Commonwealth Startup Fellowships in UK

  •  Course, Fellowship
  •   United Kingdom
  • $$  Fellowship including travel, accommodation, grant fund, and support services

The Commonwealth Startup Fellowship 2025 is now open for applications! This prestigious six-month programme, delivered by the Commonwealth Scholarships Commission (CSC) in partnership with Imperial College London, supports early-stage entrepreneurs from low and middle-income Commonwealth countries. The Fellowship offers a dynamic blend of online learning and in-person training, including a fully funded two-week bootcamp in Accra, Ghana.

To be eligible for the fellowship, applicants must be graduates who are citizens of, have refugee status in, and are permanent residents of a low or middle-income Commonwealth country. They must have a strong command of English, not have held a Commonwealth Professional Fellowship in the past five years, and be available for the programme’s full duration.

The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) is the UK’s primary scholarship body responsible for managing the UK government’s Commonwealth scholarship and fellowship programs. Funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), the CSC supports talented individuals from low and middle-income Commonwealth countries to study in the UK or take part in professional development opportunities. Its aim is to promote sustainable development and international collaboration by investing in individuals who have the potential to contribute to the prosperity of their home countries.
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Imperial College London Information

Imperial College London Grants

Commonwealth Startup Fellowships in UK Established in 1907, Imperial College London is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the urban setting of the metropolis of London (population range of over 5,000,000 inhabitants). Officially accredited and/or recognized by the Privy Council, Imperial College London is a large (uniRank enrollment range: 15,000-19,999 students) coeducational higher education institution. Imperial College London offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as bachelor degrees in several areas of study. See the uniRank degree levels and areas of study matrix below for further details. International applicants are eligible to apply for enrollment.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Eligible Countries: Applicants must be a citizen of, have refugee status in, and be a permanent resident of one of the following 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.

  • Acceptable Course or Subjects: The fellowship is designed for participants developing startups in any sector that demonstrate innovation, impact, and growth potential.

  • Admissible Criteria: To be eligible, applicants must:

    • Be of at least graduate level

    • Be fluent in written and spoken English

    • Not have undertaken a Commonwealth Professional Fellowship in the last five years

    • Be available to participate from the prescribed start date

    • Have an innovative startup with at least six months of development and committed team members

    • Demonstrate evidence of a working MVP, customer traction (e.g., sales, pre-sales, contracts), and market demand

    • Submit a strong application including a 1-minute video pitch, team and business profile, and detailed traction and market analysis.

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Offered Benefits

Each Commonwealth Startup Fellowship includes:

  • Return travel from the Fellow’s home country to Accra, Ghana

  • Accommodation, catering, and local transport during the bootcamp

  • Reimbursement of standard visa and vaccination costs

  • Access to a Fellow’s Grant Fund for business-related or participation-related expenses

  • Full assessment and additional support for Fellows with disabilities

Application Process

  • In the application form, prospective Fellows are asked to:  

    • List up to two undergraduate and postgraduate university qualifications obtained (where applicable)  
    • Provide details of up to two entries of previous employment history and explain how each job is relevant to the programme you wish to undertake in the UK (up to 100 words per employment)  
    • List names and positions of up to three referees who are qualified to comment on both your capacity to benefit from your proposed fellowship and your ability to deliver development impact afterwards. One of your referees must be your current or most recent employer  
    • List information about your business, including if and where it’s registered and your role within it.   
    • Describe any progress or traction you have made on your startup. (up to 250 words).  You should include any notable achievements, measurable outcomes (such as number of users, sign-ups), revenue to date, number of prototypes tested, etc. You should also include any market, and technological research you have completed.  
    • Describe what competitor research have you done to understand your direct and indirect competitors. (up to 150 words)  
    • Describe your idea’s Intellectual Property (IP) protection and ownership status, if any. (up to 150 words) If you are unsure about your IP see the following guidance:  https://www.gov.uk/intellectual-property-an-overview     
    • Provide a 1 minute video elevator pitch, clearly explaining the problem your business is solving, the solution it offers, the progress so far and what difference taking part in this programme will make.  
    • Explain the problem your business is aiming to solve (up to 150 words)  
    • Explain your solution, how it works and how it is innovative (up to 150 words)  
    • Explain why you are the right team (or solo founder) to grow your startup. You should include your collective skills, knowledge, competencies, qualifications, commitment. Identify any gaps in your team. (up to 150 words)  
    • Describe your motivation for joining the programme. You should include your goals, reasons, or objectives you want to achieve on the programme. (up to 150 words)”  
    • Provide a scan of your passport or national identity card  
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