How to Get Chevening Scholarship to Study in the UK?

The global scholarship program of the Government of the United Kingdom (UK), the Chevening Scholarship offers future front-runners a unique opportunity to study in the UK. The Chevening Scholarships are fully funded and awarded to outstanding students from all over the world who possess unique leadership abilities and wish to pursue a 1-year master's degree in the UK. 

The Chevening Scholarships applications for the current year are closed. Candidates who submit a strong scholarship application and demonstrate excellent leadership qualities with the aim of bringing about a positive change in their home countries have higher chances of winning the Chevening Scholarship UK over others. The applicants must submit a scholarship application that clearly demonstrates that they are capable of pursuing the intensive master's program in UK universities along with an aim for the future. 

What is Chevening Scholarship?

The Chevening Scholarship, UK, is a fully paid scholarship awarded to exceptionally meritorious students to pursue a year-long master's course in the UK. This scholarship can be awarded to students from any nationality to pursue a master's degree in any subject from any university in the UK. The Chevening Scholarship remains in high demand among students across the world because of the numerous benefits that it provides to study in the UK, including the complete costs of education, accommodation, and airfares.  

This is a highly competitive scholarship due to which many well-qualified applicants get their applications rejected. Each year, more than 1,500 scholarships are made available with the awards being awarded in more than 160 nations. The Chevening Scholarship is funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and collaborates with a number of universities, governments, and private sector organisations from around the globe to support and enhance the experience of Chevening Scholars, Fellows, and Alumni.

Chevening offers two types of awards – Chevening Scholarships and Chevening Fellowships – the recipients of which are personally selected by British embassies and high commissions throughout the world. Awarded to study a PG course in one of the most sought-after study destinations, the UK, Chevening offers a unique opportunity for future trailblazers and influencers from all over the world to develop professionally and academically, network extensively, experience its culture, and build lasting positive relationships with the UK.

What Does Chevening Scholarship Offer?

The Chevening scholarship is unique in a way that it creates a unique engagement programme for its awardees, tailored to create opportunities for networking among each other as well as with the scholarship alumni, the FCDO, the partner organisations and the high-profile speakers.  

Below is the list of all the benefits that the Chevening Scholarship has to offer.

1. Payment of the UK university's tuition fee
2. To and fro economy travel for the awardee from the country of their residence, from an approved route only.
3. Arrival allowance
4. Cost of entry clearance application (visa fee), only for the awardee
5. Homeward departure allowance: The departure allowance is paid along with the last monthly stipend payment to the student.
6. Contribution of up to £75 towards TB testing, wherever required.
7. Travel top-up allowance
8. Monthly stipend/allowance for the awardee, to cover their accommodation and living expenses. The amount of this allowance will depend on whether the awardees take up their studies within or outside the London city and this amount is reviewed yearly.   

Chevening Scholarships Application Timeline 2025-26

The Chevening Scholarship applications for the year 2024-25 are closed. However, the complete application timeline for the Chevening Scholarships 2025 is given in the image below. Candidates can refer to these dates to remain up-to-date with the application process ahead of the Chevening Scholarship deadline 2025. 

The applications for the Chevening Scholarships 2025 will open on August 06, 2024, and close on November 05, 2024. Interested students must submit their applications within this application window. The results of the Chevening Scholarships (winners) will be announced tentatively in June 2025. 

How to Apply for Chevening Scholarships?

The entire application process for the British Chevening Scholarship is to be carried out on the "Online Application  System (OAS)". Candidates will be required to log back into the portal from time to time to check updates on their application. The Chevening Scholarship India applications for the current year, i.e. 2024 are closed. However, below are the step-by-step Chevening Scholarship application guidelines for the 2025 cycle.

1. Register and Create an Account:
   • Visit the Chevening Apply page: https://www.chevening.org/apply/
   • Click on "Register" and create an account using a valid email address. Remember your login details as you will need them to access your application later.
2. Complete the Online Application Form:
   • Once logged in, navigate to the application form.
   • The form will be open during the application period (usually August onwards).
   • Fill out all sections carefully, including:
     • Personal Information (name, contact details)
     • Education Background (list your educational qualifications)
     • Work Experience (details of your professional experience, 2 years+)
     • Course Choices (select up to three postgraduate programs in the UK)
     • Funding Request (specify the amount needed for living expenses and tuition)
     • Motivation Essay (explain your goals and how Chevening aligns with them - crucial section!)
     • Reference Requests (provide contact details for two referees)
3. Upload Supporting Documents:
   • The OAS will specify the required documents. All the required documents including the university degree/transcripts must be original and need not to be translated into English. These typically include:
     • Original academic transcripts or degrees
     • Up-to-date CV/Resume
     • Reference Letters (submitted electronically by your referees)
   • Ensure all documents meet the size and format requirements specified by Chevening.
4. Submit Your Application:

• • Once you have completed the form and uploaded documents, review everything thoroughly.
  • Click the "Submit" button to officially apply for the Chevening Scholarship.

It is recommended that candidates apply early to avoid any last-minute issues. After the application deadline passes, the selection of eligible candidates will begin. Following this, the referees of the longlisted applicants will be asked to submit references as the next step in the application process. Shortlisted candidates will then be invited by the British Embassy/High Commission for the interview round.

