Students from developing countries who would not otherwise be able to study in the UK can apply for Commonwealth Shared Scholarships for master’s study, jointly supported by Cranfield University.

Students from developing countries who would not otherwise be able to study in the UK can apply for Commonwealth Shared Scholarships for master’s study, jointly supported by UK universities.

Purpose: to contribute to development needs of Commonwealth countries by providing training for skilled and qualified professionals and academics who would not otherwise have been able to study in the UK.

Intended beneficiaries: high-quality postgraduate students who have not studied extensively overseas before, who would not otherwise have the opportunity to study in the UK, and who have the potential to enhance the development of their home countries with the knowledge and leadership skills they acquire.

Commonwealth Shared Scholarships are offered for selected taught full-time master’s courses. Please see the 'applicable courses' section for the courses eligible at Cranfield in 2023/24. These scholarships do not cover PhD study, or any pre-sessional English language teaching.

At a glance

  • Funding valueAll tuition fees, travel and living costs
  • Suitable for Applicants fromRest of world
  • Deadline14 Dec 2023
  • Funding provider(s)Commonwealth Scholarship Commission and Cranfield University


What it covers

  • Approved airfare from your home country to the UK and return at the end of your award (the CSC will not reimburse the cost of fares for dependants, nor usually the cost of journeys made before your award is finally confirmed).
  • Approved tuition and examination fees.
  • Stipend (living allowance) at the rate of £1,236 per month (rates quoted at 2022-2023 levels).
  • Thesis grant towards the cost of preparing a thesis or dissertation, where applicable.
  • Warm clothing allowance, where applicable.
  • Study travel grant towards the costs of study-related travel within the UK or overseas.

Who can apply

To apply for these scholarships, you must:

  • Be a Commonwealth citizen, refugee, or British protected person;
  • Be permanently resident in a developing Commonwealth country;
  • Be available to start your academic studies in the UK by the start of the UK academic year in September/October;
  • By August, hold a first degree of at least upper second class (2:1) honours standard;
  • Not have studied or worked for one (academic) year or more in a developed country;
  • Be unable, either yourself or through your family, to pay to study in the UK.
  • Be studying one of the following subjects: 
  1. Advanced Water Management MSc
  2. Environmental Engineering MSc
  3. Environmental Management for Business MSc
  4. Future Food Sustainability MSc
  5. Advanced GIS and Remote Sensing MSc (Formerly known as Geographical Information Management MSc)
  6. Renewable Energy MSc

The CSC promotes equal opportunity, gender equity, and cultural exchange. Applications are encouraged from a diverse range of candidates. 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.

Further information

For more information, please visit the Commonwealth Scholarships website.

To access the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission's Complaints Procedure and Safeguarding Policy, please visit the UK Government website.

The CSC is committed to administering and managing its scholarships and fellowships in a fair and transparent manner. For further information, see the CSC anti-fraud policy and the DFID guidance on reporting fraud.

How to apply

Please read our blog Top five tips for a successful application before applying.

The first step is to check that your course choice is eligible and submit a scholarship application using the link below. This form should be submitted before you make an application for admission to your chosen Cranfield course. If your scholarship application progresses to the next stage you will be given instructions on the further steps you must undertake. Please do not submit an application for admission to Cranfield University until you are advised to do so.

Apply now

Applications close on 14 December 2023 at 16:00 GMT. Applications submitted after this date will not be considered. We intend to provide initial feedback on whether your application is being progressed to the next stage by 22 January 2024.

You must complete the online application form even if you have already received an offer to study at Cranfield or have deferred your offer from a previous year. Only applicants who have completed the online application form can be considered.

You must also submit an application on the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission online application system. This submission must be completed by 14 December 2023 at 16:00 GMT. Please visit the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission website for more information.