Commonwealth Shared Scholarships

About this funding

Commonwealth Shared Scholarships are intended for applicants who have applied for an eligible postgraduate programme. There are seven awards available for the 2027/28 academic year.

It supports successful applicants to become leaders and innovators when they return to their home countries.

Commonwealth Shared Scholarships are jointly funded by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) in the UK and participating UK universities.  

This work combines sustainable development with the UK national interest. It provides opportunities for international partnerships and collaboration.  

You can apply if you:

• are from a least developed and/or middle-income Commonwealth country
• have not already studied for a year or more in a high-income country
• would not otherwise afford to study in the UK

and

• have the potential to enhance the development of their home countries with the knowledge and skills they gain. 

For full eligibility requirements, visit the Commonwealth Shared Scholarships website. 

Eligible one-year taught postgraduate programmes:

There are seven awards available for the 2027/28 academic year.

• LLM Health, Law and Society
• MSc Artificial Intelligence for Medicine and Health
• MSc Climate Change Science and Policy
• MSc Global Development and Environment
• MSc Medical Statistics and Health Data Science
• MSc Public Policy
• MSc Sustainable Engineering.

You must apply using the Commonwealth Commission's online application system. The application will ask you how your inclusion will benefit your home country.

Please note that during the selection process, we can only consider scholarship applications from candidates who have: 

• Applied for a place on an eligible programme
• A valid University of Bristol student ID.

Applications will be considered according to the following selection criteria:

• Candidate merit
• Quality of research proposal
• Potential impact on the development of the candidate’s home country.

Due to the high volume of scholarship applications we receive, priority will be given to applicants who hold an unconditional offer of study at the time of selection.

The deadline to apply for September 2027 entry is 16:00 (GMT) on Tuesday 8 December 2026.

We will inform nominated and reserve candidates in Spring 2027.

Financial assistance

Commonwealth Shared Scholarships cover:

• approved tuition fees
• maintenance/living cost stipend (living allowance)
• approved airfare from the scholar's home country to the UK and return at the end of the award
• thesis grant
• study travel grant (if applicable)
• warm clothing allowance
• a contribution towards the cost of a mandatory tuberculosis (TB) test, where required for visa application
• family allowances (if applicable).

More information

Visit the Commonwealth Shared Scholarships website to find out more about:

• the financial help provided
• applicant eligibility
• selection process
• completing the application form
• the terms and conditions.