Commonwealth Professional Fellowships 2025 – UK Leadership Placements for Mid‑Career Professionals

The Commonwealth Professional Fellowships, run by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC UK) and funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), support mid-career professionals from low and middle-income Commonwealth countries. Fellows spend 6 to 12 weeks embedded in relevant UK host organizations, gaining leadership and technical experience.

 Program Objectives & Themes

This fellowship aims to build capacity in key development sectors by placing professionals in UK-based programs aligned with one of six CSC development themes:

1. Science & Technology for Development
2. Strengthening Health Systems
3. Promoting Global Prosperity
4. Global Peace, Security & Governance
5. Crisis Resilience & Response
6. Access, Inclusion & Opportunity

 Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible, applicants must:

• Be citizens or permanent residents of eligible Commonwealth countries, or recognized refugees
• Have at least five years of relevant full-time (or equivalent) professional experience
• Be employed at home and intend to return after the fellowship
• Not have had a Commonwealth Professional Fellowship in the last five years
• Be available to start their fellowship within the prescribed dates
• Not undertake academic research or coursework—only professional development engagement permitted

Host organizations may enforce additional eligibility criteria.

 What the Fellowship Includes

Commonwealth Fellowships provide generous benefits:

• Round-trip airfare from your home country to the UK
• UK visa fee reimbursement
• Monthly stipend (living allowance): £2,057/month (outside London); £2,553/month (London)
• Arrival allowance up to £1,156 (including warm clothing allowance)
• Host-sponsored funding (up to £3,000) for short courses or travel within the UK if relevant
• Additional support available for disabled fellows

 Application Overview

Applications proceed via a two-part process: host organization selection followed by candidate nomination.

1. Host institutions apply to CSC and — if selected — are featured on the fellowship portal.
2. Candidate applications open, typically in early July, staying open for around four weeks.
3. Once submitted, applications are shared with selected host organizations, which nominate candidates to CSC by early September.
4. CSC’s selection committee chooses final fellows, and outcomes are communicated around September–October.

Application components include professional CV, employment history, impact statements linked to development themes, personal and leadership statements, and a scan of passport/ID. At least one referee must be your current employer.

Due diligence checks are carried out before formal agreements are issued.

 Why It Matters

• Supports mid-career professionals in gaining leadership exposure and sector-specific capabilities
• Promotes development impact through knowledge transfer back to home countries
• Fosters global networks and collaboration across Commonwealth nations
• Prioritizes equity and diversity, with disabled applicants eligible for additional support

Official Link