Applications are open for the 2027 Commonwealth Fellowship Programme, offering professional and academic development opportunities in the UK to eligible citizens of all Commonwealth countries, including Nigeria.
The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) said applications opened at 9:00 BST on Tuesday, July 28, and will close at 16:00 BST on Tuesday, August 25, 2026.
The programme has two strands: Commonwealth Professional Fellowships for mid-career professionals and Commonwealth Academic Fellowships for university academics who hold a PhD.
Professional Fellowships are designed for professionals with at least five years of relevant work experience who want to undertake a structured professional development programme at a UK host organisation.
Academic Fellowships are for academics with a PhD who are employed by a university in an eligible Commonwealth country. The programme focuses on academic skills development, knowledge exchange and networking, with the aim of establishing future collaboration with UK universities.
Fellowship Coverage
The CSC plans to offer about 40 fellowships. Approximately 30 will be available to citizens of Commonwealth countries eligible for overseas development assistance (ODA), while about 10 will be available to citizens of Commonwealth countries that are not ODA-eligible.
The fellowships cover 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; and access, inclusion and opportunity.
Professional Fellowships must begin between mid-February and mid-March 2027 and last between six weeks and three months. Academic Fellowships must begin in January or February 2027 and last three months.
Eligible applicants must be citizens of, or have refugee status in, an eligible Commonwealth country and be permanently resident there. Professional Fellowship applicants must have at least five years of relevant full-time or equivalent part-time work experience, while Academic Fellowship applicants must hold a PhD and be employed by a university outside the UK.
Applicants must also be employed by an organisation they will return to after completing the fellowship, provide at least two references including one from their current employer, and must not have undertaken a Commonwealth Fellowship within the previous five years.
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted through the Commonwealth Fellowship application form before the August 25 deadline.
Details of participating UK host organisations and their programmes are available through the CSC’s host organisation programmes page.
Requirements and Benefits
Professional Fellows require a Temporary Work – Government Authorised Exchange (GAE) visa. UK immigration requirements are administered by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and can change.
The CSC said Professional Fellows must comply with their visa conditions, remain in the UK for the duration of their fellowship except where permission is granted for exceptional travel, and leave the UK before their visa expires.
Academic Fellows also require a Temporary Work – GAE visa, with their academic hosts expected to act as visa sponsors and undertake the relevant sponsorship duties.
Each fellowship provides approved return airfare from the Fellow’s home country to the UK and reimbursement of the standard visa application fee.
Successful Fellows will receive a monthly living allowance of £2,218, rising to £2,753 for those hosted by organisations in the London metropolitan area. The CSC said these rates are based on 2025/26 levels.
Fellows can also receive an arrival allowance of up to £1,247.09, including an element for warm clothing. Additional funding of up to £1,000 may be available for programmes lasting six weeks to two months, while programmes lasting two to three months can receive up to £2,000 for approved short courses, conferences and related travel.
