Chevening Scholarship

Overview

Chevening Scholarships are the UK government’s global scholarship programme, funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and partner organisations. The Scholarships are an important element in Britain’s public diplomacy effort and bring young professionals, who have already displayed outstanding leadership talents, to study in the UK.

Chevening Scholarships operate in 116 countries worldwide, and this year will support approximately 700 individuals. Awards are typically for a one-year Master’s degree (although some awards are for tailor-made short courses), in any subject and at any of the UK’s leading universities.

The Chevening programme began in 1983 and has developed into a prestigious international scheme. 

Who are Chevening Scholarships aimed at?

Chevening Scholarships are for talented people who have been identified as potential future leaders across a wide range of fields; including politics, business, the media, civil society, religion, and academia.

Applicants should be high calibre graduates with the personal, intellectual and interpersonal qualities necessary for leadership. Scholars undertake to return to their home country unless there are genuinely exceptional circumstances.

They have an excellent record of rising to positions of leadership in their respective professions. For example, past alumni include Baldwin Spencer, the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda; Anote Tong, the President of Kiribati; Sergei Stanishev, the former Prime Minister of Bulgaria; Alvaro Uribe Velez, the former President of Colombia; Marek Belka, the former Prime Minister of Poland; and Gega Mgaloblishvili, the former Prime Minister of Georgia.

Where do most Chevening Scholars come from?

Countries with most Chevening Scholars this year include: China, India, Indonesia, Egypt, South Korea and Brazil – but the reach is genuinely global, with the exception of countries within the European Union and United States of America.

Who funds Chevening Scholarships?

The majority of funding comes from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. However, individual awards are co-sponsored by a wide range of international and local sponsors. UK universities also contribute through joint scholarships, recognising the exceptional quality of Chevening Scholars.

The objective of the Chevening programme

The objective of the Chevening programme is to support foreign policy priorities and achieve FCO objectives by creating lasting positive relationships with future leaders, influencers and decision makers. The programme provides a unique opportunity for leaders of the future to build a global network of continuing professional significance and also to establish social, cultural, academic or commercial partnerships with the UK.

Eligiblity

Scholars are personally selected by British High Commissioners throughout the world, sometimes in partnership with appropriate sponsoring organisations.

To be eligible for a Chevening Award you must:

• Be a citizen of a Chevening-eligible country

• Return to your country of citizenship for a minimum of two years after your award has ended

• Have an undergraduate degree that will enable you to gain entry to a postgraduate programme at a UK university. This is typically equivalent to an upper second-class 2:1 honours degree in the UK.

• Have at least two years’ work experience (this may be up to five years for fellowship programmes, please refer to your country page for further details)

• Apply to three different eligible UK university courses and have received an unconditional offer from one of these choices by 13 July 2023

You are not eligible for a Chevening Award if you:

• Hold British or dual British citizenship (unless you are a citizen of a British Overseas Territory or hold BN(O) and are applying from Hong Kong)

• Hold refugee status in a non-Chevening eligible country. Applicants who are citizens of a Chevening-eligible country and who hold refugee status in a Chevening-eligible country are eligible for an award.

• Are an employee, a former employee, or relative of an employee (since July 2016) of Her Majesty’s Government (including British Embassies/High Commissions, the Department for International Development, the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, Department for International Trade, the Ministry of Defence and the Home Office), the British Council, or a staff member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities. Employees, former employees, or relatives of an employee (since July 2016) of Chevening Partner organisations are eligible to apply, but cannot receive a Chevening/Partner Award from the organisation for which they work, previously worked, or are affiliated with through relatives.(Note: Immediate relatives are defined as parents or step-parents, siblings or step-siblings, children or step-children, spouse, civil partner or unmarried partner (where the couple have been in a relationship akin to marriage or civil partnership for at least two years)

• Have previously studied in the UK with funding from a UK Government-funded scholarship. However, if you have previously studied under a UK Government-funded scholarship (including Chevening), you may be eligible to apply for a Chevening Fellowship five years after completion of your initial UK Government-funded scholarship.