Overview
Eligible Nigerian candidates can apply for Commonwealth PhD Scholarships for full-time doctoral study at a UK university beginning in September or October 2027. The CSC application deadline is 20 October 2026 at 16:00 BST.
Complete scholarship details
The FCDO-funded programme supports full-time doctoral study in the United Kingdom, with awards normally tenable for 36 months. Funding covers approved tuition fees and return airfare, plus a living stipend currently set at £1,712 per month or £2,000 per month in the London metropolitan area. Study-travel support, qualifying overseas fieldwork support, a paid mid-term home visit in eligible circumstances, and qualifying family/disability support are available under CSC rules. Applicants must apply in CSC Central and through an eligible nominator, whose own deadline can be earlier.
Eligibility requirements
Applicants must be Nigerian citizens or hold eligible refugee/British Protected Person status, be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country, be available to begin UK study in September 2027, meet the stated degree standard, not already be registered for a PhD or MPhil-to-PhD before September/October 2026 as specified by CSC, be unable to afford UK study without the scholarship, and provide all required supporting documentation including a statement from a proposed UK supervisor. Nigeria is explicitly listed as an eligible country.
Tips for this scholarship
Practical Job and Scholarship guidance. These tips do not replace official rules or create new eligibility requirements.
- Check eligibility, funding coverage, study/project level and every required document before investing time in the application.
- Prepare transcripts, references, language tests, proposal/motivation statement and proof documents early.
- Separate the scholarship deadline from any university/program admission deadline; they may be different.
- Treat “fully funded” as a source fact only when the official provider explicitly confirms the covered costs.
Verification notes
Verified against the CSC's live 2027/28 PhD scholarship page. It explicitly lists Nigeria as eligible and states a CSC closing time of 16:00 BST on Tuesday 20 October 2026. BST is UTC+1, so the deadline normalizes to 15:00 UTC. Nominators may impose earlier closing dates.
Job and Scholarship is the discovery and verification layer. Confirm eligibility, dates, salary/funding and application instructions on the original source before submitting anything.
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