These scholarships are offered by the and funded by the UK Department for International Development. They are for students from least-developed Commonwealth countries and vulnerable states who want to study for a PhD in the UK.
This scholarship covers:
your tuition fees
return travel costs
a monthly stipend
an allowances package
Candidates will be chosen based on:
academic merit of the candidate
quality of the plan of study
potential impact on the development of the candidate’s home country
Deadline: 14 October 2025 at 4pm UK time
Eligibility
To get this scholarship you must:
be a , a citizen, or a refugee in, one of the eligible countries and live there
be available to start your studies in September 2026
not be registered for a PhD, or an MPhil leading to a PhD, at either a UK university, in your home country or elsewhere before September 2026
have the support of a potential supervisor from at least one UK university listed in your application form
be unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship
provide all supporting documentation in the required format
You must also have either a first degree of at least upper second class (2:1) honours or a second class degree (2:2) and a relevant postgraduate qualification (a master’s degree) by September 2026.
This scholarship is for study across a range of subject areas. It is offered to students whose studies fall under one of these 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
Access, inclusion and opportunity
Bangladesh
Cameroon
Kenya
Kiribati
Lesotho
Malawi
Mozambique
Nigeria
Pakistan
Rwanda
Sierra Leone
Solomon Islands
Sri Lanka
Tanzania
The Gambia
Togo
Tuvalu
Uganda
Zambia
How to apply
1. Applications to the CSC must be made using the application system, . As well as applying to the CSC, applicant must apply through your local or .
2. Apply for your PhD programme at ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ, stating that you wish to be considered for Commonwealth Scholarship funding.
The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission provides .
Help and advice
Have a question about this scholarship? Our friendly scholarships team can support and guide you.
