Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowships

The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the United Kingdom (CSC) is responsible for managing Britain’s contribution to the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP).

The CSC supports around 750 awards annually. Awards are funded by the Department for International Development (for developing Commonwealth countries), and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Scottish Government (for developed Commonwealth countries), in conjunction with UK universities. The CSC also nominates UK citizens for scholarships to study in other Commonwealth countries under the CSFP.

The CSC makes available various types of award:

If you are a citizen of a developed Commonwealth country, you can apply for:

• Scholarships for PhD study at UK universities

If you are a citizen of a developing Commonwealth country, you can apply for

• Scholarships for Master’s or PhD study at UK universities
• Shared Scholarships for Master’s study at selected UK universities
• Split-site Scholarships for PhD students to spend up to one year at a UK university
• Distance Learning Scholarships to study UK Master’s degree courses in your home country
• Academic Fellowships for mid-career academics to spend time at UK universities
• Professional Fellowships for mid-career professionals to spend time at a UK host organisation

If you are a citizen of the Falkland Islands, the Maldives, St Helena or the Seychelles, you can apply for:

• Scholarships for undergraduate study at UK universities

If you are a UK citizen, you can apply for

• Scholarships and fellowships in other Commonwealth countries

The CSC is a non-departmental public body in its own right, and members are appointed in line with the Code of Practice of the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments. The CSC’s secretariat is provided by the Association of Commonwealth Universities; financial and welfare support for scholars is provided by the British Council.

The CSFP is an international programme under which member governments offer scholarships and fellowships to citizens of other Commonwealth countries. The Plan was established at the first Commonwealth education conference in 1959 and is reviewed by education ministers at their triennial meetings – the only scholarship scheme in the world to receive such high-level recognition.