The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (CSC) offers prestigious, fully funded scholarships and fellowships to talented individuals from Commonwealth countries. Established in 1960, the programme has supported over 27,000 scholars in pursuing advanced studies, research, and professional development across a wide range of disciplines.

Funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), these awards aim to support sustainable development and global collaboration. Scholarships are aligned with six key development themes: Science and Technology for Development, Strengthening Health Systems and Capacity, Promoting Global Prosperity, Strengthening Global Peace, Security and Governance, Strengthening Resilience and Response to Crises, and Access, Inclusion and Opportunity.

For the 2027/28 cycle, applications for the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship are expected to open in early September 2026, with the CSC Central deadline falling on 20 October 2026 for study starting in September 2027. This guide covers eligibility, what the scholarship actually covers, the two-portal process Indian applicants specifically need to follow, and how it compares to other major UK scholarships.

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Types of Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowships

The CSC offers several distinct award types, each with its own structure and eligibility profile. Here’s an overview.

Scholarship Who It’s For
Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships One-year, full-time taught postgraduate study (MBA programmes are not funded)
Commonwealth Shared Scholarships Students from low- and middle-income countries, jointly funded with the host university
Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships Part-time Master’s study completed from your home country
Commonwealth PhD Scholarships Full-time doctoral study in the UK
Commonwealth Split-Site PhD Scholarships Doctoral candidates already registered at a home university, spending part of their research period in the UK
Commonwealth Professional Fellowships Mid-career professionals seeking a short-term skills placement
Gender and Sexuality Fellowships Research and advocacy work in equality and inclusion

What the Commonwealth Scholarship Covers

Commonwealth Scholarships are fully funded, meaning you won’t need to cover tuition or the bulk of your living costs yourself. As of the current rates, the scholarship provides:

  • Full tuition fees at your approved UK university
  • Monthly living allowance (stipend): £1,712 outside London, £2,000 for universities in the London metropolitan area
  • Return economy-class airfare from your home country to the UK
  • A warm clothing allowance and a study travel grant for study-related travel within the UK or overseas
  • Child allowance for single parents: £622 per month for the first child, £154 per month for the second and third child (under 16, living with you in the UK)
  • Additional support for scholars who share that they have a disability, assessed individually by the CSC

These rates are reviewed periodically by the CSC, so confirm the current figure on the official CSC website before finalising your budget.

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Eligibility Criteria

To be considered for a Commonwealth Scholarship, applicants must:

  • Be a citizen of, or hold refugee status in, an eligible Commonwealth country (India is on the eligible list), or be a British Protected Person
  • Be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country
  • Be unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship
  • Hold a first degree of at least upper second-class (2:1) honours standard, or a lower second-class degree plus a relevant postgraduate qualification, by the time the award starts
  • Submit all required documents in the correct format, through the correct channels

Two things worth knowing that catch many applicants out: there is no upper age limit for CSC applications, and the CSC does not fund MBA degrees under the Master’s Scholarship, so if an MBA is your goal, you’ll need to look at a different scholarship route.

Expert View

“Don’t plan around the CSC’s own 20 October deadline. India’s Ministry of Education has historically closed its SAKSHAT nomination window earlier, sometimes by nearly a week, so treat the Ministry’s date as your real deadline and build in buffer time.” – Priyanka Baruah, Counsellor, StudyIn.

How Indian Students Apply: The Two-Portal Process

This is the step that trips up more Indian applicants than any other requirement: you must apply through two separate systems, and missing either one disqualifies your application entirely, regardless of how strong the other submission is.

  • CSC Central: The CSC’s own online application system. This is where you submit your academic history, employment history, referee details, plan of study, and Development Impact statement. The CSC does not accept applications or supporting documents by any other channel.
  • SAKSHAT (Ministry of Education): India’s national nominating agency is the Ministry of Education, which manages its own nomination process through the SAKSHAT portal. You’ll need to save your completed CSC Central application and upload it here as part of your Ministry submission.

India typically receives a limited number of nominations each cycle relative to the volume of SAKSHAT submissions it receives, so the nomination stage within India is itself competitive, well before your application ever reaches the CSC’s global review. The Ministry sets its own internal deadline, which has historically fallen slightly before the CSC’s own cut-off, so don’t wait until the CSC deadline to submit your Ministry application.

