Application Deadline:  25 August, 2026

Applications are now open for the 2026/2027 Commonwealth Fellowship Programme. From 2026/27, the CSC has launched a new ‘Commonwealth Fellowship Programme’ featuring two strands: the current Professional Fellowships alongside a new strand of Academic Fellowships. 

Both strands are open to candidates from ALL Commonwealth countries. 

Commonwealth Professional Fellowships are for mid-career professionals from eligible Commonwealth countries (other than the UK) to undertake a programme of professional development at a UK host organisation working in their sector.   

Commonwealth Academic Fellowships are for academic staff who hold a PhD and are employed at a university in an eligible Commonwealth country (other than the UK) to undertake a programme of academic skills update, knowledge exchange and networking, with a view to establishing future collaboration, at a UK university.  

Purpose: Commonwealth Academic and Professional Fellowships are for citizens of Commonwealth countries to spend a period of time in the UK at an organisation working on a programme of professional or academic development which will have a developmental impact upon their return home.  

Intended beneficiaries:  

• Professional Fellows should be mid-career professionals with five years’ relevant experience working in organisations in an eligible Commonwealth country.   
• Academic Fellows should have a PhD and be employed by a university in an eligible Commonwealth country.   

The progrram provisionally plan to offer around 40 Fellowships in total: 

• Approximately 30 Fellowships available for citizens of Commonwealth countries eligible for ODA.  
• Approximately 10 Fellowships are available for citizens of Commonwealth countries not eligible for ODA (overseas development assistance). 

Themes

These fellowships are offered under six development themes:  

• 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

Professional Fellowships in 2026/27 must:  

• Begin between mid-February to mid-March 2027
• Be between six weeks and three months duration

Academic Fellowships in 2026/27 must:  

• Begin in January/February 2027
• Be of three months duration

Fellow eligibility

To be eligible for these Fellowships, prospective Fellows must:

• 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. Prospective Fellows should not have indefinite leave to remain in the UK.
• Professional Fellows: have at least five years’ full-time, or equivalent part-time, relevant work experience, in a profession related to the subject of the Fellowships programme, by the proposed start of the fellowship – voluntary work experience will not be counted towards this minimum. 
• Academic Fellows: hold a PhD and be employed by a university in a Commonwealth country other than the UK.  
• Be in employment at the time of application at an organisation that they will return to upon completion of the fellowship.
• Provide at least two references, one of which must be from their current employer. Any applications for which references are not received will be considered ineligible.
• Not have undertaken a Commonwealth Fellowship within the last five years (at the time of taking up the award).
• Be available to undertake their fellowship from the prescribed start date.

Eligible Countries

Candidates should check the eligibility requirements for each individual programme.

Bangladesh • Belize • Botswana • Cameroon • Dominica • Eswatini • Fiji • Gabon • The Gambia • Ghana • Grenada • Guyana • India • Jamaica • Kenya • Kiribati • Lesotho • Malawi • Malaysia • Maldives • Mauritius • Montserrat • Mozambique • Namibia • Nauru • Nigeria • Pakistan • Papua New Guinea • Rwanda • Saint Helena • Saint Lucia • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines • Samoa • Sierra Leone • Solomon Islands • South Africa • Sri Lanka • Tanzania • Togo • Tonga • Tuvalu • Uganda • Vanuatu • Zambia

Benefits

Each fellowship provides: 

• Approved return airfare from the Fellow’s home country to the UK.  
• Reimbursement of the standard visa application fee.  
• Stipend (living allowance) payable monthly (or pro rata) for the duration of the award at the rate of £2,218 per month, or £2,753 per month for those at organisations in the London metropolitan area (rates quoted at 2025/26 levels).  
• If a Fellow declares a disability, a full assessment of needs and eligibility for additional financial support will be offered by the CSC. See the CSC disability support statement for more information.  
• Arrival allowance of up to £1,247.09 (rates quoted at 2025/26 levels), including an element for warm clothing.  
• Additional fees can be agreed for costs associated with Fellows attending short courses/conferences as well as travel to visit other UK organisations where this forms an integral part of the programme. Programmes from six weeks to two months can claim up to £1,000 and programmes of two months to three months can claim up to £2,000.  See further guidance below.  These costs will be paid directly to the host organisation. 

How to apply

​Applications for the 2027 Commonwealth Fellowships are now open. To apply for a Commonwealth Fellowship you must complete the application form by clicking on the link below:

Commonwealth Fellowship application form 

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the Commonwealth Fellowship Programme