they then nominate candidates to the CSC).
4
Upload references and supporting documentation
Upload references (on letterhead or a clearly identifiable sender email) collected, in PDF, with your other documents: proof of citizenship/refugee status, full academic transcripts, degree certificates and translations as needed. Everything must be uploaded to the application system by the application deadline.
5
Submit and wait for outcome
Selections are made from the pool of nominations (a nomination is not a guarantee of selection). Applicants are usually informed of the outcome around July of the following year by email, so check all folders including spam.
6
Award and study in the UK
Successful candidates take up a Commonwealth Scholarship for study beginning in the UK in September/October.

Typical documents needed

Proof of citizenship or refugee status in an eligible Commonwealth country (valid passport or national ID)
Full transcripts and degree certificates (with certified translations if needed)
Two references uploaded in PDF (guidance supplied)
Completed CSC Central application form

Annual cycle

Dates move every year — always confirm on the official portal before planning around them.

Early September: Applications open on CSC Central (example: 8 September for the next cycle)
Mid-October: Application deadline (example: 16:00 BST on 20 October)
By December: Nominators put forward their candidates to the CSC
~July following year: Applicants informed of the outcome
September/October following year: Study begins in the UK

Start your application

CSC (UK), Commonwealth Scholarship Commission Browse UK (Commonwealth) scholarship records

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Commonwealth Scholarships (UK): How to Apply

Administered by: Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (CSC), funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Written by Zain Aqdas, Founder and lead researcher, Scholarships AtlasLast updated 3 September 2026

What it covers

Approved airfare from your home country to the UK and return

Approved tuition and examination fees

A personal maintenance allowance (to cover basic living costs)

A thesis-grant / research support allowance where applicable

In some cases a warm-clothing allowance and a contribution toward costs of supporting an accompanying spouse/children, as set by the terms

Eligibility

Citizen or refugee in an eligible Commonwealth country (proof of citizenship or refugee status required)

Not already hold or be studying for a degree at the same level as the one you are applying for (typically not hold a Master's when applying for a Master's)

Meet the level-specific academic requirements for Master's / PhD / Split-Site as defined by the CSC

Be nominated by an eligible nominator (a national nominating agency or selected NGO/charity), which carries out its own selection process

Not be able to afford to study in the UK without a scholarship, and be committed to returning to your home country afterwards

Application — step by step

Confirm eligibility and identify your nominator

Check you are a citizen/refugee of an eligible Commonwealth country and review the CSC's eligibility criteria for the level you want. Determine your nominator, normally the national nominating agency in your country, or a selected non-governmental organisation or charity for some programmes.

Applications open on CSC Central

Apply on the CSC online application system (CSC Central) once the cycle opens (in recent cycles applications opened in September and closed in mid-October, e.g. for 2027/28: opened 8 September, closed 16:00 BST on 20 October). The system uses two-factor authentication.

Apply to your nominator using their own process

As well as applying to the CSC, you must apply to (and be selected by) your nominator. The CSC does not accept direct applications. Nominators run their own selection, may have additional criteria, and set their own internal closing dates (they then nominate candidates to the CSC).

Upload references and supporting documentation

Upload references (on letterhead or a clearly identifiable sender email) collected, in PDF, with your other documents: proof of citizenship/refugee status, full academic transcripts, degree certificates and translations as needed. Everything must be uploaded to the application system by the application deadline.

Submit and wait for outcome

Selections are made from the pool of nominations (a nomination is not a guarantee of selection). Applicants are usually informed of the outcome around July of the following year by email, so check all folders including spam.

Award and study in the UK

Successful candidates take up a Commonwealth Scholarship for study beginning in the UK in September/October.

Annual cycle

Dates move every year — always confirm on the official portal before planning around them.

Early September

Applications open on CSC Central (example: 8 September for the next cycle)

Mid-October

Application deadline (example: 16:00 BST on 20 October)

By December

Nominators put forward their candidates to the CSC

~July following year

Applicants informed of the outcome

September/October following year

Study begins in the UK