Commonwealth Startup Fellowship
Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK
Quick Facts
A word from Eli, founder of Rise Africa Scholars
MSc Information Security — Unicaf Scholar
While you wait for a fully funded opportunity, don’t put your education on hold. I completed my MSc through Unicaf — studying online from Nairobi while working full-time. The tuition discount made it genuinely affordable, and the degree is from an accredited UK university.
If you’re serious about advancing your career now, I’d encourage you to explore it. I only recommend what I’ve used myself.
About This Scholarship
The Commonwealth Startup Fellowship is a six-month programme designed to ignite and elevate high-potential startups from low and middle income Commonwealth countries through immersive in-person experiences and online learning. Participants will gain essential skills, cutting-edge knowledge, and a global network to scale their businesses successfully, pitch fluently, and drive job creation in their home countries.
What This Scholarship Covers
- Fully funded fellowship programme
- Access to immersive in-person experiences and online learning
- Two-week bootcamp in Accra, Ghana
- Capstone events in London, UK
- Global network and mentorship
Who Can Apply
- 1 Be of at least graduate level
- 2 Be a citizen of or have been granted refugee status by an eligible low or middle income Commonwealth country
- 3 Be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country
- 4 Be fluent in written and spoken English
- 5 Not have undertaken a Commonwealth Professional Fellowship within the last five years
- 6 Be available to undertake the fellowship from 16 November 2026
- 7 Be available to attend the Bootcamp in Accra, Ghana (estimated 25 January – 4 February 2027)
- 8 Be available to attend the Capstone Week in London, UK (estimated 14 – 21 May 2027)
- 9 Have a startup registered as a legal entity in accordance with local regulations
- 10 Demonstrate evidence of innovation in product, service, business model or approach
- 11 Have progressed beyond idea, prototype, and pilot stages
- 12 Have been actively operating the business for at least twelve months with demonstrable progress
- 13 Have a product or service available to customers
- 14 Demonstrate customer demand through paying customers and evidence of ongoing adoption
- 15 Operate through a sustainable business model not primarily dependent on donations, philanthropy, or grant funding
- 16 Create positive economic, social, or environmental outcomes through core activities
- 17 Have evidence of commercial traction, growth, and potential to scale
- 18 Be seeking to scale customer base, operations, impact, or geographic reach