King’s College London Commonwealth Shared Scholarships Scheme

King’s College London is delighted to announce the Commonwealth Shared Scholarships Scheme (CSSS), offering fully funded opportunities for outstanding students from eligible low and middle-income Commonwealth countries. This prestigious award supports dedicated individuals who aspire to advance their expertise in healthcare and mental health disciplines and contribute to meaningful development in their home countries after graduation.

King’s College London was founded in 1829 through the patronage of King George IV and the Duke of Wellington, making it one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the United Kingdom. Built on a tradition of academic excellence and public service, King’s has grown into a world-leading research institution with a strong reputation in health sciences, law, humanities, and social sciences. Over the years, the university has expanded its campuses across London and attracted students from around the world, continuing its mission to create knowledge that benefits society globally.

Table of Briefs

Background

The Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme (CSSS) was established to support talented individuals from low and middle-income Commonwealth countries who would otherwise be unable to afford postgraduate studies in the United Kingdom. Funded by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) in partnership with UK universities, the scheme aims to foster global development by equipping scholars with advanced academic and professional skills.

Eligibility Criteria

To apply for the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship at King’s College London, applicants must:

• Be a citizen of or have refugee status from an eligible Commonwealth country
• Be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country
• Hold a minimum upper second-class (2:1) bachelor’s degree OR a lower second-class degree with a relevant postgraduate qualification
• Be available to start full-time studies in the UK in September 2026
• Not have studied or worked for more than 1 academic year in a high-income country
• Be unable to afford studying in the UK without this scholarship
• Meet English language and programme admission requirements
• Commit to returning to their home country after studies

Benefits

Selected scholars receive comprehensive financial support including:

• Full tuition fee coverage

• Return airfare home country ↔ UK

• Monthly stipend living allowance

• Warm clothing allowance

• Thesis grant to support dissertation research

• Study travel allowance

• Contribution towards mandatory TB test

• Child allowance for single parents/widowed/divorced applicants living with children:

  • £622/month for first child

  • £154/month/month for second and third child (under 16)

Application Process

Applicants must submit two separate applications:

Step 1 – Apply to the CSC

• Deadline: 16:00 (GMT) 09 December 2025

• Submit via CSC’s online application system

Step 2 – Apply to King’s College London

• Deadline: 12 January 2026

• Submit the programme application online for one of the eligible master’s programmes

On the Funding screen:

• Select option 5

• Enter “CSSS2026” in the scholarship code field

Important Dates

Application Deadline: 12 January 2026.

Conclusion

The Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme is a transformative opportunity for passionate students committed to improving healthcare and mental health systems in their home countries. If you aspire to build a career in nursing, mental health, psychology, palliative care, or neuroscience, this scholarship can take you one step closer to academic excellence and global impact.

Apply Now