Commonwealth Fellowships Information For Candidates

by | Jul 24, 2026

Commonwealth Fellowships Information For Candidates

Overview

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. 

Applications for Fellows open at 9:00 BST Tuesday 28 July and close at 16:00 BST Tuesday 25 August.

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.   

We provisionally plan to offer around 40 Fellowships in total: 

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

Please refer to the eligible countries tab for full details.  

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

Host organisation programmes

Different UK based organisations have applied to host Commonwealth Fellows in 2027. Each host organisation has applied to run a bespoke fellowship programme that candidates can apply for. 

You can find the details of each successfully selected organisation and the programme that they are running on this page. Click on the programme detail and eligibility link for each host organisation to read more in-depth details about their programme and eligibility criteria.  

Please note that some hosts intend to nominate candidates from their known and established networks. Where this is the case, it is indicated on this page. To avoid disappointment please consider contacting these hosts directly using the information on their websites before applying for their fellowship programme.  

Bees for Development – Professional Fellowships
British Geological Survey – Professional Fellowships
Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council – Professional Fellowships
Christ Apostolic Church – House of Prayer UK – Professional Fellowships
Doctoral Training Centre, University of Oxford – Academic Fellowships
Goodnews Community Outreach – Professional Fellowships
Imperial College London – Academic Fellowships
Justice Defenders – Professional Fellowships
Knowledge for Change – Professional Fellowships
Lifegate Outreach Centre – Professional Fellowships
LifeLine Network International – Professional Fellowships
London North West University Healthcare Trust – Professional Fellowships
Royal College of Emergency Medicine – Professional Fellowships
Salford University – Professional Fellowships
University College London – Professional Fellowships
University of Bath – Academic Fellowships
University of Bradford Institute of Cancer Therapeutics – Academic Fellowships
University of East London – School of Health, Sport and Bioscience – Professional Fellowships
University of Oxford – Department of Physics – Academic Fellowships
University of Reading – Academic Fellowships
University of Strathclyde – Pure and Applied Chemistry Department – Professional Fellowships
University of Strathclyde – National Centre for Prosthetics and Orthotics – Professional Fellowships
Wessex Global Stroke Partnerships – Professional Fellowships

Bees for Development – Professional Fellowships

Back to list of host organisations

British Geological Survey – Professional Fellowships

Back to list of host organisations

Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council – Professional Fellowships

Back to list of host organisations

Christ Apostolic Church – House of Prayer UK – Professional Fellowships

Back to list of host organisations

Doctoral Training Centre, University of Oxford – Academic Fellowships

Back to list of host organisations

Goodnews Community Outreach – Professional Fellowships

  • Proposed programme dates: 15/02/2027 to 14/05/2027
  • Priority theme: Strengthening resilience and response to crises
  • Recruiting from an established network: No
  • Programme detail and eligibility

Back to list of host organisations

Imperial College London – Academic Fellowships

Back to list of host organisations

Justice Defenders – Professional Fellowships

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Knowledge for Change – Professional Fellowships

  • Proposed programme dates: 15/02/2027 to 11/05/2027
  • Priority theme: Improving population health, health systems and capacity
  • Recruiting from an established network: Yes
  • Programme detail and eligibility

Back to list of host organisations

Lifegate Outreach Centre – Professional Fellowships

Back to list of host organisations

LifeLine Network International – Professional Fellowships

  • Proposed programme dates: 24/02/2027 to 07/04/2027
  • Priority theme: Access, inclusion and opportunity
  • Recruiting from an established network: Yes
  • Programme detail and eligibility

Back to list of host organisations

London North West University Healthcare Trust – Professional Fellowships

  • Proposed programme dates: 01/03/2027 to 12/04/2027
  • Priority theme: Improving population health, health systems and capacity
  • Recruiting from an established network: Yes
  • Website: lnwh.nhs.uk
  • Programme detail and eligibility

Back to list of host organisations

Royal College of Emergency Medicine – Professional Fellowships

  • Proposed programme dates: 23/02/2027 to 16/04/2027
  • Priority theme: Improving population health, health systems and capacity
  • Recruiting from an established network: Yes
  • Programme detail and eligibility

Back to list of host organisations

Salford University – Professional Fellowships

  • Proposed programme dates: 10/02/2027 to 11/05/2027
  • Priority theme: Improving population health, health systems and capacity
  • Recruiting from an established network: Yes
  • Website: salford.ac.uk
  • Programme detail and eligibility

