Commonwealth Scholarships
Funded by the UK government and participating universities · For development-focused Master's study in the UK- Master's routes
- Development focused
- 2027/28 cycle
Full tuition, stipend and approved return airfare for one year.
Both open to India
Rate checked 3 November 2026
Plus CSC Central
No MBA or research Master's
Leave within 1 month
2027/28 cycle, 16:00 GMT
Should you apply for Commonwealth Scholarships?
INR 27.1 lakh in living support plus full tuition makes this a fully funded one-year UK Master’s. Apply if your plan tackles a development problem in India and you can return home. The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission offers two routes for India. Your nominator and eligible courses decide which route fits.
| Fit | Profile | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Strong fit | A clear development problem, a relevant taught Master’s and a plan to work in India | The CSC grades development impact alongside academic merit and study quality. |
| Possible | A strong graduate still choosing between approved courses | The Shared route opens on 10 November 2026, but admission must be pursued separately. |
| Not this cycle | An applicant who missed the 20 October 2026 Master’s deadline | That national-nomination route is closed for 2027/28. |
| Poor fit | Anyone planning to use the Graduate route after the course | The award requires a return home and does not support that switch. |
Two things are genuinely hard here. A good academic record is only the start. The application must link one course to a clear development result, the people who benefit, a timeframe and proof. The route matters just as much. The national Master’s route needs a nominator, while Shared applicants take the university route.
Scholars must leave the UK within one month of the end of their scholarship tenure or one month after the end of their programme, whichever is earlier.Commonwealth Scholarships Frequently Asked Questions
How much are Commonwealth Scholarships worth?
A one-year award pays full approved tuition and approved return airfare. It also pays at least GBP 20,544 in living allowance outside London, about INR 27.1 lakh at the November 2026 rate. The 2027/28 Master’s terms raise the monthly stipend from GBP 1,712 to GBP 2,000 for a London university.
| What it pays | INR | GBP | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approved tuition fees | Covered in full | Covered in full | Paid under the university agreement |
| Outside-London stipend for 12 months | INR 27.1 lakh | GBP 20,544 | Paid monthly |
| London stipend for 12 months | INR 31.7 lakh | GBP 24,000 | Paid monthly |
| Approved return airfare | Covered | Covered | As arranged or approved |
| Study travel and applicable allowances | Variable | Variable | When approved |
| Minimum outside-London value | INR 27.1 lakh + tuition | GBP 20,544 + tuition | Plus approved return airfare |
Converted at 132.00 Indian rupees per pound using the FCDO November 2026 rate, checked on 3 November 2026. Tuition, fares and variable grants are excluded from the numeric minimum because the CSC doesn’t publish one fixed amount for them.
The stipend isn’t designed for a household. A single parent can qualify for GBP 622 a month for the first child. The rate is GBP 154 for a second or third child under 16. The CSC says these family allowances are only a contribution. The rates were checked on 3 November 2026.
Who is eligible for Commonwealth Scholarships from India?
Indian citizens who are permanently resident in India can use the 2027/28 Master’s route if they meet the degree, financial-need and documentation rules. There is no CSC age or work-experience minimum. Shared applicants face one extra test on prior study or work in a high-income country.
| Requirement | Rule | India |
|---|---|---|
| Citizenship and residence | Citizen or qualifying refugee of an eligible country and permanently resident there | Eligible |
| Degree | At least a UK 2:1 equivalent, or a lower second-class degree plus a relevant postgraduate qualification | Check equivalence |
| Course | One-year, full-time taught Master’s linked to a CSC development theme | Eligible courses |
| MBA or research Master’s | Not funded by the current Master’s routes | Not eligible |
| Financial need | Unable to afford UK study without the scholarship | Must declare |
| Work experience | No CSC minimum | Not required |
| High-income-country history | Shared applicants cannot have studied or worked there for one academic year or more | Shared only |
| Return after study | Leave the UK within one month after the award or programme ends | Binding |
Four things that cost Indian applicants the award
Choosing the wrong route
The national Master’s award needs a participating nominator. For Shared Scholarships, the course must appear on the approved list and the university makes the selection. One application cannot silently stand in for the other.
Using an ineligible course
An MBA, research Master’s or two-year course does not fit the current Master’s award. Shared Scholarships narrow the list further to approved courses at participating universities.
Uploading incomplete transcripts
Every page for every higher-education qualification must be included by the deadline. The CSC treats missing pages or missing qualifications as ineligible.
Planning a UK job after graduation
The scholarship requires a return home and does not support the Graduate route. That condition matters before accepting the award, not after arriving in the UK.
The current 2027/28 Commonwealth PhD country list names 17 eligible countries and does not include India. India remains eligible for the national and Shared Master’s routes described above. These facts were checked on 3 November 2026.
When are the Commonwealth Scholarships deadlines for 2027/28?
