The Federal Ministry of Education invites all interested Nigerian applicants to apply for the 2025 edition of the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP).
The scholarships are funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and are aimed at supporting talented individuals from low and middle-income Commonwealth countries in pursuing higher education in the United Kingdom.
Summary of The 2025/2026 Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan
- Host Country: United Kingdom
- Category: Postgraduate Scholarships
- Eligible Countries: Commonwealth countries (least developed)
- Benefits: Tuition-free | Monthly stipends | Travel costs | Family allowances
- Deadline: October 15th
- Scholarship Alerts: To receive Scholarship Alerts on WhatsApp, Click HERE
About The Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan
The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (CSC) provides the UK government scholarship scheme led by international development objectives. It operates within the framework of the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP) and offers a vivid demonstration of the UK’s enduring commitment to the Commonwealth.
By attracting individuals with outstanding talent and identifiable potential from all backgrounds and supporting them to become leaders and innovators upon returning to their home countries, the CSC’s work combines sustainable development with the UK national interest and provides opportunities for international partnerships and collaboration.
Benefits of The Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan
- Approved airfare from the Scholar’s home country to the UK and return at the end of the award (the CSC will not reimburse the cost of fares for dependants, nor the cost of journeys made before the award is confirmed).
- Approved tuition fees: full fees are covered by an agreement between the CSC and the UK university, and Scholars are not liable to pay for any part of the tuition fee.
- Stipend (living allowance) at the rate of £1,347 per month, or £1,652 per month for those at universities in the London metropolitan area (rates quoted at current levels).
- Warm clothing allowance, where applicable.
- Study travel grant towards the cost of study-related travel within the UK or overseas.
- Provision towards the cost of fieldwork undertaken overseas (the cost of one economy class return airfare to the fieldwork location), where approved (For PhD applicants).
- Paid mid-term visit (airfare) to the Scholar’s home country, unless they have claimed or intend to claim spouse and/or child allowances during their scholarship or have received a return airfare to their home country for fieldwork. (For PhD applicants).
- Family allowances.
Eligibility Criteria
- 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 start academic studies in the UK by the start of the UK academic year in September 2024.
- By September 2024, 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 for PhD applicants.
- Not be registered for a PhD, or an MPhil leading to a PhD, at a UK university or in their home country before September/October 2024 (For PhD applicants).
- Be unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship.
- Have provided all supporting documentation in the required format.
Application Documents required for The Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan
- Proof of citizenship in an eligible commonwealth country (A valid ID)
Full transcripts detailing all higher education qualifications
References from at least two individuals
University Admission Letter
A supporting statement signed and on institutional letterhead or an email clearly showing the sender’s details, from a proposed supervisor in the UK from at least one of the institutions named on the application form (For PhD Candidates).
How To Apply
Applications for the 2025 academic year are expected to open on 10 September. Applications must be made using the CSC’s online application system. As well as applying to the CSC, applicants must apply to a nominating agency.
There are three types of nominating agencies for The Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan scholarships:
- National nominating agencies – this is the main route of application (Federal Ministry of Education for Nigerians).
- Selected non-governmental organisations and charitable bodies.
- Selected universities/university bodies – which can nominate their own academic staff. (For PhD applicants)
Nominating agencies put forward candidates to the CSC for consideration. The CSC does not accept direct applications for these scholarships.
NB: Each nominating agency oversees its own selection process and may have additional eligibility criteria. Applicants must check with the nominating agency for their specific advice and rules for applying, and their own eligibility criteria. Nominating agencies may set their own closing dates for applications.
For further instructions and application details:
Commonwealth Masters scholarship for Master’s application
Commonwealth PhD scholarship for PhD Application
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