Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship 2027/28 for Indian Students: Deadline 20 October 2026, Eligibility, Nominators and How to Apply
The Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship is a UK Government scholarship, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and run by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (CSC), for talented people who could not otherwise afford to study in the UK. It funds one-year, full-time taught master’s study at a UK university. India is on the list of eligible countries. This guide covers the 2027/28 round (study begins in September or October 2027) and explains the unusual part: you apply both to the CSC and to a nominator.
Prepared on Saturday, 26 September 2026, 10:46 PM IST. Sources were read on 26 September 2026.
Commonwealth Master’s 2027/28 at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| What it is | UK Government scholarship for one-year, full-time taught master’s study in the UK (FCDO-funded, run by the CSC) |
| Who it is for | Candidates from eligible low and middle income Commonwealth countries who could not otherwise afford to study in the UK. India is listed. |
| Study starts | September or October 2027 |
| CSC application closes | 16:00 BST, Tuesday 20 October (2026) = 8:30 PM IST |
| Where you apply | On the CSC’s online system, CSC Central, and to a nominator. The CSC does not accept direct applications without a nominator. |
| India’s main nominator | National nominating agency, listed by the CSC as the Under Secretary (Scholarship), External Scholarships Division, Department of Higher Education (see below). Nominators may set earlier closing dates. |
| Nominators nominate by | December 2026 |
| Results | By July 2027 |
| Cost to apply | Free (the CSC does not charge) |
| Age limit | None |
| English test | The CSC does not require an IELTS test |
Who can apply? Eligibility
To be considered you must:
- Be a citizen of, or have refugee status in, an eligible Commonwealth country, or be a British Protected Person, and be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country.
- Be available to start studies in the UK by the start of the UK academic year in September 2027.
- By September 2027 hold a first degree of at least upper second-class (2:1) honours standard, or a lower second-class degree and a relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a master’s degree). The CSC page does not say how a 2:1 maps to Indian marks, so ask your nominator.
- Be unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship.
- Provide all supporting documents in the required format.
Other rules from the CSC page:
- There is no age limit.
- The CSC prefers applicants who have completed their undergraduate degree and would not normally fund a second master’s; if you apply for one, you must justify it.
- If you have already studied at master’s level at a UK institution, or already received a Commonwealth Scholarship at master’s level, you are not eligible.
- All Commonwealth Scholars commit to returning home after the scholarship. Switching to a graduate or other visa to stay in the UK is not permitted.
- Not eligible to apply: an employee, former employee or relative of an employee of the UK Government; staff of the Association of Commonwealth Universities or the British Council; and a Commonwealth Scholarship Commissioner, former Commissioner or relative of one. Former employees of those organisations may apply three years after leaving.
- Disabled applicants who cannot show a 2:1 but can show potential to contribute to international development may be considered for a contextualised nomination through the Commonwealth Disabled People’s Forum (CDPF) nominator (see below).
What the scholarship provides
- Approved airfare from your home country to the UK and back at the end of the award (not for dependants, and not for journeys made before the award is confirmed)
- Full approved tuition fees, agreed between the CSC and the UK university; you do not pay any part of the tuition
- A stipend (living allowance) of £1,712 per month, or £2,000 per month at universities in the London metropolitan area (rates quoted at current levels)
- A study travel grant towards study-related travel within the UK or overseas
- A child allowance for a Scholar who has children and is widowed, divorced or a single parent: £622 a month for the first child and £154 a month for the second and third child under 16, if the children live with them in the UK
- A full assessment of needs and eligibility for additional financial support if you share that you have a disability
The CSC says its family allowances are only a contribution and the true costs are likely to be much higher. Other scholarships or bursaries that cover the same costs may not be held at the same time. The CSC funds one-year taught master’s programmes only and does not fund MBA degrees.
The most important thing: the nominator
The CSC does not accept direct applications for these scholarships. As well as applying to the CSC, you must apply to a nominator. There are two kinds: national nominating agencies, which are the main route, and selected non-governmental organisations and charitable bodies. Each nominator runs its own selection, may have extra eligibility criteria and may set its own closing date. Nominators put forward an agreed number of candidates to the CSC by December 2026, and a nomination is not a guarantee of selection.
