6 minsStudying in the UK can be an expensive affair. However, thanks to the Commonwealth Scholarship, you can study at a top university or college here without worrying too much about your finances. These scholarships help talented students from Commonwealth countries study so they can contribute to the world at large while also achieving their true potential. Here’s what you must know about the Commonwealth Scholarship in 2025/2026.
An Introduction to Commonwealth Scholarships, UK
These scholarships are part of the UK’s commitment to Commonwealth countries. Through these scholarships, around 700 to 800 students who cannot afford to study abroad get financial aid to study at universities in the UK. To date, over 30,000 students have taken advantage of these awards, which are managed in India by:
- Government of India
- Commonwealth Scholarships Commission (CSC)
- Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU)
- The British Council, India
- Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD)
How can these scholarships help?
Typically, the aid covers the following expenses:
- Your tuition fee for the programme you enrol in.
- Your airfare to and from the location where you will study.
- An allowance to cover living expenses while you study.
Certain expenses, like spouse/child-associated expenses, are not covered by the scholarship funds, so understand what you can use the money for before you undertake any spending.
However, all your necessities are covered by the Commonwealth Scholarship UK that you are approved for.
A few more points about these scholarships:
- Offered by the UK Commonwealth Scholarship Commission or CSC
- Under the purview of the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP).
- Funding comes from the Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office, UK (FCDO).
- Commonwealth country students who can't afford the cost of studying are eligible.
- All UK universities are covered.
- Master's degree, diploma, certificate, or equivalent programmes are covered.
The different types of Commonwealth Scholarships
Students may choose to study different kinds of courses. They may come from different backgrounds, ethnicities, and nationalities. There are different options to choose from within the Commonwealth scholarships. Take a closer look:
1. Commonwealth Shared Scholarship
This Commonwealth Scholarship is for studying master’s degree programmes at a UK university. It is open to students who show exceptional talent and potential to contribute to developmental research in their home countries and/ or indicate that they can become world-class leaders, teachers, or researchers. This award is usually for 12 months.
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Who is it for? PG students unable to fund this programme without the scholarship and who have never studied or worked for one year or more in high-income countries. This is only for full-time programme applicants. |
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What financial assistance is offered?
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What are the documents required?
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What are the eligibility requirements?
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2. Commonwealth Split-Side PhD Scholarships
This Commonwealth Scholarship helps you undertake research at a UK university for one year. Its objective is to help talented doctoral students from Commonwealth countries utilise the resources in the UK and use their skills to improve education and research in Commonwealth nations.
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Who is it for? Talented students who wish to enter research in areas with a leadership or developmental focus. Students must be unable to fund this programme without a scholarship. |
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What financial assistance is offered? Note: The award can be for a year or two six-month periods.
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What are the documents required?
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What are the eligibility requirements?
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3. Commonwealth Masters Scholarship
Take up a full-time master’s degree programme at a reputed UK university with financial assistance from this scholarship. The objective is to help skilled students from low-income countries achieve their potential by studying at a UK university with access to top-quality equipment and teaching methodologies.
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Who is it for? Talented students from Commonwealth countries who want to complete a full-time master’s degree programme but are unable to afford it on their own. NOT for an MBA. This scholarship is offered under six themes: # Global prosperity promotion. # Health systems and capacity strengthening. # Science and technology to be used for developmental initiatives. # Global peace, governance, and security-related areas. # Areas that enhance inclusion, access, and opportunity. # Improving resilience and crisis response. |
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What financial assistance is offered?
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What are the documents required?
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What are the eligibility requirements?
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4. Commonwealth Distance Learning Masters Scholarship
This is the second Commonwealth master’s degree scholarship option open to Indian students. The goal of this scholarship is to enable skilled students to undertake master’s degree studies that will equip them for developmental work in the future by giving them access to tools and teaching they cannot access on their own.
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Who is it for? Talented students from low/middle-income Commonwealth countries who want to complete a part-time master’s programme without leaving their home country. This part-time study scholarship is also offered under the six themes outlined in the Commonwealth master’s degree scholarship. |
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What financial assistance is offered? Tuition fees but other grants or scholarships covering the same costs cannot applied for. |
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What are the documents required?
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What are the eligibility requirements?
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5. Commonwealth Professional fellowships
The Commonwealth scholarship scheme is not only for students fresh off their undergraduate courses. It also enables older professionals to upgrade their skills with further study in the UK.
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Who is it for? Talented mid-career professionals with five years of work experience from low/middle-income Commonwealth countries, who want to join a relevant fellowship programme at a host organisation in the UK. |
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What financial assistance is offered?
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What are the documents required?
Note: you need a Temporary work government-authorised exchange visa. |
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What are the eligibility requirements?
Note: Host may have their own eligibility criteria. |
FAQs on Commonwealth Scholarships
Q: Can I apply for the Commonwealth Scholarship for the current academic year?
A: These scholarships are available only for the following academic year.
Q: I have a master’s degree. Should I include my transcripts for this degree or my undergraduate degree?
A: Both transcripts are necessary, and you must ensure transcripts for all years of study are included, not just your graduation years.
Q: Do I need an IELTS score to apply for the Commonwealth Scholarship?
A: The scholarship application doesn't require an English language proficiency scorecard attached. But your university will require this, so it is a good idea for you to take the test so you are prepared for your university application process.
As you can see, Commonwealth Scholarships help talented students in developing Commonwealth countries to study in the UK. Since these scholarships are open for study across all universities in the UK, Indian students can fulfil their dream of studying at a world-class, reputed university despite financial constraints. Learn if your chosen programme can be funded with a Commonwealth Scholarship and apply well in time so that your study abroad in the UK is supported with generous funding from this source.
Source: The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission, Education.gov.in
Editor's note: This article was originally published in May 2017 by our content writer, Antony Chacko. We have since revised it to include up-to-date information and ensure its comprehensiveness.
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