Commonwealth Fellowships 2027 in the UK (Fully Funded)
Overview
The Commonwealth Fellowships for 2026-27 let citizens of Commonwealth countries spend a short period at an organisation in the United Kingdom. They are administered by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission and come in two strands: Professional Fellowships for mid-career professionals, and a new Academic Fellowship for people who hold a PhD and work at a university. The aim is for fellows to have a development impact when they return home.
Themes include science and technology for development, improving population health and health systems, promoting innovation and entrepreneurship, and strengthening peace, security, resilience and response to crises, together with inclusion.
What you get
Fellows in both strands receive return airfare from their home country, reimbursement of the visa application fee, a monthly living allowance and an arrival allowance of up to £1,247.09, which includes warm clothing. The monthly allowance is £2,218 for fellows placed outside the London metropolitan area and £2,753 for those placed at organisations within it. Additional funds may be available for short courses or conferences that form part of the fellowship.
Professional Fellowships last between six weeks and three months and start between mid February and mid March 2027. Academic Fellowships last three months and take place in January or February 2027.
Who can apply
Applicants must be citizens of, or hold refugee status in, an eligible Commonwealth country, or be British Protected Persons, and must live permanently in an eligible Commonwealth country. Professional Fellows need at least five years of work experience in a profession related to the fellowship subject. Academic Fellows must have completed a PhD and be employed by a university in a Commonwealth country other than the UK.
Candidates must be employed by an organisation they will return to after the fellowship, must provide at least two references with one from the current employer, and must not have held a Commonwealth Fellowship in the last five years. They must also be available on the scheduled dates and meet any extra criteria set by the host organisation.
How to apply
Applications are submitted through the online portal. Applicants create an account or sign in, confirm their email address with a code that is sent to them, complete the form, choose the fellowship programme, accept the terms and submit. A passport and other relevant documents are needed.
Key dates
The application deadline is 25 August 2026.