India’s national nominating agency
The CSC’s list of national nominating agencies gives this entry for India:
Under Secretary (Scholarship), Ministry of Human Resource Development, Department of Higher Education, External Scholarships Division, West Block-1, 2nd Floor, Wing-6, R K Puram, New Delhi 110066. Tel: +91 11 261 72492. Fax: +91 11 2338 1355. Email: es3.edu@nic.in. Website listed: www.mhrd.gov.in.
The CSC listing still uses the old ministry name (Ministry of Human Resource Development), which is now the Ministry of Education. The CSC pages we read do not state India’s own application steps or closing date, so please contact the agency directly using the details above and check the Ministry of Education’s website for its current notice. We could not confirm the Indian process from the CSC pages.
Other nominators that list India
- Commonwealth Disabled People’s Forum (CDPF): for disabled candidates who can show how their studies will improve the position of disabled people in their country. India is on its list of eligible master’s countries.
- The Commonwealth Equality Network (TCEN): for candidates who can show how their studies will improve the position of LGBTI+ people in their country. India is on its list of eligible master’s countries.
The CSC adds that each of these nominators has its own eligibility and selection criteria, and that applicants who are not eligible will not receive a reply.
Timeline
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| Now | 2027/28 applications are open on CSC Central |
| Before your nominator’s date | Apply to your nominator. Dates are set by each nominator. |
| 16:00 BST, Tuesday 20 October (8:30 PM IST) | CSC application closes. The CSC cannot accept late applications. |
| By December 2026 | Nominators put forward their candidates to the CSC |
| By July 2027 | You hear the outcome by email |
| September or October 2027 | Study in the UK begins |
How to apply, step by step
- Choose three universities and courses in order of preference, and explain why. The CSC will not change a provisionally selected candidate’s university, course or order except in exceptional cases, and it recommends giving a second and third choice; if it cannot place you at the institutions you list, the scholarship cannot proceed. Look for one-year taught master’s courses at UK universities that have a part-funding agreement with the CSC (the CSC keeps a list of participating universities).
- Apply for admission to your preferred universities before you apply for the scholarship. Many courses have strict deadlines, and if you are selected without having applied and been accepted for a course, it may not be possible to proceed.
- Contact your nominator (for India, the national nominating agency above) and follow its rules and closing date.
- Apply on CSC Central before the deadline. The form uses two-factor authentication, so you need a smartphone or a second email account each time you log in. Prepare your answers outside the system and paste them in. Use the save function, do not refresh the browser (you will lose unsaved data), and note that applications cannot be edited after submission. The CSC advises submitting as early as possible because the system will be very busy before the deadline.
- Upload your documents and references to CSC Central by the deadline. The CSC will not accept any document sent outside the system.
- Keep the Application Reference Number email safe; you need the reference and the 22-character passcode to view a submitted application.
- Monitor all email folders, including spam. A scholarship offer may be withdrawn if you do not reply within the stated time.
Documents you must upload
- Proof of citizenship or refugee status: a copy of a valid passport (or national ID card) showing your photograph, date of birth and country of citizenship.
- Full transcripts for all higher education qualifications, including to-date transcripts for courses you are studying now, with certified translations if not in English. If any transcript is missing or lacks pages, the application is ineligible; if to-date transcripts are not available, explain why.
- References from at least two people, in PDF, signed, and either on institutional letterhead or as an email clearly showing the sender’s details, uploaded to the system by the deadline.
Applications missing any required document by the closing date are ineligible.
What the application form asks
- All undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications you have obtained
- Up to 10 publications and prizes
- Your employment history and how it supports the programme you plan to study
- Names and positions of three referees. One must be a current employer (if applicable), and at least two references must be included with the application.
- A Development Impact statement in four parts: (1) how the scholarship relates to development issues at global, national and local level and to your chosen CSC development theme; (2) how you will apply your new skills after the scholarship; (3) what you expect to change in development terms, including outcomes, timeframe and beneficiaries; (4) how the impact of your work can best be measured and evidenced
- Your award objectives and how the scholarship will meet each
- Your career plans for the five years after the scholarship, and your long-term career plans
- A detailed plan of study
- A personal statement on how your background has encouraged you to want to make an impact in your home country
- Your voluntary activities and opportunities to show leadership
What referees should cover (CSC guidance)
References must be written by the referee in their own words and should comment on: how long and in what capacity they have known you; your suitability for the scholarship and the need for the subject in the UK; your ability to grasp concepts and reason analytically, your capacity for original thought, and your motivation and perseverance; your strengths and weaknesses; your potential to impact development in your home country; and any other qualities that would make you a good recipient.
