Last verified: 8 November 2026 · Entry: September/October 2027
If you missed the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship that closed on 20 October, there is a second door into a fully funded UK master’s, and it is about to open. The Commonwealth Shared Scholarship 2027/28 round opens on Tuesday 10 November 2026 and closes at 4:00 pm GMT on Tuesday 8 December 2026 (5:00 pm in Lagos, 4:00 pm in Accra). Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone and The Gambia are all eligible.
The Shared Scholarship is jointly paid for by the UK government’s Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) and a UK university. It covers your tuition, flights and a monthly living allowance for a one-year master’s. Here is how it works, taken from the CSC’s own 2027/28 page.
Commonwealth Shared Scholarship 2027/28
| Provider | Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (CSC) with participating UK universities |
|---|---|
| Destination | United Kingdom |
| Level | Master’s only (normally 12 months, full time). Not undergraduate or PhD |
| Funding | Full tuition + return airfare + £1,712 a month living allowance (about ₦3.1 million / GH₵26,700), or £2,000 a month in London, plus study travel, thesis and warm clothing allowances |
| Eligible | Citizens of eligible Commonwealth countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone and The Gambia, who live there, have a 2:1 (or a 2:2 plus a master’s) and cannot afford UK study without it |
| Status | Opens 10 Nov 2026 |
| Deadlines | CSC Central: 8 Dec 2026, 16:00 GMT · University nominations: March 2027 · Study starts: Sept/Oct 2027 |
Scam alertThe CSC says it does not charge anyone to apply for any of its scholarships, and it accepts applications only through its own online system, CSC Central. Nobody can “nominate” you for money. If someone asks you to pay an agent or send documents by WhatsApp, it is a scam.
In this guide
What the scholarship covers
The CSC and the university share the cost, which is where the name comes from. According to the CSC, each scholarship provides:
| Item | Official rule | In naira and cedis (about) |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition fees | Paid in full; you pay nothing towards tuition | — |
| Airfare | Approved return flight from your home country to the UK | — |
| Living allowance (stipend) | £1,712 a month, or £2,000 a month at universities in the London area | ₦3.1 million / GH₵26,700 a month (₦3.7 million / GH₵31,200 in London) |
| Thesis grant | Towards the cost of preparing your dissertation, where applicable | — |
| Study travel grant | For study-related travel in the UK or overseas | — |
| Warm clothing allowance | Where applicable | — |
| TB test | Contribution to the tuberculosis test needed for the UK visa (keep your receipts) | — |
| Child allowance | Only for scholars who are widowed, divorced or single parents with children living with them in the UK: £622 a month for the first child, £154 for the second and third | ₦1.1 million / GH₵9,700 for the first child |
Exchange rates checked on 8 November 2026 (about ₦1,836 and GH₵15.6 to one pound). The CSC is clear that its family allowances do not cover the real cost of bringing a family, so most scholars travel alone. The CSC also does not require an IELTS test itself, but your university may.
Who can apply
To be considered, the CSC says you must:
- Be a citizen of, or have refugee status in, an eligible Commonwealth country, and live there permanently.
- Be able to start in the UK by September 2027.
- By September 2027, hold at least a second class upper (2:1) first degree, or a second class lower plus a relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a master’s).
- Not have studied or worked for one academic year or more in a high-income country. Studying online with a foreign university while living at home does not count against you, but you must say so in the form.
- Be unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship.
- Upload every supporting document in the right format before the deadline.
There is no age limit. If you work for the government or a company, check your employer’s own rules on study leave before you apply. Staff and relatives of staff of the UK government, the British Council and the Association of Commonwealth Universities cannot apply.
Eligible countries
For 2027/28 the CSC lists 43 eligible countries. In West Africa, that means Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone and The Gambia. Liberia is not a Commonwealth country, so Liberians cannot apply. The full list also includes Kenya, South Africa, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Togo, Gabon, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and others.
Shared vs Commonwealth Master’s vs Distance Learning
The CSC runs several schemes with similar names, and many websites mix them up:
| Scheme | How you apply | 2027/28 status |
|---|---|---|
| Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship | Through your national nominating body (in Nigeria, the Federal Scholarship Board) and the CSC | Closed on 20 October 2026. See our Commonwealth Master’s guide |
| Commonwealth Shared Scholarship | Directly on CSC Central for courses at participating UK universities; no national nomination | Opens 10 November, closes 8 December 2026 |
| Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship | Online UK master’s from home | Paused. The CSC says it will not run in 2026 or 2027 |
So if you see a website saying Distance Learning scholarships are open for 2027, it is out of date. The Shared Scholarship is the Commonwealth option that is still ahead of you this year.
How to apply, step by step
- Find an approved course. Only specific master’s courses at participating UK universities qualify. The CSC publishes the 2027 course and university lists before the round opens; the links on its page still pointed to the 2026 lists when we checked, so look again from 10 November. You can apply for more than one course and more than one university.