Back to list of host organisations

University College London – Professional Fellowships

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University of Bath – Academic Fellowships

  • Proposed programme dates: 20/01/2027 to 16/04/2027
  • Priority theme: Science and technology for development
  • Recruiting from an established network: Yes
  • Programme detail and eligibility

Back to list of host organisations

University of Bradford Institute of Cancer Therapeutics – Academic Fellowships

Back to list of host organisations

University of East London – School of Health, Sport and Bioscience – Professional Fellowships

Back to list of host organisations

University of Oxford – Department of Physics – Academic Fellowships

Back to list of host organisations

University of Reading – Academic Fellowships

Back to list of host organisations

University of Strathclyde – Pure and Applied Chemistry Department – Professional Fellowships

Back to list of host organisations

University of Strathclyde – National Centre for Prosthetics and Orthotics – Professional Fellowships

Back to list of host organisations

Wessex Global Stroke Partnerships – Professional Fellowships

  • Proposed programme dates: 01/03/2027 to 11/04/2027
  • Priority theme: Improving population health, health systems and capacity
  • Recruiting from an established network: Yes
  • Website: wgstroke.org
  • Programme detail and eligibility

Back to list of host organisations

How to apply

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

Professional Fellowship application form 

Applications for Fellows open at 9:00 BST Tuesday 28 July and close at 16:00 BST Tuesday 25 August.

Host organisation programmes 

Details for each host organisation running a programme for the 2027 Commonwealth Fellowships programme are listed on the ‘host organisation programmes’ tab. 

Advice and selection criteria

Applicants can find general information about applying for a Commonwealth Scholarship on our advice for applicants page.

Selection criteria 

Applications will be assessed on the extent to which the proposed fellowship will ensure the transfer of skills relevant to the six CSC development themes. Prospective hosts should consider how their work and the experience Fellows will receive will enhance various areas of work in this area, for example through advocacy, health, public policy, or laws.  

Applications are also considered according to the following selection criteria:  

  • Quality and relevance of the programme  
  • Development impact  
  • Candidate potential  

For full details see the selection criteria for assessment of applications.  

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 Professional 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.

In addition to the above, prospective Fellows must ensure they meet any eligibility criteria set out by each individual host organisation.

The CSC aims to identify talented individuals who have the potential to make change. We are committed to a policy of equal opportunity and non-discrimination and encourage applications from a diverse range of candidates. For further information on the support available to Fellows with a disability, see the CSC disability support statement.

Please note that personal information will be used to conduct necessary due diligence checks by the CSC. These checks will be carried out before proceeding with any type of formal agreement or contractual relationship. In most cases, the due diligence checks will be straightforward, but further information may be requested, so we ask for full cooperation from candidates to speed up the process. 

If candidates do not agree to their personal data being used for the purpose of conducting due diligence, the CSC will not be able to proceed further with the selection process. 

Eligible countries

Candidates should check the eligibility 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  

Non-ODA eligible countries (approximately ten fellowships on offer):

Anguilla 
Antigua and Barbuda 
Australia 
Bahamas 
Barbados 
Bermuda 
British Virgin Islands 
Brunei Darussalam 
Canada 
Cayman Islands 
Cyprus 
Falkland Islands 
Gibraltar 
Malta 
New Zealand 
Seychelles 
Singapore 
St Kitts and Nevis 
Trinidad and Tobago 
Turks and Caicos Islands  

Completing the application form

Applications for 2027 Commonwealth Fellowships are now open. 

To apply for a Commonwealth Fellowship you must complete the application form by clicking on the link below:

Professional Fellowship Application Form

Applications for Fellows open at 9:00 BST Tuesday 28 July and close at 16:00 BST Tuesday 25 August

In the application form, prospective Fellows are asked to:  

  • List all undergraduate and postgraduate university qualifications obtained (where applicable).
  • List up to ten publications and prizes (if applicable).  
  • Provide details of your employment history and explain how each job is relevant to the programme you wish to undertake in the UK (up to 100 words per employment).
  • Provide a statement on the relevance of your previous work experience to the proposed fellowship (up to 300 words).  
  • Provide at least two references from people who are qualified to comment on both your capacity to benefit from your proposed fellowship in the UK and your ability to deliver development impact afterwards. One of your references must be from your current employer, unless you are self employed. 