Candidates who pass the interview stage and are conditionally selected for a Chevening Scholarship must demonstrate that they have at least one unconditional offer from an eligible course. Those who are successful will be notified of their award by April or May of the following year. Once all formalities are completed, Chevening Scholarship recipients are expected to commence their university studies by September of the awarding year.

 Also Read: Chevening Scholarship Interview Tips

Chevening Scholarship Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must thoroughly check the Chevening Schoalrship requirements prior to sending an application, as failing to meet the requirements may lead to rejection of their candidature. To meet the eligibility requirements of the Chevening Scholarship 2025, one must: 

• Be a citizen (or hold a refugee status) of a Chevening-eligible country/territory
• Choose any 3 courses from a list of eligible courses. The course must be a full-time taught master's program (and not a research master's), starting in September/October in the UK. MREs, PhD and DPhil programs are ineligible. The total length of the course must be greater than 9 months but not 12 months. 
• Return to their country of citizenship for a minimum of two years after the completion of the award
• Have an undergraduate degree that will enable them to get entry into a postgraduate program at a UK university by the time they submit their scholarship application. This corresponds to an upper second-class, i.e. 2:1 degree in the UK. However, the same may be different as per the course and university chosen by the student.
• Candidates would be required to have at least two years (or 2800 hours) of work experience. This does not include the mandatory work experience counted towards completing your undergraduate or postgraduate degree. Additionally, if the candidates do not need to have the minimum required number of hours from a single employment, in fact, they can present up to 15 employment records to meet the eligibility criteria.  
• The applicant would be required to apply to three different eligible UK university courses and must have received an unconditional offer from one of these choices before the scholarship deadline. 

Exceptions to Eligibility Criteria

Candidates will not be eligible for the Chevening Scholarship if they:

• Hold a British/dual British citizenship unless they are a citizen of the British overseas territory or hold a BN(O) or are applying from Hong Kong. 
• Hold the refugee status in a non-Chevening eligible country/territory.
• Are current or former employees of His Majesty's Government within the last two years. This includes:
  • Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
  • British Embassies/High Commissions
  • Home Office
  • Ministry of Defence
  • Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
  • Department for International Trade
  • UKVI
• Are employees of the British Council, sponsoring UK universities, or the Association of Commonwealth Universities.
• Relatives of employees in the above categories are also ineligible.
• Individuals contracted to work on any British Council program or project, and their relatives, are ineligible.
• Employees, former employees, or relatives of Chevening Partner organisations are eligible to apply. However, they cannot receive a Chevening Partner Award from their affiliated organisation if employment was within the last two years.
• Those who have previously studied in the UK with funding from a UK government-funded scholarship are ineligible.

Note:- Students applying for a second master's program can apply for the Chevening Scholarship as long as they can explain how it will help them achieve their goals of making a positive impact in their home country.  

Chevening Scholarship Application Sifting: Upon submission, all the applications will undergo an electronic screening process to determine their eligibility. Any applications found to be ineligible will be excluded from the selection process. Students can refer to the original website for the list of common errors found in the submitted applications to prevent the chances of getting their applications rejected. This is because, once your application gets submitted, it cannot be modified retrospectively. 

Selecting your Chevening Scholarship Course

Candidates are required to select three different eligible master's courses. These can be three different courses at the same university or three similar courses across up to three different institutions. Students are advised to choose their three courses carefully as they will not be able to change their course choices after submitting their application unless they are granted permission to do so at the interview stage. The choice of the three courses should be made such that the selection committee get your vision clearly and what career path you want to create.

Students would be required to apply separately to their selected courses directly via the university. Students should note, that in order to be eligible, the courses must be a UK-based full-time course, should commence in the autumn term (usually September/October), and lead to a master’s degree qualification.

Apply Today: https://www.chevening.org/scholarship/india/

Courses Eligible for Chevening Scholarships

The course should be full-time and:

• Based in the United Kingdom
• Taught master's (not research-based)
• Should help you obtain a master's degree upon completion 
• Commence in Autumn (September/October)

Do make sure that the course is not:

• A part-time course
• MRes, PhD or DPhil
• Distance learning
• Below 9 months or over 12 months
• Taught with over 1 month of study in the UK

List of Universities Covered under the Chevening Scholarship Program

Candidates who are interested in the Chevening Scholarship program can apply to any of the following universities mentioned below.

Chevening Eligible Countries

Some specific countries and territories are eligible for the different Chevening awards such as the Chevening Scholarships and fellowships. For example, your country might be eligible for receiving a Chevening Fellowship but not a Chevening Scholarship. So, candidates can visit the official website to check if their home country is in the Chevening eligible countries list and which award is eligibel for their location.

Citizens from the following major countries are eligible to apply for the Chevening Scholarship program.

For a comprehensive list of eligible Chevening countries, visit the link https://www.chevening.org/apply/. 

This was all about the Chevening Scholarship UK for Indian students. In this article, we have covered complete details on the Chevening deadline, eligibility requirements for the Chevening Scholarship, and the funds and benefits provided by the Chevening Scholarship. If you still have any doubts, feel free to drop your queries in the comments below. 

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