Commonwealth Master's Scholarships

These scholarships are offered by the and funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). They are for students from eligible low and middle income Commonwealth countries who want to study for a full-time taught master’s degree at a UK university. 

This scholarship covers: 

  • your tuition fees 
  • return travel costs 
  • a monthly stipend 
  • an allowances package 

Candidates will be chosen based on: 

  • their potential to impact the development of their home country 
  • academic merit 
  • the quality of their study plan 

 

Eligibility 

This scholarship is for study across a range of subject areas. It’s 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 

 

You must:  

  • be a , a citizen of, or a refugee in, one of the eligible countries  
  • live permanently in one of the eligible countries 
  • be available to start your academic studies by the start of the UK academic year in September 
  • have by September either a degree of at least upper second class (2:1) honours or a second class degree (2:2) and a relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a master’s degree) 
  • be unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship 
  • provide all supporting documentation in the required format 

The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission provides . 

The Commission will normally only fund your first UK master’s degree. You’ll need to provide justification If you’re applying for a second UK master’s degree. 

 

Eligible Commonwealth countries 

  • Bangladesh 
  • Belize 
  • Botswana 
  • Cameroon 
  • Dominica 
  • Eswatini 
  • Fiji 
  • Gabon 
  • The Gambia 
  • Ghana 
  • Grenada 
  • Guyana 
  • India 
  • Jamaica 
  • Kenya 
  • Kiribati 
  • Lesotho 
  • Malawi 
  • Malaysia 
  • Maldives 
  • Mauritius 
  • Montserrat 
  • Mozambique 
  • Namibia 
  • Nauru 
  • Nigeria 
  • Pakistan 
  • Papua New Guinea 
  • Rwanda 
  • Saint Helena 
  • Saint Lucia 
  • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 
  • Samoa 
  • Sierra Leone 
  • Solomon Islands 
  • South Africa 
  • Sri Lanka 
  • Tanzania 
  • Togo 
  • Tonga 
  • Tuvalu 
  • Uganda 
  • Vanuatu 
  • Zambia  

 

How to apply 

1. Apply through your local or . 

2. Apply for your master’s degree at Southampton, stating that you wish to be considered for Commonwealth Scholarship funding.