A Commonwealth Scholarship is one of the main fully funded routes to a master's degree in the UK for citizens of eligible Commonwealth countries, including Nigeria and many other African countries. The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) in the UK runs several schemes. This guide focuses on two that applicants most often confuse: Commonwealth Master's Scholarships and Commonwealth Shared Scholarships.
This is general information, not a substitute for the official rules. Confirm eligibility, eligible countries, approved courses and dates on the CSC website.
Commonwealth Scholarship routes compared
Commonwealth Master's Scholarships are for one-year master's study in the UK, funded through the CSC, with nominations coming from national nominating agencies (and, in some cases, other approved nominators). You usually apply both through the CSC's online system and through your country's nominating agency, which may set an earlier deadline of its own. A nomination is not a final award. The CSC makes selections from the nominated pool.
Commonwealth Shared Scholarships are also for approved one-year master's courses in the UK, but they are jointly funded by the CSC and participating UK universities. You must apply for an approved course at a participating university and submit a Shared Scholarship application through CSC Central. You can apply to more than one approved course or university, but you may accept only one Shared Scholarship. These awards are for master's study only, not for undergraduate or PhD study.
Both schemes are tied to the CSC's development themes and to the idea that you will use the degree for development impact in your home country. They are not general "any course at any university" awards. If your target programme is not eligible that year, you need a different scholarship or a different course.
Where the 2026-27 cycles stand
Applications for Commonwealth Master's Scholarships for the 2027/28 academic year (UK study starting in September or October 2027) closed at 16:00 BST on Tuesday 20 October 2026. Nominators may still be working to their own later nomination deadline to the CSC, but new applicant submissions to the closed CSC form are not possible. If you missed that window, treat this as a prep guide for the next annual cycle and watch the official Master's page for the following year's dates.
Applications for Commonwealth Shared Scholarships for the 2027/28 academic year were open after that, with a published closing date of 16:00 GMT on Tuesday 8 December 2026, for study beginning in September or October 2027. Applications must be submitted via CSC Central. The CSC has said it cannot accept applications or documents outside that system. You must also apply for admission to the chosen approved course and follow the university's own admission advice.
If you are reading this after 8 December 2026, check the official Shared Scholarships applications page to see whether the window is still open or whether you should prepare for the next cycle. Do not rely on a forwarded deadline in a WhatsApp group.
Eligibility and how to apply well
Exact rules are on each scheme page, and eligible country lists can differ slightly between Master's and Shared Scholarships. In general you should expect to show that you are a citizen of an eligible Commonwealth country, that you have an undergraduate degree of a standard the CSC and the university will accept, and that you could not afford to study in the UK without the scholarship. Development impact, academic merit and quality of the study plan carry real weight.
A strong application usually includes:
- A course choice that is on the approved list (for Shared Scholarships) or that clearly serves a development purpose (for Master's Scholarships).
- A study plan that explains what you will learn and how you will apply it when you return home, in concrete terms.
- References uploaded in the way and by the time the CSC requires. Late references sent by email have not been a workaround.
- An admission application to the university that is early enough to succeed, because a scholarship offer still depends on meeting academic and English conditions.
Start with the official pages: Commonwealth Master's Scholarships and Commonwealth Shared Scholarships. Then find your national nominating agency if you are applying for a Master's Scholarship. In Nigeria that agency has historically been published on the CSC country information; confirm the current nominator on the CSC site, not on an old blog post.
Preparation checklist
- Confirm that your country is eligible for the specific scheme and year.
- Shortlist only approved or clearly eligible courses, and start the university admission process early.
- Draft your development-impact statements with examples and a realistic plan after you return, then cut generic phrases.
- Ask referees early and tell them the CSC upload deadline is firm.
- Keep passport, transcripts and degree certificates ready in the formats requested.
- Ignore anyone who offers a paid "nomination" or a guaranteed CSC award.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Chevening and a Commonwealth Scholarship?
They are different programmes with different eligibility rules, application forms and selection criteria. Chevening is a UK government scholarship with a strong focus on leadership and a two-year return commitment, and it has its own work-experience rule. Commonwealth Scholarships are development-focused CSC awards, with Master's awards going through nominators and Shared awards going through approved university courses. You should read both sets of rules if you might be eligible for either; you must not copy one essay into the other form.
Can I apply if I already have a master's?
It depends on the scheme and the current eligibility text. Some awards are aimed at people who do not already hold a master's, or who could not otherwise study in the UK. Check the official page for that year rather than assuming a second master's is allowed or banned.
Do I need IELTS before I apply to the CSC?
You need to meet the university's English condition to take up the place, and the CSC will not usually confirm an award if those conditions remain unmet. Whether a test result is required on the day you submit the CSC form depends on the university and the cycle. Plan the test early.
If I missed the Master's deadline, can I still apply for Shared Scholarships?
Only if that Shared Scholarship window is still open and you meet its rules, including applying for an approved course. The two schemes are separate. Check the live Shared Scholarships page for the closing date.
Information checked November 2026; always confirm on the official site.