Commonwealth PhD Scholarships 2027 (Fully Funded)
The Commonwealth PhD Scholarship is unique to applicants from least-developed countries who need financial assistance from the government to study abroad. The mission of the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission is to make education accessible to all, developing communities bounded by intellect and moral values. By helping students achieve their academic aspirations in a foreign land, they will be able to garner various learning experiences that will set them to become excellent professionals in the future who can greatly contribute to the economic development of their respective home countries.
Commonwealth PhD Scholarships Coverage
This government fully funded scholarship for international students covers the following:
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Full tuition fees
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Roundtrip airfare ticket
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Paid airfare ticket for mid-term visit to home country
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Up to £1,652 monthly living stipend
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Clothing allowance
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Travel allowance
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Overseas fieldwork allowance
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Family allowances
Commonwealth PhD Scholarships Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for Commonwealth PhD Scholarships, you need to meet the following criteria:
- Citizens or permanent residents of one of the eligible Commonwealth countries
- Not registered for a PhD at a UK university or in their home country
- Available to start studies in the UK by the expected academic year
- Master's degree graduates with excellent academic experience
- Financially incapable of supporting studies in the UK without this scholarship
For detailed requirements, refer to the official eligibility page .
Eligible degree levels
Eligible programmes
Eligible nationalities
Important Notice
Disclaimer
Check with the nominating agency for their rules and regulations for applying. Nominating agencies may also set up earlier deadlines for applications.
How to Apply
In this section, we'll provide a clear general overview of requirements and steps to guide you through the application process for Commonwealth PhD Scholarships.
To apply for Commonwealth PhD Scholarships, please follow these steps:
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Inquire to a national nominating agency or non-governmental organization in your home country to guide you throughout this scholarship process.
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Apply through them and adhere to their eligibility criteria and required documents.
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Once qualified, allow these nominating agencies to forward your application to the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission formally.
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Apply for a PhD program at your UK university of choice, stating that you wish to be considered for the scholarship.
Important Note: The application procedures and required documents for Commonwealth PhD Scholarships may vary depending on your degree, program, nationality and other factors. For specific details regarding the requirements, kindly visit the official website of Commonwealth PhD Scholarships.
Application Deadlines
Now that you’re familiar with the application procedure, it’s time to know the application dates! Knowing the dates for Commonwealth PhD Scholarships will help you prepare early and it will also give you the time you need to put together a competitive application.
Here are the application deadlines for Commonwealth PhD Scholarships:
| Degree | Application deadline |
|---|---|
| PhD |
Commonwealth PhD Scholarships Eligible Institutions
The eligible institutions for Commonwealth PhD Scholarships are listed below:
C
L
R
S
U
- Ulster University
- University College London
- University of Aberdeen
- University of Bath
- University of Birmingham
- University of Bradford
- University of Brighton
- University of Bristol
- University of Cambridge
- University of Chester
- University of Derby
- University of Dundee
- University of East Anglia
- University of Edinburgh
- University of Essex
- University of Glasgow
- University of Greenwich
- University of Hertfordshire
- University of Hull
- University of Kent
- University of Lancashire
- University of Leeds
- University of Leicester
- University of Lincoln
- University of Liverpool
- University of Manchester
- University of Nottingham
- University of Oxford
- University of Plymouth
- University of Portsmouth
- University of Reading
- University of Salford
- University of Sheffield
- University of Southampton
- University of St Andrews
- University of Stirling
- University of Strathclyde
- University of Surrey
- University of Sussex
- University of the West of England
- University of the West of Scotland
- University of Warwick
- University of Westminster
- University of Worcester
- University of York
Recipients’ Degree Studies and Backgrounds
The published stories describe 4 recipients’ degree studies supported by Commonwealth PhD Scholarships.
