How to Win a Chevening Scholarship?

Among all the top master’s scholarships in the UK, the Chevening scholarship is one of them. However, becoming an ideal candidate for this opportunity requires you to thoroughly understand the application and selection process. However, it provides funded scholarships for other programs as well. It will nurture confidence in your ideas and give you the education, network, and conviction to bring them to fruition. It is Funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and partner organizations. It offers individuals who show potential to inspire, inform, and influence positive change the opportunity to study at a UK university to gain a UK educational qualification. Chevening Scholars study subjects in almost any field and go on to implement their ideas for positive change in a range of sectors. Chevening Fellowships offer mid-senior level professionals the opportunity to undertake specialized short courses or research placements at UK universities and institutions. After completing their period of study in the UK, scholars and fellows return home and join our global network of over 55,000 alumni. Chevening is more than just a year spent in the UK; it’s a community for life. 

Phases to process the Chevening application

The following are the phases to process the Chevening application;

1. Submission of the online application form.

2. Applying for the universities and securing admission

3. Interview

4. English Proficiency Test

General Eligibility Criteria for Applying

1. A candidate must hold a Bachelor’s Degree before applying.

2. Must be a citizen of one of the Chevening eligible countries or territories

3. Must have at least two years of work experience

4. Must fulfill the criteria of English Language requirement

5. You can find more information about the eligibility criteria here.

Work Experience:

As an applicant, you must mention your work experience, academic background, and the leadership activities in which you have participated so far in the four required essays. After being shortlisted, candidates will be called for an interview in which he/she will be asked about their four essays.

How many working hours are required to be eligible for the Chevening scholarship?

• A candidate’s working hours will be evaluated as 35 to 60 hours a week and 40 to 50 weeks a year. If a candidate reaches above the upper limit for full-time employment, he will be ineligible. The number of minimum hours as work experience for the Chevening scholarship is 2800 hours in a time frame of two years.
• If a candidate works part-time, his experience will have a longer period.

What work experience is required?

• A candidate’s work experience should not be necessarily related to his field.

Does a candidate require evidence of work experience?

• A candidate is not supposed to provide any evidence of work experience.

A  candidate must have work experience that should be equivalent to the 2800 hours in the following ways;

• Non-paid Internship
• Freelancing
• Volunteering
• Part-time internship
• Full-time internship
• No age limit.
• A candidate should hold work experience in the field of study.
• Having a volunteering experience can add more chances for selection.

How can a candidate choose a university?

1. If you had a 2:2 grade, see whether the university you are applying for accepts it.

2. A candidate should look for whether he belongs to the eligible country or not for Chevening University from the official website.

3. A candidate must check whether the eligible university offers the relevant course for his Bachelor’s degree.

4. Before applying to the university, you must check the national and international ranking of the university.

5. After applying to the university, I must look for the department’s reputation in terms of research and faculty.

6. A candidate selects the university According to the city's preference.

7. A candidate should apply earlier in at least one university to ensure one choice of admission.

8. While applying to the university, a candidate should look into what programs the university offers, campus life, inter-campus activities, and so on.

How should a candidate choose the course of study?

1. A candidate should always apply for the relevant course of study.

2. A candidate should not take any irrelevant field according to the Bachelor’s degree as it will decrease the chances of getting a scholarship in the UK.

3. While applying for the course, a candidate should consider how the chosen course will fit with the UK’s action in his host country, and a candidate would contribute to that action after achieving the scholarship.

4. A candidate should always look for the course duration, as the Chevening scholarships’ duration is 9 to 12 months.

5. If a candidate doesn’t find his field of study, he should research articles regarding what the UK is contributing to his country and choose the course according to that while filling out the application.

Tips for Chevening Essay Questions

There are a total of 4 essays; each essay should be comprised of 500 words;

The first essay is about candidates’ networking skills-

1. A candidate should mention his networking and personal relations at the national and international levels.

2. He should discuss how he deals with people in various professions, including government and international representatives, public authorities, and academia.

