MINISTRY OF EDUCATION OPENS APPLICATIONS FOR 2026 UK COMMONWEALTH SCHOLARSHIPS FOR KENYANS

The Ministry of Education and the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) have announced full scholarships for Kenyan citizens to pursue PhD and Master’s studies in the United Kingdom for the 2026 academic year. According to a notice issued by the State Department of Higher Education on August 5, 2025, there are five slots available for PhD candidates and 19 for Masters students. The application window for these scholarships will run from September 2, 2025, to October 14, 2025. To qualify for the Masters scholarship, applicants must provide proof of Kenyan citizenship and hold a Bachelor’s degree with at least an Upper Second Class Honors from a recognized university. They must also submit all academic transcripts, two signed reference letters on official letterhead, a well-structured study proposal demonstrating the potential impact of their research on Kenya’s development, and a detailed study plan.

 Additionally, candidates must be available to commence their studies in the UK by September 2026. PhD applicants must also be Kenyan citizens and possess a Master’s degree from an accredited institution, along with all relevant academic transcripts and certificates. They are required to submit reference letters from two referees and secure a proposed supervisor from at least one UK university where they have applied. A comprehensive research proposal highlighting the expected contribution of Kenya’s development, as well as detailed study plan, must also be provided. Candidates should not already be enrolled in a PhD or MPhil program in Kenya or the UK before September/October 2026.

All applicants must submit their applications through the CSC’s online system, accessible via the CSC website. After completing the online from, candidates must download and print a copy before electronically submitting it to the CSC. Additionally, they must download the Standard Scholarship Application Form from the Ministry of Education’s website http://www.education.go.ke, fill it out and attach certified copies of supporting documents, including their ID, academic certificates, transcripts, birth certificate, passport, and other relevant testimonials. The application package, which includes the proposal, study plan, and a copy of the online submission to CSC, should be submitted in duplicate to the Directorate of Higher Education.

The documents can be mailed to P.O. Box 9583-00200, Nairobi, or delivered in person to Telposta Towers, 27th Floor, Room 2701. The deadline for submission to the Ministry of Education is October 16, 2025, by 5.00pm. Prospective applicants are advised to carefully follow the guidelines to ensure their applications are considered. These scholarships present a valuable opportunity for Kenyan students to advance their education and contribute to national development through high quality research and academic training in the UK.