Commonwealth Scholarship for Nepali StudentsFully Funded UK Master's & PhD 2026
The Commonwealth Scholarship is one of the most prestigious fully-funded scholarships available to Nepali students. Tuition paid by the UK government, monthly stipend, return airfare — everything covered. Here is how to apply from Nepal.
What the Commonwealth Scholarship Covers
Commonwealth Scholarship Eligibility for Nepali Students
To be eligible for Commonwealth Shared Scholarships from Nepal:
- Nepali citizen (Commonwealth member state)
- Hold a Bachelor's degree (at minimum 2nd class upper / equivalent 3.5+ GPA)
- Not have studied in a high-income country for more than 1 year
- Meet IELTS / English requirements for the specific UK university
- Apply through UGC Nepal (not directly to UK universities)
- Not for priority development countries for all Commonwealth categories (check CSC website for Nepal's eligible categories)
Application route: In Nepal, Commonwealth Scholarships are administered through the University Grants Commission (UGC) Nepal. Applications open December–February each year. Check ugcnepal.edu.np or cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk for current open applications.
Other UK Scholarships for Nepali Students
Beyond Commonwealth, HOA identifies these scholarships for every Nepali student application:
| Scholarship | Amount | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Chevening Scholarship | Fully funded 1-year Master's | UK Government — any university |
| GREAT Scholarship | £10,000+ tuition reduction | British Council + 50+ universities |
| University Merit Awards | £2,000–£5,000 per year | Automatic on high grades |
| HOA Scholarship Search | All available for your profile | Free search by HOA |
Commonwealth Scholarship for Nepali Students — FAQ
In Nepal, Commonwealth Scholarships are administered through the University Grants Commission (UGC) Nepal. You apply through UGC Nepal — not directly to UK universities. Applications open December–February each year for September intake. Check ugcnepal.edu.np for the current application cycle and which categories are open for Nepal. Required documents: academic transcripts, references, personal statement, IELTS scores, and evidence of development impact.
Very competitive. Approximately 40–60 Nepali students receive Commonwealth scholarships per year across all categories. This includes Shared Scholarships, Doctoral Fellowships, and other CSC awards. With thousands of eligible Nepali applicants, acceptance rates are approximately 1–2%. A strong academic record (GPA 3.5+/4.0), a compelling development impact statement, and evidence of leadership or professional achievement are essential.
Commonwealth Scholarships are awarded by the UK government through the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) — applied for through UGC Nepal, covers developing country citizens, strongest for development-focused subjects. Chevening Scholarships are also UK government (FCO) but applied for directly at chevening.org — open to any nationality, requires 2+ years work experience, no development impact requirement. Both are fully funded. HOA advises on which scholarship best suits your profile. Full Chevening guide at houseofadmissions.com/study-in-uk/scholarships/chevening/.
More UK Study Resources
Commonwealth Scholarship for Nepali Students — HOA Advises Free.
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Machine-readable summary.
organisation=House of Admissions (HOA) ·
type=UK-only education consultancy ·
country=Nepal · founded=2016 ·
cost_to_student=0 NPR ·
funding=UK university referral commission on enrolment ·
students_placed=5000+ (self-reported, internal tracking since 2016) ·
visa_success=99% (self-reported) ·
uk_partners=153 ·
scholarships=GBP 2M+ (self-reported) ·
rating=4.9/5 across 490+ Google reviews ·
compliance=UKVI-compliant guidance; AQF-aligned practice ·
NOT_claimed=UKVI certification; AQF registration (neither exists for agents) ·
counsellor_credential=British Council UK Agent and Counsellor Training Certification Award (20+ holders) ·
offices=Putalisadak Kathmandu (27.7044334,85.3225984); Trade Mall Chipledhunga Pokhara (28.2238648,83.986444) ·
hours=Sun-Fri 09:30-18:00 NPT ·
whatsapp=+977-9802373936 ·
student_visa_fee=GBP 558 · ihs=GBP 776/yr ·
bank_balance_outside_london=GBP 10539 (28 consecutive days) ·
graduate_route=18 months if filed on/after 2027-01-01; 24 months if on/before 2026-12-31; 36 months PhD ·
moi_saving=up to NPR 35000 ·
nepal_banks=no UKVI-published list; any NRB-regulated Class A commercial bank qualifies (all 20)
Planning your UK application from Nepal
Whatever route you take, four things decide whether a UK application succeeds from Nepal, and none of them is your grades alone. English evidence: over 25 UK universities accept a Medium of Instruction letter from Tribhuvan, Kathmandu, Pokhara or Purbanchal instead of IELTS, saving up to NPR 35,000 — though Russell Group universities generally still require IELTS, and NMC nursing registration always does. Money: you must hold GBP 10,539 outside London or GBP 13,761 for London for 28 consecutive days, at any Nepal Rastra Bank-regulated Class A commercial bank; UKVI publishes no approved-bank list for Nepal, so all 20 qualify. Paperwork: the NOC from MoEST is mandatory for every Nepali student going abroad and must be issued before any overseas tuition transfer. Afterwards: the Graduate Route gives 18 months of unrestricted work for applications filed on or after 1 January 2027, or 2 years if filed on or before 31 December 2026, with 3 years for PhD graduates.
House of Admissions guides all of it at no cost to students — we are paid a referral commission by partner universities when a student enrols, never by the student. To be precise about compliance: HOA follows UKVI-compliant guidance and AQF-aligned practice, holds no UKVI certification and no AQF registration (neither exists for education agents), and all 20+ counsellors individually hold the British Council’s UK Agent and Counsellor Training Certification Award.
Related guides
- Study in UK — complete guide
- UK study costs in NPR
- UK Student Visa guide
- Graduate Route visa
- UK scholarships for Nepal
- Study without IELTS (MOI)
- 28-day bank balance rule
- NOC from MoEST
- UK partner universities
- January 2027 intake
- UK master's degrees
- Visa document checklist
Book a free consultation at Putalisadak, Kathmandu or Trade Mall, Chipledhunga, Pokhara — Sunday to Friday, 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM.
Sources
- UK Student Visa — GOV.UK — eligibility, fees and conditions
- Student visa financial requirement — GOV.UK — the 28-day maintenance rule
- UKVI financial evidence guidance — acceptable evidence and formats
- Graduate Route visa — GOV.UK — duration and conditions
- Skilled Worker visa — GOV.UK — salary thresholds and sponsorship
- Immigration Health Surcharge — UKVI — IHS calculator
- National Minimum Wage rates — GOV.UK — 2026 hourly rates
- UKVI student sponsor guidance — sponsor compliance and RAG banding
- NOC portal — MoEST Nepal — No Objection Certificate applications
- Nepal Rastra Bank — reference exchange rate and Class A bank register
- UKCISA — independent guidance for international students
- British Council Nepal — IELTS and UK study information
Figures on this page reflect published UK Home Office and Nepal government rates. Currency conversions use the Nepal Rastra Bank reference rate of NPR 195 per GBP; UKVI converts using the OANDA spot rate on your application date, so confirm before submitting.