Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme

The University of Edinburgh has two Commonwealth Shared Scholarships to offer for the 2026-2027 academic year.

About the Scholarship

The Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme is a joint initiative between the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and UK universities, including the University of Edinburgh, to jointly support scholarships for students from developing Commonwealth countries who would not otherwise be able to study in the United Kingdom.

Applications from students planning to study the following eligible programmes will be considered for 2026-2027:

Awards will normally be for one year. Awards cannot be extended or renewed. At the end of the award, candidates are required to return promptly to their home country.

To apply for these scholarships, you must:

  • Be a citizen of or have been granted refugee status by an eligible Commonwealth country
  • 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 Master’s degree)
  • Not have studied or worked for more than 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
  • Have applied for admission to The University of Edinburgh. You do not, however, need to have received an offer of admission prior to applying for this scholarship.

The Commonwealth Scholarships Commission requires that the University certify when submitting its shortlist of candidates that they are sufficiently proficient in the English language to cope with the programme of study for which they have applied. This will normally mean that you will have to have satisfied any requirements concerning competence in the English language which are a condition of your offer of admission.


The award is financed jointly by the University of Edinburgh and DfID. The award will cover: (i) All tuition fees; (ii) Air fare to and from the United Kingdom; (iii) Expenses for accommodation and maintenance. Payments for the academic year 2025-2026 are set at £1,687 per month for the programme of study. 


Applications for Commonwealth Shared Scholarships for the 2026/2027 academic year are now open and can be submitted via the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission's CSC Central Application Portal

Applicants can find full details and apply via the official website at:
Commonwealth Shared Scholarships – Applications

The CSC is unable to accept any applications or documentation not submitted via the online application system. 

The closing date for applications is Tuesday 9th December at 16:00 (UK Time).


All applicants will be informed of the result of their application by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission.

It is anticipated that results will be available by Mid-March 2026.


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