Commonwealth Shared Scholarships

Candidates will be assessed by a selection panel based on academic merit, research proposals and the potential impact their studies will have on their home country's development.

Information included in your scholarship and admissions applications will be reviewed by the panel.

The scholarship shortlisting period is expected to be completed by the end of February at the earliest. Shortlisted candidates will then be sent to the Commonwealth Shared Scholarships Commission for review and informed of this in March. Successful awardees will be contacted by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission by June.

There are eight scholarships available for the 2026/27 academic year under the following eligible programmes:

• MSc Global Development (full time)
• MSc Humanitarianism, Aid & Conflict (full time)
• MSc Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Strategy (full time)
• MSc Economic Policy (full time)
• MA International Studies & Diplomacy (full time)

Part-time programmes are not eligible.

In order to be eligible, applicants should:

• Have applied to study at SOAS and hold an unconditional offer by the final shortlisting stage in early January.
• 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 their 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 lower second-class degree (2:2) and a relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a masters degree).
• 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 university without this scholarship.
• Have provided all supporting documentation in the required format as outlined on the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship website.