Commonwealth Shared Scholarships: 2027/28 UK Master’s Round

Status. The candidate application window for the 2026/27 academic-year awards has closed. The CSC has announced the 2027/28 award round through its university-bid notice, but candidate applications are not open yet. The Commission schedules the candidate window for early November through mid-December 2026 and says it will publish exact opening and closing dates nearer the time. The deadline field therefore retains the real closing date for the last candidate round, 9 December 2025, verified in a participating university’s 2026/27 scholarship notice. This page remains a historical reference until the candidate window opens and its exact deadline is published. The CSC’s university-bid deadline applies to institutions, not candidates; the two processes are separate.

The CSC’s official university-bid notice is the current source for the 2027/28 timetable and award conditions. The CSC’s candidate information page explains the application system and supporting documents; it currently describes the closed 2026/27 round. The CSC expects to publish the 2027/28 approved courses and university contacts in November 2026. Until those details and exact candidate dates appear, confirm course availability directly with a participating university and recheck the Commission’s pages before preparing a final application.

At a glance

What the scholarship covers

Commonwealth Shared Scholarships are jointly financed by the CSC and the UK universities taking part. They are intended for talented students who have development potential but could not otherwise afford postgraduate study in the UK. The university contributes to the living-cost package, while the CSC covers specified award costs. Applicants should read the award terms for the approved course and confirm practical arrangements with the host university rather than assuming that every expense will be paid.

For the 2027/28 awards, the CSC’s university-bid information lists approved tuition fees up to a cap of £22,500, airfares to and from the UK booked in line with CSC policy, a grant towards study-related costs, and a contribution towards a tuberculosis test where required by UK Visas and Immigration. It also lists return-home excess baggage support up to the applicable rate and a Disability Support Allowance for eligible personal living costs. The university must cover the living allowance for the full award duration. The published current stipend rates are £1,712 per month, or £2,000 per month for scholars at universities in the London metropolitan area. Rates can be updated before the academic year, so check the CSC and university terms when the 2027/28 candidate call opens.

A limited child allowance is available to scholars with children who are widowed, divorced, or a single parent: the published rates are £622 per month for the first child and £154 per month for the second and third child under age 16. Those figures are described as current rates and may change. They do not mean that all family expenses are covered. The CSC says the university is responsible for scholar welfare and any additional funding needed to support welfare, including reasonable academic adjustments. A scholar who declares a disability to the CSC can receive an assessment of support needs and eligibility for additional assistance.

The award supports a single full-time taught Master’s course. The CSC says the scholarships are not for undergraduate or PhD study. Its university guidance describes one-year courses and says the award cannot be extended or renewed. Compulsory field trips and bench fees should be included in course tuition; the CSC says it will not cover additional costs beyond the stated tuition fee. Scholars should ask the university what costs are included in the course and whether any personal costs will remain. Do not plan on combining this award with another award that pays the same costs without checking the conditions.

Who may apply for 2027/28

The CSC’s university guidance lists candidate requirements for the upcoming cycle. Applicants must be citizens of, or have refugee status in, an eligible Commonwealth country, or be British Protected Persons, and must be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country. They must be available to start their academic studies in the UK by the beginning of the academic year in September/October 2027. By October 2027, they must hold a first degree at upper-second-class (2:1) level or higher, or a lower-second-class degree together with a relevant postgraduate qualification, usually a Master’s degree.

Applicants must not have studied or worked for one academic year or more in a high-income country, as defined for CSC purposes by whether the country appears on the OECD Development Assistance Committee list of ODA recipients. They must be unable to afford UK study without the scholarship and commit to return to their home country before the end of their UK visa. These are the published 2027/28 criteria as of August 2026, and the CSC says they may be subject to minor changes. Recheck the candidate page and eligibility checklist when applications open.

The eligible-country list in the current 2027/28 university notice is: Bangladesh, Belize, Botswana, Dominica, Eswatini, Fiji, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Montserrat, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Saint Helena, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, and Zambia. The list differs from the closed 2026/27 candidate list; for example, the current university notice does not include Cameroon. The CSC notes that applicants from Cameroon are currently not eligible to obtain a UK student visa. Use the CSC’s list for the cycle in which you apply, and do not rely on a general list of Commonwealth members.

Applicants must also meet the admission and English-language requirements of the chosen university and course. The CSC’s university guidance says pre-sessional English courses are not supported, so candidates need sufficient written and spoken English to start the approved course and must satisfy UK Visas and Immigration language requirements. Universities may have additional selection criteria or admissions deadlines. A scholarship application does not itself secure university admission.

How selection and applications work

The process has two connected parts. First, UK universities submit bids to host scholarships for specified courses. The CSC assesses those course and institutional proposals. The CSC expects to publish the approved course list and university contacts for 2027/28 in November 2026. A candidate needs to select an approved course at a participating university; general admission to a UK institution is not enough if the intended course is not approved for the Shared Scholarship scheme.

Second, a candidate applies to the university for admission through its own admissions process and separately submits the scholarship application to the CSC through CSC Central. The university runs its recruitment and initial selection, then nominates selected candidates to the Commission. The CSC checks candidates against its eligibility requirements and makes the award decision. Successful university bids do not guarantee that every course or candidate will receive an award, and the CSC’s current estimate of around 180 new 2027/28 awards is not a promise of an individual allocation.

The CSC schedules the 2027/28 candidate application window for early November to mid-December 2026. Those are approximate timetable points, not a final deadline. Its official notice says exact opening and closing dates will be given nearer the time, along with the nomination timetable in early 2027. Participating universities may set earlier admission or scholarship-related steps, so check each university’s instructions as soon as the course list is available. A university’s internal deadline and the CSC online form deadline may differ; meet every applicable date.

