The Commonwealth Fellowship Programme 2026/27 is open to mid-career professionals and academic staff from eligible Commonwealth countries—applications close at 16:00 BST on Tuesday, 25 August 2026.
This fellowship is run by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (CSC) with participating UK host organisations. It supports short-term professional development and academic exchange programmes in the United Kingdom in 2027.
Application Deadline
- Closes: 16:00 BST Tuesday 25 August 2026
Tell Me About The Fellowship
The Commonwealth Fellowship Programme, run by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (CSC), offers short‑term professional and academic development opportunities in the United Kingdom. From 2026/27, it features two strands:
- Professional Fellowships – for mid‑career professionals to undertake professional development at a UK host organisation.
- Academic Fellowships – for academic staff with a PhD employed at universities in eligible Commonwealth countries to update skills, exchange knowledge, and build collaborations at UK universities.
Which Fields are Eligible
Fellowships are offered under six development themes:
- Science and Technology for Development
- Improving Population Health
- Promoting Innovation and Entrepreneurship
- Strengthening Peace, Security and Governance
- Strengthening Resilience and Response to Crises
- Access, Inclusion and Opportunity
Type
- International Fellowship | Professional & Academic Development | UK
Who Can Apply
Applicants must:
- Be a citizen of, or have refugee status in, an eligible Commonwealth country, or be a British Protected Person.
- Be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country.
- Be in employment at the time of application and return to their organisation after the fellowship.
- Professional Fellows: have at least five years’ relevant work experience.
- Academic Fellows: hold a PhD and be employed at a university in a Commonwealth country (other than the UK).
- Provide two references, including one from their current employer.
- Not have undertaken a Commonwealth Fellowship within the last five years.
- Be available to start on the prescribed dates.
Which Countries are Eligible
Candidates should check the eligibility for each individual programme.
- BangladeshÂ
- BelizeÂ
- BotswanaÂ
- CameroonÂ
- DominicaÂ
- EswatiniÂ
- FijiÂ
- GabonÂ
- The GambiaÂ
- GhanaÂ
- GrenadaÂ
- GuyanaÂ
- IndiaÂ
- JamaicaÂ
- KenyaÂ
- KiribatiÂ
- LesothoÂ
- MalawiÂ
- MalaysiaÂ
- MaldivesÂ
- MauritiusÂ
- MontserratÂ
- MozambiqueÂ
- NamibiaÂ
- NauruÂ
- NigeriaÂ
- PakistanÂ
- Papua New GuineaÂ
- RwandaÂ
- Saint HelenaÂ
- Saint LuciaÂ
- Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesÂ
- SamoaÂ
- Sierra LeoneÂ
- Solomon IslandsÂ
- South AfricaÂ
- Sri LankaÂ
- TanzaniaÂ
- TogoÂ
- TongaÂ
- TuvaluÂ
- UgandaÂ
- VanuatuÂ
- Zambia Â
Non-ODA eligible countries (approximately ten fellowships on offer):
- AnguillaÂ
- Antigua and BarbudaÂ
- AustraliaÂ
- BahamasÂ
- BarbadosÂ
- BermudaÂ
- British Virgin IslandsÂ
- Brunei DarussalamÂ
- CanadaÂ
- Cayman IslandsÂ
- CyprusÂ
- Falkland IslandsÂ
- GibraltarÂ
- MaltaÂ
- New ZealandÂ
- SeychellesÂ
- SingaporeÂ
- St Kitts and NevisÂ
- Trinidad and TobagoÂ
- Turks and Caicos Islands Â
Where Will the Fellowship Be Taken
- United Kingdom (UK host organisations and universities).
How Many Fellows
- Around 40 fellowships in total:
- ~10 for citizens of non‑ODA countries.
- ~30 for citizens of ODA‑eligible countries.
What is the Benefit of the Fellowship
- Approved return airfare to the UK.
- Reimbursement of standard visa application fee.
- Monthly stipend: £2,218 (or £2,753 for London placements).
- Arrival allowance: up to £1,247.09.
- Host support for visa sponsorship (Academic Fellows).
How Long Will the Fellowship Last
- Professional Fellowships: 6 weeks – 3 months (start mid‑Feb to mid‑Mar 2027).
- Academic Fellowships: 3 months (start Jan/Feb 2027).
Required Documents
- Completed application form.
- Qualification details.
- Two references (including one from current employer).
- Personal statement (max 500 words).
- Health and disability form (before confirmation of award).
How to Apply
- Review eligibility criteria and host organisation requirements.
- Prepare references, personal statement, and documents.
- Submit application via the CSC application system between 28 July – 25 August 2026.
👉 Visit the official fellowship page for details
