Commonwealth Master's Scholarships 2027/28

Brief Description

The Commonwealth Master's Scholarships 2027/28 are now open, offering fully funded taught Master's study in the UK to talented candidates from eligible low- and middle-income Commonwealth countries, including Pakistan. Funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and administered by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC), this scholarship is part of the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan, which has supported over 30,000 scholars since 1960.

Unlike merit-only awards, this scholarship is specifically designed for candidates who could not otherwise afford to study in the UK — financial need is a core, documented part of eligibility, not a side note.

Key Dates

Why This Scholarship Matters

• It is fully funded — tuition, travel and living costs are all covered.
• No application fee is charged by the CSC.
• Open specifically to candidates who would otherwise be unable to afford UK postgraduate study.
• No fixed age limit, with a contextualised nomination pathway for persons with disabilities.
• Part of a scholarship scheme running continuously since 1960.

For readers exploring more options beyond this scholarship, our full list of UK scholarships covers other government and university-funded routes into the UK.

Financial Benefits

Exact stipend figures are reviewed each cycle — always confirm the current rate on the official CSC website before budgeting.

Degrees & Subjects Offered

This award funds one-year, full-time taught Master's programmes only — it does not fund undergraduate study, MBA programmes, or PhD/research degrees. Proposed programmes must align with one of the CSC's six Development Themes:

• Science and technology for development
• Strengthening health systems and capacity
• Promoting global prosperity
• Strengthening resilience and response to crises
• Strengthening global peace, security and governance
• Access, inclusion and opportunity

Eligibility Criteria

1. Be a citizen of, or hold refugee status in, an eligible Commonwealth country — or be a British Protected Person.
2. Be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country.
3. Hold, by September 2027, at least an Upper Second-Class (2:1) Honours degree, or a Lower Second-Class (2:2) degree plus a relevant postgraduate qualification.
4. Be available to begin study in the UK in September 2027.
5. Demonstrate clearly that you cannot afford to study in the UK without this scholarship.
6. Not already hold a Commonwealth Master's Scholarship or a completed UK Master's degree, except in exceptional, justified circumstances.

Required Documents

• Valid passport or national ID (or refugee-status documentation)
• Complete transcripts for all higher-education qualifications
• Current transcripts for any qualification still in progress
• Certified English translations for any document not originally in English
• At least two references, signed, in PDF format, on institutional letterhead

How to Apply

1. Confirm your eligibility, including the financial-need requirement, on the official CSC website.
2. Identify your country's national nominating agency and check its internal deadline immediately.
3. Choose a UK Master's course that aligns with one of the six CSC Development Themes.
4. Register and complete your application on CSC Central, the CSC's official application system.
5. Upload all required documents in the prescribed format before your nominator's deadline.
6. If nominated, wait for your application to be forwarded to the CSC by December 2026.
7. Await final results, expected by July 2027.

The CSC does not accept applications, documents, or supporting materials by email or post — everything must go through CSC Central.

Honest Advice

• Start early, and confirm your nominator's real deadline today, not next week.
• Never submit documents through any third-party website — the CSC has publicly warned against unofficial platforms impersonating its scholarship programmes.
• Be specific and honest about your financial need — vague statements weaken this particular application more than any other scholarship.

Frequently Asked Questions