Commonwealth PhD Scholarships 2026/27 (Fully Funded PhD in UK)

Applications are now open for the Commonwealth PhD Scholarships for the 2026/27 academic year, offering a fully funded opportunity for talented graduates from least developed and vulnerable Commonwealth countries to pursue full-time doctoral studies at UK universities. These scholarships, funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), support research with a developmental impact in fields aligned with six CSC development themes.

The application deadline is set by nominators (national agencies or selected NGOs), with nominations submitted to the CSC by December 2025. Eligible applicants include citizens or refugees from listed Commonwealth countries who cannot afford UK study without support. There is no application fee, and the scholarship covers tuition, airfare, stipend, and additional allowances, ensuring financial barriers don’t hinder your academic journey. Check Commonwealth MS scholarships here. You can also check out BS, MS, PhD and postdoc positions here. 

Key Details

• Funding: Fully funded (tuition, airfare, stipend of £1,452–£1,781/month, allowances for clothing, travel, fieldwork, and family if applicable)
• Application Opens: 2 September 2025
• Deadline: Varies by nominator (nominations due to CSC by December 2025)
• Study Start: September/October 2026
• Duration: 36 months (full-time PhD study)
• Application Fee: None
• Outcome Notification: By July 2026
• For Commonwealth MS Scholarships: Click here

Purpose and Benefits

These scholarships focus on:

• Addressing development needs in Commonwealth countries through impactful research.
• Enhancing individual and institutional research and teaching capacities.
• Strengthening UK higher education by attracting global talent and fostering collaboration.

Intended Beneficiaries: High-quality graduates from eligible Commonwealth countries with the potential to conduct world-class research and contribute to development in their home countries.

Also Check: National Scholarship Programme of the Slovak Republic (Fully Funded)

Eligibility Criteria

To apply, you must:

• Be a citizen of or have refugee status in an eligible Commonwealth country (check list below).
• Be a permanent resident of an eligible Commonwealth country.
• Be available to start studies in the UK by September 2026.
• Hold a first degree of at least upper second-class (2:1) honours standard, or a lower second-class degree with a relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a Master’s) by September 2026.
• Not be registered for a PhD or MPhil leading to a PhD in the UK or your home country before September/October 2026.
• Be unable to afford UK study without this scholarship.
• Provide all required supporting documentation in the specified format.

Note: Disabled applicants who don’t meet the 2:1 degree requirement may be considered for a contextualised nomination through the Commonwealth Disabled People’s Forum (CDPF). Contact CDPF for details.

There is no age limit for applicants, but check with your employer for any leave restrictions.

Check this amazing scholarship: Doha Institute for Graduate Studies Scholarships 2025-2026

Eligible Countries

• Bangladesh
• Cameroon
• The Gambia
• Kenya
• Kiribati
• Lesotho
• Malawi
• Mozambique
• Nigeria
• Pakistan
• Rwanda
• Sierra Leone
• Solomon Islands
• Sri Lanka
• Tanzania
• Togo
• Tuvalu
• Uganda
• Zambia

Also check: KAUST Postgraduate Scholarship Opportunities 2025/2026

Scholarship Benefits

The scholarship covers:

• Airfare: Return flights from your home country to the UK.
• Tuition Fees: Fully covered by the CSC and UK universities.
• Stipend: £1,452 per month, or £1,781 per month for London metropolitan area universities (rates as of 2025).
• Warm Clothing Allowance: Where applicable.
• Study Travel Grant: For study-related travel in the UK or overseas.
• Fieldwork Costs: One economy-class return flight for approved overseas fieldwork.
• Mid-Term Visit: Paid return airfare to your home country (unless claiming spouse/child allowances).
• Family Allowances (if applicable):
  • Spouse allowance: £313/month for up to 9 months (if living together in the UK).
  • Child allowance: £622/month for the first child, £154/month for second and third children under 16 (if living with you in the UK).
  • Additional support for single, widowed, or divorced parents.
• Disability Support: A needs assessment and potential additional financial support for scholars with disabilities.

Note: Family allowances are a contribution, not full coverage, so additional funds may be needed.

Check also: Khalifa University PhD Scholarships for Spring 2026

Choosing a University and Course

Applicants may find the following resources useful when researching their choices of institution and course of study in the UK:

1. Study UK – British Council website, with guidance for international students and a course and institution search
2. Steps to Postgraduate Study – a guide to asking the right questions about taught postgraduate study in the UK
3. Postgrad.com – information for postgraduate students, with a course search
4. Prospects – information on postgraduate study in the UK
5. Research Excellent Framework 2021 results – results of a system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions
6. UCAS Postgraduate – guidance on how to find and apply for a postgraduate course
7. Discover Uni– the official website for comparing UK higher education course data
8. UKCISA (UK Council for International Student Affairs) – advice for international students on choosing a course of study

Also check: Pasteur-Paris University International Doctoral Program (PPU)

Application Form

In the application, you’ll need to:

• List all undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications.
• Include up to 10 publications and prizes.
• Detail employment history and its relevance to your proposed UK study.
• Provide a Development Impact Statement in four parts:
  1. How your scholarship aligns with global, national, and local development issues and your chosen CSC theme.
  2. How you’ll apply your skills after the scholarship.
  3. Expected development outcomes, timelines, and beneficiaries.
  4. How to measure and evidence your work’s impact.
• Outline your award objectives, 5-year career plans, and long-term goals.
• Provide a detailed study plan.
• Write a personal statement on your background and motivation for development impact.
• Summarise your voluntary activities and leadership experience.

Check this: Fully Funded IMPRS-ML PhD Program for Future Leaders in Life Sciences

Selection Process

Applications are evaluated based on:

• Candidate Merit: Academic background and potential.
• Research Proposal Quality: Clarity and feasibility.
• Development Impact: Potential to benefit your home country.

Nominators shortlist candidates, and the CSC makes final selections from this pool. Outcomes are communicated by July 2026 via email (check spam/junk folders). A scholarship offer may be withdrawn if you don’t respond within the specified time.