Commonwealth Master's Scholarships
Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK
UK FCDO-funded scholarships for one-year taught Master's study at a UK university, for citizens of eligible low- and middle-income Commonwealth countries (Ghana is listed) who could not otherwise afford UK study. Apply via CSC Central and Ghana's Scholarships Secretariat.
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Eligibility
- Who can apply
- Bangladesh, Belize, Botswana, Dominica, Eswatini, Fiji and 38 more
- Education required
- Bachelors completed
- Fields
- Any field of study
- Language
- The CSC does not require IELTS; the UK university may require proof of English for admission
- Residency
- Must be a citizen of, or have refugee status in, an eligible Commonwealth country and be permanently resident there
- Also required
- Hold by September 2027 a first degree of at least upper second-class (2:1) standard, or a 2:2 plus a relevant postgraduate qualification
- Be unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship
- Be available to start in the UK in September 2027
- Apply both to the CSC (CSC Central) and to your nominating agency; in Ghana this is the Scholarships Secretariat, Accra (scholarships.gov.gh)
- Not previously studied at Master's level at a UK institution or held a Commonwealth Master's Scholarship; second Master's degrees normally not funded
- Course must be a one-year taught Master's (MBAs and fossil-fuel sector study not funded); list three university/course choices in order of preference
- Commit to return home at the end of the award; switching to a UK graduate visa is not permitted
- Employees/relatives of the UK Government, ACU or British Council staff and Commissioners are ineligible
About this opportunity
The agency-nominated Commonwealth Master's Scholarship is the CSC's main Master's programme, funded by the UK FCDO. It supports full-time, one-year taught Master's degrees (no MBAs) at UK universities under six development themes: science and technology; innovation and entrepreneurship; resilience and crisis response; population health; peace, security and governance; and access, inclusion and opportunity.
Candidates must be citizens of (or refugees in) one of 43 eligible Commonwealth countries, including Ghana, be permanently resident there, hold at least a 2:1 (or 2:2 plus a relevant postgraduate qualification) by September 2027, and commit to returning home. Apply on CSC Central AND to a nominator (in Ghana, the Scholarships Secretariat, Accra); the CSC accepts no direct applications. The 2027/28 round opens 8 September 2026 and closes 20 October 2026 at 16:00 BST.
- Level
- Master's
- Where
- United Kingdom
- Duration
- 1 year (one-year taught Master's only)
- Difficulty
- High · about 8 weeks to prepare
Funding
Fully funded
- tuition
- stipend
- travel
- research costs
- family allowance
Full tuition fees; stipend of GBP 1,712 per month (GBP 2,000 in the London metropolitan area); return airfare; study travel grant; child allowance of GBP 622/month (first child) for widowed, divorced or single-parent scholars; disability support assessment. Rates quoted at current levels.
What you will need
- Passport or national ID
- Academic transcripts
- Reference letters (2)
- Personal statement
Upload to CSC Central by the deadline: passport or national ID; full transcripts for all higher-education study (certified translations if not in English); at least two signed references in PDF on letterhead or as an email showing the sender's details (three referees are listed on the form; one must be the current employer if applicable). The form also requires a four-part Development Impact statement, a detailed plan of study, a personal statement, career plans and leadership/voluntary activity summary. No university offer letter is needed at application, but apply for admission early.
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