Last updated: 25 Aug 2026
Quick Facts (When the Program Is Running)
- Sponsor: UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), via the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission
- Study level: PhD (split-site: you remain registered at your home university)
- Study in: United Kingdom, for up to 12 months (as one period or split into two 6-month periods)
- Nationality: Citizens/refugees of eligible Commonwealth low- and middle-income countries
- Current status: Under review – not running in 2026. No confirmed return date.
What It Normally Covers| Benefits (For Reference)
- Full tuition fees, covered by agreement between CSC and the UK university
- Return airfare between your home country and the UK
- A living stipend (previously around £1,378-£1,690/month depending on location)
- A study travel grant for research-related travel
- Child allowance for eligible single/widowed/divorced parents
- A warm clothing allowance
Eligibility (When Applications Reopen)
- Citizen of, or granted refugee status by, an eligible Commonwealth country
- Permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country
- Already registered for a PhD at a university in your home country
- An institutional or departmental link must exist between your home university and the proposed UK university
- Unable to afford UK study without this funding
- Minimum upper second-class (2:1) honours degree, or a lower second plus a relevant master’s
What to Do Instead Right Now
- The Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme via King’s College London, if you are pursuing a taught master’s rather than a split-site PhD
- Checking CSC’s full scholarship list directly for other currently-open Commonwealth programs, since CSC runs several distinct schemes and not all are paused
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this scholarship currently accepting applications?
No: CSC’s own page confirms the program is under review and won’t run in 2026.
When will it reopen?
Not confirmed. Check the CSC official page directly for updates rather than relying on any third-party date.
Is this the same as the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme?
No: that is a separate CSC-administered scheme (see King’s College’s related post) for taught master’s students, and its current status should be checked independently
Should I still prepare my documents while I wait?
If you are set on this specific program, there is no harm preparing research proposals and supervisor links in advance; but do not assume the same deadlines or terms will apply whenever it returns.
Check current status directly: Commonwealth Scholarship Split-Site Scholarships
Kukual verifies scholarship details against official sponsor pages at the time of publication and on each update. This program’s status can change; always confirm directly with CSC before making plans around it.
