Fully Funded Commonwealth Scholarship 2026/2027 | A-Z Application Guide + Samples

Lucy Ikpesu-Ewhubare2 weeks agoLast Updated: August 24, 2025

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How to Apply for the Commonwealth Scholarship 2026/2027 - ScholarWaka

The Commonwealth Scholarship will officially open on 2 September 2025. This is how to apply for the Commonwealth Scholarship 2026/2027, and truly, it is the perfect time to start preparing your application. These scholarships remain one of the most prestigious opportunities for students from low- and middle-income Commonwealth countries, offering the chance to study in the UK fully funded with tuition, flights, visa costs, accommodation, living allowance, and even warm clothing stipends covered.

For many students, especially those from low-income families, this scholarship represents a true life-changing escape route to advanced education abroad without financial burden. But the truth is: the application process is highly competitive and requires early preparation.

From 23+ rejections to a Commonwealth Scholarship in 2021 — Lucy Ikpesu-Ewhubare, Founder of ScholarWaka, shares the strategies you need to succeed.

My Journey: How to Apply for the Commonwealth Scholarship 2026/2027 After 23+ Rejections

Before diving into the steps, let me share a bit of my story. For over three years, I applied to multiple scholarships, wrote to professors around the world, and faced rejection after rejection — over 23 times. I even secured partial funding at some point, but remained determined to win a fully funded award.

The Success After 23+ Rejections

Finally, in June 2021, I was selected for the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship. That experience taught me not only resilience but also how the system works, and today I use that knowledge to help others succeed.

I share this because I know what it feels like to struggle, to doubt yourself, and to feel the weight of rejection. If I could push through and eventually win, then so can you.

Read Lucy’s Story Here 👇

A Must Read: How I Faced 23+ Scholarship Rejections Before I Finally Got a Yes By Lucy Ikpesu-Ewhubare- ScholarWaka

CLICK HERE TO READ HER STORY

Why Learning How to Apply for the Commonwealth Scholarship 2026/2027 Matters

The Commonwealth Scholarships are designed to support talented individuals who cannot otherwise afford to study in the UK. The majority of Scholarships are funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), to contribute to the UK’s international development aims and wider overseas interests, supporting excellence in UK higher education, and sustaining the principles of the Commonwealth. The program has multiple categories, including:

Commonwealth PhD Scholarships (for least developed countries and fragile states)
Commonwealth Split-site Scholarships (for low and middle-income countries)
Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships
Commonwealth Shared Scholarships
Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships
Commonwealth PhD Scholarships (for high-income countries as defined by the OECD)
Commonwealth Professional Fellowships

If selected for the Commonwealth Scholarship 2026/2027, you will receive fully funded financial support, including:

Tuition fees are fully covered by your UK university.
Round-trip airfare to and from your home country.

Monthly stipend:

£1,452/month (outside London)
£1,781/month (within London)

Study travel grant for research-related travel within or outside the UK.
Warm clothing allowance (if needed).
Child allowance (for single/widowed/divorced parents):

£622/month for the first child
£154/month for each of the next two children under 16
Disability support: Additional funding based on individual needs.

In this article, we’ll focus mainly on the Master’s and PhD Scholarship pathways — to help you move to the UK, study at top universities, and build your career for free.

Interested in more scholarships like the Commonwealth opportunity. Explore these below:

Key Preparation Steps: How to Apply for the Commonwealth Scholarship 2026/2027

The application window is usually short—only a few weeks. If you wait until it opens, you may not have enough time to pull together a strong application. This is how to prepare now:

1. Align Your Course with the Six Development Themes

Your proposed field of study must connect to one of the six development themes defined by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC), and these include:

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

Before applying, decide on your academic interest and match it carefully with one of these themes.

You can use this link to see examples of different course and their development theme. This will give you an idea of what course to search for at the selected UK universities.

KINDLY TAKE NOTE: The above link is an example – this is to guide you on your course selection and for you to know what development theme it is aligned to. You can apply to more courses and universities not on this list.

2. Identify Eligible Universities and Courses

You can select up to three courses at three different UK universities in your application. Shortlist wisely.

KINDLY TAKE NOTE: Scholars undertaking Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships, PhD Scholarships for least developed countries and fragile states, and Split-Site Scholarships are only placed at universities that have signed an MOU with the Commission. See the list of eligible UK Universities.