Provide a development impact statement in four parts.  

  • Part 1: (up to 200 words) Explain how participation on your selected fellowship relates to:  
    • one of the six CSC development themes  
    • development issues at the global, national and local level  
  • Part 2 (up to 100 words) Explain how you intend to apply your new skills once your Fellowship ends.  
  • Part 3 (up to 250 words) Outline what you expect will change in development terms following your fellowship including:  
    • the outcomes that you aim to achieve  
    • the timeframe for their implementation  
    • who the beneficiaries will be  
  • Part 4: (up to 100 words) Write about how the impact of your work could be best measured.  
  • Confirm what your award objectives are and how each of them will be met by the fellowship programme  
  • Confirm what your objectives are for the next two years and how each of them will be met by the fellowship programme  
  • Confirm what your objectives are in the longer term and how each of them will be met by the fellowship programme  
  • Provide a personal statement to summarise the ways in which your personal background has encouraged you to want to make an impact in your home country. You should indicate areas in which you have already contributed, such as having overcome any personal or community barriers to your chosen career (up to 500 words)  
  • Summarise the ways in which you have engaged in voluntary activities and the opportunities you have had to demonstrate leadership (up to 500 words)  
  • Provide a scan of your passport or national identity card  

Financial assistance

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. 

General conditions

  • A Commonwealth Fellowship covers a contribution to the host organisation costs, approved fares, and personal maintenance. Other fellowships, awards, or bursaries that cover the same costs may not be held concurrently.
  • In order for the CSC to administer a Fellow’s application effectively and efficiently after they have submitted, it will be necessary to create a record in their name. The details of Fellows who are nominated to the CSC will be kept on file. Basic anonymised demographic data for all applicants will be kept for analytical research. The CSC is committed to protecting personal information and to being transparent about the information we are collecting about individuals and what we do with it. To find out more, see our privacy notice.
  • Fellows must submit a health and disability form before a Confirmation of Award can be issued.
  • Fellows will be asked to sign an undertaking which requires them to return to their home country and their previous place of employment at the time of being awarded the fellowship. Fellows must leave within five days of the end of their award.
  • Fellows are expected to start and complete their award on the dates stated in their Notification of Award and for the full term. The CSC is usually not able to agree any changes to these dates after the Notification of Award has been issued.
  • Fellows must secure suitable entry clearance to the UK to come to the UK for their award and must meet all the relevant immigration regulations set by UK Visas and Immigration. These regulations are subject to change at any time. See immigration conditions for more information.
  • Fellows must reside in the UK throughout their award, and seek approval from the CSC in advance for any overseas travel, which will be granted in exceptional circumstances only.
  • Fellows must not undertake paid employment during their award.
  • The CSC cannot provide a letter of support for any fellow to remain in the UK after their award.
  • An award may be terminated at any time for reasons of unsatisfactory conduct, progress, attendance, or violation of visa conditions, or if the host organisation decides it is unable to proceed with the fellowship for any reason before or during the award.
  • Applicants and selected Fellows must adhere to the CSC Code of Conduct for Award Holders and CSC Disciplinary Policy and Procedure.
  • In line with the UK Bribery Act 2010, any applicant convicted of bribery will be banned from reapplying for a Commonwealth Scholarship or Fellowship for a period of up to five years
  • The CSC is committed to administering and managing its Scholarships and Fellowships in a fair and transparent manner. For more information, see the CSC Anti-fraud Policy and Procedure and the FCDO guidance on reporting fraud.
  • All terms and conditions of award are subject to UK local law and practices and are subject to change by the CSC.

Immigration conditions

Commonwealth Professional Fellowships

Commonwealth Professional Fellows require a Temporary Work – Government Authorised Exchange (GAE) visa to come to the UK for their award and must meet all relevant immigration requirements. All UK immigration regulations are set by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and are subject to change at any time. The CSC has no control over these regulations. 

The Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), which provides the CSC Secretariat, acts as the Temporary Work visa sponsor on behalf of the CSC. In accordance with immigration regulations, sponsorship duties relating to record keeping, monitoring, and reporting of Fellows must be completed. While the ACU (on behalf of the CSC Secretariat) is responsible for assigning Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) and submitting reports to UKVI, host organisations are required to assist in these activities as per the host organisations’ obligations which can be accessed on the information for prospective hosts page. Failure on the part of the host organisation to provide the ACU with the required documentation and to report relevant details may result in the loss of the ACU’s Temporary Work visa licence and ability to sponsor Fellows’ visas. 

