Applications for South Africa’s Commonwealth Scholarship 2026 are currently being accepted at the University of Pretoria. Only international applicants from Commonwealth nations are eligible for this fully sponsored opportunity; South African nationals are not. The scholarship promotes an atmosphere of academic achievement and innovation by funding a broad range of PhD programs in fields such as the humanities, law, engineering, health sciences, and more. It is accessible for the academic year 2026–2027.
The University of Pretoria (UP), which was founded in 1908, is the biggest public university in South Africa and is frequently rated as one of the best on the continent. According to the QS World University Rankings 2025, it is now rated #354.
Interested applicants should follow the instructions below to apply for this coveted Commonwealth scholarship. Additionally, you might want to apply for the UK’s University of Brighton International Fellowship 2025 (Funded).
Host Country: South Africa
University: University of Pretoria
Opportunity Type: PhD
Eligibility Country: CommonWealth Countries
Financial Coverage: Fully Funded
Eligibility Criteria:
- Candidates must be Commonwealth nationals, with the exception of South Africa.
- You have to plan on starting classes at the University of Pretoria in 2026.
- To be admitted to UP for the 2026–2027 academic year, a formal application is necessary.
- At UP, you must have previously located and gotten in touch with a possible research supervisor.
- You must submit your academic credentials for review to the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA).
- If you have finished your master’s or postgraduate degree within the last two years, you should be eligible for admission in 2026.
- This award is not available to those who have already earned a degree from UP or are enrolled in a PhD or master’s program there.
- Candidates must be younger than forty when they apply.
Benefits:
- Waiver of annual tuition fees
- Assistance with living expenditures and housing costs
- Free meals and necessary study supplies, such as books and stationery
- Availability of healthcare services
- At the beginning and conclusion of the program, round-trip airfare is provided.
- Airport transportation to the university
- reimbursement for medical expenses, university tuition, and visa fees (once receipts are submitted)
- Possibility of obtaining further additional funding
Deadline: 20 September 2025