The national Commonwealth Master’s round closed at 16:00 BST on 20 October 2026. The Commonwealth Shared Scholarship opens on 10 November and closes at 16:00 GMT on 8 December 2026, which is 21:30 IST. Both routes fund study beginning in September or October 2027.
| Stage | Date | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s deadline | 20 October 2026, 16:00 BST | The 2027/28 CSC Central round closed at 20:30 IST. |
| Shared applications open | 10 November 2026 | CSC Central opens for approved Shared courses. |
| Shared deadline | 8 December 2026, 16:00 GMT | The 2027/28 round closes at 21:30 IST. |
| Master’s outcome | By July 2027 | The CSC emails applicants. |
| Course starts | September or October 2027 | The 2027/28 award begins. |
Dates checked on 3 November 2026. A national nominator can set a separate deadline and extra requirements, so the CSC deadline alone never completes the national route.
For Shared Scholarships, the practical preparation window is the 5 weeks between 3 November and the closing date. Course admission, two signed references, complete transcripts and the four-part development-impact statement all need time before the form locks at submission.
How do you apply for Commonwealth Scholarships?
The correct route comes first on the CSC programme page. National Master’s applicants submit to CSC Central and a nominator. Shared applicants submit to CSC Central and separately seek admission to an approved course. In either route, a scholarship form doesn’t replace a university application.
Six steps, in order
Choose the route
National Master’s fits applicants a participating nominator will put forward. Shared applies only to an approved 2027/28 course at a participating university.
Choose and apply to courses
National Master’s applicants should list three courses in preference order. Shared applicants may apply to more than one approved course but can accept only one Shared award.
Collect the complete documents
Prepare citizenship evidence, every page of every higher-education transcript, and at least two signed references in PDF format. Missing documents cannot be added after the deadline.
Write one connected development case
One development case links the problem, the skills the course supplies, the outcomes and beneficiaries, a delivery timeframe and the evidence that will measure impact. The study plan and career plan must stay consistent with it.
Submit both required applications
The national route needs CSC Central plus the nominator’s process. The Shared route needs CSC Central plus the university course application and any university selection steps.
Track admission and the result
University admission conditions continue while the scholarship is assessed. A provisional scholarship still depends on agreed admission terms and final CSC confirmation.
The form cannot be edited after submission, and late documents are not accepted. A clean application folder should therefore hold the final transcripts, passport copy, references and saved answers before the submit button is used. Application-system details were checked on 3 November 2026.
- The 2027/28 national Master’s round closed on 20 October 2026, checked on 3 November 2026.
- Shared Scholarships open on 10 November and close on 8 December 2026, checked on 3 November 2026.
- The outside-London stipend is GBP 20,544 over 12 months, about INR 27.1 lakh, at rates checked on 3 November 2026.
- Indian applicants have 2 routes: a national nominator for Master’s or an approved university course for Shared.
- Scholars must leave the UK within 1 month after the scholarship or programme ends.
Frequently asked questions
Are Commonwealth Scholarships fully funded?
Yes. The UK awards cover approved tuition, approved return airfare and a living allowance. For 2027/28 the stipend is GBP 1,712 a month outside London or GBP 2,000 in London, checked on 3 November 2026. Variable travel, thesis and family support depends on the route and circumstances.
Do Commonwealth Scholarships require IELTS?
No. The CSC does not require IELTS or another English certificate for the scholarship application. A chosen university can still make English evidence a condition of admission, so an applicant must satisfy that university separately. The CSC FAQ and 2027/28 programme terms were checked on 3 November 2026.
Do Commonwealth Scholarships require work experience?
No. The CSC sets no employment-experience minimum for its scholarships. Employment history can still strengthen the evidence for study relevance, leadership and development impact, and a referee may be a current employer where applicable. The no-minimum rule and application prompts were checked on 3 November 2026.
What is the difference between Commonwealth Master's and Shared Scholarships?
The national Master's route needs a participating nominator and allows three suitable course preferences. Shared Scholarships are tied to approved courses, and participating universities make the first selection. Both use CSC Central and require separate university admission action. The 2027/28 route rules were checked on 3 November 2026.
Is there an age limit for Commonwealth Scholarships?
No. The CSC has no age limit for the 2027/28 Master's or Shared applications. An employer can still restrict study leave, and every applicant must be ready to begin the course in September or October 2027. The current eligibility pages were checked on 3 November 2026.
Sources
These are the primary documents behind the routes, award value, rules and dates on this page.
Sources checked on November 3, 2026 for the 2027/28 application cycle.
| No. | Source | Evidence role |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | Commonwealth Master's Scholarships, 2027/28 | Eligibility, deadlines, application, funding and conditions |
| 02 | Commonwealth Shared Scholarships, 2027/28 | Shared route, dates, eligibility and funding |
| 03 | Commonwealth Scholarships Frequently Asked Questions | Return rule, English tests, references and funding scope |
| 04 | CSC Scholarships and Fellowships | Current programme map and long-run scholar count |
| 05 | CSC selection criteria | Academic merit, study plan and development impact |
| 06 | Commonwealth PhD Scholarships, 2027/28 | Current eligible countries for the PhD route |
| 07 | FCDO November 2026 exchange rates | GBP to INR conversion rate |
