University of Nottingham, Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK and Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office - Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme

What the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship covers

At the University of Nottingham, you will receive a full master's scholarship. This covers 100% of your tuition fees, a return flight from your home country to the UK, and a monthly living allowance. On arrival, you will also receive additional grants to support your studies and the writing of your Master’s thesis (your final research project for the Master’s programme). You may also be eligible for a winter clothing allowance and a family allowance. The scholarship runs for 12 months, which is the duration of a one-year Master’s programme. It is funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission and the University of Nottingham. Three of these scholarships will be awarded.

Who can apply

• Where you come from: You are a national of one of the eligible Commonwealth countries (such as Nigeria, India, Kenya, Ghana, Pakistan, Bangladesh and South Africa) or have been recognised as a refugee in one of these countries and live there permanently.
• Course: You are studying one of five named Master’s programmes in Nottingham: LLM in Human Rights Law, MSc in Advanced Civil Engineering, MSc in Environmental Process Engineering, MA in International Security and Terrorism, or MSc in Environmental Leadership and Management.
• Admission: You have applied for your chosen degree programme in Nottingham. You can only be shortlisted once you have been offered a place.
• Degree: You must hold at least an upper second-class honours degree (2:1) or a degree at level 2:2 as well as a relevant postgraduate qualification, which must be completed by September 2026.
• Time abroad: You have not studied or worked in a high-income country for a year or more.
• Financial need: Without this scholarship, you wouldn’t have been able to afford to study in the UK.
• Start date: You can start your degree in the UK in September 2026.
• Age: No age limit.

How to apply

There are two things you need to do. Firstly, apply for your degree programme at the University of Nottingham and allow at least 6 weeks for your application to be processed. Secondly, submit a separate scholarship application via the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission’s online portal, CSC Central. The application deadline is 9 December 2025, 16:00 GMT. In March 2026, Nottingham will draw up a shortlist of candidates and submit it to the Commission, which will make the final decision. Once you have completed your studies, you must return to your home country.

How realistic are your chances?

As there are only three scholarships available for five specific degree programmes, competition is very fierce. The selection process takes into account not only your academic results but also your potential to make a genuine contribution to development in your home country. If you are clearly suited to one of the degree programmes mentioned, have achieved excellent results and can demonstrate both financial need and leadership potential, you stand a good chance. A convincing, well-supported explanation of how you will use your degree in your home country is just as important as your grades. You should therefore apply early and secure your offer of admission to Nottingham in good time.