Applications for the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships for the 2026/27 academic year are now open. The scholarships are for study in the UK beginning in September/October 2026. 

The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (CSC) is offering full scholarships to South African students to undertake one-year, full-time taught Master’s programmes at UK universities or higher education institutions with which the CSC has a part-funding agreement.

These scholarships aim to empower talented and motivated individuals who would not otherwise be able to afford to study in the UK, equipping them with the knowledge and skills necessary for sustainable development.

For full details, visit: Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships

Degree level

One-year taught Master’s programmes

Deadlines

The closing date for applications (including all supporting documentation) is Tuesday, 21 October 2025 at 16:00 British Summer Time (BST). 

Applicants are requested, if possible, to submit their applications between 21:00 to 06:00 BST as the system is quieter during these times. 

Who can apply? 

To apply for these scholarships, you must:

  • Be a citizen of or have been granted refugee status by an eligible Commonwealth country, or be a 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 2026;
  • By September 2026, hold a first degree of at least upper second class (2:1) honours standard, OR a second-class degree (2:2) and a relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a Master’s degree). The CSC would not normally fund a second UK 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;
  • Be unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship;
  • Provide full transcripts detailing ALL your higher education qualifications including to-date transcripts for any qualifications you are currently studying (with certified translations if not in English) – uploaded to the online application system;
  • Provide references from at least two individuals, in PDF format, signed and either on institutional letterhead, or an email clearly showing the sender's details.

The CSC would not under normal circumstance fund a second UK Master’s degree. If candidates are applying for a second UK Master’s degree, they will need to provide strong justification as to why they wish to undertake this study.

Fields of Study

 The awards are offered under six development themes:

 The CSC does not fund MBAs.

 Visit https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/csc-development-themes/ to read more about the development themes. 

What the scholarship offers

 Each scholarship provides:

  • Approved airfare from your home country to the UK and return at the end of your award;
  • Approved tuition fees;
  • Stipend (living allowance);
  • Warm clothing allowance, where applicable; 
  • Thesis grant towards the cost of preparing a thesis or dissertation, where applicable;
  • Study travel grant towards the cost of study-related travel within the UK or overseas;
  • A child allowance of £622 per month for the first child, and £154 per month for the second and third child under the age of 16, if you are accompanied by your children and they are living with you at the same address in the UK;
  • If you share that you have a disability, a full assessment of your needs and eligibility for additional financial support will be offered by the CSC.

Note: The CSC’s family allowances are intended to only be used as a contribution towards the cost of maintaining your family in the UK. The true costs are likely to be considerably higher. You must be able to supplement these allowances to support any family members who come to the UK with you.

Application process

The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) is a nominating agency for South African citizens. Applicants must select "South Africa: Higher Education and Training" in the online application.

All applications must be submitted through the CSC’s online application system (no paper applications or late submissions accepted).

Note: Please note that all candidates are recruited in line with the CSC's anti-fraud policy and procedure which can be viewed here.

The CSC does not charge candidates who apply for any of its scholarships or fellowships through its online application system and it does not charge organisations to nominate candidates its programmes.

Selection process

 Applications will be considered according to the following selection criteria:

  •  Academic merit of the candidate;
  •  Quality of the study plan;
  •  Potential impact on the development of the candidate’s home country.

Further general conditions, information and guidelines can be found on the CSC website.

The final selection will be made by the CSC and candidates can expect to receive the outcome of their applications by July 2026.

Contact

For general enquiries about applying for Commonwealth Scholarships or Fellowships; please use the Contact us form. Should you experience any technical issues, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Documents and links

Commonwealth Scholarship Commission Programme Page  

CSC website

CSC development themes

Handbook for Commonwealth Scholars  

Advice for Applicants page 

Note 

Please note that this opportunity is not offered by the Department of Higher Education and Training. Applicants are required to undertake their own research into programmes and institutions and are responsible for ensuring that the qualifications will be recognised in South Africa by contacting the South African Qualifications Authority and the relevant professional bodies. If there are any discrepancies in the details provided, the information given by the sponsor supersedes the details provided above. No additional financial support will be provided by the Department of Higher Education and Training.

 
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