Chevening is the UK’s most prestigious scholarship and fellowship program, having been established in 1983. Its goal is to encourage future global leaders to study in the country, allowing them to become part of a professional society that can help change the world.
The Chevening Scholarship and the Chevening Fellowship are two awards offered by the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office. Both awardees are chosen by British embassies and commissions around the world. We’ll look at the Chevening scholarships for international students in this article.
The Chevening Scholarship is available to qualifying students interested in pursuing a one-year Master’s degree in the United Kingdom. It includes up to £18,000 in tuition/course costs, an arrival and departure allowance, cost entrance clearance/visa, TB testing, travel top-up allowance, monthly personal allowance for housing and living expenses, and aircraft tickets as a fully-funded prize (economy).
The Chevening Fellowship, on the other hand, is a program for professionals in their mid-career who want to expand their knowledge and abilities through research, short courses, or postings at UK universities.
Similarly, it covers tuition, aircraft tickets, visa expenses, and lodging. A monthly stipend and an arrival allowance are also included.
Criteria for Eligibility
To be considered for a Chevening Scholarship, you must meet the following requirements:
- To be eligible for Chevening, you must be a citizen of a Chevening-qualified country or territory.
- Have earned a bachelor’s degree equal to a 2:1 honors program in upper second class
- Working experience of at least 2 years (2,800 hours) is required.
- 3 qualified courses will make you an unconditional offer.
Scholars must also return to their home countries after obtaining the scholarship award for a period of two years.
Aspiring Chevening fellows must also be citizens of countries or territories that qualify. They should, however, display leadership potential, as well as the personal, intellectual, and interpersonal characteristics that go along with it.
Fellows should have a post-graduate level qualification, as opposed to the scholarship’s undergraduate requirement. They should be able to complete the program’s entry standards and return to their home countries after completing their fellowship for a period of two years.
In terms of restrictions, British citizens (including dual nationals) and refugees from non-Chevening eligible countries are not eligible for the Chevening Scholarship or Fellowship. Employees or relatives of employees of Her Majesty’s government or Chevening partner organizations, as well as individuals who have already earned a UK-funded scholarship, are not eligible.
How to Make an Application for a Chevening Scholarship
Scholarship from the Chevening Foundation
The selection of a course is the first step in the Chevening Scholarship application process. Students can choose amongst three Chevening-eligible taught master’s programs. These should last 9-12 months (full-term), with the semester starting in early autumn.
The student can begin constructing his or her profile in the Chevening online application system after selecting a suitable program (OAS). This normally includes demographic and educational questions, as well as certain questions that require a 100-word response.
The student must attach two reference letters after completing the Chevening scholarship application. Later in the screening process, the embassy will contact these academic or professional referees.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an interview at one of the British embassies or commissions in their area. However, the applicant must first submit the following documents to the OAS:
- Transcripts and/or certificates are examples of educational documentation.
- 2 letters of recommendation
- a brief biography
The student should also bring his or her passport to the interview.
By early/mid-June, successful applicants will be notified of their status.
The Chevening Fellowship
is a prestigious award given to individuals who As with scholarship applications, potential fellows should begin by selecting an appropriate program. The alternatives offered are typically determined by the field and citizenship.
Africans, for example, are eligible to apply for the following positions:
- For mid-senior level applicants working in the fields of media policy and regulation, the Chevening Africa Media Freedom Fellowship is available.
- Ethiopian public workers who excel in policy, leadership, and innovation are eligible for the Chevening Ethiopia Leadership Fellowship.
Indians are eligible for the following awards:
- Gurukul Fellowship for Leadership and Excellence is a program for young, high-flying leaders from all walks of life.
- National security, crime prevention, commercial opportunity, and the right to privacy are all highlighted in the India Cyber Security Fellowship.
The South Asia Journalism Program is open to Indians as well as other South Asian citizens (Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, Sri Lankans, and Maldivians). This is an 8-week intensive program that includes lectures and conversations.
The Western Balkans Cyber Security Fellowship is open to nationals of Western Balkan countries, as the name implies.
The following programs are open to people of all nationalities:
- The Chevening British Library Fellowship is a one-year residency in the British Library.
- For the past 15 years, the Chevening Clore Fellowship has been a leadership program that has helped shape global specialists.
- Chevening Energy Market Reform is a program for senior energy professionals.
- Fellowship in Healthcare, Healthy Policy, and Health Research for senior professionals interested in conducting research at Oxford.
- The LSE Fellowship is a 9-month program that focuses on a specific research project.
- The Islamic Studies Center at Oxford Fellowship for professionals interested in specializing in Islamic culture and civilization.
- Science, innovation, and management processes, as well as the interactions between economy, innovation, and research, are all covered by the Research Science & Innovation Fellowship.
After deciding on a program, the student can apply for any of these fellowships through their respective application pages (the deadline is usually early November). The committee will then assess the information provided to ensure that the applicants meet the eligibility requirements.
Shortlisted Chevening Fellowship applicants will be invited to an interview in a British embassy or commission near their home. The same criteria that apply to academics will apply.
The aspiring fellow may be required to attend a second interview, depending on the circumstances.
By the end of June, new fellows will be named, allowing them to prepare for their studies/research in September or October.