by Quick answer: The Commonwealth Scholarship for a UK master’s pays your tuition, your return flight and a monthly stipend of £1,712 (one thousand, seven hundred and twelve pounds), or £2,000 in the London area. For courses starting in September or October 2027, the CSC closing date is 16:00 BST on Tuesday 20 October 2026. But you cannot apply to the CSC directly. Instead, you apply through your country’s national nominating agency, and most agencies close earlier than the CSC.
This guide covers who can get a Commonwealth scholarship, what it pays for, and how to apply from Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, India or Pakistan.
Last verified: 4 October 2026 against the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC).
What is the Commonwealth Scholarship?
The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (CSC) funds students from eligible Commonwealth countries to study in the UK. This guide focuses on Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships, the main award for a one-year taught master’s.
What the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship covers
- Full approved tuition fees.
- An approved return flight between your home country and the UK.
- A stipend of £1,712 a month, or £2,000 a month at universities in the London area.
- A study travel grant, plus a child allowance where it applies.
So for a 12-month course outside London, the stipend alone comes to £20,544 (twenty thousand, five hundred and forty-four pounds) over the year.
Who can apply for a Commonwealth scholarship?
The CSC lists 41 eligible Commonwealth countries, including Bangladesh, Ghana, India, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan and South Africa. It also says it particularly welcomes applicants from Small Island Developing States. Each country’s nominating agency adds its own rules, so read both the CSC page and your agency’s notice before you start.
How to apply for the Commonwealth scholarship
- Check that your country is on the CSC list.
- Find your national nominating agency, or a selected NGO, and note its own deadline.
- Follow your agency’s instructions to complete the CSC application.
- Submit it before the agency’s closing date. The agency then nominates candidates to the CSC.
Because agencies close before 20 October 2026, treat the agency date as your real deadline.
Commonwealth Shared Scholarships
There is a second route. Commonwealth Shared Scholarships are run with UK universities, and you apply through a participating university. Applications for 2026/27 have closed, and the CSC had not opened the next round when we checked. So keep an eye on the CSC website if this route suits you better.
Commonwealth scholarship for Nigerian students
Nigeria is on the CSC list. In practice, that means your application goes through the Nigerian nominating agency named on the CSC website, not straight to London. Ghana, Kenya, India and Pakistan work the same way, with their own agencies and dates.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Commonwealth scholarship deadline for 2027?
The CSC closes at 16:00 BST on Tuesday 20 October 2026. Still, your nominating agency’s deadline is usually earlier.
Is the Commonwealth scholarship fully funded?
Yes, because it pays tuition, a return flight and a monthly stipend.
Can I apply for Commonwealth and Chevening in the same year?
The two schemes run separately, but each has its own rules on other awards. So check both sets of rules first. Read our Chevening Scholarship guide and compare fully funded masters scholarships.
Official sources
This is general information. Always confirm rules and dates with the CSC and your nominating agency.
