The Higher Education Council (HEC) invites eligible Rwandan citizens to apply for the 2026 Commonwealth Master’s and PhD Scholarships to pursue full-time study in the United Kingdom beginning in September or October 2027. Rwanda may nominate 10 candidates for Master’s study and 16 candidates for PhD study. Register for 2nd intake of our coaching class for the Duolingo English Test  

The scholarships are offered through the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) in the United Kingdom, with the national nomination process coordinated by HEC. Applicants must submit applications through both HECMIS and CSC Central. HEC nomination does not guarantee final selection or university placement by the CSC.

SCHOLARSHIP BENEFITS

The Commonwealth Scholarships provide an opportunity for eligible Rwandan students to undertake postgraduate study in the United Kingdom and develop knowledge and skills that can contribute to Rwanda’s development.

Applicants should demonstrate how their proposed studies will address a specific development need in Rwanda under one of the CSC development themes.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Applicants must:

·       Be a Rwandan citizen and permanently resident in Rwanda.

·       Be available to begin full-time study in the UK in September 2027.

·       Demonstrate that the proposed study could not be undertaken in the UK without the scholarship.

·       Meet the academic and admission requirements for the proposed programme.

·       Submit all required documents through both application systems by the deadlines.

·       Commit to returning to Rwanda after the scholarship and contributing to the country’s development.

Additional Requirements for Master’s Applicants

Applicants must:

·       Hold, or expect to hold by September 2027, a Bachelor’s degree with at least Upper Second Class or equivalent in a field relevant to the proposed programme.

·       Apply for a full-time, one-year taught Master’s programme.

·       Not apply for an MBA, as MBA programmes are not funded under this scheme.

·       Normally not be seeking a second Master’s degree unless there is a compelling justification.

·       Identify three suitable UK universities and courses, ranked in order of preference.

·       Apply for university admission early. An admission offer can strengthen an application but does not replace the scholarship application.

Additional Requirements for PhD Applicants

Applicants must:

·       Hold a relevant Master’s degree or equivalent.

·       Meet HEC’s academic threshold of at least 70% for PhD nomination.

·       Not already be registered for a PhD or an MPhil leading to a PhD in Rwanda, the UK, or another country.

·       Obtain substantive supporting confirmation from at least one proposed UK supervisor named in the CSC application.

·       Submit a focused research proposal covering the research problem, gap, questions or objectives, methodology, feasibility, expected contribution, and relevance to Rwanda’s development.

AVAILABLE PROGRAMS

Applicants must select one CSC development theme and clearly explain how their proposed study or research will contribute to addressing that theme and a defined development need in Rwanda.

The six development themes are:

1.     Science and Technology for Development

2.     Strengthening Health Systems and Capacity

3.     Promoting Global Prosperity

4.     Strengthening Global Peace, Security and Governance

5.     Strengthening Resilience and Response to Crises

6.     Access, Inclusion and Opportunity

Master’s applicants may select an appropriate one-year taught Master’s programme at a suitable UK university, while PhD applicants must propose a relevant doctoral research project and secure appropriate UK supervisory support.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Applicants must upload clear and legible PDF copies of the required documents in the correct fields in HECMIS. Missing, incomplete, unreadable, or incorrectly uploaded documents may make an application ineligible.

Required documents include:

·       Application letter addressed to the Director General of HEC, stating the degree level, proposed course or research area, selected CSC development theme, preferred UK universities and courses where applicable, admission status, current employer and position, academic merit, and expected contribution to Rwanda.

·       Identity document, such as a valid passport or national ID showing the applicant’s photograph, date of birth, and nationality.

·       Curriculum vitae (CV) covering education, employment, research, publications, awards, leadership, voluntary service, and relevant achievements.

·       Academic certificates and complete transcripts for every higher education qualification, including current transcripts for ongoing studies. Documents not in English must have certified translations.

·       At least two detailed references, signed and provided on institutional letterhead or through an email clearly showing the referee’s details. Where applicable, one should be from the current employer and at least one should be academic.

·       Study plan or research proposal, depending on whether the applicant is applying for a Master’s or PhD.

·       University admission evidence, such as offer letters where available or proof that admission applications have been submitted.

·       UK supervisor supporting statement for PhD applicants.

·       PDF copy of the final CSC Central application, including the CSC application reference number.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

Applicants must complete both the HEC national nomination application and the CSC scholarship application.

Step 1: Apply through HECMIS

Submit the complete national nomination application through the application link at the bottom of this page (HECMIS)

Step 2: Apply through CSC Central

Submit the complete Commonwealth Scholarship application through the official CSC application system here

Step 3: Upload the CSC Submission to HECMIS

After submitting the CSC application:

·       Save the confirmation email.

·       Save the CSC application reference number.

·       Download and keep a PDF copy of the submitted CSC application.

·       Upload the PDF and application reference number to HECMIS.

Only applications submitted through both HECMIS and CSC Central by the applicable deadlines will be reviewed.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

HEC will first screen applications for eligibility, completeness, and successful submission through both required systems. Eligible applications will then be assessed based on factors including academic merit, the quality and feasibility of the study or research proposal, potential development impact in Rwanda, references, course and university fit, leadership, service, professional achievement, and previous impact.

For PhD applicants, the quality of UK supervisor support and research readiness will also be considered. 

Strong applications should clearly connect the applicant’s previous education and experience, proposed programme, career plans, and a specific development challenge in Rwanda. Applicants should also present a realistic post-scholarship plan explaining how their knowledge and skills will be applied in Rwanda, who will benefit, the expected results, the implementation timeframe, and how progress will be measured. Register for 2nd intake of our coaching class for the Duolingo English Test  

APPLICATION DEADLINE

·       HECMIS Deadline: 20 October 2026

·       CSC Central Deadline: 20 October 2026 at 16:00 BST