Corporate report

Commonwealth Scholarship Commission business plan 2025 to 2026

Published 16 October 2025

1. Strategic context

One of the Commonwealth’s finest innovations and one of the UK’s best conveyors of soft power, the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) has been supporting outstanding scholars, fellows and alumni since 1960. The fundamental purpose of the CSC endures; but the strategic context in which it operates is constantly changing and will shape its priorities over the period 2025 to 2028.

The CSC operates within a global context where education and collaboration are pivotal to addressing pressing development challenges and advancing foreign policy objectives. The CSC aims to leverage the transformative power of higher education to foster sustainable development throughout the Commonwealth. This not only enhances the UK’s position as a leader in global education, but also nurtures the relationships that are critical for fostering economic co-operation, cultural exchange, and mutual understanding. By investing in scholarship and fellowship programmes that prioritise knowledge transfer, skills development, and research partnerships, the CSC supports both the UK’s national interests and contributes to shared goals of economic growth, social progress, and sustainable development.

Contributing to UK development outcomes and foreign policy objectives will remain a critical focus for the 2025 to 2028 Strategy.

Achieving sustainable development and tackling complex challenges across the Commonwealth requires a broad range of perspectives and experiences. By providing further opportunities for outstanding scholars from disadvantaged and underrepresented groups, the CSC aims to address systemic inequalities and unlock the potential of talented individuals who might otherwise be excluded from these opportunities.

This commitment aligns with the UK’s broader social justice agenda and contributes to creating a more equitable and inclusive global community. By empowering individuals from diverse backgrounds, the CSC strengthens its capacity to deliver impactful outcomes through its scholarship programmes, ultimately contributing to a more just and prosperous world.

Supporting candidates from disadvantaged backgrounds will continue to be a distinctive feature of Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowships during the 2025 to 2028 Strategy period.

The CSC recognises the invaluable role that alumni play as ambassadors and advocates for the transformative power of education within the Commonwealth. Our alumni, now leaders and change-makers across the Commonwealth, embody the transformative power of education and contribute significantly to their respective communities and nations. By strengthening alumni relations and expanding engagement opportunities, the CSC aims to build a vibrant and interconnected network that fosters collaboration, knowledge sharing, and impactful partnerships. This strategic approach not only deepens the CSC’s impact by leveraging the expertise and experience of its alumni, but also strengthens the bonds of the Commonwealth through shared values and a collective commitment to positive change.

Broadening and deepening alumni engagement will be a top priority for the CSC during the 2025 to 2028 strategic period.

Maximising the impact of the CSC requires a strategic approach to resource optimisation and innovative partnerships. The CSC will explore innovative ways to secure funding and drive efficiencies to ensure the sustainability and expansion of opportunities for scholars. This strategic approach involves actively forging new partnerships with organisations and institutions that share the CSC’s values and objectives. By leveraging complementary resources and expertise, the CSC can create a more robust and resilient funding model while simultaneously optimising programme management processes to maximise impact. This commitment to resourcefulness will allow the Commission to continue expanding the horizons and opportunities available to its scholars, ensuring a lasting legacy of positive change within the Commonwealth.

We will ensure that we maximise opportunities for our scholars, developing new partnerships and be effective stewards of public funds.

The CSC is proud to reaffirm its commitment to development, equity, access, and relevance. This 2025 to 2028 Strategy sets out the CSC’s priorities and pathways to deliver impact and value to the UK taxpayer, the UK government, and the modern Commonwealth.

2. Objectives and priorities for 2025 to 2026  

Between 2025 to 2026 and 2027 to 2028, the CSC’s objectives are to:

• contribute to UK development outcomes, foreign policy objectives, the domestic growth agenda and enhancing security
• provide further opportunities for outstanding scholars from disadvantaged and under-represented groups
• strengthen alumni relations by expanding and enhancing engagement opportunities
• develop new models of partnership to broaden opportunities for Scholars and Fellows

The CSC’s priorities during 2025 to 2026 will be:

1. Introduce more agile selection methods to ensure responsiveness to Government priorities.

2. Extend engagement with High Commissions to deliver UK priorities.

3. Develop an Equality Impact Assessment Framework for the CSC.

4. Refresh the CSC Equity, Access and Impact Strategy.

5. Devise a comprehensive engagement strategy which encompasses a refreshed approach to Alumni engagement.

6. Work with other Government Scholarship Schemes for collaborative Alumni engagement.

7. Achieve level 3 of the NESTA standard of evidence.

8. Implement a new end-to-end IT system and embed it within CSC processes to create efficiencies and maximise available resources.

9. Recruit successfully Commissioners to maintain strong governance and leadership.

3. Key performance indicators 2025 to 2026

The CSC has agreed 5 key performance indicators in 2025 to 2026 which will be used to measure success against our objectives and priorities:

1. We will ensure that 100% of scholarship expenditure each year supports the UK’s sustainable development objectives, and at least 10% of annual expenditure is aligned with emerging UK Government priorities.

2. We will increase the proportion of applications from and awards to disadvantaged and under-represented groups.

3. We will increase the number of active and engaged alumni by 5%.

4. We will attract over £6m in non-government funds, including matching contributions from UK universities. The proportion of expenditure on administration will not increase.

5. We will produce eight in-depth evaluation case studies to demonstrate the CSC’s value as an innovative world-class scholarship and fellowship scheme that delivers impact on sustainable development across the Commonwealth.

4. Budget and award allocation 2025 to 2026

Table 1 below shows the full budget illustrated for 2025 to 2026 based upon an indicative budget of £28.224 million ODA-funding and £372 non-ODA funding.

