The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission 

The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) is an international scholarship programme, and in the United Kingdom (UK) is responsible for awarding academically bright citizens of developing Commonwealth countries with funding to undertake postgraduate study at UK universities. The CSC wishes to promote equal opportunity, gender equity and cultural exchange.

Accordion widget - Commonwealth scholarship info

Commonwealth PhD Scholarships

Please note: Applications for the 2024-25 academic year have now closed.
 

Eligibility

To be considered for Imperial Commonwealth PhD 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 academic studies in the UK by the start of the UK academic year in September 2024.
  • By September 2024, hold a first degree of at least upper second-class (2:1) honours standard, or a lower second-class degree and a relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a Master’s degree)
  • hold, by September 2024, a first degree of upper second class Honours standard (or above); or a second class degree and a relevant postgraduate qualification, which will normally be a Master’s degree
  • not be registered for a PhD, or an MPhil leading to a PhD, at a UK university or in their home country before September/October 2024.
  • be unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship.
  • For information on the Imperial Commonwealth Scholarships programme, please refer to the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission website

 How to Apply

You should apply directly through the Commonwealth website; all applications should be made via the nominating agency in your home country.  Applicants are also advised to apply for their programme of choice at Imperial College, as soon as applications open, through the standard application process.

Applications must be submitted by 16:00 (GMT) on 17 October 2023

How much is it worth?

The scholarship covers

  • Approved airfare from the Scholar’s home country to the UK and return at the end of the award
  • Approved tuition fees
  • A stipend (living allowance)
  • Warm clothing allowance, where applicable
  • Study travel grant towards the cost of study-related travel within the UK or overseas.
  • Paid mid-term visit (airfare) to the Scholar’s home country, unless they have claimed or intend to claim spouse and/or child allowances during their scholarship or have received a return airfare to their home country for fieldwork.
  • Family allowances - please see the Financial assistance section for further details  

Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships

Please note: Applications for the 2024-25 academic year are now closed.

 

Eligibility

To be considered for Imperial Commonwealth 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 2024
  • By September 2024, 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
  • For information on the Imperial Commonwealth Scholarships programme, please refer to the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission website

HOW TO APPLY

You should apply directly through the Commonwealth Master's Scholarship website; all applications should be made via the nominating agency in your home country.  Applicants are also advised to apply for their programme of choice at Imperial College, as soon as applications open, through the standard application process.

Applications must be submitted by 16:00 (GMT) on 17 October 2023

How much is it worth?

The scholarship covers

  • Approved airfare from the Scholar’s home country to the UK and return at the end of the award
  • Approved tuition fees
  • A stipend (living allowance)
  • Warm clothing allowance, where applicable.
  • Study travel grant towards the cost of study-related travel within the UK or overseas.

Commonwealth Shared Scholarships

The Commonwealth Shared Scholarships will not be available at Imperial College London in the academic year 2024-25. 

Please check again this page in October 2024 for availabilty in the academic year 2025-26.  

 

 

Commonwealth Split-site Scholarships

Please note: Applications for the 2024-25 academic year have now open

 

Applications are open for Commonwealth Split-site Scholarships for the 2024/25 academic year  for PhD candidates from low and middle-income Commonwealth countries to spend 12 months at a UK university as part of their doctoral studies in their home country.

The closing date for applications, including all supporting documentation, is 16:00 GMT on 5 December 2023.  In addition to the CSC's online application, applicants must apply to study at Imperial.  Candidates should apply to study at Imperial College London for a Research Occasional (FT). This should be Entry term Autumn 2024-25 application.

The scholarships are aimed at high-quality graduates whose proposed research has a developmental focus and who have the potential to become influential teachers or researchers in their home countries.  

Split-site Scholarships are delivered through an existing institutional or departmental link between the candidate’s home university and proposed UK university.

For full details, including eligibility criteria and how to apply, visit Commonwealth Split-Site Scholarships

If you have any questions about either of these schemes, please contact the Student Financial Support team.