King’s Commonwealth Fellowship Programme · Undergraduate Pathway · Commonwealth SIDS
Applications are open for 11 King’s Commonwealth Fellowship Programme (KCFP) Undergraduate Fellowships for eligible students from Commonwealth Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The 2026 call supports approved undergraduate study beginning in 2027 at KCFP host universities in the applicant’s home country or immediate region.
OPEN
11 FELLOWSHIPS
24 ELIGIBLE SIDS
UNDERGRADUATE 2027
Deadline note: ACU’s main fellowship page lists 14 October 2026 at 15:00 UTC+1, while the FAQ page currently displays 15:00 UTC. Applicants should follow the main fellowship page and avoid submitting close to the final hour.
This CareerAidHub article covers the 2026 KCFP Undergraduate Fellowship call only. The KCFP also has separate PhD and Climate Resilience pathways with different eligibility, schedules and benefits.
King’s Commonwealth Undergraduate Fellowships 2026 at a Glance
| Programme | King’s Commonwealth Fellowship Programme (KCFP) Undergraduate Fellowships |
|---|---|
| Administrator | Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) |
| Current status | OPEN |
| Applications opened | 14 September 2026 |
| Main-page deadline | 14 October 2026 at 15:00 UTC+1 |
| Total fellowships | 11 |
| Eligible geography | 24 Commonwealth Small Island Developing States |
| Study level | Full-time undergraduate degree |
| Study start | Between January and December 2027 |
| Study location | Approved KCFP host university in the home country or immediate region |
| Core study areas | Education, Engineering, Health and Sustainable Tourism |
| Last verified | 24 September 2026 |
How the 11 Fellowships Are Allocated
A total of 11 undergraduate fellowships are available in the current pathway.
| 7 ringfenced fellowships | Reserved for eligible applicants from Dominica, Grenada, Kiribati, Nauru, Samoa, Tonga and Tuvalu |
|---|---|
| 4 open fellowships | Open to eligible applicants from all 24 Commonwealth SIDS |
| Applicants from ringfenced SIDS | May be considered for both their ringfenced award and the four open fellowships if they meet all requirements |
ACU also states that applicants from indigenous communities are especially encouraged to apply, but indigenous status is not an eligibility requirement.
Eligibility for the 2026 KCFP Undergraduate Call
| Citizenship / refugee status | Must hold citizenship of, or recognised refugee status in, one of the 24 eligible Commonwealth SIDS |
|---|---|
| Study start | Must be due to commence undergraduate study between January and December 2027 |
| Previous higher education | Must not already hold a higher-education qualification, including a bachelor’s degree or postgraduate qualification |
| Programme selection | Must choose an approved undergraduate programme at an approved KCFP host university |
| Study mode | Full-time only |
| Already enrolled students | Applicants who started an undergraduate programme before the eligible 2027 start period are not eligible |
| Academic threshold | No single KCFP-wide cutoff; applicants must meet the entry requirements of the selected host university and programme |
| Financial need | Considered during assessment but is not a strict prerequisite |
A fellowship application and university admission are separate processes. You do not need to hold an admission offer when submitting the KCFP application, but any fellowship award is conditional on later securing admission to the same approved university and degree named in the KCFP application.
24 Eligible Commonwealth Small Island Developing States
| Caribbean & Americas | Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago |
|---|---|
| Indian Ocean | Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles |
| Pacific | Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu |
Approved KCFP Host Universities and Degree Routes
Applicants are normally expected to study at an approved host university in their home country. Where no relevant host is available locally, an approved university in the immediate region may be used according to the KCFP country-to-host mapping.
| Fiji National University | Environmental Health; Public Health; Secondary Education in Mathematics or Physics; Primary Education |
|---|---|
| National University of Samoa | Primary Education; Nursing; Health Sciences; Science (Secondary Teaching) |
| Papua New Guinea University of Technology | Mechanical Engineering (Honours); Electrical Engineering (Honours); Civil Engineering (Honours) |
| University of Belize | Nursing; Mathematics Education |
| University of Mauritius | Civil Engineering; Geomatics; Town and Country Planning |
| University of Technology, Mauritius | Occupational Safety and Health Management; Travel and Tourism Management |
| University of the West Indies, Cave Hill | Health Sciences |
| Villa College, Maldives | Nursing; Primary and Special Educational Needs; Mechanical Engineering; Electrical and Electronics Engineering; Civil Engineering |
Programme eligibility depends on the applicant’s country. Do not select a host university or degree solely from the list above; confirm that the specific host/programme combination is available to applicants from your SIDS in the official guidance and application portal.