- Apply for admission to the course at the university as well. The CSC application is not a university application. Check each university’s own admission deadline, which can be earlier than 8 December.
- Register on CSC Central. It uses two-factor login, so you need a smartphone or a second email address. Keep the email with your reference number and passcode safe.
- Prepare your answers offline first, then paste them in. Refreshing the browser can lose unsaved work, and you cannot edit the application after you submit.
- Upload your documents: your passport or national ID; full transcripts for every degree (all pages, with certified translations if not in English); and references from at least two people, signed and on letterhead (or a clearly identified email), as PDFs.
- Submit before 4:00 pm GMT on 8 December 2026. The CSC warns that the system gets very busy in the last days.
De Auditor’s tip
Ask your two referees this week, not in December. A missing reference or a missing page of your transcript makes the whole application ineligible. For Nigerian graduates, request your transcript now, because some universities take weeks. Our transcript guide shows how.
What the application form asks
The CSC form is long and focused on development impact. You will be asked for:
- All your university qualifications, and up to 10 publications or prizes.
- Your employment history and how it relates to the course.
- Three referees (one must be your current employer, if you work).
- A Development Impact statement in four parts: how the course links to development issues at global, national and local level and to your chosen CSC development theme; how you will use your new skills after the scholarship; what will change, with outcomes, timeframe and beneficiaries; and how that impact could be measured.
- Your award objectives, your career plan for the five years after the scholarship and your long-term plans.
- A detailed study plan and a personal statement about why you want to make an impact at home.
- Your volunteering and leadership experience.
The CSC’s six development themes are science and technology for development; improving population health, health systems and capacity; promoting innovation and entrepreneurship; strengthening peace, security and governance; strengthening resilience and response to crises; and access, inclusion and opportunity. Pick the one that truly fits your course and career. Our statement of purpose guide helps you turn your story into clear, specific answers.
How candidates are selected
Each participating university runs its own selection and nominates its chosen candidates to the CSC in March 2027. The CSC then checks eligibility. The selection criteria are academic merit, the quality of your plan of study, and the potential impact on your home country’s development. If you are provisionally selected, the university tells you; the CSC issues a formal Confirmation of Award once admission terms are agreed. Scholars must sign an undertaking to return home as soon as possible after the award.
De Auditor’s note
James Christian Unya, founder of Scholarship Auditor
Shared Scholarship na the second chance wey many people no know about. If Commonwealth Master’s pass you by on 20 October, no vex, enter this one. But no wait till December, CSC Central go dey slow for last days.
Your Development Impact statement must talk about real problem wey you don see for your community or work, and how this course go help you solve am. Use numbers, places and names, no big English.
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Related guide: Scholarships open now for Nigerians and Ghanaians, with every deadline in Lagos and Accra time. Also see our recommendation letter guide.
Frequently asked questions
When does the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship 2027 open and close?
It opens on Tuesday 10 November 2026 and closes at 4:00 pm GMT on Tuesday 8 December 2026 (5:00 pm in Lagos, 4:00 pm in Accra).
Can Nigerians and Ghanaians apply?
Yes. Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone and The Gambia are on the CSC’s eligible country list for 2027/28. Liberia is not, because it is not a Commonwealth country.
Do I need a nomination from the Federal Scholarship Board?
No. That is for the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship. For the Shared Scholarship you apply on CSC Central, and the participating UK universities select and nominate candidates.
How much is the monthly stipend?
£1,712 a month, or £2,000 a month at universities in the London area, at current rates. That is about ₦3.1 million or GH₵26,700 a month outside London.
Is there an age limit?
No. The CSC says there is no age limit for its applications.
Can I apply if I studied abroad before?
Only if you have not studied or worked for one academic year or more in a high-income country. Online study with a foreign university while living at home is allowed.
Is IELTS required?
The CSC itself does not require IELTS, but your university may ask for proof of English. See our English test guide.
Are Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships open for 2027?
No. The CSC says the Distance Learning programme is paused and will not run in 2026 or 2027.
Sources and verification
Checked on 8 November 2026 against the CSC’s official pages: Commonwealth Shared Scholarships 2027/28, CSC scholarships and fellowships (Distance Learning paused) and CSC development themes. Exchange rates are approximate (8 November 2026). Read how we check scholarships.
See all our UK scholarships, including Chevening and Gates Cambridge.
Yes, It is me. I’m the De Auditor
James, known as the De Auditor, is the founder and editor of Scholarship Auditor and the Founder and Group CEO of De Auditor Group Ltd, based in Benin City, Nigeria. He checks every scholarship against the provider’s official website before it is published, and corrects posts when providers change their rules. Contact: info@scholarshipauditor.com