The Scholarship Region says adequate preparation remains the most critical factor for applicants seeking the 2026 Commonwealth Shared Scholarship.

The organisation stated this in an advisory on Tuesday while releasing a checklist to guide prospective candidates ahead of the opening of the application window, which typically lasts between 15 and 30 days.

It noted that the scholarship, one of the United Kingdom’s most competitive awards, attracts more than 100,000 applicants annually, out of which only about 180 are selected.

According to the advisory, the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship is jointly funded by the UK Government and participating universities, and applicants must secure admission into an eligible UK institution before submitting their scholarship application.

It added that 97 universities are listed by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) as eligible to nominate candidates for the award.

The checklist outlines five key preparation steps for candidates:

1. Securing Admission
Applicants are required to apply directly to participating UK universities and obtain a conditional or unconditional offer for eligible programmes aligned with CSC development themes.

2. Confirming Course Eligibility
Prospective applicants must ensure their chosen course is listed among the programmes approved under the CSC’s six development themes, which cover science, technology, innovation, peace, health, governance, entrepreneurship and climate change.

3. Preparing Required Documents
The advisory stressed that applications without complete documentation by the deadline are automatically disqualified.
Required documents include:

Full academic transcripts detailing yearly grades

Degree certificates or valid statements of result for those yet to receive certificates

4. Contacting Recommenders Early
Each applicant must upload three reference letters on official institutional letterheads. Referees will not be contacted directly by the CSC.
Recommended referees include project supervisors, academic staff and current employers.

5. Drafting Application Essays
Applicants must write eleven development-focused essays covering proposed study relevance, expected impact, career plans, study outline and leadership experience.
The advisory encouraged early drafting to allow thorough review and correction.

It added that essays must demonstrate how the applicant’s chosen programme will contribute to national development and align with CSC objectives.

The organisation urged interested candidates to begin preparations immediately and share the information with others seeking international postgraduate opportunities.