Commonwealth Shared Scholarships 2027/28: Nigerians Apply from 10 November

The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission has set the opening date for its 2027/28 Shared Scholarships: Nigerian candidates can apply from 10 November 2026. The deadline is 16:00 GMT on 8 December 2026, with funded study due to begin in the UK in September or October 2027.

The awards support full-time taught Master’s study on approved courses at participating UK universities. They are not undergraduate or PhD scholarships. The Commission says the approved 2027 course and university list will be published before applications open.

What the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship covers

The programme is jointly funded by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) and participating universities. The award covers approved tuition fees, return airfare between the scholar’s home country and the UK, and a living stipend. Other support can apply in particular circumstances. Check the award terms and current rates when the 2027 course list is released; benefits and conditions can change.

The CSC currently expects around 180 new Shared Scholarships for 2027/28, but the number is an estimate and awards depend on approved university courses and selection.

Who in Nigeria may be eligible?

Nigeria appears on the CSC’s eligible-country list. Applicants must also meet the programme’s requirements. The CSC says candidates must be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country, be ready to start in the UK in September 2027, and hold by then a first degree at least at upper second-class (2:1) level. A lower second-class degree may qualify when combined with a relevant postgraduate qualification, usually a Master’s degree.

Candidates must be unable to afford UK study without the scholarship and must meet the CSC’s rules on prior study or work in high-income countries. Read the current eligibility checklist carefully: Nigerian nationality alone does not guarantee eligibility or selection, and universities may set additional recruitment criteria.

How the application works

Applications are submitted through the CSC’s online CSC Central system. Candidates must also apply separately for admission to their chosen Master’s course. A scholarship application does not replace a university admission application, and each university may have its own course deadline. The CSC’s FAQ says an offer letter is not required at the scholarship application stage for a Shared Master’s award, but candidates should check university requirements and seek admission promptly.

To prepare, gather a valid passport or other accepted proof of citizenship, complete higher-education transcripts, references, and details of employment and study plans. The application asks candidates to explain how the proposed study connects to development needs and how they will use the skills after returning home. Check the 2027 application guidance for the final document list and criteria before submitting.

The CSC says it does not charge candidates to apply through its online system. Use the official CSC and university websites, and do not pay an intermediary who claims to guarantee an award.

This is separate from Nigeria’s federal nomination route

The Shared Scholarship is a university-recruited route: participating UK universities select candidates and put them forward to the CSC. It is separate from the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Education’s 2027/28 Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan nomination exercise, whose 20 October 2026 application deadline has passed. Do not assume an application to one route transfers to the other.

What to do before 10 November

• Watch the CSC page for the approved 2027/28 universities and courses, which the Commission says will be published before applications open.
• Check that your planned course is an eligible full-time taught Master’s programme and review its separate university admission requirements.
• Request transcripts and references early, and draft a clear study and development-impact plan.
• Recheck the live CSC eligibility checklist, application guidance and closing time before submitting through CSC Central.

Selection is competitive and the Commission does not promise an award to every eligible applicant. The official guidance and course list are the final authority.

Official sources

• Commonwealth Scholarship Commission: Commonwealth Shared Scholarships applications
• Commonwealth Scholarship Commission: 2027/28 university bids and expected award numbers
• Commonwealth Scholarship Commission: applicant FAQs