Things to do:

Find an eligible UK University
Visit each university’s course page.
Check entry requirements (degree class, IELTS, work experience, etc.).
Verify whether they charge an application fee. Some UK universities require this.

You don’t want surprises after submitting your scholarship application. And you cannot change any chosen course or university after submitting your scholarship application forms.

3. For PhD Applicants: Secure a Supervisor Early

If you are aiming for a PhD scholarship, this is critical. You must:

Prepare a well-structured research proposal aligned with one of the development themes.
Identify and contact a potential supervisor willing to work with you.
Very importantly, secure a confirmation letter from the supervisor – it greatly strengthens your application, and it is a criterion for a complete PhD application.

Remember: no supervisor, no proposal = no PhD application.

4. Secure Nomination

The Commonwealth Master’s and PhD Scholarships are an agency-nominated programme. As well as applying for the scholarships, applicants must apply to a nominator through a nominating agency.

There are two types of nominees invited to participate in the Master’s and PhD scholarships programme:

National nominating agencies – this is the main route of application.
Selected non-governmental organisations and charitable bodies.

Kindly note that each of these nominators has their own eligibility and selection criteria – they have their own processes and may ask for additional documents, volunteering experience, or commitments. It is the applicant’s responsibility to research their eligibility before selecting or applying via the agency.

These are some tips on how to contact the nominating agencies;

Visit each of the nominator’s websites – You will find all their names and links to their site with the links above.
Check and identify the ones for which you are eligible. For example, some nominators are particular to some countries, groups of people, gender, or specific mission/objectives. So, please check before you choose.
If you are choosing the National nominating agencies, visit their website and search for their eligibility requirements and the next steps for them to nominate you.
If you are choosing the non-governmental organisations and charitable bodies, check the Eligible Master’s or PhD Countries and mission to ensure you are a strong fit. If yes, get their contact email.
SEND an email to the non-governmental organisations and charitable bodies – requesting that they nominate you. See the link to the email sample below;

Recommendation for Africans:

Other than the other NGOs and Charitable bodies, I strongly advise you to check the following websites;

HALI Access Network – The HALI Access Network is an association of non-profit organisations (NGOs) in Africa that work with high-achieving, low-income (HALI) students to access international higher education opportunities. Here is the list of all the NGOs under their network from different African countries. Please use points 1 – 5 above to request a nomination.
Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) – FAWE is a pan-African Non-Government Organisation established to champion for education rights for girls in Africa, with a presence in 33 African countries. Females are highly advised to reach out to them for nomination. Please use points 1 – 5 above to request a nomination.

So, start reaching out now. Without a nominating agency, your application will not even be considered. Ensure you get a ‘YES’ from the nominator before you select them in your application form – You cannot change your application once submitted.

Check out these related scholarship opportunities you may be interested in:

See the Nomination Email Sample Below (Commonwealth Scholarship 2026/2027)

Sample Email 1 for Nominating Agencies: How to Apply for the Commonwealth Scholarship 2026/2027

Email Subject: Nomination for the 2026/2027 UK Commonwealth Masters or PhD Scholarship

Dear [Contact’s Name],

I hope this email finds you well.

My name is [Your Full Name] and I am writing to respectfully request your consideration for nomination as a candidate for the prestigious 2026/2027 Commonwealth [Masters or PhD] Scholarship to enable me to pursue my [Masters or PhD] studies in the United Kingdom.

As an African [girl/boy] seeking funding to pursue his/her [Master’s or PhD] studies, the prestigious Commonwealth [Master’s or PhD] Scholarship would be a great opportunity for me to make my academic and career goals come true. And with my passion for sustainable development and economic growth, I believe that my studies in the UK, funded by the Commonwealth [Master’s or PhD] Scholarship, would advance my knowledge through the excellent practical learning and teaching methodology in the UK.

[Name of the Nominating agency, e.g WAAW Foundation] as a nominating organisation [under the HALI Access Network] which is responsible for nominating scholarship applicants to be considered for the scholarship, I kindly request your nomination for the 2026/2027 Commonwealth [Masters or PhD] scholarship as this is a major factor for me to be considered for the scholarship.

The application for the scholarship opens on the 2 of September 2025, and I will be processing my submission once it opens. Kindly let me know what information and requirements you need from me to be nominated through [Name of the Nominating agency].

Thank you so much for all you do. I look forward to a favourable consideration and nomination.

