Applications for Commonwealth Shared Scholarships 2027–28 are open for approved UK master’s courses starting in September or October 2027. The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) closes its application at 4:00 p.m. GMT on Tuesday, 8 December 2026. That is 9:00 p.m. in Pakistan. Each university sets its own admissions process and may have a different deadline.
Start with the approved course list. A master’s programme can be a good academic fit and still fall outside the scholarship. Once you have a listed course, check the university’s instructions and work backwards from whichever deadline comes first.
On this page Check eligibility · Choose a course · Review funding · Submit both applications
Who can apply for Commonwealth Shared Scholarships 2027–28?
Applicants need citizenship or recognised refugee status in an eligible Commonwealth country and permanent residence in an eligible country. Pakistan is on the CSC’s current list. Check the full CSC eligibility rules and country list before you choose a course, especially if you live, study or work outside your country of citizenship.
- Be available to begin study in the UK for the 2027 intake.
- By September 2027, hold a qualification equivalent to a UK upper second-class (2:1) first degree, or a lower second-class degree with a relevant postgraduate qualification.
- Be unable to afford UK study without this award and meet the CSC’s restrictions on previous study or work in a high-income country.
- Provide the required evidence and follow the university’s own admissions requirements.
If you have studied or worked overseas, read the CSC’s wording closely. The provider specifically permits certain distance study with a university in a high-income country while you were resident in your home country, with disclosure on the form. If your dates or circumstances are close to the rule, ask the CSC how it applies before spending time on several submissions.
How to choose a course with a credible development case
Use the CSC list to shortlist by subject and participating university. Open each university course page and confirm the title, intake, degree requirements, any English-language evidence and whether the university wants a separate form for its scholarship process.
Before you add another option, write two sentences for the course you already have. Name a problem you have seen in your home country and identify one module or dissertation method you would use to address it. For example, an applicant interested in rural health access could show how a specific evaluation module would help them assess a referral programme. That level of detail also helps you judge whether two courses really fit the same goal.
What the scholarship covers
The CSC and participating UK universities jointly fund the award. At the time of checking, the provider listed the following benefits. Read the CSC’s financial assistance terms before making commitments or budgeting for dependants.
| Cost | Published coverage |
|---|---|
| Tuition | Approved tuition fees for the selected course. |
| Travel | Approved airfare to the UK and return at the end of the award. Dependant fares and travel before confirmation are excluded. |
| Living costs | Published current rates of £1,712 per month, or £2,000 for eligible London metropolitan area placements. |
| Other support | Study travel, thesis costs or a contribution toward a mandatory TB test may be covered under the provider’s terms. |
If you expect to travel with family or pay costs before departure, price those items separately. The funding coverage guide explains how to separate an award’s published benefits from your upfront budget.
Submit the scholarship and university applications
- Create a CSC Central account and identify the approved course in the scholarship form.
- Gather a valid passport or national ID as applicable, complete higher-education transcripts and certified translations if required. Include current transcripts for studies still underway.
- Collect at least two signed references in the format the CSC specifies and upload them as PDFs. Start with the reference request template if you need help asking.
- Submit in CSC Central before 4:00 p.m. GMT on 8 December. Save the submission confirmation and keep your reference number and passcode.
- Complete the separate university admissions steps by the relevant university deadline and save that confirmation as well.
You can apply for more than one approved course or university, but you can accept only one Commonwealth Shared Scholarship. Give each application enough time to explain why the course fits your plans. Keep the two submission records together so you can check both when a university contacts you.