Fellows’ obligations 

Commonwealth Professional Fellows must provide the following documents before the ACU (acting on behalf of the CSC Secretariat) will assign a CoS: 

  • Visa information form 
  • Award acceptance form (signed) 
  • Client Care Letter (signed) 
  • Copy of passport personal details page 

The CSC Secretariat will send the details of the assigned CoS to the Fellow by email, to enable them to make their visa application, and will keep a copy on file. 

After a CoS has been assigned, fellows must provide copies of the following documents to the CSC Secretariat: 

  • A share code generated from their eVisa for the purpose of checking their right to work in the UK.
  • Passport entry stamp and/or a used boarding pass and checked baggage receipt evidencing their entry to the UK at the start of their fellowship. 
  • Passport entry stamp and/or a used boarding pass and checked baggage receipt, at the end of their fellowship and every time they travel outside the UK during their fellowship

Once a Fellow has arrived in the UK and is on award they must ensure that they comply with good practices to protect their Temporary Work – Government Authorised Exchange Visa. This includes:

  • Cooperating with their host and the ACU to ensure that right to work checks are carried out before their programme starts.
  • Attending and engaging with their programme during the official programme start and end dates.
  • Adhering to all conditions of their visa.
  • Leaving the UK before their visa expires.

Reporting to UK Visas and Immigration 

Once a Fellow has been issued with a CoS and while they are in the UK, the ACU is required to report to UKVI within ten working days if: 

  • The Fellow does not start the programme within 28 days on their expected start date, or valid from date on their visa (whichever is later). This includes if the fellow misses a flight and will be arriving at a later date agreed by the host organisation. 
  • The Fellow is absent from their work location. The ACU requires details of all absences; however, only unauthorised absences of 10 working days or more will be reported to UKVI. 
  • The fellowship finishes before the end date stated on the CoS (e.g. if the Fellow withdraws, has their fellowship withdrawn, or finishes their programme early). 
  • The Fellow defers their fellowship. 
  • The Fellow no longer requires sponsorship under Temporary Work visa (e.g. if they switch to a different visa type). 
  • There are any significant changes to the Fellow’s circumstances (e.g. a change of work location, passport details, etc). 
  • There is any information which suggests that the Fellow is in breach of the conditions of their visa (including engaging in criminal activity). 

Travel outside the UK during the fellowship 

Commonwealth Professional Fellowships are tenable in the UK only, and Fellows must seek permission from their CSC Programme Officer and host organisation if they wish to travel outside the UK for any reason. Permission will only be granted in exceptional circumstances.

Further information 

This information is subject to changes in UKVI policy guidance and the immigration rules which is available on the UKVI website. UKVI may make changes to the terms and conditions of visas at any point. 

Further information can be obtained from the CSC’s Senior Welfare and Immigration Officer, please email: welfare@cscuk.org.uk 

Commonwealth Academic Fellowships

Commonwealth Academic Fellows require a Temporary Work – Government Authorised Exchange (GAE) visa to come to the UK for their award and must meet all relevant immigration requirements. All UK immigration regulations are set by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and are subject to change at any time. The CSC has no control over these regulations.    

The academic hosts are expected to act as the Temporary Work – GAE visa sponsor for all candidates who are confirmed for a Commonwealth academic Fellowship. The CSC would expect hosts to certify the maintenance for Temporary Work – GAE visa applicants. The CSC will provide confirmation of funding to confirmed Fellows and their hosts. If there is an alternative visa route available that is suitable for academic fellows to come to the UK to pursue their programme the host will be responsible for advising on this. 

Academic hosts will therefore be responsible for sponsorship duties relating to record keeping, monitoring, and reporting of Fellows in accordance with immigration regulations.  

Fellows are responsible for adhering to the conditions of their visa and fulfilling any requests from their host with regard to their visa application and compliance. 

Further information can be obtained from the CSC’s Senior Welfare and Immigration Officer, please email: welfare@cscuk.org.uk  

Enquiries

If you have any queries about Commonwealth Fellowships, please email: cfp@cscuk.org.uk

Please note that any general enquiries about applying for Commonwealth Scholarships sent to this email address will not be answered. Please use the contact us form for enquiries about other CSC programmes.