Commonwealth PhD Scholarship

Eligibility

This scheme is now open for applications for academic year.

To apply for a Commonwealth Scholarship, you 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
• hold or be predicted to gain a first degree of at least 2:1 honours standard or a 2:2 degree with a relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a masters degree)
• be unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship
• provide Commonwealth with all supporting documents in the required format
• not be registered for a PhD, or an MPhil leading to a PhD at a UK university or in your home country before September/October 2026

Subject areas

Scholarships are offered under six themes:

• Science and technology for development
• Strengthening health systems and capacity
• Promoting global prosperity
• Strengthening global peace, security and governance
• Strengthening resilience and response to crises
• Access, inclusion and opportunity