Commonwealth Shared Scholarships

These scholarships are jointly offered by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission and selected UK universities. They support students from developing Commonwealth countries who would not otherwise be able to study in the United Kingdom.

Level of study

This scholarship is for postgraduate master’s study.

Subject areas

This scholarship is for study on specific courses across a range of subject areas. The list of eligible programmes for 2021 will be published here in February 2021:

• 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

What is covered

This scholarship covers:

• your tuition fees
• return travel costs
• a monthly stipend
• an allowances package
• costs for a mandatory tuberculosis test

Who can apply

To apply for this scholarship you must:

• be a British Protected Person, a citizen of, or a refugee in, one of the following countries:
  • Bangladesh
  • Cameroon
  • Eswatini
  • Ghana
  • India
  • Kenya
  • Kiribati
  • Lesotho
  • Malawi
  • Mozambique
  • Nigeria
  • Pakistan
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Rwanda
  • Sierra Leone
  • Solomon Islands
  • Sri Lanka
  • Tanzania
  • The Gambia
  • Tuvalu
  • Uganda
  • Vanuatu
  • Zambia
• live permanently in one of the countries listed
• be available to start your studies in September/October 2021
• hold one of the following degrees by October 2021:
  
  • a first degree of at least upper second class (2:1) honours standard
  • a second class degree (2:2) and a relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a master’s degree)
• not have studied or worked for one (academic) year or more in a high income country
• be unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship
• provide all supporting documentation in the required format

How to apply

Applications for Commonwealth Shared Scholarships are currently closed but are expected to open in February 2021.

1.    Apply for this scholarship on the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission’s website.

2.    Shortlisted applicants will be invited to apply for their chosen course using our online postgraduate application form.

Further information

The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission provides more information on this scholarship.

The Commission will normally only fund your first UK master’s degree. You’ll need to provide justification if you’re applying for a second UK master’s degree.

Further Commonwealth Scholarship opportunities include:

• Commonwealth Master's Scholarship
• Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship
• Commonwealth PhD Scholarship
• Commonwealth Split-site Scholarship

What’s it like to be a University of Southampton Commonwealth Shared Scholar?

Meet some of our most recent scholars as they share their experience of being a Commonwealth Shared Scholar at the University of Southampton.