Chevening Scholarships programme - UK

The Chevening Scholarships programme started in 1984. It was originally called the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Scholarships and Awards Scheme. A few years later the name was changed to Chevening - after Chevening House in the Sevenoaks District of Kent, which is currently the joint official residence of the Foreign Secretary and the Deputy Prime Minister.

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. Most scholars undertake a one year master’s degree.

In the current academic year there are over 500 Chevening scholars at universities across the UK. The programme is mainly funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, with some contributions from Higher Education Institutions and other partners in the UK. Our Embassies and High Commissions also have partnership agreements with a wide range of overseas sponsors including governmental and private sector bodies. The programme is managed in UK and overseas by the British Council through a Service Level Agreement.

Direct Link: http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/about-us/what-we-do/scholarships/chevening/

Who should apply?

Chevening Scholarships are for high calibre graduates with the personal, intellectual and interpersonal qualities necessary for leadership. Applicants should be:

• Motivated to make a career that will take them to positions of leadership in their own country within ten years of their scholarship
• Able to use their studies and experience in the UK to benefit themselves, their countries and the UK
• Natural influencers and talented communicators, with energy and ambition
• People who value networking and who can demonstrate the value of networks to their studies, and to bringing about change on a global level
• Intelligent, with demonstrable academic potential
• Strong characters with integrity, drive, and the ability to self manage and work independently

Applicants must:

• Have good English language skills with and should check what IELTS score or equivalent is required for admission to postgraduate courses
• Meet the academic requirements for their courses of study

Applicants cannot be:

• A UK or EU national.
• An employee of the FCO (including British Embassies and High Commissions), the British Council, a co-sponsor or sponsoring UK university, or their relatives, or former employee who left such employment within the past two years.
• People who have already received financial benefit from an HMG-funded award.

How to apply

There is no coordinated global launch of the programme. British missions around the world will advertise Chevening separately, so timings will vary. Some Embassies will advertise as early as late autumn, while others will start as late as spring.

Before applying

Please check your local British Embassy or High Commission website, and your local British Council website, for details about how the scheme will operate in your country, including information about timings and whether criteria about areas of interest have been applied. Foreign Office priorities are likely to be borne in mind during selection but it is also possible that local criteria will have been applied too.  

Making an application

Prospective scholars applying for Chevening scholarships should apply using our online application tool, eChevening. If you have any questions about the online process or any other difficulties, please direct them to the nearest British Council office.

Other information

The Education UK website is the gateway to UK education and provides education information for international students. It covers everything from choosing the right course for you, how to apply and immigration advice, right through to your arrival and life in the UK.

Sifting and invitation to interview

British Council staff locally will sift applications. Those getting through this stage will be invited to attend an interview that will be chaired by a member of the Embassy staff.

Unsuccessful applicants

The volume of applications (over 20, 000 for the 2011/12 academic year) means that for the most part unsuccessful applicants will not be contacted.

Successful applicants

If you are lucky enough to be selected as Chevening scholar that will be confirmed in writing shortly afterwards and the British Council will help prepare you.

Who to contact

You should always direct your enquiry to the local British Council Office.

In a small number of countries there is no British Council representation, in which case you can contact the British Embassy.