Commonwealth PhD Scholarships
Full-time PhD in the UK for citizens of 17 least developed or vulnerable Commonwealth countries: tuition, airfare, stipend and fieldwork support.
Am I eligible?At a glance
Study level
PhD
Destination
United Kingdom
Funding
Full tuition, return airfare, a stipend of £1,712 a month (£2,000 in London), fieldwork and study travel support.
Eligible applicants
17 Commonwealth countries
Photo: Ввласенко, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Overview
Commonwealth PhD Scholarships is offered by Commonwealth Scholarship Commission for PhD study in United Kingdom. Details were checked against the provider’s official page on October 11, 2026.
Application checklist
What you’ll need
The confirmed essentials for this application. Always check the official source before applying.
- Academic requirementFirst degree of at least upper second-class (2:1) honours, or a 2:2 plus a relevant postgraduate qualification
- Passport or national ID showing citizenship (or refugee status)Required
- Full transcripts of all higher educationRequired
- References uploaded with the applicationRequired
- Supporting statement from a proposed UK supervisorRequired
What this scholarship covers
Return airfare to the UK
Included
Full approved tuition fees
Included
Stipend of £1,712 a month (£2,000 in London)
Included
Study travel grant
Included
Child allowance for widowed, divorced or single-parent scholars
May be included
Disability support after a needs assessment
May be included
Fieldwork airfare, where approved
May be included
Full tuition, return airfare, a stipend of £1,712 a month (£2,000 in London), fieldwork and study travel support. Award components, amounts, and exclusions can change by intake, programme, nationality, or host institution, so confirm them on the official provider page.
Are you eligible?
Eligibility review
Checked against the official criteria on October 11, 2026
International students
Conditional
Domestic students
See official criteria
Scholarship scope
Government scholarship
Last eligibility check
October 11, 2026
Who can apply
- Citizenship
- Citizens or refugees of an eligible Commonwealth country, permanently resident there.
- International eligibility
- Open to citizens of the 17 eligible Commonwealth countries.
Experience and personal requirements
- Financial needRequired
- Unable to afford UK study without the scholarship
Study restrictions and coverage
- Countries
- United Kingdom
Official eligibility summary
Citizens (or refugees) of one of 17 least developed or vulnerable Commonwealth countries who live there permanently, hold at least an upper second-class degree and cannot afford UK study without the scholarship.
Applicant profile
- 17 Commonwealth countries
Study route
- PhD study in United Kingdom
Current-cycle criteria
- Citizens (or refugees) of one of 17 least developed or vulnerable Commonwealth countries who live there permanently, hold at least an upper second-class degree and cannot afford UK study without the scholarship.
What to confirm for this cycle
Scholarship details can change from one application cycle to the next. Check these points on the official page before you apply.
- Current eligibility rules
- Current funding and benefits
- Current deadline and application route
Required documents
The required documents are summarized above. Confirm the final checklist with the official provider before you apply.
How to apply
- 1
Check your country's nominating agency and its own closing date.
- 2
Apply to the nominator and submit the CSC application in CSC Central, with all supporting documents.
- 3
Nominators put candidates forward in December 2026; results are expected by July 2027.
Application timeline
Application cycle
Applications for 2027/28 close at 16:00 BST on October 20, 2026; nominators may close earlier.
The listed deadline is October 20, 2026. Confirm it on the provider’s official page.
Always confirm the latest deadline on the official provider website.
Official source
Commonwealth Scholarship Commission
Official scholarship source
Last checked October 11, 2026
Your next steps
- 01Read the official programme guidance.
- 02Confirm eligibility, funding, and the deadline.
- 03Check the current application cycle.
- 04Apply through the official provider.
Frequently asked questions
When is the next deadline?
The listed deadline is October 20, 2026. Confirm that it remains current on the official provider page.
Why do some details vary?
Scholarship conditions can differ by intake, study programme, nationality, and host institution. The official provider page is the source of the current rules.