The CSC is pleased to launch a new stream of Commonwealth Scholarships for Small Island Developing States to support the aims of the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
This year’s CHOGM, currently being hosted in Samoa, will explore opportunities for cooperation and collaboration in tackling the common challenges faced by member nations. It will also focus on the issues experienced by Commonwealth Small Island Developing States under the theme of ‘One Resilient Common Future: Transforming our Common Wealth’.
Towards a common future
Since 1965, the CSC has championed the Commonwealth’s values and principles through its scholarship programmes. By supporting students from across the Commonwealth to gain vital knowledge and skills, Commonwealth Scholars can contribute to their country’s national development priorities in many different areas from healthcare and environmental protection to economic prosperity and human rights.
Led by the UK Government’s international development priorities, the CSC aims to drive forward global sustainable development and empower future innovators and leaders who will go on to join its 31,000 strong alumni community working across a range of fields.
About the programme
The Small Island Developing States scholarship stream will fund 20 dedicated Master’s Scholarships per year in 2026-27 and 2027-28 to help deliver the aims of CHOGM 2024.
Applicants for the scholarships will need to address at least one of the four thematic areas related to the overall theme of CHOGM 2024:
- 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 successful applicants will undertake a Master’s programme at a UK university to enhance their capacity to make a transformative impact under these thematic areas after their studies.
In addition to their studies, the successful applicants will engage in a range of activities to deepen their understanding of the issues facing Small Island Developing States. They will also have opportunities to harness their professional network for future collaboration, including with SIDS scholars from the Chevening Scholarship programme.
How to apply
The Small Island Developing States scholarships is open exclusively to students from low–middle-income Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and will be offered through the existing agency nominated Master’s route. Applications must be made to the national nominating agency which will nominate applicants to the CSC to be assessed for selection.
The following countries are eligible for the Small Island Developing States scholarship stream:
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.
Disabled and LGBT+ applicants can also apply through the CSC’s NGO nominators, the Commonwealth Disabled Peoples Forum and the Commonwealth Equality Network respectively.
Applications for the Small Island Developing States scholarships will open in September 2025.
For further information about the programme, please contact cscnominations@cscuk.org.uk.
