Commonwealth Professional Fellowships are designed for mid-career professionals from eligible Commonwealth countries to undertake professional development programmes at leading UK host organisations. This is part of the new Commonwealth Fellowship Programme launching in 2026/27.
Key Details:
- Duration: 6 weeks to 3 months
- Location: United Kingdom only
- Funding: Fully funded
- Who Can Apply: Mid-career professionals with 5+ years experience
- Number of Positions: 40 fellowships available
- Application Method: Online portal only
Eligibility Requirements:
To be eligible for a Commonwealth Professional Fellowship, you must:
- Be a citizen of or have been granted refugee status by an eligible Commonwealth country, or be a British Protected Person
- Be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country
- Have at least five years of full-time (or equivalent part-time) relevant work experience in your field
- Be currently employed at an organisation that you will return to after the fellowship
- Provide at least two references (one must be from your current employer)
- Not have undertaken a Commonwealth Fellowship within the last five years
- Be available to start your fellowship on the prescribed start date
- Meet any additional eligibility criteria set by your chosen host organisation
Experience Required:
- Minimum of five years relevant work experience
- Work must be in a profession related to your chosen fellowship programme
- Voluntary work experience does not count towards this requirement
Financial Package Includes:
- Flights & Visas
- Return airfare from your home country to UK
- Standard visa application fee (reimbursed)
- Monthly Support
- £2,218/month living allowance
- £2,753/month if based in London area
Additional Funding
- Arrival allowance
- £1,247.09 (includes warm clothing)
- Travel grants for courses/conferences:
- 6-8 week programmes: up to £1,000
- 8-12 week programmes: up to £2,000
Special Support
- Full disability assessment & additional support if needed
Six Development Themes:
Choose a fellowship aligned with your career goals:
- Science & Technology for Development – Drive innovation and tech solutions
- Improving Population Health – Strengthen health systems and capacity
- Innovation & Entrepreneurship – Foster business and creative solutions
- Peace, Security & Governance – Build stable institutions and rule of law
- Resilience & Crisis Response – Prepare communities for emergencies
- Access, Inclusion & Opportunity – Break barriers and expand opportunities
Host Organisations Available:
Over 20 UK organisations are currently hosting Commonwealth Professional Fellowships. These include:
- Bees for Development
- British Geological Survey
- Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council
- Christ Apostolic Church – House of Prayer UK
- Goodnews Community Outreach
- Imperial College London
- Justice Defenders
- Knowledge for Change
- Lifegate Outreach Centre
- LifeLine Network International
- London North West University Healthcare Trust
- Royal College of Emergency Medicine
- Salford University
- University College London
- University of East London – School of Health, Sport and Bioscience
- University of Strathclyde – Pure and Applied Chemistry Department
- University of Strathclyde – National Centre for Prosthetics and Orthotics
- Wessex Global Stroke Partnerships
Selection Criteria
How Applications Are Assessed
Selection panels evaluate applications based on three key criteria:
- Academic merit
- Impact of work on development
- Study and research plan
Application Assessment
- All decisions are based solely on information in your application form
- There are no country quotas
- Only outstanding applicants across all criteria are likely to succeed
- Applications must be complete to be eligible
Personal Statement Guidance
Your personal statement should:
- Explain who you are and why you want to be a Commonwealth Scholar
- Show how your background encourages you to make impact in your home country
- Highlight any personal or community barriers you have overcome
- Demonstrate any disadvantages or under-representation you have faced
Eligible Countries
ODA-Eligible Countries (approximately 30 fellowships)
- 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
Non-ODA Eligible Countries (approximately 10 fellowships)
- Anguilla
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Australia
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Bermuda
- British Virgin Islands
- Brunei Darussalam
- Canada
- Cayman Islands
- Cyprus
- Falkland Islands
- Gibraltar
- Malta
- New Zealand
- Seychelles
- Singapore
- St Kitts and Nevis
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Turks and Caicos Islands
Immigration and Visa Requirements:
Visa Type
Commonwealth Professional Fellows must obtain a Temporary Work – Government Authorised Exchange (GAE) visa to come to the UK.
Before Arrival
Before the visa sponsorship certificate is issued, you must provide:
- Completed visa information form
- Signed award acceptance form
- Signed client care letter
- Copy of your passport personal details page
After Receiving Sponsorship Certificate
Once you have your sponsorship certificate, provide:
- Your eVisa share code to verify your right to work
- Passport entry stamp and/or boarding pass and baggage receipt (at start of fellowship)
- Passport entry stamp and/or boarding pass and baggage receipt (at end of fellowship and each time you travel outside the UK)
While in the UK
You must:
- Cooperate with your host and sponsorship organisation for right to work checks
- Attend and engage with your programme during official dates
- Adhere to all visa conditions
- Leave the UK before your visa expires
- Seek permission from your CSC Programme Officer and host organisation before any overseas travel (permission granted only in exceptional circumstances)
Application Process:
Step 1: Verify Your Eligibility
- Check the eligible countries list
- Confirm you meet all requirements
- Review your chosen host’s specific criteria
Step 2: Gather Your Documents
- University qualifications (all degrees)
- Employment history & references
- Passport/ID scan
- Publications & prizes (if applicable)
Step 3: Complete Your Application
Include these sections:
- Your career history (explain relevance)
- Work experience statement (300 words max)
- Four-part development impact statement:
- How it relates to one of 6 themes (200 words)
- How you’ll apply new skills (100 words)
- Expected outcomes & beneficiaries (250 words)
- How you’ll measure impact (100 words)
- Personal statement about your background (500 words)
- Leadership & voluntary activities (500 words)
- Your 1-year, 2-year, and long-term objectives
Step 4: Submit Online
- click on link bellow to apply