Best Regard;

[Your Full Name]

2026/2027 Commonwealth [Masters or PhD] Scholarship Applicant

[Your Email]

[Phone Number]

Sample Email 2 for Nominating Agencies: How to Apply for the Commonwealth Scholarship 2026/2027

Subject: Request for Nomination – Commonwealth [Master’s/PhD] Scholarship 2026/2027

Dear [Contact’s Name],

I trust this message finds you well.

My name is [Your Full Name], and I am reaching out to respectfully request your support for nomination to the 2026/2027 Commonwealth [Master’s or PhD] Scholarship. This opportunity is particularly important to me as it represents not only a pathway to academic excellence but also a means of contributing meaningfully to the sustainable development of [my/our] community and country.

With my strong passion for [insert your academic field, e.g., public health, sustainable energy, governance, etc.], I believe that studying in the UK under the Commonwealth Scholarship will equip me with the skills and knowledge to drive impactful change. The program’s focus on leadership, development, and global collaboration aligns perfectly with both my academic goals and professional aspirations.

As [Name of the Nominating Agency] plays a key role in nominating qualified candidates for this scholarship, I am kindly requesting your nomination. I would also be grateful if you could advise me on any internal requirements or documentation that your office may need to support my application.

I understand that the application window opens on 2 September 2025, and I am preparing all necessary documents to ensure a complete and timely submission.

Thank you very much for considering my request. I sincerely look forward to your guidance and support in this process.

Warm regards,

2026/2027 Commonwealth [Masters or PhD] Scholarship Applicant

[Your Full Name]

[Your Contact Information]

5. Prepare Your Essays in Advance

Your essays are the most important part of the application. The questions rarely change from year to year, so you can start drafting now.

The samples of information needed for completing the application forms for the Master’s and PhD scholarships

Tips for strong essays:

Development challenges in your home country and how your studies will help address them
Your leadership and community service experience
Your career plans after graduation and how they contribute to national/global development

Use specific examples from your experience.
Demonstrate leadership, community development, resilience, and problem-solving skills.
Show how your studies in the UK will directly impact your community back home.
Revise multiple times and get accountability partners to review.

6. Build Leadership and Community Service Profile

The CSC is not only funding your education—it is investing in your potential to create change. Volunteering, mentoring, starting initiatives, or leading community projects will significantly improve your chances. Start building or strengthening this profile now.

7. Gather Your Documents Early

Essential documents include:

Valid passport
Academic transcripts & certificates
Two or more references (academic and professional)
For PhD applicants: Research proposal + supervisor’s support statement

Do not wait until the last minute. Some documents (especially references) can take weeks to secure.

Eligibility at a Glance: How to Apply for the Commonwealth Scholarship 2026/2027

To be eligible, you must:

Be a citizen or permanent resident of a Commonwealth country
Unable to afford studying in the UK without this scholarship
Be available to start studies in September/October 2026
For Master’s: hold at least a second-class upper (2:1) or strong second-class lower (2:2 with postgraduate experience)
For PhD: already hold a Master’s degree and a research proposal aligned to development themes

Words of Encouragement: How to Apply for the Commonwealth Scholarship 2026/2027

Applying for the Commonwealth Scholarships is not just about paperwork—it’s about telling your story of impact, leadership, and potential. As someone who once felt that studying abroad was only for the rich, I can confidently say that this opportunity is open to anyone willing to prepare and persevere.

I encourage you to:

Start early
Stay consistent
Surround yourself with accountability partners
Believe that you can win

I went from 23+ rejections to being a Commonwealth Scholar—and you can too.

Next Steps For You:

Visit the official Commonwealth Scholarship website for the latest details.
Start preparing your essays and documents now.
Connect with a nominating agency before September.

Deadline – Start Here: How to Apply for the Commonwealth Scholarship 2026/2027

For daily updates and mentorship opportunities, click here to join our community. And if you’re serious about winning, look out for my upcoming mentorship program (click here to register for free), where I’ll personally guide selected applicants.

Applications open on September 2, 2025, for the 2026 academic year.

Don’t wait—start preparing today.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMTAION & HOW TO APPLY

Confused About How to Apply and Start Securing Scholarships Abroad? Book a Free Consultation today with us:

Free Consultation For 30-Minute with Lucy Ikpesu-Ewhubare

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Are You Confused About Where and How to Start Securing Scholarships Abroad?:

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Fully Funded Commonwealth Scholarship 2026/2027 | A-Z Application Guide + Samples

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