The Commonwealth Scholarship is a fully funded UK government award for citizens of eligible Commonwealth countries who cannot afford to study in the UK without financial support. The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) administers several schemes including Commonwealth Master's Scholarships, Commonwealth Shared Scholarships, and Commonwealth PhD Scholarships. Awards cover full tuition at the overseas rate, a monthly stipend of 1,452 GBP (1,781 GBP for London-based universities), return airfare, warm clothing allowance, and thesis grants. The total package value ranges from 20,000 to 30,000 GBP depending on the university and location. Music students are eligible to apply for any music-related Master's or PhD program at a UK university.
Application Details
The CSC runs multiple scholarship schemes with different application routes:
Commonwealth Master's Scholarships
Applications for the 2026/27 academic year opened on September 2, 2025 and closed on October 14, 2025 at 16:00. For the 2027/28 cycle, applications open on September 8, 2026 and close on October 20, 2026 at 16:00 BST. These scholarships fund one-year Master's degrees at any UK university. Applicants apply through a nominating agency in their home country (typically the Ministry of Education or a designated body). The CSC does not accept direct applications for this scheme. Nominating agencies forward selected candidates to the CSC by December 2025 for the 2026/27 cycle.
Commonwealth Shared Scholarships
Applications for 2026/27 closed on December 9, 2025. This scheme funds specific Master's programs at participating UK universities. Approximately 180 scholarships are offered each year. Applicants must apply directly to the participating university for both admission and the scholarship simultaneously. Each university runs its own selection process and forwards successful candidates to the CSC for confirmation.
Commonwealth PhD Scholarships
These fund three to four years of doctoral study at any UK university. Applications are submitted through a nominating agency in the home country. Deadlines vary but typically fall in October.
Required Materials
- Proof of citizenship or refugee status from an eligible Commonwealth country
- Academic transcripts showing at least an upper second-class (2:1) undergraduate degree
- English language proficiency (IELTS 6.5 to 7.0 or TOEFL 90 to 100, depending on the university)
- A study or research proposal
- References from academic supervisors
- Proof of financial need (you must demonstrate you cannot afford UK study without the scholarship)
Eligibility
- Be a citizen of or have been granted refugee status by an eligible Commonwealth country, or be a British Protected Person
- Be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country
- Be available to start academic studies in the UK by September/October of the award year
- Hold a first degree of at least upper second-class (2:1) honours standard by the start of the scholarship
- Be unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship
- Not have studied or worked in a high-income country for one year or more (for Shared Scholarships)
- Not have already completed a Master's degree in the UK (for Master's Scholarships)
Application Workshop Video
Commonwealth Scholars run workshops to help prospective applicants prepare strong submissions. The video below covers personal statement strategies, common mistakes, and how to connect your application to development goals.
Top Tips for a Strong Application
This video walks through the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship application page. It shows how to select your country, find approved courses, and identify participating universities.
Key Benefits
- Full tuition coverage at the overseas rate (no cap on tuition amount)
- Monthly stipend: 1,452 GBP outside London, 1,781 GBP in the London metropolitan area
- Return airfare from home country to the UK
- Warm clothing allowance for students from tropical or subtropical countries
- Thesis grant to cover dissertation printing and binding costs
- Health insurance through the UK National Health Service (for programs longer than 6 months)
- Total package value: 20,000 to 30,000 GBP depending on location and tuition fees
Potential Drawbacks
- You must return to your home country after completing your studies. The CSC requires a commitment to return and contribute to your home country's development. This limits post-study work opportunities in the UK.
- The application process is not direct for Master's Scholarships. You must go through a nominating agency in your home country, which adds a layer of bureaucracy and can delay the timeline.
- Competition is intense. Thousands of applicants from over 40 eligible countries compete for approximately 200 to 300 awards across all schemes each year.
- The 2:1 degree requirement is strict. If your undergraduate degree is lower second-class (2:2), you need an additional postgraduate qualification to be eligible.
- You cannot hold another scholarship concurrently with a Commonwealth Scholarship.
