Applications for Commonwealth Fellowships 2027 close on Thursday 5 November 2026 at 16:00 GMT, according to the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission. The fellowships are for mid-career professionals and academics from eligible Commonwealth countries, not for degree study. The page says applications are open through the Commission’s own form only.
Contents
- What is new this round
- Who can apply
- What is paid
- An example applicant
- Before the deadline
- Fellowship questions
What is new this round
From 2026/27 the Commission has launched a Commonwealth Fellowship Programme with two strands: Professional Fellowships and a new Academic Fellowships strand. It says it provisionally plans around 12 fellowships in total. Fellowships begin in March 2027 and last up to three months, hosted by named UK universities with fixed start dates from 1 March 2027.
Who can apply
Candidates must be citizens of an eligible Commonwealth country other than the UK, permanently resident there, and not hold indefinite leave to remain in the UK. Professional Fellows need five years of relevant work experience; Academic Fellows need a PhD and university employment. Two references are required, and anyone who held a Commonwealth Fellowship in the last five years is excluded. The page lists countries such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Cyprus, Malta and several Caribbean states, and each host programme sets its own country limits, so check the page for yours.
What is paid
The page states, at 2025/26 rates, a return airfare, reimbursement of the standard visa fee, a stipend of £2,218 a month (£2,753 in the London area) and an arrival allowance of up to £1,247.09. Extra fees of up to £1,000 or £2,000 can be approved depending on length. Rates for 2026/27 may differ, and fellows cannot hold another award covering the same costs.
An example applicant
As an illustration, not a real case: a Singaporean policy specialist with six years in a public agency would apply on the Professional strand, choose a host programme matching their field, and line up two referees now. Students seeking a full degree should see our guides to the Gates Cambridge deadlines and Chevening timeline, and can test their route with the visa eligibility checker.
Before the deadline
With six days left, confirm your country is on the eligible list, pick a host programme, contact referees, and submit through the Commission’s form only. Late applications are not mentioned as accepted on the page. Watch the official site for any change.
Fellowship questions
When is the deadline?
Thursday 5 November 2026 at 16:00 GMT.
Is this a degree scholarship?
No. It is a fellowship for professionals and academics, lasting up to three months.
When do fellowships start?
March 2027, with fixed host start dates from 1 March 2027.
How many fellowships are planned?
Provisionally around 12 in total.
How do I apply?
Through the Commission’s own application form only.
What does the stipend cover?
£2,218 a month, or £2,753 in the London area, at 2025/26 rates.
Sources
- Commonwealth Scholarship Commission — Commonwealth Fellowships: information for candidates. https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/scholarships/commonwealth-fellowships-information-for-candidates/
- Commonwealth Scholarship Commission — Home page. https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/
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