3. He should mention his familiarity with different cultures, age groups, and socioeconomic classes.

4. He should briefly describe how long he has been involved in long-term relationships.

5. He should elaborate on his communication skills in different areas.

The second essay will ask you about your leadership qualities-

1. A candidate should elaborate on the scenarios in which he played leadership roles.

2. How he managed good team management skills in different projects.

3. How he led community projects on a fixed budget.

4. How he considered the opinion of every member and negotiated among them.

5. How he worked with different personalities and led successful projects.

6. How his leadership project contributed in the long term and positively changed his community.

The third essay will ask you about future career plans-

1. A candidate should mention his career plans to support his community or country.

2. All Goals should be smart enough and realistic.

3. A candidate’s plans should include a social, academic, and professional approach.

4. A candidate must relate his skills, volunteer activities, and work experience.

The fourth essay would be about why you want to pursue your studies in the UK-

1. The desire to study in the UK varies from person to person, but the reasons should be valid and appropriate.

2. For one one-year master’s, the UK has good merit.

3. The UK holds the world’s best leading universities.

4. In academics, The UK is one of the top countries.

5. A candidate should mention his interest in cross-cultural understanding.

6. A candidate should show his interest in International research that would contribute to the community

Reference letters:

1. A candidate must submit two letters of reference.

2. A referee must know the applicant either professionally or in academics.

3. The British Council will verify reference letters once a candidate gets shortlisted.

How to prepare for the Chevening interview?

1. A candidate must be certain about his career plans and must be specific to relate his plans to his country’s realities and field of study.

2. A candidate must be confident about his values and achievements, even about small leadership projects, and show that he has made a great difference in your community.

3. A candidate should read his statement or essay earlier in the interview and prepare himself for the questions to be asked by the interviewer. If a candidate knows his application well, he will not be nervous and more confident.

4. A candidate must know about his course briefly and must be able to prove his passion for it.

5. Practicing for the interview would increase your chances of selection and release stress beforehand.

How to Apply for a Chevening Scholarship?

1. An applicant is supposed to find a course and an eligible university for a Chevening scholarship in the UK. You can find courses with a course browser available on the official website.

2. An applicant is directed to create an account for applying for the Chevening scholarship. You can access online applications here.

3. After opening the application, a student will be able to see the following:

a) A University Application: An applicant is directed to apply for the field of interest or course in any of the three eligible universities for the Chevening International scholarship. An applicant doesn’t need an admission letter at this stage. An applicant is not even bound to be consistent with the selected universities. When an applicant gets shortlisted for an interview, he/she may change his/her preference for the university.

b) Experience Letter: At the time of the application process, an applicant is not supposed to submit the experience letter. An applicant can upload the certificates later.

c) IELTS: You do not need to have IELTS at this point. Once you are selected, you will have a timeline to submit IELTS. We strongly recommend submitting your IELTS test result by the End of November or at the start of December. It will create a positive impact on your application. It will also strengthen your Chevening application, so your chances of selection will be higher. Secondly, you will have much time to improve your score if you cannot achieve the desired band. One more thing: you must also check the university’s requirements before applying.

Frequently Asked Questions 

What are the 4 Chevening questions?
There are a total of 4 essays; each should be between 50-500 words;
1) leadership essay.
2) Networking skills essay.
3) Why do you want to pursue your studies in the UK essay.
4) Future career plan essay.

Does Chevening have an age limit?
There is no upper age limit to be eligible for a Chevening Award.

What IELTS score is required for Chevening?
A minimum IELTS score of 6.5 or equivalent is mandatory. 

Can I stay in the UK after Chevening?
If your course is 12 months or more, your visa permission should run for four months after the end of your course. You can work full-time for that period once your course has officially ended.

Which university is best for the Chevening Scholarship?
The University of Nottingham

Conclusion 

The Chevening scholarship offers a valuable opportunity for individuals from eligible countries to pursue a master's degree in the UK. To become an ideal candidate, it's essential to understand the application process, eligibility criteria, and how to prepare effectively. This includes selecting the right university and course of study, crafting strong essays, obtaining reference letters, and preparing thoroughly for the interview. By following these steps and guidelines, applicants can increase their chances of securing this prestigious scholarship and advancing their academic and professional goals.