Applications are open for the Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships 2026-2027 Cycle 2. The QECS gives eligible applicants the chance to study a two-year master’s degree in a low or middle-income Commonwealth country.
The award is meant for students committed to creating change in their communities. Through study, cultural exchange, and academic collaboration, scholars join a wider Commonwealth network; they also study in a country other than their own.
What the Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships cover
The Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships are fully funded. Selected applicants will receive:
- Full tuition fees
- Living allowance for the duration of the award
- Return economy flights to the host country
- One-off arrival allowance
- Research Support Grant on request only, subject to approval
Who can apply for QECS 2026-2027?
The scholarship is open to citizens of a Commonwealth country. It is also open to applicants who hold refugee status in a Commonwealth country.
Citizenship and country rules
Applicants must apply for a QECS award in a country other than their home country or country of citizenship. Refugees are to apply as citizens of the country that has offered them refugee status.
Academic requirement
Applicants must have attained a minimum of 2:1, or its equivalent, at undergraduate level.
Age requirement
There is no upper age limit for the QECS award.
Study format under the scholarship
The award supports a two-year master’s degree. The programme is hosted in a low or middle-income Commonwealth country, and the applicant studies outside the home country.
How to apply for Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships 2026-2027
Eligible applicants can submit an application through the QECS application portal.
Applicants who want more details can check the Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships information page.
The application deadline is 3 June 2026. Anyone planning to apply needs to complete the process before that date.