A unique opportunity for fellows from Small Island Developing States to undertake an undergraduate degree in their home country or immediate region.
Applications open: 14 September 2026
Applications close: 14 October 2026 (15:00 UTC)
Commonwealth Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are on the frontline of climate change and face growing demand for skilled professionals in sectors critical to national development. The King's Commonwealth Fellowship Programme (KCFP) Undergraduate Fellowships support talented students to study at the KCFP Host Universities within their home country or region, helping to build the skills, knowledge and leadership needed to strengthen communities, improve essential services and drive sustainable development.
By investing in the next generation of professionals across education, engineering, health and sustainable tourism, the programme aims to strengthen local capacity, help meet medium-term skills shortages and create opportunities for young people to contribute to the long-term prosperity and resilience of their countries. Through a combination of financial support, professional development opportunities and a strong alumni network, Fellows will be empowered to build careers that serve their island communities and contribute to sustainable national development.
The KCFP Undergraduate Fellowship will support students with:
-
Full tuition fees (if full tuition fees not covered by the government).
-
Stipend to cover basic living costs.
-
One return ticket to home island for every year of study (if applicable).
Who can apply?
All of the below must apply to be eligible.
-
Applicants with citizenship or refugee status in one of the following Commonwealth SIDS:
-
Caribbean and Americas
Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago -
Indian Ocean
Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles -
Pacific
Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu
-
-
Due to commence undergraduate study between January and December 2027.
-
Not hold a higher education qualification, including a bachelor’s degree or any postgraduate qualification.
-
Have selected an undergraduate programme from the approved undergraduate programmes advertised for their chosen Host University. Applications to programmes not included in the published list will not be considered.
Applicants must undertake their studies at a KCFP approved Host University located in their home country. If there are no host universities in their home country, they can undertake studies in another KCFP approved Host University, located within their immediate region. The table below shows the Host Universities and undergraduate programmes available for applicants from each eligible Commonwealth SIDS. Admission requirements for each undergraduate programme are available in the application guidance.
|
KCFP Host University |
Eligible Undergraduate Programmes |
Applicants From |
|
Fiji National University |
• Bachelor of Environmental Health |
Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu |
|
National University of Samoa |
• Bachelor of Education (Primary) |
Kiribati, Nauru, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu |
|
Papua New Guinea University of Technology |
• Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering (Honours) |
Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands |
|
University of Belize |
• Bachelor in Nursing |
Bahamas, Belize, Jamaica |
|
University of Mauritius |
• BEng (Hons) Civil Engineering |
Mauritius, Seychelles |
|
University of Technology, Mauritius |
• BSc (Hons) Occupational Safety and Health Management |
Mauritius, Seychelles |
|
University of the West Indies (Cave Hill) |
• Bachelor of Health Sciences |
Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago |
|
Villa College |
• Bachelor of Nursing |
Maldives |
How are fellowships allocated?
A total of 11 King's Commonwealth Fellowships are available under this pathway.
-
Seven fellowships are ringfenced for applicants who are citizens of, or hold recognised refugee status in, the following SIDS:
-
-
Dominica
-
Grenada
-
Kiribati
-
Nauru
-
Samoa
-
Tonga
-
Tuvalu
-
-
Four fellowships are open to applicants from all 24 eligible Commonwealth Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
Applicants from the seven ringfenced SIDS will be considered for both the ringfenced fellowships and the open competition, provided they meet all eligibility requirements.
Those belonging to indigenous communities are especially encouraged to apply. However, this is not an eligibility criteria, meaning, those who do not belong to indigenous communities will also be eligible.
We strongly advise applicants to read all the application guidance and FAQs carefully before starting their application.
KCFP Undergraduate Fellowships close 14 October 2026 (15:00 UTC). Please familiarise yourself with the application guidance and FAQs before starting your application.
