Commonwealth Master's Scholarship

What the scholarship pays for

What you still pay for yourself

Find your country

Only these African countries are eligible for the Commonwealth Master's Scholarship. Tap your country to jump straight to your national nominating agency's contact details on the CSC site — that is the office you must apply through. Note that Cameroon is NOT on the CSC's eligible list for this award, even though it appears on the nominating agency page for other programmes.

Don't see your country? Eligibility can change each year — check the official country list.

Can I apply?

You need to be able to tick every box below. Each one links to the official page that states the rule.

• You are a citizen of, or have refugee status granted by, an eligible Commonwealth country — or you are a British Protected Person. Official eligible countries
• You are permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country. Applicant eligibility
• By September 2027 you hold at least an upper second-class (2:1) bachelor's degree — or a lower second-class (2:2) degree plus a relevant postgraduate qualification, usually a Master's. Academic requirement
• You genuinely could not afford to study in the UK without this scholarship. This is a real selection criterion, not a formality — the award exists for people who have no other way to fund it. Selection criteria
• There is NO age limit for this scholarship. If you were turned away from another award for being too old, this one is still open to you. Applicant eligibility
• Disabled applicants who do not hold a 2:1 may still be considered through the Commonwealth Disabled People's Forum, which recognises barriers faced in education. Apply via CDPF
• The CSC does not normally fund a second Master's degree. If you already hold one, read their conditions before applying. General conditions

How to apply, step by step

Do these in order. Every step links to the exact official page you need — you never have to guess, and you never need an agent.

1. 1

   Find your national nominating agency FIRST — before anything else

   Tap your country in the list above. It opens the CSC page at your own country's agency, with its address, phone and email. Contact them and ask for their closing date and their own extra requirements. Their deadline is usually earlier than the CSC's, and everything else depends on it.

   All nominating agencies
2. 2

   Choose your UK university course

   You need a full-time taught Master's at a UK university, starting September or October 2027. Check the CSC's partner universities first, because the CSC agrees fees directly with them.

   CSC partner universities
3. 3

   Register on CSC Central and start the form early

   Applications open on 8 September 2026. The system uses two-factor authentication, so you need either a smartphone or a second email address to register. Save often — refreshing the browser logs you out and loses anything unsaved.

   Apply on CSC Central
4. 4

   Write your answers in a separate document first

   The CSC itself recommends preparing your answers outside the system and pasting them in once finished. You cannot edit an application after submitting it, so nothing should be written for the first time inside the form.

   Completing the form
5. 5

   Prepare your Development Impact statement in four parts

   This is the heart of the application. You must explain the development problem at global, national and local level; how you will use the skills afterwards; what will actually change and over what timeframe; and who will benefit. Vague ambitions score badly — be concrete about the change and the people.

   What the form asks
6. 6

   Line up three referees, one of them your current employer

   You must name three referees who can speak to both your ability to benefit from study in the UK and your ability to deliver development impact at home. At least two references must be included with the application, so ask them weeks in advance.

   Supporting documentation
7. 7

   Submit to BOTH the CSC and your nominating agency

   This is where most applications die. Submitting only to the CSC, or only to your agency, means you will not be considered. Do both, and submit days early — the system is heavily loaded near the deadline and late applications are never accepted.

   How to apply
8. 8

   Wait for the result by July 2027

   The CSC expects to tell applicants the outcome by July 2027, for study beginning that September or October. Keep your Application Reference Number email safe — you need it to view your submitted application.

   Selection process

Papers you need to prepare

Start gathering these early — some take weeks to get.

English test — which one to take

An English test proves you can study in English. You take it at a test centre (or sometimes at home), pay a fee, and receive a score. Book directly on the official website below — never pay an agent to book it for you.

Questions people ask

Where this information came from

• https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/scholarships/commonwealth-masters-scholarships/
• https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/apply/
• https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/national-nominating-agencies/
• https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/ngos-and-charitable-body-nominators/
• https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/apply/csc-partners/
• https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/commonwealth-scholarships-frequently-asked-questions/