COMMONWEALTH PHD SCHOLARSHIPS FOR 2027/2028 ACADEMIC YEAR

 

Commonwealth PhD Scholarships

COMMONWEALTH PHD SCHOLARSHIPS FOR 2027/2028 ACADEMIC YEAR

It's another application season, and the Commonwealth PhD Scholarships for the 2026/2027 academic year are open. The Commonwealth PhD Scholarships are specifically for applicants from least developed and vulnerable states who are interested in pursuing a full-time PhD at a UK university. 

The Commonwealth PhD Scholarship is led by international development objectives, operating within the CSFP. The aim is to attract people with super talent and outstanding potential from various backgrounds and support them to take up leadership roles and become innovators upon returning to their countries, with the sole purpose of contributing to the development needs of their countries (Commonwealth countries) with sustainable development at the centre.  

It targets those who could not otherwise afford to study in the UK without this scholarship, particularly higher-caliber international students who want to become influential leaders, teachers or researchers. 

The scholarship is offered under the following six (6) CSC themes: 

1. Science and technology for development
2. Improving population health, health systems, and capacity. 
3. Promoting innovation and entrepreneurship 
4. Strengthening peace, security and governance. 
5. Strengthening resilience and response to crises. 
6. Access, inclusion, and opportunity.  

Benefits of the Commonwealth PhD Scholarships:

Each recipient of the scholarship would enjoy the following benefits: 

1. Airfare from the applicant's home country to the UK and a return flight at the end of the programme. 
2. Full tuition fee coverage for the entire duration of the PhD programme.
3. A monthly stipend of £1,712 for those outside London or £2,000 for those studying in London.
4. A travel grant for study-related travel in the UK or outside.
5. Cost of fieldwork
6. Airfare for a mid-term visit to the scholar's home country, except those who claimed spouse or child benefit. 
7. A family allowance (Spouse and Children)

Applicant Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for this fully-funded scholarship, the applicant must meet the following requirements: 

• The applicant must be a citizen or have refugee status of an eligible Commonwealth country or be a British protected person and permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country. 
• Hold a Bachelor's degree with at least second-class or lower honours and a relevant Master's degree.  
• The applicant must be available to start a PhD in the UK by September 2027. 
• You must be enrolled in a PhD or an MPhil leading to a PhD in the UK or your home country. 
• You must provide all supporting documents in the format required
• And be unable to afford a PhD in the UK without the scholarship. 
• No age limit for this scholarship
• You must return to your home country after the PhD. You would not be permitted to remain in the UK after your studies. 

Note that the CSC is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all and non-discrimination. 

Supporting Documents Needed for the CSC Scholarship:

No supporting documents will be accepted after the application deadline; as such, you are advised to attach all the following documents in PDF format in/on time before the deadline, and must be submitted through the online portal:

1. Two reference/recommendation letters on institutional letterheads or email, with the sender's email address clearly visible. 
2. Supporting statements on institutional letterheads or email, with the sender's email address clearly visible. 
3. A national ID or a Passport showing you are a citizen or refugee of your home country. 
4. Transcripts of all institutions attended. All must be up-to-date or with an explanation if not complete, and must be in English. 
5. No IELTS test required

• Note that the application will be invalid if any required document is not submitted by the deadline. Application for this scholarship is free. Do not pay to apply for the CSC scholarship. 
• Also note that reference letters and supporting statements must be written by the referee or supervisor in their own words. 

Notes for Referees/Recommenders:

Providers of reference letters should take the following into consideration when drafting a recommendation letter: 

• The reference must be clearly written your own words and include the following;
•  How long, and in what capacity do you know the applicant? 
• What are your views on the applicant's suitability for the scholarship and the need for the subject of study? 
• How and to what extent has the applicant shown ability in terms of capability to grasp concepts and reason analytically; original thought; and motivation and perseverance in achieving objectives?
• The applicant's strengths and weaknesses 
• Potential of the applicant to effect development in their home country
• And other qualities deemed necessary.

