Time Limited Programme 2026 & 2027: Master’s Awards for Small Island Developing States
During the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa, Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced a package of measures from the UK designed to:
- Boost intra-Commonwealth trade and investment and increase shared prosperity
- Empower young people with access to education and skills
- Support democratic governance, human rights and the rule of law
- Help protect vulnerable countries from the impacts of climate change
In support of point two, the CSC announced its intention to provide up to 40 Master’s Scholarships over two years for Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
CHOGM 2024 was significant as it was the first time since 1975 that the meeting was held in a Small Island Developing State and for the first time in a Pacific Island.
The CSC welcomes a small number of students from SIDS each year. This Time Limited Programme (TLP) provides the opportunity to work with our partners in SIDS to grow this number over two years and beyond.
The theme of the 2024 CHOGM was “One Resilient Common Future: Transforming our Common Wealth” and looked at the core pillars of the Commonwealth through a resilience lens. Samoa stated that the aims of CHOGM 2024 were to strengthen:
- Resilient democratic institutions upholding human rights, democracy, and the rule of law.
- A resilient environment to combat climate change.
- Resilient economies that support recovery and prosperity.
- Resilient societies to empower individuals for a peaceful and productive life.
The 20 ringfenced Master’s scholarships will be offered to scholars whose selected courses support one of these areas. Applications for study during the first TLP year will open in August 2025. Applicants must apply through the normal National or NGO nominator routes. Please follow CSC’s social media channels or visit the programme pages of our website for announcements of applications opening.
Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships under this TLP are offered to the following Small Island Developing States:
BELIZE
DOMINICA
FIJI
GRENADA
GUYANA
JAMAICA
KIRIBATI
MALDIVES
MAURITIUS
NAURU
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
SAINT LUCIA
SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
SAMOA
SOLOMON ISLANDS
TONGA
TUVALU
VANUATU
