Applications are open for the Commonwealth Distance Learning Masters Scholarship 2026/2027. The Commonwealth Distance Learning programme is one of three Master’s programmes offered by the Commonwealth Scholarships Commission.

The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (CSC) provides the UK government scholarship scheme guided by international development objectives; it works within the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP).

 

What the scholarship covers

A Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship covers:

• Tuition fees
• Study grants where required

Other scholarships, awards, or bursaries that cover the same costs may not be held at the same time; candidates should check this before they Submit any application.

Eligibility requirements for Commonwealth Distance Learning Masters Scholarship 2026

To be considered, candidates must:

• Be a citizen of, or have refugee status from, an eligible Commonwealth country; or be a British Protected Person
• Be permanently resident in a developing Commonwealth country
• By September 2026, hold a first degree of at least upper second class (2:1) standard
  • A lower qualification and sufficient relevant experience may be considered in certain cases
• Be unable to afford to study the programme without this scholarship
• Provide all supporting documentation in the required format

How selection works

Applications will be assessed using these criteria:

• Candidate merit
• Quality of study plan
• Potential impact on the development of the candidate’s home country

Application deadline and study start date

The deadline for submitting an application is 16:00 BST on Tuesday, 31 March 2026. The scholarships are for study beginning in September/October 2026.

Apply here: CSC online application portal for distance learning scholarships

More details here: Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships information page