Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme at University College London 2026

The aim of the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme (CSSS) is to assist students from developing Commonwealth countries who are of excellent academic calibre but for financial reasons would not otherwise be able to afford to study in the United Kingdom. The scheme allows them to benefit from postgraduate study at a university in the United Kingdom which will help them to contribute toward the development of their home countries.

Awards are for taught Master's programmes only, subjects must be related to the economic, social and technological development of a candidate's country.

• Table of Content
• About Commonwealth
• Commonwealth Masters Scholarship
• Aim and Benefits of Commonwealth Masters Scholarship
• Requirements for Commonwealth Masters Scholarship Qualification
• Interview date, Process and Venue for Commonwealth Masters Scholarship
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

Commonwealth Masters Scholarship

Aim and Benefits of Commonwealth Masters Scholarship

• The award will cover tuition fees, a maintenance allowance, economy air travel to and from the UK at the beginning and end of the scholar’s degree programme plus additional discretionary allowances. 
• Awards are normally tenable for one year only.

Requirements for Commonwealth Masters Scholarship Qualification

Applicants must:

• be a Commonwealth citizen, refugee, or British Protected Person;
• be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country;
• be available to start your academic studies in the UK by the start of the UK academic year in September/October 2026;
• by September 2026, hold a first degree of either first or upper second class (2:1) classification, or lower second class (2:2) classification plus a relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a Master’s degree). If you are applying for a second UK Master’s degree, you will need to provide justification as to why you wish to undertake this study;
• 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;
• have applied for admission to UCL for one of the eligible programmes below:

Interview date, Process and Venue for Commonwealth Masters Scholarship

• The CSSS is a shared scholarship between the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) and UCL, and selected candidates have to be accepted and approved by both parties, hence the requirement to also complete the CSSS online application form. 
• The successful and reserve candidates will be selected upon the recommendation of an academic panel and the Student Funding Office.

Check also:
Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UBC 2027
Chevening Scholarship 2027

Application Deadline

How to Apply

• Candidates must apply for the scholarship via the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) portal.
• In order to be considered for an award, the student must also have an active admission application (including references) with UCL by 20 January 2026.
• For information on how to apply for admission to UCL, please see the How to Apply section of our online prospectus.

For more information, kindly visit UCL scholarship webpage.