Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships 2026/2027

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Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships Application for 2026/2027

Detailed guide on Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships (QECS) Application for 2026/2027. Are you a passionate and academically talented student from a Commonwealth country looking to pursue a fully funded Master’s degree abroad? The Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships (QECS) 2026/2027 present a life-changing opportunity for individuals committed to making a positive impact in their communities while advancing their education in an international setting. Funded by the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), the QECS programme promotes cross-cultural exchange, global collaboration, and leadership development through fully funded postgraduate study opportunities.

The QECS scholarship is awarded to students from low- and middle-income Commonwealth countries who wish to undertake a two-year Master’s degree in a participating university located in another Commonwealth nation. The scholarship typically covers full tuition fees, living expenses, return economy flights, arrival allowance, and research support, depending on the institution. Programmes span a wide range of disciplines including Public Health, Climate Change, Engineering, Education, Agriculture, and Sustainable Development.

This article provides a full guide to the Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships (QECS) Application for 2026/2027, including eligibility criteria, participating universities, fields of study, application process, required documents, and key deadlines. Whether you’re an ambitious graduate aiming for global exposure or a changemaker ready to serve your community with advanced skills, the QECS can help you realise your academic and leadership potential.

In addition, satrends.co.za offers a wide range of other bursary categories to suit your preference. Click on the links below to access other kinds of bursaries.

Universities in South Africa Bursaries Available for 2026

Government Departments Bursaries Available for 2026

Field of Studies Specified Bursaries Available for 2026

Keep reading for answers to questions like “QECS scholarship requirements 2026,” “how to apply for Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships,” and “fully funded Master’s scholarships for Commonwealth students.”

About Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU)

The Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) is a global network that unites universities and students across the Commonwealth to promote excellence in higher education. With a belief in international collaboration, the ACU works to expand access to knowledge, promote understanding, and create lasting global impact.

As the first international university network, the ACU supports over 500 member universities in 50 countries, driving innovation, research, and educational development across the Commonwealth.

About the Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarship (QECS) Programme 2026/2027

The ACU invites students to apply for Cycle 2 of the Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships for the 2026/2027 academic year.

This unique opportunity allows students to pursue a two-year Master’s degree in a low or middle-income Commonwealth country, outside of their country of citizenship. The programme is aimed at students who are passionate about creating positive change in their home and host countries.

Where You Can Study & What You Can Study

FIJI, SAMOA, VANUATA:
University of the South Pacific:

  • MA Environmental Management
  • MSc Biology
  • MSc Chemistry
  • MSc Civil Engineering
  • MSc Electrical Engineering
  • MSc Environmental Science
  • MSc Mechanical Engineering
  • MSc Physics

GHANA:
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology:

PAPUA NEW GUINEA:
Papua New Guinea University of Technology:

  • MCS Communication Studies
  • MEng Communication Engineering
  • MEng Civil Engineering
  • MEng Mechanical Engineering
  • MSc Agriculture
  • MSc Applied Physics
  • MTech Exploration Geophysics

SOUTH AFRICA:
University of Venda:

University of Pretoria:

  • Water and Environmental Engineering
  • Energy
  • Environment and Biodiversity: biodiversity in the age of climate change and sustainability
  • Big Data Science: machine learning and AI and various applications in physics and mathematics
  • Economic, Management and Financial Sciences

SRI LANKA:
University of Colombo:

  • MSc Cellular and Molecular Immunology
  • MSc Molecular Life Sciences

University of Sri Jayewardenepura:

  • MBA Master of Business Administration

MAURITIUS:
University of Mauritius:

  • MPH Master of Public Health
What the Scholarship Covers

The QECS offers comprehensive financial support, including:

  • Full tuition fees
  • Living allowance (stipend)
  • Return economy airfare to the host country
  • Arrival allowance
  • Optional research support grant (upon request and approval)
Who Can Apply?

To be eligible, you must:

  • Be a citizen or hold refugee status in a Commonwealth country
  • Have completed a Bachelor’s degree (equivalent to 2:1)
  • Intend to pursue a 2-year Master’s programme outside your country of citizenship
  • Apply to one of the approved institutions listed above
  • Meet the entry requirements of your chosen university
  • Submit your university application alongside the QECS application
  • South Africa applicants: must obtain SAQA equivalence
Eligibility Criteria for Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships 2026/2027

Applicants must satisfy the following minimum entry criteria before applying (please note that failure to satisfy all the requirements will lead to your application not being considered):

  • You must be a citizen or have a refugee status in a Commonwealth country, which includes the following:
    • AFRICA: Botswana, Cameroon, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Kingdom of Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Togo, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia,
    • ASIA: Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, India, Malaysia, Maldives, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka
    • CARIBBEAN AND AMERICAS: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, St Kitts and Nevis, St Vincent and The Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago
    • EUROPE: Cyprus, Malta, United Kingdom
    • PACIFIC: Australia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu
  • You must have completed an undergraduate degree at a 2:1 equivalent level
  • You must intend on pursuing a 2 year Masters degree qualification
  • You must intend on studying outside of your home country or country of citizenship
  • You must intend on studying at one of the above approved institutions, within one of the approved fields listed above
  • You must submit a university application at the same time as the scholarship application
  • You must complete a SAQA equivalence to be considered for a scholarship, if applying for studies in South Africa
  • You must meet the entry requirements of your selected institution:
    • University of the South Pacific: read here
    • Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology: read here
    • University of Mauritius: read here
    • Papua New Guinea University of Technology: must have completed a Bachelor’ degree in the relevant discipline with GPA of 3 out of 5 for all the listed courses
    • University of Pretoria: read here
    • University of Venda: must have completed an Honours degree, and have achieved a minimum overall average of 65% in the final year
    • University of Colombo: read here
    • University of Sri Jayewardenepura: read here

View each university’s specific entry criteria on their respective websites.

How to Apply for Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships 2026/2027

Apply online via:
Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarship Application 2026/2027

Before applying, please read:

QECS Application Guidance

Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarship FAQ’s

Application sections include:

  1. Eligibility questions
  2. Personal, academic & work history
  3. Details of chosen course & host university
  4. Three short essays:
    • Plan of study (200–400 words)
    • Impact after graduation (300–500 words)
    • Building networks (200–400 words)
  5. Uploading documents:
    • Academic transcripts & degree certificate
    • Reference letters
    • Passport or ID
    • Proof of application to chosen university
Closing Date for Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships 2026/2027

24 May

(Late submissions will not be considered. Apply early to avoid disappointment!)

Contact Information of Scholarship Coordinators 

For queries, contact the university you’re applying to:

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