Key Dates for the 2027/28 Cycle

Stage Timing
Applications open (CSC Central) Early September 2026
SAKSHAT (Ministry of Education) deadline Typically mid-October 2026 (check the Ministry’s portal, as this closes before the CSC deadline)
CSC Central deadline 16:00 BST, 20 October 2026
Nominations submitted to CSC By December 2026
Outcomes communicated By approximately July 2027
Course start September/October 2027
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Selection Process

Selection happens in two stages. First, your national nominating agency (the Ministry of Education, for Indian applicants) reviews and shortlists candidates from within its own applicant pool before nominating a limited number forward to the CSC. Being nominated is not a guarantee of a scholarship. Second, the CSC assesses nominated candidates against three criteria:

  • Candidate merit, including academic record
  • Quality of the proposed study or research plan
  • Potential impact on development in the candidate’s home country

The CSC does not require IELTS as part of its own assessment, though the UK university you’re applying to may still set its own English language requirement.

Required Documents

  • Valid passport or national ID copy showing your photograph, date of birth, and citizenship
  • Admission-relevant academic transcripts, including to-date transcripts for any course currently in progress
  • Up to 10 publications or awards, if applicable
  • Employment history and its relevance to your chosen programme
  • Names of three referees, with at least two full reference letters uploaded in the required format by the deadline
  • A Development Impact statement, addressing how your study connects to your chosen CSC theme, how you’ll apply your new skills, and how impact will be measured
  • A personal statement
  • For PhD applicants: a detailed research proposal

Commonwealth Scholarship vs Chevening: Which Should You Apply For?

Indian students researching UK scholarships often confuse these two, since both are prestigious, UK government-backed awards. They’re built around different priorities, though, so the right one depends on your situation.

Factor Commonwealth Scholarship Chevening
Financial need requirement Required: you must be unable to afford UK study without it Not a formal requirement
Work experience Not formally required Generally expects around two years
MBA eligible? No, MBAs are excluded Yes
Core selection focus Development impact in your home country Future leadership potential, aligned with UK soft-power interests

If you’re financially unable to fund UK study on your own and your goal is development-focused work back in India, the Commonwealth Scholarship is usually the stronger fit. If you already have a couple of years of work experience and are set on an MBA or a leadership-track Master’s, Chevening may suit your profile better.

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Whichever scholarship route fits your profile, the application process itself is detailed and unforgiving of small errors, particularly for Indian applicants managing two separate portals with two separate deadlines.

StudyIn’s counsellors can help you map out your CSC Central and SAKSHAT timelines together, review your Development Impact statement, and make sure nothing falls through the gap between the two systems.

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FAQs

Who is eligible for a Commonwealth Scholarship?

Citizens or permanent residents of eligible Commonwealth countries, including India, who hold at least an upper second-class (2:1) undergraduate degree, or a lower second-class degree plus a relevant postgraduate qualification, and who could not otherwise afford to study in the UK.

Is there an age limit for the Commonwealth Scholarship?

No. The CSC states there is no upper age limit for applications, though applicants should confirm with their employer whether any age-related leave restrictions apply to them individually.

Does the Commonwealth Scholarship fund an MBA?

No. The Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship funds one-year, full-time taught Master’s programmes but explicitly excludes MBA degrees. Students specifically seeking an MBA should look at other scholarship routes, such as Chevening.

What is the current Commonwealth Scholarship stipend?

The current living allowance is £1,712 per month for universities outside London, and £2,000 per month for universities in the London metropolitan area, alongside full tuition fees and return airfare. These rates are reviewed periodically, so confirm the current figure on the official CSC website.

How do Indian students apply for the Commonwealth Scholarship?

Indian applicants must apply through two separate systems: the CSC’s own CSC Central portal, and India’s national nominating agency, the Ministry of Education, via its SAKSHAT portal. Missing either one disqualifies the application, regardless of how strong the other submission is.

What is the Commonwealth Scholarship deadline for the 2027/28 cycle?

The CSC Central deadline is 16:00 BST on 20 October 2026. India’s Ministry of Education deadline via SAKSHAT typically closes slightly earlier, so check the Ministry’s portal directly and don’t wait until the CSC’s own date.

What does the Commonwealth Scholarship cover?

Full tuition fees, a monthly living allowance, return economy-class airfare, a warm clothing allowance, a study travel grant, and child allowances for single parents with children under 16 living with them in the UK.