About the opportunity
What this programme is offering
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.
The progrram provisionally plan to offer around 40 Fellowships in total:
Approximately 30 Fellowships available for citizens of Commonwealth countries eligible for ODA.
Approximately 10 Fellowships are available for citizens of Commonwealth countries not eligible for ODA (overseas development assistance).
Themes
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
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 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.
Eligible Countries
Candidates should check the eligibility requirements 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
Benefits
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.
How to apply
Applications for the 2027 Commonwealth Fellowships are now open. To apply for a Commonwealth Fellowship you must complete the application form by clicking on the link below
How to apply