Description

Overview

The Chevening Scholarship Programme offers fully funded scholarships for emerging leaders from eligible countries and territories to pursue a one-year Master’s degree in the United Kingdom.

The programme supports candidates who demonstrate leadership potential, strong professional experience, and a clear commitment to contributing to their home country after completing their studies. Alongside academic study, scholars gain access to professional development opportunities, cultural experiences, and an international alumni network.

Scholarship Benefits

Chevening Scholarships are fully funded, allowing scholars to focus on their academic and professional development during their year in the United Kingdom.

The scholarship generally supports eligible university tuition fees, travel to and from the United Kingdom, living costs, and other approved expenses in accordance with the official Chevening terms.

Scholars also gain access to networking, professional development, and cultural activities throughout the programme.

Eligibility

Applicants must be citizens of a Chevening-eligible country or territory. Candidates applying through an Official Development Assistance-eligible country must also meet the relevant residency conditions and demonstrate a clear intention to contribute to their country of award.

Applicants must:

• Commit to returning to their country of award for at least two years after the scholarship ends.
• Have at least 2,800 hours of professional experience, equivalent to approximately two years of full-time work, gained after completing their undergraduate degree.
• Hold an undergraduate qualification that allows entry to a postgraduate programme in the United Kingdom.
• Have completed their undergraduate studies at least two years before the Chevening application deadline.
• Apply to three different eligible UK Master’s courses.
• Obtain at least one unconditional university offer by the stated offer deadline.

Applicants must have received their undergraduate certificate by the interview stage.

Eligible Work Experience

Chevening considers different forms of professional experience, provided they were gained after completion of the applicant’s undergraduate degree and meet the required total of 2,800 hours.

Applicants may enter up to 15 work experience records in the online application system. The system calculates the total number of eligible hours based on the number of weeks and average weekly working hours entered.

Course Selection

Applicants must select three eligible one-year taught Master’s programmes at UK universities.

Candidates do not need to have submitted university applications before submitting the Chevening Scholarship application. However, they must obtain and submit at least one unconditional offer from one of their selected courses by 8 July 2027 at 17:00 BST.

Application Requirements

The online application includes information on:

• Personal and immigration details.
• Education history.
• Professional experience.
• Three proposed UK Master’s courses.
• Two referees.
• Four essay responses covering leadership, relationship-building, course choices, and future career plans.
• Equal opportunities monitoring information.

Applicants invited to interview must upload supporting documents, including identification, undergraduate certificates or diplomas, and two reference letters, at least seven working days before the interview.

Application Process

Applicants must first access the Chevening application system through the page for their country or territory. They will then register their email address and telephone number, complete the eligibility checker, and receive a unique access code for their application.

Applicants should retain this access code, as it is required each time they access the application portal.

The application can be completed in stages, but candidates should save their work regularly because the system may log users out after periods of inactivity. Once the final application is submitted, it cannot be amended.

Selection Process

After the application deadline, submissions are screened against the eligibility criteria. Eligible applications are then assessed by independent reading committees.

British embassies and high commissions shortlist candidates for interviews, which are normally conducted between March and April 2027. Successful candidates are notified from mid-June 2027.

Selection focuses on the applicant’s leadership potential, ability to build professional relationships, suitability of their proposed courses, and clarity of their post-study career plans.

Key Dates

• Applications open: 4 August 2026 at 11:00 UTC
• Application deadline: 6 October 2026 at 11:00 UTC
• Eligibility screening: From October 2026
• Application assessment: Mid-October 2026 to January 2027
• Interview shortlist announced: Mid-February 2027
• Interviews: March–April 2027
• Results announced: From mid-June 2027
• University offer deadline: 8 July 2027 at 17:00 BST
• Studies begin: September or October 2027

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted through the official Chevening online application system during the application period.

Applicants should access the application through the Chevening page for their country or territory, confirm their eligibility, select three eligible UK courses, and complete all required sections before the deadline.

As the information provided here was published by a third-party scholarship website, applicants should verify all eligibility rules, deadlines, and application requirements on the official Chevening website before applying.