- For Shared Scholarships, you are restricted to specific programs at participating universities. Not all UK music programs participate.
Real-World Example
A music student from Kenya with a Bachelor of Music degree (first-class honours) wants to pursue a Master's in Music Performance at the Royal Academy of Music. She applies through the Kenyan Ministry of Education as her nominating agency for a Commonwealth Master's Scholarship in September 2025. She submits her academic transcripts, a study proposal outlining her plan to research East African choral traditions, two reference letters, and proof that she cannot afford the 30,000 GBP annual tuition at the Royal Academy without financial support.
If selected, she receives full tuition coverage (approximately 30,000 GBP), a monthly stipend of 1,781 GBP (London rate) for 12 months (totaling 21,372 GBP), return airfare from Nairobi to London (approximately 800 GBP), and a warm clothing allowance. The total package exceeds 52,000 GBP for a one-year Master's program. She must return to Kenya after completing her degree.
Past Recipients
The CSC maintains an online Directory of Commonwealth Scholars and Fellows listing nearly 29,000 individuals who have held awards since 1959. The directory includes career profiles for almost 5,000 alumni. Notable music-related recipients include:
- Dr W Dean Sutcliffe (Commonwealth Scholar, PhD Music, University of Cambridge, 1984). Awarded the Dent Medal by the Royal Musical Association. Associate Professor of Music at the University of Auckland. Founding editor of the journal Eighteenth-Century Music.
- David Yu Sum Chung (1992 Commonwealth Scholar, Hong Kong). Doctorate in Musicology from the University of Cambridge. Performed with the London Chamber Orchestra and Musicus Soloists Hong Kong at Tai Kwun in May 2023.
- Janice Anita Millington (Commonwealth Scholar, Barbados). Studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London from 1967 to 1970. Later received open scholarships from Berklee College of Music and a Mason and Hamblin Scholarship to Columbia University.
- Peter Vaughan Adams (Commonwealth Scholar, New Zealand). MMus in Music Theory and Analysis at King's College London from 1981 to 1985. Lecturer in Music at the University of Otago.
The full directory is searchable at the CSC website.
Step-by-Step Application Process
Commonwealth Master's Scholarships
- Confirm you are a citizen or refugee of an eligible Commonwealth country. Check the eligible country list.
- Identify your national nominating agency (usually the Ministry of Education). The CSC does not accept direct applications for this scheme.
- Check the agency's internal deadline. It may be earlier than the CSC deadline.
- Apply to the CSC online application system by the deadline. For 2027/28, applications open September 8, 2026 and close October 20, 2026 at 16:00 BST.
- Apply for admission to your chosen UK university Master's program separately. You must secure a place on the program.
- Submit all required materials: transcripts, references, study proposal, proof of citizenship, proof of financial need.
- Your nominating agency reviews applications and forwards selected candidates to the CSC by December 2025.
- The CSC makes final selections. Results are typically announced between March and May 2026 for September 2026 start.
Commonwealth Shared Scholarships
- Review the list of approved courses on the CSC website. Only specific programs at participating universities qualify.
- Apply directly to the participating university for both admission and the scholarship. Each university runs its own selection process.
- The university forwards successful candidates to the CSC for confirmation.
- Deadlines vary by university but are typically in December or January for the following academic year.
Commonwealth PhD Scholarships
- Confirm eligibility through your national nominating agency.
- Identify a potential supervisor at your chosen UK university and develop a research proposal.
- Apply through the CSC online system and your nominating agency.
- Deadlines typically fall in October. Check with your agency for their internal cutoff.
Related Opportunities
- Fulbright Foreign Student Program for study in the United States
- ABRSM Scholarships for study at UK conservatoires
- DAAD Study Scholarships for postgraduate music study in Germany
- Chevening Scholarship for one-year Master's study in the UK
- Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters for study across multiple European countries
- MEXT Scholarship for study at Japanese universities
- Help Musicians UK for UK-based music funding
- Music Scholarships Directory for the full list of funding opportunities
- Music Schools Directory to find UK universities and conservatoires
- Visit the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission website for official details and eligible country lists
