Fully Funded Commonwealth Shared Scholarship for 2025-26 in the UK

The Commonwealth Shared Scholarship 2025-26 is a fully funded opportunity for international students from least-developed and lower-middle-income Commonwealth countries to pursue a Master’s degree in the United Kingdom.

Indeed, this prestigious scholarship scheme provides excellent students, academically talented but who financially cannot meet the challenges, with a good opportunity to try some of the best universities in the UK without tuition fee or living cost burdens.

This Scholarship Scheme is funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office and complements the objectives of promoting sustainable development and strengthening capacity across the Commonwealth by assisting students to gain advanced skills and knowledge.

Overview of Commonwealth Shared Scholarship

The Commonwealth Shared Scholarship is one of the largest and most prestigious international scholarship schemes in the world, which is offered to meritorious students so that you may use this opportunity to serve your country by allowing them to study for postgraduate courses in the institutions of the UK.

The scholarship this year is for the session of 2025-26 in different academic fields of arts, social science, natural science, engineering, and others. In this regard, the scholarship desires to boost up candidates who otherwise cannot imagine higher education in the UK due to lack of funds.

Financial Benefits of the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship

One of the most alluring aspects of the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship is its comprehensive funding package. The scholarship encompasses the following factors:

• Round-trip airfare between the student’s home country and the UK at the beginning and end of the program;
• Full Tuition fees for the Master’s course; A monthly living allowance, currently set at £1,378 per month for most regions and £1,690 per month for students studying within the London metropolitan area (2024-25 rates);
• Warm clothing allowance where applicable.
• A thesis or dissertation grant towards the cost of preparing a research thesis.
• Study-related travel grants for travel essential to the course within the UK or overseas.
• Excess baggage allowance to contribute to the cost of transporting essential items upon departure.
• Child allowance for candidates who are widowed, divorced or single parents.

The broad nature of this benefit allows scholars to focus on their work without financial concern, allowing them to give of their best during their time in the UK.

Academic Fields and Program Duration

The scholarship covers a wide range of disciplines, from Masters in Health Systems to Global Peace and Security, Technology for Development, Environmental Resilience, and Social Inclusion, to name just a few. The scholarship is for one academic year, reflecting the typical duration of UK Master’s programs.

The applicants are encouraged to apply based on fields of study that align with career goals and the development needs of their home countries.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants will be considered for an award and must meet the following conditions to be eligible for the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship:

1. Nationality and Residency:

Applicants must be citizens of, or have refugee status in, one of the eligible Commonwealth countries or hold British protected person status. They must be permanent residents in an eligible Commonwealth country that falls under the selected countries like Bangladesh, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan, amongst others.

2. Academic Requirements:

Upper Second class honours (2:1) or a lower second-class honours (2:2) degree with a relevant postgraduate qualification.

3. Financial Need:

The scholarship is for self-funding students who are unable to study in the UK without an award.

4. Previous Study or Employment in High-Income Countries:

Applicants should not have studied or worked in a high-income country for one full academic year or more.

5. Readiness for the Academic Year September 2025:

Applicants should be prepared to start their studies from the start of the UK academic year in September 2025.

Selection Criteria

Candidates are selected based on the following criteria:

• Academic Merit: The applicant has a good level of academic achievement in their previous studies.
• Quality of Plan of Study: The plan of study should be directly related to the aim of the scholarship being applied for, which is for sustainable development.
• Likely Developmental Impact: Preference will be given to applicants who can clearly demonstrate how they intend to make a significant contribution to the development of their home country after the completion of their studies .

List of Eligible Countries

The scholarship targets applicants from least-developed and lower-middle-income Commonwealth countries. Eligible countries include but are not limited to: Bangladesh, Ghana, Jamaica, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and more.

Application Process and Deadline

Applications to be received online through the official portal of the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission. Application Procedure:

1. Create an Online Account: If you do not have an existing account, register on the portal for an application account.
2. Fill Out the Application Form: Fill in the required fields of information concerning personal, academic, and financial status.
3. Add Supporting Documents: Such may include academic transcripts, degree certificates, references.
4. Apply: Before submitting your application, ensure that the form is complete, no later than the deadline.

Applications close on 12th December 2024. It is recommended to apply early because the process may require collating documents and seeking recommendations from previous academic or professional contacts.

Official Application Link

Frequently Asked Questions on Commonwealth Shared Scholarship

1. Am I eligible to apply if I have an existing Master’s qualification?

• Normally, this scholarship is for fresh Master’s students. If you already hold a Master’s degree, then you are not likely to be considered.

2. Can I make an application to more than one university?

• Yes, an applicant can apply to more than one university and program, so long as the eligibility criteria for each respective institution is satisfied.

3. What does the scholarship cover in terms of allowances?

• The scholarship covers the applicant’s full tuition, monthly living allowance, travel costs, and additional allowance for paying thesis preparation, among others, and warm clothing allowance.

The Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme enables students who cannot afford higher education in the UK to contribute toward the wider purpose of sustainable development in their home countries. With full financial support and the opportunity to study at world-class institutions, recipients are thus able to make an enduring impact on their field and within their communities upon their return. To this end, interested applicants are encouraged to log on to the official website of Commonwealth Scholarship for a comprehensive list of eligible programs and universities.