UK Government Announces Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships 2026, Deadline October 14

If studying in the UK has always been on your vision board but this question - “how will I afford it?”, has been bothering you, pay attention because the Commonwealth Master's Scholarships could be the answer.

These scholarships are intended for bright minds from low- and middle-income Commonwealth nations (yes, India is one of them) who wish to pursue a full-time Master's degree in the UK. They are funded by the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). The finest aspect? Students who otherwise couldn't afford to study there are the target audience.

What’s Covered? (The Money Talk)

Here’s why this scholarship is a big deal:

• Full tuition fees: No hidden clauses, no fine print. 100% covered.
• Living allowance: £1,452 per month, or £1,781 if you’re in London (because let’s be honest, even coffee costs double there).
• Airfare: Flights to and from the UK.
• Warm clothing allowance: Because British winters are no joke.
• Study travel grant: For academic trips in or outside the UK.
• Family support: If you’re a single parent, there’s a child allowance (£622 for the first child, £154 for the next two).
• Disability support: Tailored financial help based on your needs.

Basically, you focus on your studies; they handle the money stress.

Who Can Apply? (Eligibility 101)

To be considered, you need to:

• Be a citizen (or refugee) of an eligible Commonwealth country.
• There’s no age limit.
• Be living there permanently.
• Be ready to start in the UK by September 2026.
• Hold at least a 2:1 undergraduate degree (that’s basically a first division). If you have a second division, a relevant Master’s can make up for it.
• Prove you really can’t afford to study in the UK without this scholarship.
• Upload all required documents in the right format.

Official link

Application Process (Don’t Worry, I’ll Simplify)

Here’s the step-by-step of how this works:

• Apply online through CSC Central, their official portal.
  • Heads up: they’ve launched a new system with two-factor authentication, so keep your phone handy.
  • Save your work often, because refreshing the page = data gone.
    
     
• Apply through a nominator (because you can’t apply directly to CSC).
  • The main route is through national nominating agencies.
  • Selected NGOs and charities are also part of the process.
  • Each nominator has their own deadlines, so check carefully.
    
     
• Submit documents on time. You’ll need:
  • Passport or ID proving Commonwealth citizenship.
  • Transcripts of all higher education (with certified translations if not in English).
  • Two strong references on institutional letterheads.
    
     
• Deadlines:
  • The CSC application closes at 16:00 (GMT) on 14 October 2025.
  • Nominators will put forward names by December 2025.
  • Results roll out by July 2026.

So yes, it’s a bit of a wait, but worth it.

How Do They Choose? (Selection Criteria)

The CSC isn’t just looking for bookworms with top grades. They want people who can make a difference. Selection is based on:

• Academic merit (your grades and achievements).
• Quality of your study plan (why this course, why now, why the UK?).
• Potential impact back home (how will your degree help your country?).

In short: don’t just brag about your GPA, show how you’ll use your UK degree to drive change where it matters.

Why Does This Scholarship Rocks?

With Commonwealth Master's Scholarship, you are not just earning a Master’s, you’re joining a global network of changemakers who are using education to push forward sustainable development in their countries.

So if you’ve been dreaming of a UK Master’s but money (and lots of it) was the roadblock, this might just be your way through.

Deadline alert: Applications close 14 October 2025. Don’t wait till the last minute, CSC’s system will crash under the deadline rush (it happens every year).