Chevening Scholarship: Eligibility and How to Apply

A Chevening Scholarship is a UK government award that fully funds a one-year master's at a UK university. To be eligible you need at least two years (2,800 hours) of work experience, must commit to returning home for two years afterwards and must apply to three UK courses. Applications usually open in August and close in early November.

What does Chevening cover?

Chevening is the UK government's international scholarship programme, supported by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. It pays for a one-year master's at a UK university and is described as fully funded. Chevening lists exactly what the award covers on its website, so check the current details there rather than relying on second-hand summaries.

Chevening looks for future leaders. Its site says successful applicants tend to show ambition, leadership qualities and a drive to bring positive change to their home countries, and there's no upper age limit.

It's also free to apply. Chevening says you don't need to pay anyone for help with your application, and it doesn't work with third parties who charge for application support.

Are you eligible for Chevening?

These are the main conditions on Chevening's eligibility page:

• Be a citizen of a Chevening-eligible country. India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka all appear on Chevening's country list, but confirm yours on the site.
• Have at least two years of work experience, equivalent to 2,800 hours, gained after your undergraduate degree.
• Hold an undergraduate degree that qualifies you for a UK master's programme.
• Commit to returning to your home country for at least two years after your scholarship ends.
• Apply to three different eligible UK university courses and hold an unconditional offer from at least one of them by Chevening's deadline.

You can't apply if you hold British or dual British citizenship, and there are other exclusions, including some past UK government-funded study in the UK. Read the full list before you start. You also need to have finished your undergraduate studies at least two years before the application deadline, with your degree certificate in hand by the time of your interview. Already have a master's? Chevening says that doesn't stop you applying for a second one in the UK.

Work experience is worth checking carefully. Chevening counts hours gained after your first degree, so an internship during your bachelor's may not count. Its work experience page explains what does, and it's better to find out now than after you've written four essays.

When does the Chevening application open and close?

The window usually opens in August and closes in early November. If you're reading this in the autumn, check chevening.org now for the exact closing date of the current cycle. Chevening publishes a full application timeline, and the dates change from year to year. Put the closing date in your calendar with a week's buffer, since online systems get busy near deadlines.

After the deadline, the process runs for months. Shortlisted applicants are invited to interview, and you need an unconditional offer from one of your three courses by the date on Chevening's timeline. Plan your university applications alongside your Chevening application rather than after it.

What are the four Chevening essays about?

Chevening assesses you in four areas, and the application asks you to write about each one. In general terms:

1. Leadership and influence: examples of taking the lead and influencing others, with clear results.
2. Networking: how you've built professional relationships, and how working with other people led to real outcomes.
3. Your course choice: why you picked your courses, focusing on your first choice, and how it will give you the skills to tackle challenges that matter to the UK and to your home country.
4. Your career plan: short, medium and long-term goals after you return, and how you'll use the degree to drive change.

Chevening sets word limits and detailed guidance for each answer, so check the current application criteria before you draft.

One rule to take seriously: Chevening prohibits using AI to generate answers and says it uses tools to detect AI-written applications. Write these essays yourself, in your own words, from your own experience. Specific examples with real results will do more for you than polished general statements. Start drafting early, because good examples take time to find and your referees need time too.

How do you choose your three UK courses?

The three courses aren't a formality. Your course essay focuses on your first choice, and you need an unconditional offer from at least one of the three by Chevening's deadline, so each choice has to be a real option.

• Make sure each course is eligible. Chevening publishes guidance and a course search, so check every choice before you commit.
• Link each course to your career plan. It should clearly build the skills your essays describe.
• Check entry requirements and application deadlines at each university, including English, so an offer is realistic in time.
• Spread your chances. Include at least one course where your grades and experience sit comfortably above the entry requirements.

A course that fits your profile is a stronger bet than a famous name you're unlikely to get into in time.

What if Chevening doesn't work out?

Chevening is competitive, so don't make it your only plan. Apply to your three courses as if you might pay yourself, and keep a realistic budget in view. If you're not eligible yet because of work experience, use the time to build the examples your essays will need next cycle. University scholarships and other funders have their own deadlines, and some fall before Chevening announces its decisions, so apply to them in parallel.

Next steps

Find other awards you may qualify for with Scholarship Match, and read our UK study guide for visas, funds and costs. If you're also considering Germany, see how DAAD scholarships compare.

FAQ

Is Chevening fully funded?

Yes. Chevening describes its scholarships as fully funded for a one-year master's. Check chevening.org for exactly what the award covers.

How much work experience do I need for Chevening?

At least two years, equivalent to 2,800 hours, gained after your undergraduate degree. Chevening's work experience page explains what counts.

Do I have to return home after Chevening?

Yes. You must commit to returning to your home country for at least two years after your scholarship ends. It's a condition of the award, so make sure it fits your plans before you apply.

Can I use AI to write my Chevening essays?

No. Chevening prohibits AI-generated answers and says it checks for them, so write your essays in your own words.

When is the Chevening deadline?

Applications usually open in August and close in early November. Check chevening.org for this cycle's exact date.