Commonwealth PhD Scholarships offer unique opportunities for candidates from the world’s least developed countries, as identified by the OECD. These scholarships support full-time doctoral studies at top UK universities. Administered by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission, this program promotes international development and aims to nurture leaders who will make a positive impact in their home countries. It’s a chance to contribute to your community and foster global partnerships.
About Commonwealth Scholarships
The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (CSC) provides the main UK government scholarship scheme led by international development objectives. The CSC is an executive non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Department for International Development (DFID). The CSC operates within the framework of the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP) and is a vivid demonstration of the UK’s enduring commitment to the Commonwealth.
Commonwealth PhD Scholarships
The Commonwealth Scholarships are available for students wishing to pursue their PhD programs in the United Kingdom.
Why You Should Apply For Commonwealth PhD Scholarships
Each scholarship provides:
- Approved airfare from the Scholar’s home country to the UK and return at the end of the award (the CSC will not reimburse the cost of fares for dependants, nor the cost of journeys made before the award is confirmed).
- Approved tuition fees: full fees are covered by agreement between the CSC and the UK university, and Scholars are not liable to pay for any part of the tuition fee.
- Stipend (living allowance) at the rate of £1,452 per month, or £1,781 per month for those at universities in the London metropolitan area (rates quoted at current levels).
- Warm clothing allowance, where applicable.
- Study travel grant towards the cost of study-related travel within the UK or overseas.
- Provision towards the cost of fieldwork undertaken overseas (the cost of one economy class return airfare to the fieldwork location), where approved.
- Paid mid-term visit (airfare) to the Scholar’s home country, unless they have claimed or intend to claim spouse and/or child allowances during their scholarship or have received a return airfare to their home country for fieldwork.
- Family allowances, as follows (rates quoted at current levels):
- If a Scholar is accompanied by their spouse but no children: spouse allowance of £313 per month for a maximum period of nine months, if they and their spouse are living together at the same address in the UK (unless the spouse is also in receipt of a scholarship; other conditions also apply).
- If a Scholar is accompanied by their spouse and children: spouse allowance of £313 per month and child allowance of £313 per month for the first child, and £154 per month for the second and third child under the age of 16, if their spouse and children are living with them at the same address in the UK (unless their spouse is also in receipt of a scholarship; other conditions also apply).
- If a Scholar has children and is widowed, divorced, or a single parent, child allowance of child allowance of £622 per month for the first child, and £154 per month for the second and third child under the age of 16, if their children are living with them at the same address in the UK.
Eligibility Requirements for Commonwealth PhD Scholarships
To apply for this scholarship, applicants must:
- Be a citizen of or have been granted refugee status by an eligible Commonwealth country, or be a British Protected Person.
- Be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country.
- Be available to start academic studies in the UK by the start of the UK academic year in September 2026.
- By September 2026, hold a first degree of at least upper second-class (2:1) honours standard, or a lower second-class degree and a relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a Master’s degree)*.
- Not 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.
- Be unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship.
- Have provided all supporting documentation in the required format.
Interview date, Process and Venue for Commonwealth PhD Scholarships
Applications will be considered according to the following selection criteria:
- Candidate merit (including academic experience)
- Quality of research proposal
- Potential impact on the development of the candidate’s come country
Documents Required for Application
Applicants must upload the following documents with the application:
- Proof that they are a citizen or have refugee status in an eligible Commonwealth country: a copy of a valid passport (or national ID card) showing a photograph, date of birth, and country of citizenship.
- Full transcripts detailing all higher education qualifications, including to-date transcripts for any courses currently being studied, with certified translations if not in English. Where any transcripts are missing or do not include all pages, the application will be considered ineligible.
- References from at least two individuals, in PDF format, signed and on institutional letterhead or an email clearly showing the sender’s details.
- A supporting statement, in PDF format, signed and either on institutional letterhead or an email clearly showing the sender’s details, from a proposed supervisor in the UK from at least one of the institutions named on the application form.
Application Deadline for Commonwealth PhD Scholarships
The deadline for applying for Commonwealth PhD Scholarships is October 14, 2025
How To Apply For Commonwealth PhD Scholarships
Applications for Commonwealth PhD scholarships for the 2026/27 academic year will open on 2 September. The scholarships are for study in the UK beginning in September/October 2026.
Applications to the CSC must be made using the application system, CSC Central.
The CSC is unable to accept any applications or documentation not submitted via CSC Central.
They are launching a new application system for this round and the form will look and feel different to that of previous years. If you experience any issues, please contact info@cscuk.org.uk.
For more details, visit Commonwealth PhD Scholarships webpage
