Commonwealth Shared Scholarship

Eligibility is targeted specifically at candidates from least developed and lower-middle-income Commonwealth countries who could not otherwise afford to study in the UK. Pakistan is on the current list of eligible countries, alongside nations such as Bangladesh, Ghana, India, Kenya, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Uganda, and others, most drawn from South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Pacific. Applicants must demonstrate they could not otherwise afford to study in the UK without the scholarship, which the CSC checks alongside academic merit and development impact potential.

Unlike the standalone Commonwealth Master's Scholarship, applicants do not apply to the CSC directly first; instead, each participating UK university publishes its own list of CSC-linked courses for the cycle, and candidates apply through that specific university's application system (often the CSC Central online portal), after which the university nominates finalists to the CSC for final confirmation and funding release. This means the actual available courses, subjects, and number of places change from year to year and university to university, so applicants must check current course lists rather than assuming any Master's programme qualifies.

Financially, the scheme covers full tuition fees, return economy airfare to and from the UK, a means-tested monthly stipend (GBP 1,452 outside London, GBP 1,781 within London as of the most recent cycle), thesis grants where relevant, and additional allowances such as a warm-clothing grant and, where applicable, child allowances for scholars who bring dependent children. Selection strongly favours applicants who can articulate how their study will contribute to development outcomes back in their home country.