APPLY: UK’s Commonwealth distance learning scholarship opens for 2025/26 applications

Applications for the 2025/26 Commonwealth distance learning scholarship are now open in Nigeria.

The scholarship is one of three Master’s programmes offered by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) and funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

It is awarded to talented and motivated individuals to enable them access training and skills required for sustainable development.

The programme will allow beneficiaries to undertake part-time master’s studies with UK universities while remaining in their home countries.

To be eligible for the award, an applicant must be a citizen or permanent resident of a Commonwealth country, have an undergraduate degree of at least upper second class (2:1), and be “unable to afford to study the programme without the scholarship”.

Participating UK universities will conduct respective recruitment processes to select a specified number of candidates for the scholarships, which will be confirmed by the CSC based on their academic merit and the potential impact of the work on the development of the applicant’s home country.

Applicants are not required to take an IELTS (English language) test, but may be required by their university to provide evidence of a particular level of English proficiency.

All applications must be entered through the CSC portal.