Overview

The Commonwealth Professional Fellowships are designed for mid-career professionals from low and middle-income countries to spend time at a UK host organisation for professional development. These fellowships aim to enhance knowledge and skills in various sectors, creating catalytic effects in the workplace.

Purpose: To provide professionals with opportunities to improve their knowledge and skills, fostering significant workplace impacts.

Beneficiaries: Mid-career professionals (with at least five years of relevant work experience) from low and middle-income Commonwealth countries.

Development Themes:

1. Science and technology for development
2. Strengthening health systems and capacity
3. Promoting innovation and entrepreneurship
4. Strengthening global peace, security, and governance
5. Strengthening resilience and response to crises
6. Access, inclusion, and opportunity

The CSC seeks talented individuals capable of driving change, committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination.

Host Organisation Programmes

Selected host organisations for 2025/26 include:

• Bees for Development
• British Geological Society
• Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council
• Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
• Inclusion International
• Knowledge for Change
• LifeLine Network International
• London North West University Healthcare Trust
• Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
• Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust
• Tackle
• University College London
• University of East London
• University of Salford
• University of Strathclyde
• Wessex Global Stroke Partnerships

Programmes range from 6 weeks to 3 months. Check individual host criteria for eligibility.

How to apply

Applications for the 2026 Professional Fellowship are now open. 

To apply for a Commonwealth Professional Fellowship you must complete the application form by clicking on the link below 

Professional Fellowship Application Form 

The form will close at 4pm BST Friday 22 August. 

Host organisation programmes 

Details for each host organisation running a programme for the 2026 professional fellowships programme are listed on the ‘host organisation programmes’ tab. 

Please read the details of these programmes and select the most appropriate programme for you.

Advice for Applicants

Applicants can find general information about applying for a Commonwealth Scholarship on our advice for applicants page.

Fellow Eligibility

Prospective Fellows must:

• Be a citizen of an eligible Commonwealth country or a British Protected Person.
• Be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country.
• Have at least five years of relevant work experience.
• Be employed and return to their organisation after the fellowship.
• Provide two references, including one from their current employer.
• Not have undertaken a Commonwealth Professional Fellowship in the last five years.
• Not seek to undertake an academic programme of research or study.
• Be available for the fellowship start date.
• Meet any additional eligibility criteria set by host organisations.

Eligible Countries

• 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
• St Helena
• St Lucia
• St Vincent and The Grenadines
• Samoa
• Sierra Leone
• Solomon Islands
• South Africa
• Sri Lanka
• Tanzania
• Togo
• Tonga
• Tuvalu
• Uganda
• Vanuatu
• Zambia

Completing the Application Form

Applicants must:

• List all qualifications and relevant employment history.
• Provide a development impact statement.
• Confirm award objectives and how they align with the fellowship programme.
• Submit a personal statement and evidence of leadership activities.
• Provide a scan of their passport or national ID.

Financial assistance

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 £2,104 per month, or £2,612 per month for those at organisations in the London metropolitan area (rates quoted at 2024/25 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 £1,183.20 (rates quoted at 2024/25 levels), including an element for warm clothing.  
• A maximum of £2,000 per Fellow can be agreed by host organisations for short courses/conferences as well as travel to visit other UK organisations where this forms an integral part of the programme. Host organisations should bear in mind the restrictions set out in our guidance on claimable costs.  

General Conditions

• The fellowship covers specific costs only.
• Fellows must agree to return to their home country post-fellowship.
• Fellows must meet all UK immigration requirements.

Immigration conditions

Commonwealth Professional Fellows require a Temporary Work – Government Authorised Exchange (GAE) visa to come to the UK for their award and must meet all relevant immigration requirements. All UK immigration regulations are set by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and are subject to change at any time. The CSC has no control over these regulations. 

The Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), which provides the CSC Secretariat, acts as the Temporary Work visa sponsor on behalf of the CSC. In accordance with immigration regulations, sponsorship duties relating to record keeping, monitoring, and reporting of Fellows must be completed. While the ACU (on behalf of the CSC Secretariat) is responsible for assigning Sponsor Reference Numbers (SRN) and submitting reports to UKVI, host organisations are required to assist in these activities as per the host organisations’ obligations which can be accessed on the information for prospective hosts page. Failure on the part of the host organisation to provide the ACU with the required documentation and to report relevant details may result in the loss of the ACU’s Temporary Work visa licence and ability to sponsor Fellows’ visas. 

Fellows’ obligations 

Commonwealth Professional Fellows must provide the following documents before the ACU (acting on behalf of the CSC Secretariat) will assign a Sponsor Reference Number (SRN: 

• Visa information form 
• Award acceptance form (signed) 
• Copy of passport personal details page 

The CSC Secretariat will send the details of the assigned SRN to the Fellow by email, to enable them to make their visa application, and will keep a copy on file. 

After a SRN has been assigned, fellows must provide copies of the following documents to the CSC Secretariat: 

• UK visa, before they travel to the UK 
• Passport entry stamp and/or a used boarding pass and checked baggage receipt, at the end of their fellowship and every time they travel outside the UK during their fellowship 

Reporting to UK Visas and Immigration 

Once a Fellow has been issued with a SRN and while they are in the UK, the ACU is required to report to UKVI within ten working days if: 

• The fellow does not start the programme within 28 days on their expected start date, or valid from date on their visa (whichever is later). This includes if the fellow misses a flight and will be arriving at a later date agreed by the host organisation. 
• The Fellow is absent from their work location. The ACU requires details of all absences; however, only unauthorised absences of 10 working days or more will be reported to UKVI. 
• The fellowship finishes before the end date stated on the CoS (e.g. if the Fellow withdraws, has their fellowship withdrawn, or finishes their programme early). 
• The Fellow defers their fellowship. 
• The Fellow no longer requires sponsorship under Temporary Work visa (e.g. if they switch to a different visa type). 
• There are any significant changes to the Fellow’s circumstances (e.g. a change of work location, passport details, etc). 
• There is any information which suggests that the Fellow is in breach of the conditions of their visa (including engaging in criminal activity). 

Travel outside the UK during the fellowship 

Commonwealth Professional Fellowships are tenable in the UK only, and Fellows must seek permission from their CSC Programme Officer and host organisation if they wish to travel outside the UK for any reason. 

Further information 

This information is subject to changes in UKVI policy guidance and the immigration rules which is available on the UKVI website. UKVI may make changes to the terms and conditions of visas at any point. 

Further information can be obtained from the CSC’s Senior Welfare and Immigration Officer, please email: immigration@cscuk.org.uk 

Enquiries

If you have any queries about Commonwealth Professional Fellowships, please email professional.fellowships@cscuk.org.uk

General enquiries about applying for Commonwealth Scholarships sent to this email address will not be answered; please use the contact us form instead.

Apply for a Commonwealth Professional Fellowship here. Applications will close at 17:00 BST on Monday 5 August.

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