Applications are currently being accepted for the Commonwealth Scholarship - Commonwealth Startup Fellowship 2026/2027 for Early Stage Start-Ups. Interested applicants are encouraged to click here to learn more about this opportunity and apply for it.
About Commonwealth Scholarship - Commonwealth Startup Fellowship
Commonwealth Startup Fellowships run for six months and are designed to ignite and elevate high-potential startups from low and middle income Commonwealth countries. The programme is made up of a combination of immersive in-person experiences and online learning, to provide participants with essential skills, cutting-edge knowledge, and a robust global network.
The CSC and Imperial College London intend that by the end of the programme, entrepreneurs will be equipped to scale their businesses successfully, pitch fluently, and drive job creation in their home countries.
Benefits of Commonwealth Scholarship - Commonwealth Startup Fellowship
Each fellowship provides:
- Approved return travel from the Fellow’s home country to the in-person bootcamp in Accra, Ghana including, accommodation, travel, and catering.
- Approved return travel from the Fellow’s home country to the in-person Capstone Week in London, UK including accommodation, travel, and catering.
- Reimbursement of the standard visa application fee.
- Up to £2,000 in equity free grants for business or participation-related costs.
- If a Fellow declares a disability, a full assessment of needs and eligibility for additional financial support will be offered by the CSC.
Commonwealth Scholarship - Commonwealth Startup Fellowship Requirements
To be eligible for this fellowship, candidates must:
- Be of at least graduate level
- Be a citizen of or have been granted refugee status by an eligible low or middle income Commonwealth country
- Be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country
- Be fluent in written and spoken English
- Not have undertaken a Commonwealth Professional Fellowship within the last five years (at the time of taking up the award)
- Be available to undertake the fellowship from the prescribed start date (16 November 2026)
- Be available to attend the Bootcamp in Accra, Ghana (estimated 25 January – 4 February 2027)
- Be available to attend the Capstone Week in London, UK (estimated 14 – 21 May 2027)
Eligible Countries
Bangladesh • Belize • Botswana • Cameroon • Dominica • Eswatini • Fiji • Gabon • The Gambia • Ghana • Grenada • Guyana • India • Jamaica • Kenya • Kiribati • Lesotho • Malawi • Malaysia • Maldives • Mauritius • Montserrat • Mozambique • Namibia • Nauru • Nigeria • Pakistan • Papua New Guinea • Rwanda • St Helena • St Lucia • St Vincent and the Grenadines • Samoa • Sierra Leone • Solomon Islands • South Africa • Sri Lanka • Tanzania • Togo • Tonga • Tuvalu • Uganda • Vanuatu • Zambia
In addition, they must:
- Have a startup that has been registered as a legal entity in accordance with local regulations;
- Demonstrate evidence of innovation, in terms of product, service, business model or approach to addressing a market need;
- Have progressed beyond the idea, prototype, and pilot stages;
- Have been actively operating their business for at least twelve months and be able to demonstrate meaningful progress;
- Have a product or service that is available to customers;
- Have demonstrated customer demand through paying customers and evidence of ongoing customer adoption (such as repeat purchases, contract renewals, recurring revenue, or sustained usage);
- Operate through a sustainable business model and is not primarily dependent on donations, philanthropy, or grant funding;
- Create positive economic, social, or environmental outcomes through its core activities;
- Have evidence of commercial traction, growth, and the potential to scale;
- Be seeking to scale their customer base, operations, impact, or geographic reach.
Application Date and Process
- Click on the link to the application website to apply.
Application Deadline
01 September, 2026
Opportunity Application
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Commonwealth Scholarship - Commonwealth Startup Fellowship
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