Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme

The Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme is a joint initiative between the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and UK universities, including the University of Birmingham, to jointly support scholarships for students from developing Commonwealth countries who would not otherwise be able to study in the United Kingdom.

Applications for 2026 entry open on 12 November 2025 and close on 9 December 2025 at 16:00 (GMT); we strongly encourage you to check the Commonwealth Shared Scholarships webpage for more information: Commonwealth Shared Scholarships - Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK

The award is financed jointly by the University and the DFID. The award will cover:

• Full tuition fees
• Maintenance stipend
• Air fare to and from the United Kingdom
• Immigration Health Surcharge costs
• A one-off arrival allowance payment
• Thesis expenses
• Study travel grant
• Optical and Dental allowance

Who can apply?

Candidates should be commencing a course in September 2026.

Candidates must also certify that they:

• are nationals of a Commonwealth developing country, and not at present living or studying in a developed country;
• have not undertaken studies lasting one year or more in a developed country;
• are themselves, or through their families, unable to pay to study in the United Kingdom;
• agree to return to their own country to work or study as soon as the award ends. The commission will only consider requests to extend leave to remain in the UK post-award for those wishing to move from Masters to PhD study. Strict conditions will apply.
• DFID requires that the University certifies when submitting its shortlist of candidates that they are sufficiently proficient in the English language to cope with the course for which they have applied. This will normally mean that you will have to have satisfied any requirements concerning competence in the English language which are a condition of your offer of admission.

You can read more about the eligibility criteria by visiting the Commonwealth Scholarship Comission's website.

Candidates must also have been offered a place at the University of Birmingham on one of the following postgraduate programmes:

• MA Africa and Development
• MSc Environment, Development and Politics
• MSc International Development
• MSc Respiratory Medicine
• MSc Conflict, Security and Development

Eligible nationalities:

Bangladesh, Botswana, Belize, Cameroon, Ghana, Dominica, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Grenada, Guyana, India, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, and Zambia

How to Apply

In order to apply for this scholarship, you must

• Make an application on the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship website by the deadline given by Commonwealth Scholarships
• Have made an application to study one of the approved programmes at the University of Birmingham