Commonwealth PhD Scholarships 2027/28
Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK
Fully funded 36-month UK doctoral scholarships for eligible applicants from least developed countries and vulnerable Commonwealth states, including Uganda.
Last checked 9 August 2026
This call is closed. The deadline was 20 October 2026. This page remains available for reference.
At a glance
- Funding / main benefit
- Not stated
- Deadline
- 20 October 2026, 4:00 PM BSTEurope/London
- Duration
- 36 months
- Location / format
- Not stated
- Career stage
- Prospective PhD
- Geographic eligibility
- Bangladesh, The Gambia, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Pakistan, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, Zambia
- Applications open
- 8 September 2026
- CSC deadline
- 20 October 2026
- Nominations
- 1 December 2026
- Expected outcomes
- 1 July 2027
- Study begins
- 1 October 2027
Is this for me?
Best suited to: Applicants with a strong academic record, a well-developed research proposal and a convincing link between the PhD and development impact at home.
Uganda relevance: Uganda is explicitly listed among eligible countries.
Methods Bench fit considerations
- You are a citizen/refugee/British Protected Person from an eligible country and permanently resident there
- You can start UK study in September 2027
- You meet the degree requirements
- You could not otherwise afford UK doctoral study
- You are not already registered for a PhD/MPhil leading to PhD before the stated cut-off
Editorial guidance, not an eligibility verdict. Confirm requirements with the funder.
Methods Bench application considerations
There are two processes: the CSC application and nomination. An excellent CSC form without a valid nomination cannot succeed.
The nominator may set a deadline earlier than 20 October.
- Confirm eligibility
- Identify nominating route
- Engage proposed UK supervisor
- Prepare research proposal and development-impact statements
- Collect references before deadline
What to prepare
Required at this stage
- Citizenship/refugee-status evidence
- Academic transcripts
- At least two references
- Supporting statement from proposed UK supervisor
- Required CSC application statements and research/study plan
How to apply
- 01
CSC application
Submit through CSC Central with required supporting documents.
- 02
Nominator application
Apply separately through an eligible national nominating agency or selected NGO/charitable body. Nominators may set earlier deadlines.
- 03
Nomination and selection
The CSC selects from nominated applicants.
How applications are assessed
- Academic merit
- Quality of the research proposal
- Potential development impact
Sources and verification
Last checked: 9 August 2026.
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