CSC Central is the CSC’s online application system. The Commission does not accept applications or supporting documents sent by email or post. The CSC says candidates should prepare answers outside the system and add them once finalised. Its candidate guidance states that CSC Central requires two-factor authentication at each login and a smartphone or second email account at registration. It also warns that refreshing the browser can exit the form and lose unsaved work, and that an application cannot be edited after submission. Follow the system’s save instructions, keep the reference and passcode from the registration email safe, and save or print the submitted application summary.

Documents and answers to prepare

The 2027/28 candidate form and its final document checklist have not been published yet. The items below come from the CSC’s current candidate guidance for the closed 2026/27 round, so use them as a preparation checklist and confirm each requirement, format, and certification rule against the new form when it appears. The CSC says required supporting documents must be included for an application to be eligible. Prepare clear digital copies early, and follow the live instructions:

• Proof of status and identity. The CSC requests a valid passport or national identity card showing a photograph, date of birth, and country of citizenship, or the relevant evidence of refugee status where applicable.
• Complete higher-education transcripts. Include every qualification and current study to date. The CSC warns that missing transcripts or missing pages make an application ineligible. Arrange certified translations for documents that are not in English.
• References. The candidate page requests references from at least two people in PDF format, signed, and on institutional letterhead or in an email that clearly identifies the sender. The form asks for three referees able to comment on your ability to benefit from the award and create development impact; one should be your current employer if you have one. Give referees enough lead time and explain the course and your plans.
• Academic and employment record. Be ready to list undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications, up to ten publications and prizes, and your employment history. Explain how relevant experience supports the proposed study rather than simply listing job titles.
• Development Impact statement. The CSC form asks candidates to address how the proposed study relates to development issues and a CSC theme, how they will apply their learning after the award, what change they expect to make and for whom, and how the effect might be measured. Use a realistic plan with named beneficiaries, actions, outcomes, and a timeframe. Avoid promises that depend on authority or funding you do not control.
• Study and career plans. Prepare a clear account of why the chosen course is appropriate, your objectives, your plans for the five years after the award, and your longer-term contribution at home. Check the current application template when the next form is released because questions can change.
• Personal statement. Explain your motivation, relevant leadership or voluntary work, obstacles you have addressed, and how your experience connects to the development problem you want to work on.

The CSC’s published selection framework considers academic merit, the quality of the proposed study, and the potential development impact in the applicant’s home country. Make the links between your experience, the course modules, and a credible plan after graduation explicit. Ask a referee to discuss concrete examples of your work and capacity; a generic endorsement gives a selector little evidence to assess.

What to do before applications open

Use the waiting period productively, but treat all preparation as provisional until the approved 2027/28 course list, exact application dates, and final candidate instructions are available. Start by identifying a development issue in your home context that connects to one of the CSC themes. Then research courses with relevant content, practical methods, and a plausible path for applying the training after returning home. When the CSC publishes approved courses and contacts in November 2026, compare your shortlist against that list and contact each university about admission requirements, English-language evidence, and any earlier internal deadline.

Request full transcripts and translations now if these take time to obtain. Ask potential referees whether they can provide a signed reference in the required format and share a concise brief about your proposed course and development plan. Draft the impact statement and study plan offline, then revise them against the actual application template when the 2027/28 form is available. Set up the required second factor for CSC Central before the application window becomes busy. Never submit a final answer based only on last year’s form or eligibility checklist.

There is no application fee charged by the CSC for its scholarships or fellowships through its online application system. Be wary of anyone claiming to sell access or guarantee selection. The award is competitive, and a preparation service cannot substitute for an approved course, a complete application, or the CSC and university selection process.

Frequently asked questions

Can I apply now?

No. The 2026/27 candidate round is closed, and the next candidate form is not open yet. The CSC has scheduled the 2027/28 candidate window for early November to mid-December 2026, but exact opening and closing dates have not yet been published.

What is the exact 2027/28 deadline?

The CSC has not published an exact 2027/28 candidate deadline yet. It says the planned closing period is mid-December 2026 and exact dates will be provided nearer the time. Do not substitute the university-bid deadline, a university’s own admissions deadline, or the 2026/27 candidate deadline of 9 December 2025.

Do I need a university offer?

You must apply for admission to a course approved for the scholarship and also submit the CSC application. The CSC advises candidates to check with the chosen university about when to apply and which admission requirements apply. The university process is separate from CSC Central.

Does the award cover all costs?

It covers the approved items and allowances described in the award conditions, subject to the tuition cap, applicable rules, and published rates. It does not automatically cover dependants’ travel or every personal cost. Review the final 2027/28 terms with the university before accepting an award.

Can I study for a PhD or take a distance course?

No. The Shared Scholarship is for an approved, full-time taught Master’s course in the UK. It does not cover undergraduate study or PhD study. It is not a distance-learning award.

Can I remain in the UK after the award?

The CSC requires Shared Scholars to return to their home country before the end of their UK visa. Its university guidance describes only a limited exception for a scholar with a fully funded PhD offer, subject to the host university agreeing. Check the terms and immigration rules that apply to your case; do not treat this exception as permission to stay for work.

Next steps

1. Monitor the CSC’s official Shared Scholarships pages for the 2027/28 course list and exact candidate timetable.
2. Check the published eligible-country list and criteria again when the application form becomes available.
3. Identify suitable Master’s courses and ask participating universities about admission requirements and any earlier internal dates.
4. Request complete transcripts and certified translations, and line up referees who can meet the CSC’s format requirements.
5. Draft a focused study plan and development-impact statement offline, then update them against the 2027/28 application template.
6. Register for CSC Central and set up two-factor authentication when the candidate application system is accepting registrations.