Eligible Subject Areas
| Education | Approved teacher-education and related programmes listed for participating host universities |
|---|---|
| Engineering | Approved civil, mechanical, electrical/electronics and related engineering routes |
| Health | Approved health and nursing programmes; medical and medical-technology degrees are excluded |
| Sustainable Tourism | Approved programmes with sustainability content; generic tourism-management or hospitality degrees without sustainability modules are excluded |
KCFP Undergraduate Fellowship Funding
| Tuition fees | Full tuition fees for the standard programme duration where tuition is not already covered by the applicant’s national government |
|---|---|
| Living support | Stipend toward basic living costs; amount varies by study location |
| Travel | One economy-class return flight per year where the fellow must travel to another island to study |
| Other costs | ACU’s FAQ states that the fellowship does not cover costs beyond tuition, living allowance and the applicable annual return flight |
Do not assume that the undergraduate fellowship covers research grants, relocation allowances, medical insurance, housing or other expenses. These benefits were incorrectly mixed into older versions of this article and are not listed as covered costs for the current undergraduate pathway.
How to Apply
The KCFP application is completed online through the ACU/MyACU application system. Applicants should review the country-to-host mapping and degree requirements before starting.
| Step 1 | Confirm that your citizenship/refugee status and planned 2027 study start meet the KCFP eligibility rules. |
|---|---|
| Step 2 | Select an approved host university and eligible degree available to applicants from your country. |
| Step 3 | Prepare identity, academic and recommendation documents before starting the final submission. |
| Step 4 | Complete the KCFP online application, including both required personal statements. |
| Step 5 | Submit a separate admission application to the same host university and degree programme. |
| Step 6 | Review everything carefully before final submission; submitted KCFP applications cannot be amended. |
Application Sections and Supporting Documents
The official application guidance lists nine application sections: Introduction, Eligibility, Personal Details, Academic and Employment History, Programme Details, Personal Statement, References, Marketing and Confirmation.
| Identity document | Passport or national ID; applicants without a valid passport may use a national ID or current invalid passport at application stage |
|---|---|
| Academic record | Secondary-school transcript and secondary-school leaving qualification or equivalent |
| CV / résumé | Required as part of the academic and employment-history section |
| Statement 1 | 300–500 words: motivation for applying, education/career goals, field choice, island-development relevance, preparation and barriers |
| Statement 2 | 300–500 words: how the applicant will contribute to their island nation after graduation, including sustainable development and climate resilience |
| Recommendation letters | Two signed and dated letters, preferably on official headed paper |
| Language | Application and supporting documentation must be in English |
Who Should Provide the Recommendations?
| Currently employed applicants | One educational referee + one current-employer referee |
|---|---|
| Applicants not currently employed | Two educational referees |
ACU explicitly requires applicants to submit their own original work. Applications containing false, misleading, plagiarised or inauthentic content may be disqualified. Any use of generative AI must comply with ACU policy, and the applicant remains responsible for accuracy and originality.
Important Fellowship Conditions
| Host admission | The fellowship is conditional on admission to the same eligible programme and host university selected in the KCFP application |
|---|---|
| Deferral | Fellowship awards cannot be deferred |
| Post-award residency | Fellows must remain in their home country or region for at least three years immediately after completing the degree |
| Repayment option | The three-year post-award residency condition cannot be waived by repaying fellowship funds |
| Changes after submission | No amendments or additional uploads are permitted after the KCFP application is submitted |
CareerAidHub Application Guidance
The following points are CareerAidHub guidance, not additional ACU eligibility requirements.
- Start with country eligibility: verify which host universities and degree programmes are available to applicants from your SIDS before drafting statements.
- Keep both applications aligned: the university and degree named in your KCFP application should match the separate university admission application.
- Use specific local examples: the personal statements are stronger when they connect the chosen degree to concrete needs in your island community.
- Brief referees properly: give them the KCFP objectives, your chosen degree, and examples they can use to support your academic potential and community contribution.
- Submit early: the official ACU pages currently show a one-hour discrepancy in the stated deadline time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the King’s Commonwealth Undergraduate Fellowships open?
Yes. The 2026 undergraduate call opened on 14 September 2026 and the main fellowship page lists the closing time as 14 October 2026 at 15:00 UTC+1.
How many undergraduate fellowships are available?
There are 11: seven ringfenced awards and four open to eligible applicants across all 24 Commonwealth SIDS.
Does the fellowship cover full tuition?
Yes, where full tuition is not already covered by the applicant’s national government. The fellowship also provides a living stipend and, where applicable, one return flight per year.
Do I need a university offer before applying?
No, but you must separately apply to the approved host university and degree. Any fellowship award is conditional on later securing admission.
Can current university students apply?
Applicants must be due to commence undergraduate study between January and December 2027. Students who started an undergraduate degree before that period are not eligible for this pathway.
Can the fellowship be deferred?
No. ACU states that undergraduate fellowship awards cannot be deferred.
Official Sources and Application Links
| ACU KCFP Undergraduate Fellowships | Primary page for current status, deadline, funding, eligibility, host universities and allocation of the 11 fellowships |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate Application Guidance | Application sections, documents, host mapping, approved degrees, personal statements and recommendation requirements |
| Undergraduate FAQs | Admissions, funding, course restrictions, award conditions and post-graduation requirements |
| MyACU Application | Official online KCFP Undergraduate Fellowship application portal |
CareerAidHub verified this article against current ACU pages on 24 September 2026. Applicants should rely on the official ACU fellowship page and application guidance for any updates made after publication.