Eligible Countries for the CSC Scholarship:

Unlike the Commonwealth Masters, the Commonwealth PhD covers limited countries. Only applicants from the 17 countries below are accepted for the scholarship: 

1. Togo
2. Nigeria
3. Uganda
4. Zambia
5. Rwanda
6. Pakistan
7. Solomon Islands
8. Tuvalu 
9. Tanzania 
10. Sri Lanka
11. Sierra Leone
12. Mozambique
13. Malawi
14. The Gambia 
15. Lesotho 
16. Bangladesh
17. Kiribati 

Applicants outside these 17 countries cannot apply for the Commonwealth PhD Scholarship.

Which Universities in the UK are Approved for the Commonwealth PhD Scholarship?

The CSC does not support 4-year PhD programmes, only 3-year full-time PhDs under the following 102 universities: 

1. Aberystwyth University
2. Anglia Ruskin University
3. Aston University
4. Bangor University
5. Birkbeck, University of London
6. Lincoln Bishop University
7. Bournemouth University
8. Brunel University London
9. Cardiff University
10. Cardiff Metropolitan University
11. City St George’s, University of London
12. Coventry University
13. Cranfield University
14. De Montfort University
15. Durham University
16. Edinburgh Napier University
17. Falmouth University
18. Glasgow Caledonian University
19. Goldsmiths, University of London
20. Harper Adams University
21. Heriot-Watt University
22. Imperial College London
23. Keele University
24. King’s College London
25. Kingston University
26. Lancaster University
27. Leeds Beckett University
28. Liverpool Hope University
29. Liverpool John Moores University
30. Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
31. London School of Economics and Political Science
32. London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
33. Loughborough University
34. Manchester Metropolitan University
35. Newcastle University
36. Northumbria University
37. Nottingham Trent University
38. Oxford Brookes University
39. Queen Margaret University
40. Queen Mary, University of London
41. Queen’s University Belfast
42. Robert Gordon University
43. Royal Agricultural University
44. Royal Holloway, University of London 
45. Royal Veterinary College
46. Sheffield Hallam University
47. SOAS, University of London
48. Staffordshire University
49. Swansea University
50. Teeside University
51. The Glasgow School of Art
52. Ulster University
53. University College London
54. University of Aberdeen
55. University of Bath
56. University of Birmingham
57. University of Bradford
58. University of Brighton
59. University of Bristol
60. University of Cambridge
61. University of Central Lancashire
62. University of Chester
63. University of Derby
64. University of Dundee
65. University of East Anglia
66. University of Edinburgh
67. University of Essex
68. University of Exeter
69. University of Glasgow
70. University of Greenwich
71. University of Hertfordshire
72. University of Huddersfield
73. University of Hull
74. University of Kent
75. University of Leeds
76. University of Leicester
77. University of Liverpool
78. University of Manchester
79. University of Northampton
80. University of Nottingham
81. University of Oxford
82. University of Plymouth
83. University of Portsmouth
84. University of Reading
85. University of Salford
86. University of Sheffield
87. University of Southampton
88. University of St Andrews
89. University of Stirling
90. University of Strathclyde
91. University of Surrey
92. University of Sussex
93. University of the West of England
94. University of the West of Scotland
95. University of West London
96. University of Warwick
97. University of Westminster
98. University of Wolverhampton
99. University of Worcester
100. University of York
101. Writtle University College
102. York St John University

Any university not listed above is out of their list. Remember, you cannot hold this scholarship with another scholarship that covers the same costs. 

Selection Criteria for the Commonwealth PhD: 

Applicants for the Commonwealth PhD will be considered based on academic merit - academic excellence, quality of research proposal, and the potential impact on the development of the applicant's home country. 

How to Apply for the Commonwealth PhD Scholarship:

The application for this scholarship opens on the 8th September and then closes on the 20th October. 

You must apply through the CSC portal using the link below 

CLICK HERE to Apply

Applicants are required to submit a concurrent application; that is, applying for the CSC scholarship through a nominator and while applying to your intended PhD programme through a university listed above. 

Click National Nominating Agencies to apply to a nominator.

To read more about the scholarship, click here to visit the official website