Commonwealth PhD Scholarships (Least Developed Countries and Vulnerable States)

Full tuition, return airfare, a monthly stipend (£1,712, or £2,000 in London, at current rates) and other allowances. Some scholars also get a paid trip home partway through the PhD.

• Citizen of, or refugee from, an eligible least developed or vulnerable Commonwealth country, and permanently resident there
• First degree of at least 2:1, or a 2:2 plus a relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a master's), by September 2027
• Not registered for a PhD (or an MPhil leading to a PhD) before September/October 2026
• Unable to afford UK study without the scholarship
• Committed to returning home afterwards (no switching to a UK graduate visa)
• Eligible countries for 2027 include Bangladesh, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia (17 in total)

For citizens or refugees of the least developed and vulnerable Commonwealth countries who live there permanently and want to do development-focused research. You need at least a 2:1 degree (or a 2:2 plus a relevant master's), must not already have started a PhD, and must apply through a nominating body. Scholars commit to returning home afterwards.

1. 1

   Step 1: Find your nominating body

   Apply through your national nominating agency or an approved NGO or charity, because the CSC doesn't accept direct applications. The nominator sets its own closing date, which may be earlier.

2. 2

   Step 2: Get a UK supervisor's support

   List three universities and supervisors in order of preference. Get a signed supporting statement from a named supervisor at one or more of them, ideally your first choice, and apply for admission early.

3. 3

   Step 3: Complete the CSC Central application

   Apply on CSC Central (portal.csccentralonline.org.uk), including a detailed plan of study and a four-part development impact statement.

4. 4

   Step 4: Upload documents and references

   Upload your ID, transcripts, two references and the supervisor statement by 16:00 BST on 20 October 2026. The CSC accepts nothing sent outside CSC Central.

5. 5

   Step 5: Wait for nomination and results

   Nominators send their candidates to the CSC in December 2026, and results arrive by email by July 2027.

• Passport or national ID card (or proof of refugee status)
• Full transcripts for all higher-education qualifications, with certified translations
• At least two signed references (PDF, on letterhead)
• Signed supporting statement from a proposed UK supervisor
• Plan of study and development impact statement (in the online form)

Deadline

For study starting in September 2027, the CSC deadline is 16:00 BST on Tuesday 20 October 2026, but your nominating body may close earlier.

Applications usually close in mid-to-late October (20 October in 2026) for study starting the following September/October. Nominating bodies may set earlier deadlines. Results usually come by July.