Graduates in Nigeria and other developing Commonwealth countries can now apply for a fully funded one-year Master’s degree in the United Kingdom. The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) opened applications for the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship 2027/28 round on Tuesday, 10 November 2026. The window closes at 16:00 GMT on Tuesday, 8 December 2026. That is 5:00 pm in Nigeria, so applicants have roughly four weeks to get their documents in order.
Successful candidates will begin study in September or October 2027.
What is the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship?
It is one of three Master’s programmes run by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission, the UK government scheme built around international development. The “shared” in the name is literal. The CSC and participating UK universities split the cost, and the universities agree to fund the living-cost portion of each award.
The scholarship is meant for talented postgraduate students from Least Developed and middle-income Commonwealth countries. That includes fragile and conflict-affected states. The Commission says it targets people who have not previously studied for a year or more in a high-income country and who could not otherwise afford to study in the UK. Applicants should also show the potential to help their home countries through what they learn.
One detail trips people up every year: this is a Master’s-only scheme. It does not cover undergraduate or PhD study. Awards normally last 12 months and are for full-time study only.
Key dates for the 2027/28 round
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Applications open | Tuesday, 10 November 2026 |
| Applications close | 16:00 GMT, Tuesday, 8 December 2026 |
| Universities nominate candidates to the CSC | March 2027 |
| Study begins in the UK | September/October 2027 |
What the scholarship pays for
Each award covers a package of costs, split between the CSC and the host university.
| Benefit | Details | Paid by |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition fees | Full approved fees; the scholar pays no part of them | CSC and university agreement |
| Airfare | Approved return flight between home country and the UK | CSC |
| Monthly stipend | £1,712 a month, or £2,000 a month at universities in the London area | University |
| Thesis grant | Towards preparing a thesis or dissertation, where applicable | University (CSC-funded) |
| Study travel grant | For study-related travel within the UK or overseas | University (CSC-funded) |
| TB test contribution | Towards the mandatory tuberculosis test for a visa, where required (receipts needed) | University (CSC-funded) |
| Child allowance | £622 a month for the first child and £154 a month each for a second and third child under 16, for scholars who are widowed, divorced or single parents with children living with them in the UK | CSC |
The Commission is blunt about the family allowances. They are a contribution only, and the real cost of supporting dependants in the UK is likely to be much higher. Scholars who bring family members need their own funds to fill the gap. The CSC also says rates and conditions can change, so check the current Handbook for Commonwealth Scholars before you plan a budget around them.
The Commission currently expects around 180 new Shared Scholarships for 2027/28. That figure is an estimate, and the final number depends on approved university courses and the selection process.
Who can apply?
To be considered, a candidate must:
- be a citizen of, or hold refugee status in, an eligible Commonwealth country;
- be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country;
- be able to start studies in the UK by September 2027;
- hold, by September 2027, a first degree of at least upper second-class (2:1) honours, or a lower second-class degree plus a relevant postgraduate qualification, usually a Master’s;
- not have studied or worked for one academic year or more in a high-income country;
- be unable to afford UK study without the scholarship; and
- submit all supporting documents in the required format.
There is no age limit. Applicants who studied at a university in a high-income country by distance learning while living at home are not ruled out, but the form requires them to say so clearly.
Nigeria is on the eligible list for this round. Other countries on it include Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, Zambia, Malawi, Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, along with a long run of Pacific and Caribbean states. The CSC says only applicants from listed countries can apply.
Two applications, not one
This is where many candidates lose out. You have to do two separate things.
1. Apply to the CSC: All applications go through CSC Central, the Commission’s online portal. The CSC says it cannot accept applications or documents sent any other way. Registration uses two-factor authentication, so you will need a smartphone or a second email address, and you will have to pass the check each time you log in.
2. Apply for admission: You must also apply to an approved Master’s course at a participating UK university. The scholarship application does not replace this. Many courses have strict admission deadlines, so check your chosen university’s page early. The CSC’s FAQ says an offer letter is not required when you submit the scholarship application, but the university will still want to assess you.
You may apply to more than one course and more than one university. You can only accept one Shared Scholarship offer, though.
Only courses on the CSC’s approved list carry the scholarship, and that list changes between rounds.
Documents you need before you log in
| Document | What the CSC expects |
|---|---|
| Proof of citizenship or refugee status | Valid passport or national ID showing photo, date of birth and country of citizenship |
| Academic transcripts | Full transcripts for all higher education qualifications, including results to date for any current course; certified translations if not in English |
| References | At least two, in PDF, signed and on institutional letterhead or in an email that clearly shows the sender |
An application with a missing document by the deadline is treated as ineligible. That includes transcripts with missing pages. References must be uploaded to CSC Central by the closing date, and the Commission will not take them by email or after the deadline.
The form itself is long. You will be asked to list your qualifications, up to ten publications and prizes, and your employment history. You also provide the names of three referees, one of whom must be a current employer if you have one. Then come the written sections: your award objectives, your career plans for the five years after the scholarship, your long-term plans, a detailed study plan, and a personal statement on why you want to make an impact at home. There is also a question on volunteering and leadership.
The CSC advises drafting your answers in a separate document and pasting them in once they are final. Two warnings from the portal are worth repeating. Refreshing the browser window can wipe unsaved work, and a submitted application cannot be edited.
How candidates are selected
Each participating university runs its own recruitment and picks a set number of candidates to put forward. The CSC then checks that those candidates meet the eligibility rules. Applications are judged on three things: candidate merit, the quality of the research proposal, and the potential impact on the development of the candidate’s home country.
Universities send their nominations to the CSC in March 2027. A candidate who makes it through is told by the university that they have been provisionally selected. The CSC issues a formal Confirmation of Award letter once admission terms are agreed.
Some conditions apply after that. Scholars must sign an undertaking to return home before their student visa expires, and they may not take paid work during the award without approval from the CSC. The CSC does not require an IELTS test, but a university can ask for proof of English proficiency as a condition of the scholarship.
How this differs from Nigeria’s federal nomination route
Nigerian applicants sometimes mix up the two Commonwealth routes. The Shared Scholarship is recruited through UK universities. It is separate from the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP) handled by the Federal Ministry of Education, whose application deadline for 2027/28 was 20 October 2026. Nomination interviews for that route opened in Abuja on 2 November, with more than 2,000 Nigerian applicants in the first round of screening.
Missing the federal deadline does not shut you out of the Shared Scholarship, and applying to one does not carry over to the other. Candidates who qualify for both can pursue both.
Practical tips before 8 December
- Do not leave it to the last day: The CSC warns that the portal gets very busy in the final days before closing.
- Chase your referees now: Reference letters are the most common reason for a late submission, and none are accepted after the deadline.
- Order transcripts early: Nigerian institutions can take weeks, and incomplete transcripts make an application ineligible.
- Check the course list first: Pick a course on the approved list, then read that university’s own advice on admission and scholarship deadlines.
- Write to the selection criteria: The CSC says to link your answers to each criterion, especially development impact.
- Never pay an agent: The CSC charges no fee to apply, and nobody can guarantee an award.
Frequently asked questions
When does the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship 2027/28 close?
At 16:00 GMT on Tuesday, 8 December 2026.
Is there an application fee?
No. The CSC does not charge for applications made through its online system.
Can I apply with a second-class lower degree?
Possibly. You need a 2:1, or a lower second-class degree plus a relevant postgraduate qualification, by September 2027.
Is the scholarship open to PhD students?
No. It covers Master’s courses only.
Can Nigerians apply?
Yes. Nigeria is on the CSC’s list of eligible countries for this round.