Degree Studies Reported by Recipients
| Degree level | Stories | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| PhD | 4 | Biological Sciences; Civil Engineering; Functional Textile Materials; Public Health and Health Promotion |
Nationalities Reported in the Stories
| Nationalities | Stories per nationality |
|---|---|
| Pakistani | 3 |
| Nigerian | 1 |
Funding Reported by Recipients
| Recipient and degree/program | Reported coverage |
|---|---|
| Charity A. Aienobe-Asekharen — PhD Public Health and Health Promotion Research — Brunel University London | Reported a three-year Commonwealth PhD award worth over £100,000, covering tuition, living expenses and research-related expenditure. |
| Mohsin Ali — PhD Civil Engineering — Swansea University | Reported full tuition, a monthly stipend and other allowances for a three-year PhD through HEC Pakistan and CSC. |
| Zohaib — PhD research on functional textile materials — Heriot-Watt University | Reported tuition, a monthly stipend, travel costs, and research and thesis support grants. |
Examples of Featured Recipients’ Application Backgrounds
| Recipient and degree/program | Scholarship/application route | Reported background and preparation |
|---|---|---|
| Muhammad Bilal Qasim — PhD Biological Sciences — University of Southampton | Commonwealth PhD Scholarship | Biotechnology undergraduate result of 70% and Microbiology MPhil with CGPA 4.0/4.0. Drew on a decade of university academic work in Pakistan to develop a feasible proposal linked to development priorities. |
| Charity A. Aienobe-Asekharen — PhD Public Health and Health Promotion Research — Brunel University London | Commonwealth PhD Scholarship | MPH at University of Ibadan, CGPA 5.9/7.0; Anatomy and Cell Biology BSc at Delta State University, CGPA 4.20/5.0. Reported tobacco-control work, publications and national and WHO awards before the doctorate. |
| Mohsin Ali — PhD Civil Engineering — Swansea University | Commonwealth PhD Scholarship through HEC Pakistan and CSC | Civil Engineering BE with distinction and ME with an A grade at Mehran University of Engineering and Technology. Reported sustainable-concrete research, publications, a best-paper award, teaching and laboratory experience. |
| Zohaib — PhD research on functional textile materials — Heriot-Watt University | Commonwealth PhD Scholarship | Textile Engineering training in fibre science, manufacturing, functional textiles and materials testing. Developed a proposal connecting functional coatings and environmental remediation, with mentor feedback on the CV and research plan. |
How Recipients Met Language Requirements
| Language requirement route | Stories / total funded degree-study stories | Recipients and examples |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS | 2/4 | 7.5 (Mohsin Ali); IELTS taken for the application (Zohaib). |
| English-language test | 1/4 | English-language test taken for the application (Muhammad Bilal Qasim). |
Research Proposal and Preparation Lessons
| Recipient and degree/program | Reported preparation |
|---|---|
| Muhammad Bilal Qasim — PhD Biological Sciences — University of Southampton | Contacted potential supervisors, refined a research proposal and sought mentor feedback on a development-impact application. Described a willingness-to-supervise letter and a 750-word proposal in his application route. |
| Charity A. Aienobe-Asekharen — PhD Public Health and Health Promotion Research — Brunel University London | Designed a participatory tobacco-prevention proposal involving youth, selected referees familiar with research and leadership, and used personal, professional and academic support groups to refine the statement and proposal. |
| Mohsin Ali — PhD Civil Engineering — Swansea University | Contacted a Swansea supervisor about AI-based cement-replacement materials. Prepared a plan covering research questions, methods, software and a three-year work programme, linking the proposal to construction emissions and development impact. |
What Recipients Pursued After Their Scholarship-Funded Studies
| Recipient | Scholarship-funded degree/program | Reported outcome or current status |
|---|---|---|
| Charity A. Aienobe-Asekharen | PhD Public Health and Health Promotion Research — Brunel University London | Completed milestone: successfully defended the doctoral thesis. Reported Three Minute Thesis recognition, including a people’s-choice award in 2022 and first prize in 2023. |
| Muhammad Bilal Qasim | PhD Biological Sciences — University of Southampton | Ongoing study: pursuing Biological Sciences doctoral research. |
| Mohsin Ali | PhD Civil Engineering — Swansea University | Ongoing research: developing AI-based cement-replacement material selection for sustainable concrete. |
| Zohaib | PhD research on functional textile materials — Heriot-Watt University | Ongoing research: developing photocatalytic textile materials for air quality and environmental applications. |
Other Offers in Featured Applicants’ Journeys
| Recipient | Reported alternative | Decision described in the story |
|---|---|---|
| Mohsin Ali — PhD Civil Engineering — Swansea University | Chinese Government Scholarship for PhD study in China, Stipendium Hungaricum offer for Hungary and Open Doors offer for Russia. | Chose Swansea and Commonwealth funding for the close fit between the supervisor’s research group and AI-based sustainable-concrete research. |
| Zohaib — PhD research on functional textile materials — Heriot-Watt University | Graduate Research Assistantship offer from North Carolina State University. | Reported the offer while pursuing the Commonwealth-funded PhD at Heriot-Watt University. |
There are many degrees that are open to international students right now — find yours.
Hello,
I would like to apply for PhD in law at reputed University of UK. I have already completed my Masters in Law in Gender Justice. Please send me relevant details of PhD.
Hi, you can search for universities that offer PhD in Law and apply
I am Gillian Chanda from Zambia. I have my Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations and Development. I also have my Master’s Degree in International Trade Law and International Investment Law. Kindly advise on the PhD programs as I want to register in the Law at PhD level. Your assistance will be highly appreciated.
Hello, I would check out Law Scholarship Recipients in the United Kingdom to start. These are Master’s level students, but most likely, these universities offer Ph.D. in law too.