Table 1: CSC illustrated budget 2025 to 2026

CSC illustrated budget 2025 to 2026	£’000s
ODA Grant-in-aid programme	27,800
ODA Grant-in-aid admin	424
Non-ODA Grant-in-aid	372
Total Grant-in-aid to CSC	28,596
ODA PhD	7,516
Agency Master’s	3,707
Split-site PhD	2,549
Shared scholarships	4,338
Distance Learning	2,937
Professional Fellowships	450
Non-ODA PhD	305
Direct award costs	21,802
Visas / Health surcharges ODA	729
Visas / Health surcharges non-ODA	8
Award extensions	140
Award hardship	75
Disability mainstreaming	190
Scholar support	685
Cash card fees	12
Other scholarship costs	1,839
Total Scholarships	23,641
Communications	542
Alumni - ACU	282
Alumni - British Council	385
Evaluation	335
Recruitment and outreach	312
Time Limited Programme	415
IT development	270
VAT	351
Total other programme expenditure	2,892
Programme expenditure	26,533
Commission costs via ACU	88
ACU management fees	294
VAT	59
CSC administrative expenditure	441
Programme management costs ODA	1,264
Programme management costs non-ODA	49
VAT Non-ODA	10
VAT ODA	253
FCDO programme management costs	1,576
Total CSC expenditure	28,550
Surplus/(Deficit)	46

Table 2: Award allocation 2025 to 2026, at December 2024

	Take up in 2024 to 2025	Continuing scholars in 2025 to 2026	Target new awards 2025 to 2026	Awards budget allocated £,000	% of ODA awards budget**
ODA PhD Scholarships	53	273	53	7,516	35.0%
Non-ODA PhD Scholarships	2	5	3	305	Non-ODA
Split-Site PhD Scholarships	67	67	60	2,549	11.9%
Agency-Nominated Master’s Scholarships	97	97	90	3,707	17.2%
Shared Master’s Scholarships	168	168	163	4,338	20.2%
Distance Learning Master’s Scholarships	218	743	180	2,937	13.7%
Professional Fellowships	30*	-	35	450	2.1%
Time Limited Programme Awards	40*	40	40	From TLP budget	From TLP budget
Total	675	1,393	624	21,802

*take up for Professional Fellows and the Time Limited Programme are projected as these awards had not commenced at the time of publication.

** these percentages reflect the allocation from the ODA awards budget, when the non-ODA awards and all allowances are taken into account 48% of the budget is allocated to our doctoral programming.

5. Membership

Under the terms of the Act, the CSC comprises up to 14 members, in addition to the Chair.

Membership of the CSC during 2025 to 2026 is:

Name	Appointed	Appointed to	Comments
Professor Robin Mason (Chair)	1 Jan 2022	31 Dec 2027	2nd term
Professor Morag McDonald (Deputy Chair)	11 May 2020	10 May 2026	2nd term
Professor Allan Hill	1 Sept 2023	31 August 2026	1st term
Ms Aisling Conboy	1 Sept 2023	31 August 2026	1st term
Dr Catherine MacKenzie	11 May 2020	10 May 2026	2nd term
Dr Christine Thuranira-McKeever	11 May 2020	10 May 2026	2nd term
Ms Elizabeth Tanya Masiyiwa	1 Sept 2023	31 August 2026	1st term
Professor Kevin Ibeh	1 March 2021	29 Feb 2027	2nd term
Professor Liz Baggs	1 Sept 2023	31 August 2026	1st term
Professor Parmjit Jat	1 March 2021	29 Feb 2027	2nd term
Mr Ryan Shorthouse	1 Oct 2023	30 Sep 2026	1st term
Professor Sarah Hawkes	11 May 2020	10 May 2026	2nd term

Members and the Chair are normally permitted to serve up to two three-year terms, depending on re-appointment by the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs. All appointments to the CSC are publicly advertised, in accordance with the regulations of the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

6. Published information

As laid out in its publication scheme,^{[footnote 1]} the CSC publishes the following information:

Class of information	Location
Who we are and what we do
List of all Commission members	www.gov.uk/cscuk
Location and contact details	www.gov.uk/cscuk
Annual Report: Governance statement	www.gov.uk/cscuk
What we spend and how we spend it
Financial memorandum	www.gov.uk/cscuk
Annual Report: Statement of income and expenditure	www.gov.uk/cscuk
How we make decisions
Award eligibility and selection criteria	https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/
Minutes of Commission meetings	Available for inspection on request
What our priorities are and how we are doing
Business plan	www.gov.uk/cscuk
Corporate plan	www.gov.uk/cscuk
Annual Report: Statement of income and expenditure	www.gov.uk/cscuk
Evaluation and monitoring programme results	https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/
Our policies and procedures
Award terms and conditions	https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/
Handbook for Commonwealth Scholars and Fellows	https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/
Guidance on how to apply	https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/
Information to be published
Commission code of conduct	www.gov.uk/cscuk
Rules on conflicts of interest	www.gov.uk/cscuk
Complaints procedure	www.gov.uk/cscuk
Anti-fraud policy and procedure	www.gov.uk/cscuk
Travel policy	www.gov.uk/cscuk
Safeguarding policy	www.gov.uk/cscuk
Lists and registers
Register of interests	Available for inspection on request
Risk register	Available for inspection on request
The services we offer
The awards we offer and how to apply	https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/
Information for current award holders	https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/
Information for alumni	https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/
Organisations that we work in partnership with
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office	www.gov.uk/fcdo
National nominating agencies	https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/
UK universities	https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/

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1. www.gov.uk/government/organisations/commonwealth-scholarship-commission-in-the-uk/about/publication-scheme ↩