Commonwealth Shared Cambridge Scholarship 2027/2028 for Developing Countries

Applications will soon open for the Commonwealth Shared Cambridge Scholarship 2027/2028, providing fully funded Master’s study opportunities at the University of Cambridge for talented students from eligible developing Commonwealth countries who would otherwise be unable to afford to study abroad.

The scholarship is offered by the Cambridge Trust in partnership with the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) under the Commonwealth Shared Scholarships programme. The award covers international tuition fees, living costs and return economy airfare for selected students undertaking eligible development-related Master’s courses at Cambridge.

SUMMARY

• Scholarship Sponsor(s): Cambridge Trust & Commonwealth Scholarship Commission
• Host Institution(s): University of Cambridge, UK
• Scholarship Type: Fully Funded
• Scholarship Worth: Full Tuition, Living Stipend, Return Airfare & Other Allowances
• Number of Awards: Approximately 9 in the Latest Confirmed Cambridge Round
• Study Level: Master’s
• Nationality: Eligible Developing Commonwealth Countries
• 2027/28 Application Status: Expected to Open in November 2026

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See Also: Tips on How to Apply for Commonwealth Scholarships

Scholarship Overview

The Commonwealth Shared Cambridge Scholarship provides opportunities for students from eligible developing Commonwealth countries to undertake selected full-time Master’s programmes at the University of Cambridge.

The scholarship is administered on the Cambridge side by the Cambridge Trust and offered in partnership with the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission. It is intended for academically strong students whose proposed studies are relevant to the development of their home countries and who could not otherwise afford to study in the United Kingdom.

Successful scholars may study at any College of the University of Cambridge, provided they have been admitted to one of the courses approved for the scholarship.

For the latest confirmed Cambridge round, approximately nine scholarships were available across eight eligible MPhil programmes.

Eligible Cambridge Courses

The University of Cambridge’s latest confirmed Commonwealth Shared Cambridge Scholarship offered funding for the following courses:

• MPhil Biological Sciences by Advanced Study (Infection Biology and Molecular Immunology)
• MPhil Biological Sciences by Advanced Study (Crop Science)
• MPhil Conservation Leadership
• MPhil Development Studies
• MPhil Global Risk and Resilience
• MPhil Population Health Sciences
• MPhil Past and Future Climates
• MPhil Engineering for Sustainable Development

The eligible courses are reviewed annually. Applicants for the 2027/28 scholarship should therefore confirm the final list when the Cambridge Trust and Commonwealth Scholarship Commission publish the new funding round.

Eligibility Criteria

To be considered for the Commonwealth Shared Cambridge Scholarship, applicants are expected to:

• 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 begin academic study at Cambridge at the start of the relevant academic year.
• Hold a first degree of at least upper second-class (2:1) standard, or a lower second-class degree together with a relevant postgraduate qualification, usually a Master’s degree.
• Not have studied or worked for one academic year or more in a high-income country.
• Demonstrate that they would be unable to afford to study in the UK without the scholarship.
• Apply for an eligible full-time Master’s course at the University of Cambridge.
• Meet the academic and other admission requirements of the selected Cambridge course.
• Demonstrate that the proposed programme of study is relevant to the development of their home country.
• Commit to returning to their home country following completion of the scholarship.

Eligible Countries:

Eligible countries include a substantial number of African Commonwealth countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Zambia, Malawi, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Botswana, The Gambia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mauritius, Mozambique and Namibia, among others.

Applicants should confirm the final eligibility list for the 2027/28 competition when applications open.

Scholarship Benefits

The Commonwealth Shared Cambridge Scholarship is a fully funded award covering the major costs associated with studying at Cambridge.

Successful scholars receive:

• Full approved international tuition fees.
• A monthly living stipend.
• One approved economy airfare from the scholar’s home country to the UK.
• Return economy airfare at the end of the scholarship.
• Warm clothing allowance, where applicable.
• Other approved allowances provided under the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship conditions.

The scholarship normally covers the duration of the approved Master’s course and is not extendable for further study.

The exact stipend and allowance rates applicable to 2027/28 scholars will be confirmed for the new award cycle.

See Also: Commonwealth Shared Scholarships 2026/2027 (Fully-Funded to UK)

How to Apply

Applicants must complete both the University of Cambridge admission/funding process and the external Commonwealth Scholarship application to be considered.

Prospective applicants should:

1. Identify an eligible Cambridge Master’s course under the Commonwealth Shared Cambridge Scholarship.
2. Apply for admission to the University of Cambridge through the University’s postgraduate application system by the funding deadline specified for the chosen course.
3. In the funding section of the Cambridge admissions application, opt into the Commonwealth Shared Cambridge Scholarship to indicate that you wish to be considered for the award.
4. Complete the separate Commonwealth Shared Scholarship application through the CSC online application system within the application period.
5. Submit all required academic, personal, development-impact and supporting information requested by both Cambridge and the CSC.
6. Ensure that both applications are completed by their respective deadlines, as completing only the Cambridge application or only the CSC application will not be sufficient for consideration.

Applicants should carefully check the funding deadline attached to their chosen Cambridge course because course deadlines may differ.

Application Documents

Applicants should prepare the documentation required by Cambridge and the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission, which may include:

• Academic transcripts.
• Degree certificates.
• Proof of citizenship or refugee status in an eligible Commonwealth country.
• References.
• Personal and development-impact statements required by the CSC.
• Documents required for admission to the selected Cambridge Master’s programme.
• Any additional supporting information requested through the Cambridge or CSC application systems.

Applicants should follow the current application instructions when the 2027/28 competition opens, as documentation requirements may be updated between funding rounds.

Application Deadline: Mid-December 2026 (Expected)

The CSC has indicated that applications for the 2027/28 Commonwealth Shared Scholarships are scheduled to open in early November 2026 and close in mid-December 2026.

It is advisable that applicants submit their University of Cambridge application by the funding deadline specified for their chosen course.

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