The Commonwealth Pack

The UK government's fully funded master's for people who could not otherwise afford it: the eligibility rules in the commission's own words, what it pays in naira, the three-part application most people get wrong, the nominating body's details, and both deadlines.

Which of these is you

• 2:1 and ready to apply: start at the three-part application, the steps, tonight.
• 2:2, but you hold a postgraduate diploma or similar: you likely qualify; check the second point in Who qualifies, then move to the three-part application.
• Below 2:2 and no postgraduate qualification: this round is closed to you; Who this is not for, said plainly is your real next move.
• You can fund UK study yourself: this scholarship is not for you; it is written for people who cannot. See Who this is not for, said plainly.

What it is and what it pays

The Commonwealth Master's Scholarship, funded by the UK government through the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission, for a one-year UK master's starting September 2027. Applications for 2027/28 open 8 September 2026 and close 16:00 UK time, Tuesday 20 October 2026. Outcomes are expected by July 2027.

Source: cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk, Commonwealth Master's Scholarships.

Who qualifies

• A citizen of (or granted refugee status by) an eligible Commonwealth country, permanently resident there. Nigeria is on the list.
• A first degree of at least upper second class (2:1), or a lower second (2:2) plus a relevant postgraduate qualification. That second half is the line most people never hear.
• You must be "unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship." For once, the money question works in your favour: answer it truthfully.
• No age limit appears in the criteria, and no work experience requirement.
• For Nigeria's nomination (the Federal Ministry of Education's own call, published 14 September 2026): evidence of NYSC participation, and admission already secured from at least two UK institutions.
• The same call covers PhD scholarships too: a relevant master's, at least a 2:2 first degree, NYSC evidence, and a supporting statement from a prospective supervisor at your chosen UK university.
• Courses sit under the commission's six development themes; frame your study choice and your plans around the theme it serves: science and technology for development; improving population health, health systems and capacity; promoting innovation and entrepreneurship; strengthening peace, security and governance; strengthening resilience and response to crises; access, inclusion and opportunity. Source: cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk, development themes.

Source: cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk, eligibility section.

The three-part application (this is where people fall)

Most rejected effort on this scholarship dies on structure, not merit. There are three tracks, and all three must happen:

1. The commission's form, on CSC Central (their own online system; applications sent any other way are not accepted). The form is free. Anybody charging you for it is running a scam. You will list three UK universities and courses, in order of preference.
2. Your nomination. National agencies nominate candidates for the Master's and PhD scholarships. Nigeria's national nominating agency is the Federal Scholarship Board, Abuja (Plot 245, Samuel Ademulegun Street, Central Business District, Garki, Abuja; fsb@education.gov.ng; education.gov.ng). Each agency runs "their own eligibility criteria and selection processes," so their process is a deadline of its own. An application that never reaches the nominator goes nowhere, however strong it reads. Nigeria's call for 2027/28 is out (Federal Ministry of Education, 14 September 2026): complete the online application, the same form from track one, by 20 October 2026, then print one hard copy of the completed form as a PDF, because it goes with you to the interview venue. Yes, there is an interview; its dates and venue are still to be announced, so ask for them when you write (Department of Scholarship Awards: fsb@education.gov.ng, 09124516750 or 09082454557).
3. University admission, already secured, at two institutions. Nigeria's call asks for admission already secured from at least two UK institutions, so the university applications are the critical path: offers take weeks, and everything else waits on them.

Sources: cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk, Commonwealth Master's Scholarships, cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk, national nominating agencies, and the Federal Ministry of Education's call of 14 September 2026 (education.gov.ng).

Tonight, in one sitting

1. Write down three UK master's courses that fit your degree and one development theme, in order of preference.
2. Start your admission applications to those universities tonight, before anything else: Nigeria's nomination asks for admission already secured from at least two UK institutions, and offers take weeks.
3. Open the scholarship page and create your CSC Central account (free).
4. Send this to the Federal Scholarship Board at fsb@education.gov.ng, today, because their process takes its own time:

Subject: Commonwealth Master's Scholarship 2027/28: nomination process

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am preparing an application for the Commonwealth Master's Scholarship for the 2027/28 academic year, which closes on 20 October 2026. Kindly confirm the Federal Scholarship Board's nomination process, requirements, interview arrangements and internal deadline for this round, and any forms I should complete.

Name: [your full name] First degree and class: [degree, class, university, year] Proposed field of study: [course area]

Thank you, [name and phone number]

The documents to gather now

Your transcript and degree certificate, your NYSC evidence, your references (the form names how many and who qualifies: check it on CSC Central when you register), your identity page, and, if you are the 2:2-plus-postgraduate case, that postgraduate certificate too. Gather them this week; referees are the slowest document in every scholarship file.

The mistakes that kill Commonwealth files

• Starting in October. The form closes 20 October at 4pm UK time, and the nominator's own process sits before it.
• Applying on CSC Central and never contacting the nominating body.
• Choosing one dream course instead of three real ones in true preference order.
• Skipping the university admission because "the scholarship comes first." It doesn't; for Nigeria the admissions come first, two of them, secured.
• Arriving at the interview without the printed hard copy of your completed form.
• Paying anybody for the form. It is free, start to finish.

Who this is not for, said plainly

Below a 2:2 with no postgraduate qualification, this round is closed. The strongest move is the postgraduate diploma route or a different funded corridor, and the free assessment maps which one fits your file. If you can genuinely fund UK study, this scholarship is not your route: the free assessment ranks the routes that are. The Chevening pack (closes 6 October) wants two years of work experience; the Edinburgh Invite pack wants you born 1992 or later; Commonwealth is the one that asks for neither.

Before you go

Nobody can guarantee a scholarship, including us. But a file that reaches both the commission and the nominator, with three real courses and true answers, is a file actually in the race. Start tonight.

Naira figures on this page were converted at the 5 September 2026 rate (£1 = ₦1,833.69). Confirm every figure on the official page.