Applications are now open for the 2027/2028 Commonwealth PhD Scholarships, offering talented graduates from eligible Commonwealth countries the opportunity to pursue a full-time doctoral degree at a UK university with comprehensive financial support.

Funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and administered by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC), the programme supports outstanding candidates whose proposed research can contribute to the development of their home countries. The scholarships are particularly aimed at applicants who would not otherwise have the financial means to undertake doctoral studies in the UK.

Successful scholars will join a global network of Commonwealth scholars and researchers while gaining advanced academic and research experience that can contribute to strengthening universities, institutions and other sectors when they return home.

Applicants must be citizens of, or have been granted refugee status by, an eligible Commonwealth country, or be a British Protected Person, and must normally be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country. They must be available to begin their studies in the UK in September or October 2027.

By September 2027, applicants should hold a first degree equivalent to at least a UK upper second-class (2:1) honours degree. Candidates with a lower second-class degree may also be considered if they hold a relevant postgraduate qualification, normally a Master’s degree. Applicants must not already be registered for a PhD, or for an MPhil leading to a PhD, at a UK university or in their home country before September/October 2026. Applicants must also demonstrate that they could not afford to undertake the proposed doctoral study in the UK without receiving the scholarship.

The scholarship provides substantial financial support throughout the award. This includes approved return international airfare, full tuition fees, a monthly living allowance of £1,712, or £2,000 per month for scholars studying at universities within the London metropolitan area. Scholars may also receive a study travel grant, approved funding for overseas fieldwork, and a paid mid-term return visit to their home country, subject to the applicable conditions.

Additional financial support is available for eligible scholars travelling with their families. Current allowances include a spouse allowance of £313 per month and child allowances of £313 per month for the first child and £154 per month for the second and third child under 16. Eligible widowed, divorced or single-parent scholars may receive £622 per month for the first child and £154 per month for the second and third child under 16, subject to the scholarship’s conditions.

The programme is particularly suited to graduates with strong academic backgrounds and the potential to conduct high-quality research with meaningful development impact. Proposed research should demonstrate relevance to the development priorities of the applicant’s home country and the wider Commonwealth.

Applications for the 2027/2028 academic year opened on 8 September 2026 and must be submitted by 16:00 BST on 20 October 2026. Applicants should apply through the CSC Central application system and ensure that all required supporting documents are provided in the specified format before the deadline.

The scholarships are intended for doctoral studies beginning in the UK during September/October 2027.

Scroll down for more details and click on the official link attached below to apply for this opportunity