Commonwealth Scholarships 2027 | Fully Funded, Closes Oct 20
About the Commonwealth Scholarships 2027
The Commonwealth Scholarships 2027 are fully funded awards from the UK’s Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) for Master’s and PhD study at UK universities, starting September/October 2027. They are funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and are meant for talented people who could not otherwise afford to study in the UK.
Ugandan applicants can be nominated through the Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE), one of the organisations the CSC has invited to put candidates forward this cycle. Being nominated is the first step, not a guarantee: the CSC usually receives about three times more nominations than it can fund.
Through FAWE, Master’s nominations are open to applicants from Eswatini, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, The Gambia, Togo, Uganda and Zambia. PhD nominations are open to Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, The Gambia, Togo, Uganda and Zambia.
Eligibility Requirements
- Must be a citizen of, or have refugee status in, an eligible Commonwealth country such as Uganda
- Must be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country
- Must be available to start studies in the UK by September 2027
- By September 2027, must hold at least an upper second-class (2:1) first degree, or a lower second-class degree plus a relevant postgraduate qualification
- Must be unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship
- Master’s applicants: must not have already studied a Master’s at a UK university or held a Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship
- PhD applicants: must not be registered for a PhD, or an MPhil leading to a PhD, before September/October 2026
- Must select FAWE as the nominating agency in the online application
Study Options
One year of full-time taught Master’s study at an approved UK university. MBA degrees are not funded.
36 months of full-time doctoral research at an approved UK university, for candidates from least developed and vulnerable Commonwealth countries, including Uganda.
Scholarship Benefits
Approved tuition fees are paid in full by agreement between the CSC and the UK university.
An approved flight from Uganda to the UK, and back home when the award ends.
A living allowance of £1,712 per month, or £2,000 per month at universities in the London area (current rates).
A contribution towards study-related travel within the UK or overseas.
For widowed, divorced or single-parent scholars whose children live with them in the UK: £622 per month for the first child and £154 per month each for the second and third child under 16.
Scholars who share that they have a disability are offered a full assessment of their needs and any extra financial support.
Key Dates
CSC applications opened
Application deadline (6:00 PM Kampala time)
FAWE and other nominators submit their candidates to the CSC
Applicants hear the outcome by email
Studies begin in the UK
Required Documents
- Proof of citizenship or refugee status: a copy of a valid passport or national ID showing your photo, date of birth and country of citizenship
- Full transcripts for all higher education qualifications, including courses you are currently studying
- At least two references in PDF, signed and on institutional letterhead (or an email clearly showing the sender’s details)
- PhD applicants only: a signed supporting statement from a proposed UK supervisor
Everything must be uploaded with the online application before the deadline. The CSC does not accept late documents or hard copies, and an incomplete application is ineligible.
Selection Criteria
- Candidate merit: academic record and leadership experience
- Quality of the study plan: how well thought-through your proposed course or research is
- Potential impact back home: how clearly your study connects to development in Uganda
Use your personal statement to make the link to Uganda explicit. FAWE notes that the panel reads it closely, even though it isn’t scored separately.
The CSC’s list of nominating organisations describes FAWE as nominating female candidates, so check with FAWE before applying through this route. All Commonwealth Scholars commit to returning home after their studies, and the CSC never charges a fee to apply.
How to Apply
- Apply for admission to your preferred UK universities first, and list three choices in order of preference. Without an admission offer, the scholarship may not go ahead.
- Contact FAWE early. It reviews candidates internally before the CSC deadline and will explain its own process and dates.
- Complete the Commonwealth Scholarships 2027 application on CSC Central, the CSC’s online system (it needs a smartphone or a second email account for two-step login), and select FAWE as your nominating agency. Guides are linked on FAWE’s call for nominations.
- Upload every required document and submit before 16:00 UK time (6:00 PM Kampala) on Tuesday 20 October 2026. The system gets very busy near the deadline and late applications are not accepted.
Don’t contact the CSC directly about your nomination status. That goes through FAWE.
Contact & Inquiries
fawescholarships@fawe.org
Plot 328, Magulu Close
Bukoto, Kampala
Applications close October 20, 2026 at 5:00 am
Apply well before the deadline: portals get slow on the last day, and a nominating body can close earlier than the main deadline.
Or read the official details at fawe.or
Never pay for a scholarship. Genuine scholarship programmes do not charge application, processing or placement fees. Anyone asking you to pay to apply, or to send money to secure a place, is running a scam.
