Application deadline: October 20, 2026.
Applications are now open for the 2027/2028 Commonwealth PhD Scholarships, offering eligible candidates from Commonwealth countries the opportunity to pursue doctoral studies in the United Kingdom with comprehensive financial support.
Funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), the scholarship programme is designed to support research that contributes to the development priorities of Commonwealth countries. It also seeks to strengthen research and teaching capacity while promoting collaboration between UK institutions and scholars from across the Commonwealth.
The application deadline is October 20, 2026, while successful candidates are expected to begin their studies in the UK in September 2027.
What the scholarship covers
The fully funded award provides a range of financial benefits, including approved return airfare between the scholar’s home country and the UK, as well as full tuition fees.
Successful applicants will also receive a monthly living allowance of £1,712, rising to £2,000 per month for scholars studying at universities within the London metropolitan area.
Additional support includes a study travel grant, approved funding for overseas fieldwork and a paid mid-term return visit to the scholar’s home country, subject to the programme’s conditions.
The scholarship also provides certain family allowances for eligible scholars travelling with spouses or children.
Who can apply?
Applicants must be citizens of, or have refugee status in, an eligible Commonwealth country, or be British Protected Persons. They must also be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country.
Candidates are required to hold, by September 2027, at least an upper second-class honours degree or an equivalent combination of a lower second-class degree and a relevant postgraduate qualification, normally a Master’s degree.
Applicants must not already be registered for a PhD or an MPhil leading to a PhD at a UK university or in their home country before September/October 2026.
They must also demonstrate that they would be unable to finance postgraduate study in the UK without the scholarship and submit all required supporting documents in the specified format.
Application requirements
As part of the application process, candidates will be required to provide details of their academic qualifications, publications and awards, as well as their employment history.
Applicants must also nominate three referees who can assess their academic and professional potential, their ability to benefit from the scholarship and the development impact they are expected to make after completing their studies.
A Development Impact statement is also required as part of the application.
Interested candidates are advised to review the eligibility requirements and application guidelines carefully before submitting their applications. The official application information is available through the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission.
