Nigerians seeking fully funded postgraduate study opportunities in the United Kingdom can now apply for the 2027/2028 Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships.
The scholarship programme, funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), is designed for talented candidates from eligible Commonwealth countries who would otherwise be unable to afford postgraduate study in the UK.
According to the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC), applications for the 2027/28 academic year are now open and will close at 4:00pm BST on Tuesday, October 20, 2026.
Successful candidates will begin their studies in the UK in September or October 2027.
Nigeria is among the countries eligible for the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship.
What does the scholarship cover?
The scholarship provides comprehensive financial support, including:
• Full approved tuition fees
• Approved airfare from the scholar’s home country to the UK and return at the end of the award
• Monthly living allowance of £1,712
• Monthly allowance of £2,000 for scholars studying at universities in the London metropolitan area
• Study travel grant for approved study-related travel
The CSC also provides additional support in certain circumstances, including support for eligible scholars with disabilities.
Who can apply?
Applicants must:
• Be a citizen of, or have been granted refugee status by, an eligible Commonwealth country, including Nigeria.
• Be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country.
• Be available to begin their studies in the UK in September 2027.
• By September 2027, hold a first degree equivalent to at least an Upper Second-Class (2:1) honours standard.
• Be unable to afford to study in the UK without the scholarship.
• Provide all required supporting documents.
There is no age limit for applications.
The CSC also states that applicants must demonstrate their potential to contribute to the development of their home country.
What documents are required?
Applicants are expected to provide:
• A valid passport or national identity document showing citizenship and personal details.
• Full transcripts covering their higher education qualifications.
• At least two references.
Applicants should ensure that all required documents are uploaded before the deadline, as incomplete applications may be considered ineligible.
How to apply
Applications must be submitted online through the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission’s CSC Central application system.
Applicants must also apply through an approved nominating agency. For Nigerian applicants, the Federal Scholarship Board under the Federal Ministry of Education is the relevant national scholarship authority for Commonwealth scholarship matters.
Applicants should therefore check the requirements and application process announced by the Federal Scholarship Board in addition to completing the CSC application.
The CSC warns that it does not accept applications or supporting documents submitted outside CSC Central.
Applicants are also advised to begin their university admission process early. Candidates can list up to three preferred UK universities and courses, and the CSC recommends providing three choices in case placement at the first choice is not possible.
The scholarship covers one-year taught Master’s programmes and does not fund MBA programmes.
Important deadline
The deadline for the 2027/2028 Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship application is:
Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at 4:00pm BST.
Applicants are strongly advised not to wait until the final day because the online application system may become busy and late applications will not be accepted.
The application is free. The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission does not charge applicants to submit applications through its online system.
Where can Nigerians apply?
Applicants should use the official Commonwealth Scholarship Commission application platform:
Applicants can also read the full official scholarship requirements and application guidance here:
Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships official page
Nigerian applicants should also monitor the Federal Ministry of Education and Federal Scholarship Board for the national nomination process and additional requirements.
Federal Ministry of Education Nigeria
The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission says candidates will be selected based on factors including academic merit, the quality of their proposed study and their potential impact on the development of their home country.
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