Nigerians seeking postgraduate education in the United Kingdom can now apply for the 2027/2028 Commonwealth Shared Scholarships, which offer fully funded Master’s degree opportunities at participating UK universities.
The UK in Nigeria announced the opening of applications in a post on its social media account on Tuesday, urging eligible candidates to apply before the December 8, 2026 deadline.
“Applications for Commonwealth Shared Scholarships are now open! Develop your skills and build networks with a fully funded postgraduate degree in the UK,” the post read.
The scholarships are available to citizens of 43 eligible Commonwealth countries, including Nigeria, for full-time Master’s programmes beginning in September or October 2027.
According to the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission, the awards are designed to support talented students who would otherwise be unable to afford postgraduate studies in the UK and have the potential to contribute to development in their home countries.
The scholarships cover approved tuition fees, return airfare and a monthly living allowance of £1,712, or £2,000 for scholars studying at universities in the London metropolitan area. Scholars may also receive grants towards study-related travel and thesis preparation, where applicable.
Eligibility requirements
To qualify, applicants must be citizens of or have refugee status in an eligible Commonwealth country and be permanently resident there.
They must also:
Hold a first degree with at least an Upper Second-Class (2:1) classification or a Lower Second-Class degree (2:2) alongside a relevant postgraduate qualification, usually a Master’s degree, by September 2027.
Be available to commence their studies in the UK in September or October 2027.
Not have studied or worked for one academic year or more in a high-income country.
Be unable to afford to study in the UK without the scholarship.
Meet the admission and other requirements of their chosen university.
How to apply
Interested Nigerians are required to follow these steps:
Choose an approved course: Visit the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission’s website at https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/commonwealth-shared-scholarships-eligible-courses/ to identify approved Master’s programmes and participating UK universities.
Apply for university admission: Candidates must separately apply for admission to their chosen Master’s programme and meet the institution’s admission requirements. Applying for the scholarship does not automatically secure university admission.
Register on the scholarship portal: Visit the CSC Central application portal at https://portal.csccentralonline.org.uk/application and register to access the online application form.
Complete the application form: Provide the required personal, academic and employment information, alongside details of the proposed course of study, career plans and how the qualification would contribute to development in the applicant’s home country.
Upload supporting documents: Applicants must submit a valid passport or national identity card showing their photograph, date of birth and citizenship, full academic transcripts covering their higher education qualifications, and references from at least two individuals.
References must be signed and submitted in PDF format on institutional letterhead or as emails clearly showing the senders’ details.
Submit the application: Review the information and supporting documents before submitting the completed form through CSC Central.
The commission advised applicants to prepare their answers before entering them into the online system and use the save function regularly to avoid losing information.
It also warned that refreshing the browser could result in the loss of unsaved information and that applications cannot be edited after submission.
The application portal uses a two-factor authentication system, requiring applicants to have access to a smartphone or a second email account during registration and subsequent logins.
Application deadline and selection
The commission said applications would close at 4 pm GMT on Tuesday, December 8, 2026, adding that applications and supporting documents submitted outside the online portal would not be accepted.
Candidates may apply for more than one course and to more than one participating university but can accept only one Commonwealth Shared Scholarship.
Following the application process, participating UK universities will assess candidates and nominate their preferred applicants to the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in March 2027 for final consideration.
The commission advised prospective applicants to submit their applications early to avoid difficulties associated with increased traffic on the portal close to the deadline.
Application portal: https://portal.csccentralonline.org.uk/application
Further information: https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/shared/
