The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (CSC) has opened applications for its Commonwealth PhD Scholarships for 2027/28. Funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, they support talented graduates from 17 least developed and vulnerable Commonwealth countries to complete a three-year, full-time PhD at a UK university. Applications close at 4pm (BST) on Tuesday 20 October 2026.
The scholarships are aimed at people with the potential to do world-class research that makes a difference to development in their home country, and to go on to become leaders, teachers or researchers there. They are for those who could not otherwise afford to study in the UK. Health research sits well within the scheme, so this is a real route into a fully funded UK PhD for dementia and neurodegeneration researchers from eligible countries. Your research must fit one of the six CSC development themes.
Who can apply?
To apply, you must:
- be a citizen of, or have refugee status in, an eligible Commonwealth country (or be a British Protected Person), and be permanently resident in an eligible country
- be available to start your studies in the UK by September/October 2027
- by September 2027, 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, usually a master’s
- not be registered for a PhD, or an MPhil leading to a PhD, before September/October 2026
- be unable to afford to study in the UK without the scholarship
Eligible countries: Bangladesh, The Gambia, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Pakistan, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda and Zambia.
There is no age limit, and no IELTS test is required. Disabled applicants who can show their potential to contribute to international development but do not hold a 2:1 may be considered for a contextualised nomination through the Commonwealth Disabled People’s Forum; details are on the CSC’s NGO and charitable body nominators page.
All Commonwealth Scholars commit to returning home at the end of their award, and switching to a graduate or other visa to stay in the UK is not permitted.
What the scholarship covers
Scholarships last 36 months of full-time study (the CSC does not fund four-year PhDs) and include:
- full UK tuition fees, agreed directly between the CSC and the university
- a stipend of £1,712 a month, or £2,000 a month at universities in the London metropolitan area
- return economy airfare between your home country and the UK
- a study travel grant, and the cost of a return airfare for approved overseas fieldwork
- a paid mid-term visit home, in most circumstances
- family allowances towards the cost of a spouse or children living with you in the UK
If you share that you have a disability, the CSC will offer a full assessment of your needs and any extra financial support. The family allowances are a contribution only, and the CSC is clear that the true costs of bringing a family are likely to be considerably higher.
How to apply
This is a two-part process, and it is easy to trip up on:
- Apply to a nominator. The CSC does not accept direct applications. Most candidates apply through their national nominating agency, and a small number of NGOs and charitable bodies also nominate. Nominators set their own rules and closing dates, which may be earlier than the CSC’s, so check with yours first.
- Apply to the CSC through its online system, CSC Central, by 4pm (BST) on 20 October 2026. Nothing sent outside the system will be accepted.
You will also need to apply for admission to your preferred UK universities in good time, as many have strict admissions deadlines. List three universities and supervisors in order of preference; if the CSC cannot place you at any of the institutions you name, the scholarship cannot go ahead. Approaching a potential supervisor early is essential, and our blog on assessing and approaching a new lab is a good place to start.
Your application must include:
- proof of citizenship or refugee status, such as a passport or national ID card
- full transcripts for all higher education qualifications, with certified translations where they are not in English
- at least two references, signed and on institutional letterhead (or an email clearly showing the sender’s details), uploaded as PDFs
- a supporting statement from a proposed UK supervisor at one of the universities named in your application, confirming they are willing to supervise you and that the project can be completed within 36 months
Missing documents make an application ineligible, so collect your references and supervisor statement early. The application form also asks for a detailed plan of study, a four-part development impact statement, your career plans, and a personal statement. The CSC recommends drafting your answers outside the system and adding them once they are final. It provides a template application form and a guidance document to help, and its advice for applicants is worth reading before you start. The system gets very busy in the final days and late applications are not accepted, so submit early.
Selection criteria
Applications are assessed on:
- candidate merit, including academic experience
- the quality of the research proposal
- the potential impact on the development of your home country
Link your answers to each of these points. The full selection criteria are on the CSC website.
Key dates
- CSC closing date: 4pm (BST), Tuesday 20 October 2026
- Nominators put forward candidates: December 2026
- Outcomes: by July 2027
- Study starts: September/October 2027
The CSC contacts applicants by email, so keep an eye on your junk and spam folders; an offer can be withdrawn if you do not respond in time. For questions not answered in the CSC FAQs, use the CSC contact form. Looking for other options? Browse our latest funding calls.
Visit funding web page
(https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/scholarships/commonwealth-phd-scholarships-for-least-developed-countries-and-vulnerable-states/)
