The Commonwealth Professional Fellowships 2026 offer mid-career professionals from low and middle-income Commonwealth countries a unique chance to upgrade their skills and make a lasting difference in their home countries. This is a fully funded opportunity to gain hands-on professional experience and training with top UK organisations, while building global connections and strengthening your career path.
Whether you’re in health, education, science, peace-building, or entrepreneurship, this fellowship is designed to equip you with tools to solve real challenges back home.
Commonwealth Professional Fellowships 2026 Summary
- Host Country: United Kingdom
- Study Abroad: Study in UK
- Category: Fellowships
- Eligible Countries: Developing Countries
- Reward: Full Sponsorship, £11,809 Stipends, Travel Costs, and lots more
- Deadline: August 22, 2025
Commonwealth Professional Fellowships 2026 Details
The Commonwealth Professional Fellowships are designed for mid-career professionals who have at least five years of work experience and want to spend time in the UK working with a host organisation in their sector. The goal is to help fellows gain practical experience, improve their professional skills, and return home to spark change in their communities or workplaces.
Fellows will be placed in one of several UK organisations offering tailored programmes aligned with these six development themes:
- Science and technology for development
- Strengthening health systems
- Promoting innovation and entrepreneurship
- Global peace, security, and governance
- Crisis response and resilience
- Access, inclusion, and opportunity
Some of the host organisations for 2026 include:
- Bees for Development – improving livelihoods through beekeeping
- British Geological Survey – training in modern science labs
- CNWL NHS Trust – mental health and substance use care training
- Knowledge for Change – improving adolescent mental health in rural Africa
- Lancaster University – eco-innovation and entrepreneurship
- Tackle Africa – HIV and sexual health education through football
- Lifegate Outreach Centre – climate resilience, legal migration, and youth empowerment
Each programme is focused on professional development and encourages fellows to apply lessons learned in the UK to benefit their home countries.
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Eligibility Requirements for the Commonwealth Professional Fellowships 2026
To qualify for the Commonwealth Professional Fellowship 2026, you must:
- Be a citizen or refugee in an eligible Commonwealth country
- Be permanently living in that country
- Have at least five years of relevant full-time work experience
- Be employed and plan to return to the same organisation after the fellowship
- Not be applying for an academic research or degree programme
- Not have held a Commonwealth Professional Fellowship in the last 5 years
- Be available for the entire fellowship period
- Meet any additional eligibility criteria set by the chosen host organisation
- Provide two references (one must be from your current employer)
Eligible countries include: Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, India, Pakistan, South Africa, Tanzania, Bangladesh, Jamaica, and over 40 others.
Interested in more scholarships like the Commonwealth opportunity. Explore these below:
- Commonwealth Scholarship 2026/2027 | Fully Funded
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- Cambridge Africa Changemakers Scholarship 2025 in UK (Fully Funded)
- Rhodes Global Scholarship 2026 in UK | How to Apply
- The 2026 Rhodes Scholarship at Oxford University Fully Funded | How to Apply
- University of Oxford Ellison Undergraduate Scholars Program 2026 in UK
Commonwealth Professional Fellowships 2026 Benefits
If selected, you will receive full financial support from the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC), including:
- Return airfare to the UK
- Full visa fee reimbursement
- Monthly stipend: £2,104 or £2,612 (if based in London)
- Arrival allowance up to £1,183.20 (including warm clothing)
- Up to £2,000 for training, courses, or UK travel related to the programme
- Disability support (if applicable, based on assessment)
This is a fully funded opportunity—there are no application or participation fees.
Required Documents for the Commonwealth Professional Fellowships 2026
You will need the following:
- Completed online application form
- A scan of your passport or national ID
- Two references (including one from your current employer)
- Detailed employment history and relevance to your chosen fellowship
- Statement of how the fellowship fits into your career and development goals
- Development impact statement (four short essays)
- Personal statement (background and motivation)
- Summary of voluntary work and leadership experience
- Health and disability form (after selection, if applicable)
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How to the Apply for the Commonwealth Professional Fellowships 2026 (Step-by-Step)
Follow these steps to apply:
Step 1: Review Available Host Programmes
- Visit the Host Organisation Programmes page
- Choose a programme that matches your background and career goals
Step 2: Prepare Your Documents
- Get your passport/ID scanned
- Request two references, one from your employer
- Gather all employment, education, and personal experience details
Step 3: Complete the Online Application
- Go to the Commonwealth Professional Fellowship Application Form
- Carefully fill in all required fields
Key parts to complete:
- Development impact statement (four sections)
- Career objectives for now and the future
- Personal statement on your journey and goals
- Volunteering and leadership experience
Step 4: Submit Before the Deadline
- Ensure everything is complete and submit by 4:00 PM BST on Friday, 22 August 2025
Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
Confused About How to Apply and Start Securing Scholarships Abroad? Book a Free Consultation today with us:
Deadline
Friday, 22 August 2025 at 4:00 PM BST
Make sure to submit early to avoid last-minute issues. Once the deadline passes, no late entries will be accepted.
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