How applications are judged
The CSC assesses applications on three criteria:
- Candidate merit (including academic experience). Primary indicators: examination results, academic transcripts, and tutors’ and referees’ reports. Secondary indicators: academic prizes or awards, other academic achievements, publications where appropriate, professional development or training, and experience gained through career or professional development.
- Quality of study plans for master’s scholarships (the criteria page lists “quality of research proposal” for doctoral scholarships and “quality of study plans” for master’s scholarships).
- Development impact: the potential impact on the development of your home country.
The CSC advises applicants to read the criteria carefully and link each answer in the form to each point.
Conditions of the award
- You commit to a full-time course only and cannot take another course at the same time. The scholarship is for one degree.
- You must live in the UK during the award and get CSC approval before overseas travel.
- You must not take paid employment during the award without CSC approval in advance.
- You must sign an undertaking to return to your home country before your student visa expires.
- You must meet UK Visas and Immigration student visa requirements; the CSC has no control over immigration rules.
- You submit a Health and Disability Form before the Confirmation of Award can be issued.
- The CSC will consider a request to extend your leave to remain only if you wish to move from master’s to PhD study, under strict conditions. It cannot provide a letter of support to stay or return to the UK to work or do postdoctoral study.
- The CSC does not provide new direct financial or promotional support for the fossil fuel energy sector overseas.
Other Commonwealth scholarships: what applies to Indians
| Scheme | India? | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships | Yes, India is listed | 2027/28 open; closes 20 October (via nominator) |
| Commonwealth Shared Scholarships (master’s, applied for through participating UK universities) | Yes, India is listed | The 2026/27 round is closed. We did not find 2027/28 dates on the page we read. |
| Commonwealth PhD Scholarships | No. India is not on the list of 17 eligible countries. | 2027/28 round is open for those countries only |
A 3-week plan to be ready by 20 October (our suggestion)
This plan is our own suggestion built around the official rules, not a CSC timetable.
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| This week | Contact India’s nominating agency and find its closing date and steps. Check that you meet every rule, especially the 2:1-equivalent degree and the “cannot afford” condition. |
| This week | Shortlist three one-year taught master’s courses and start your university applications; check each university’s deadline. |
| Week 2 | Ask your three referees (one must be your current employer, if you are employed) and give them the CSC’s guidance on what to cover. Collect your passport copy and full transcripts, with every page. |
| Weeks 2 to 3 | Write the four-part Development Impact statement, the study plan, career plans and personal statement outside the system, using your own real examples. |
| Before your nominator’s date | Submit to the nominator as it requires. |
| By about 13 October | Submit on CSC Central, a week early. The deadline is 8:30 PM IST on 20 October. |
Frequently asked questions
What is the deadline for Indian students?
The CSC application closes at 16:00 BST on Tuesday 20 October (20 October 2026), which is 8:30 PM IST. Your nominator may set an earlier date, so check with it first.
Can I apply directly to the CSC?
No. The CSC does not accept direct applications for the Master’s Scholarship. You apply to a nominator as well as to the CSC on CSC Central.
Is there an age limit?
No. The CSC says there is no age limit for its applications.
Do I need IELTS?
The CSC does not require any candidates to take an IELTS test. Check each university’s own admission requirements.
Can I get it for an MBA?
No. The CSC funds one-year taught master’s programmes only and does not fund MBA degrees.
Can I apply for the Commonwealth PhD Scholarship from India?
No. India is not on the list of eligible countries for the PhD scholarship.
How much is the monthly stipend?
£1,712 per month, or £2,000 per month at universities in the London metropolitan area, at the rates quoted on the CSC page.
Is a nomination a guarantee?
No. The CSC says a nomination is no guarantee of selection.
Official sources (all read on 26 September 2026)
- CSC: Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships (all sections)
- CSC: National nominating agencies (India entry)
- CSC: NGOs and charitable body nominators
- CSC: Selection criteria
- CSC: Commonwealth PhD Scholarships (eligible countries)
- CSC: Commonwealth Shared Scholarships (eligible countries and status)
