Chevening Scholarships 2027–28: Apply by 6 October 2026

Chevening Scholarships 2027–28 at a Glance

Chevening is the UK Government’s international scholarship programme, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and partner organisations.

It supports professionals with demonstrated leadership potential to undertake eligible postgraduate study in the United Kingdom and subsequently apply their knowledge and networks in their home country.

Chevening currently reports a global alumni community of more than 60,000 people across more than 140 countries and territories.

Chevening 2027–28 Application Timeline

Who Is Eligible for a Chevening Scholarship?

Chevening applications are screened against formal eligibility rules before qualitative assessment begins.

You must generally:

• be a citizen of a Chevening-eligible country or territory;
• commit to returning to your country of award for at least two years after the scholarship ends;
• have at least 2,800 hours of eligible work experience gained after completing your undergraduate degree;
• hold an undergraduate qualification that permits admission to a UK master’s programme;
• have finished your undergraduate studies at least two years before the current Chevening application deadline;
• select three different eligible UK master’s courses; and
• obtain an unconditional offer from at least one of those courses by the July 2027 offer deadline if you progress successfully.

Important ineligibility rules

Chevening states that applicants are generally ineligible if they:

• hold British or dual British citizenship, subject to specified exceptions;
• are resident in the UK at the time of application, excluding applicable territories;
• fall within specified current/recent employee or immediate-relative restrictions involving UK government departments, the British Council or certain partner institutions; or
• previously studied in the UK through a UK Government-funded scholarship, subject to limited rules affecting former Chevening Fellows.

Having an existing master’s degree does not automatically make an applicant ineligible for another UK master’s through Chevening.

Chevening Work Experience Requirement

Applicants need at least 2,800 hours of eligible work experience.

The current rule is particularly important: the qualifying experience must have been accumulated after completing the undergraduate degree.

What types of work count?

• full-time employment;
• part-time employment;
• voluntary work;
• paid internships; and
• unpaid internships.

Applicants may submit up to 15 separate employment periods. Chevening calculates experience using the number of weeks worked multiplied by weekly working hours.

Your work experience does not necessarily have to be in exactly the same field as your proposed UK degree, but you should be able to explain the logic behind any career transition and the transferable skills you bring.

Choose Three Eligible UK Master’s Courses

Every Chevening applicant must list three different eligible master’s courses.

They can be different courses at one university or similar courses across up to three universities, although Chevening recommends choosing three similar courses at different universities to provide more alternatives.

Eligible courses must be

• full-time;
• UK-based;
• taught master’s programmes;
• starting in the autumn term, normally September or October;
• at least nine months in duration; and
• no longer than 12 months.

Courses cannot normally be

• part-time;
• distance learning;
• research-focused MRes programmes;
• PhD or DPhil programmes;
• shorter than nine months;
• longer than 12 months; or
• courses involving more than one month of study outside the UK.

Unconditional offer requirement

Successful interview candidates must submit at least one unconditional offer from one of their three course choices by 8 July 2027 at 17:00 BST.

What Does a Chevening Scholarship Cover?

A standard full Chevening Scholarship normally includes:

• payment of eligible tuition fees;
• economy travel to and from the country of residence by an approved route;
• arrival allowance;
• the cost of one entry-clearance visa application;
• departure allowance;
• up to £75 towards TB testing where required;
• applicable travel top-up support; and
• a monthly personal living allowance for accommodation and living costs.

The monthly stipend differs depending on whether the scholar studies inside or outside London and is reviewed periodically.

How to Apply for Chevening 2027–28

1. Check your country or territory page. Confirm that your country is eligible and review any local award information.
2. Confirm your work experience. Make sure you have at least 2,800 eligible hours gained after completing your undergraduate degree.
3. Select three eligible courses. Research course content carefully and make sure the choices align with your career direction.
4. Identify two referees. At the initial application stage, you provide their names and contact details.
5. Complete the online Chevening application. Applications must be submitted through Chevening’s official online application system.
6. Answer the four application areas in your own words. These address leadership and influence, relationship building, course choice and career planning.
7. Submit before 6 October 2026 at 11:00 UTC. Access to the application system closes after the deadline.
8. Apply separately to your UK universities. Do not wait for Chevening results to begin university applications where university deadlines are earlier.

What Chevening Assesses

Chevening’s current application criteria assess candidates across four broad areas.

1. Leadership and influence

Strong examples should show actions you personally took and measurable outcomes, such as leading change, improving outcomes, solving a challenge or implementing an idea.

2. Professional relationship building

Candidates should demonstrate how they have built and maintained professional relationships and used collaboration to achieve meaningful results.

3. Course choice and UK priority areas

Applicants should explain how their first-choice course connects to their background, career goals and intended impact.

Chevening currently highlights themes including growth and prosperity, climate resilience, security and stability, and inclusive and effective development.

4. Career plan

Applicants should demonstrate realistic short-, medium- and long-term goals and explain how those plans can create positive change in their home country.

References

At application stage you provide details for two referees. If invited to interview, you must upload two reference letters no later than seven working days before the interview.

Interview

Interviews are scheduled for March–April 2027. Shortlisted candidates are interviewed by panels associated with British embassies and high commissions.

Before interview, candidates must upload required documentation including photo identification, their undergraduate degree certificate and two reference letters.

CareerAidHub Applicant Guidance

Check eligibility before investing time in the application

The post-degree 2,800-hour rule can make otherwise strong candidates formally ineligible. Calculate your work history carefully before starting the written sections.

Treat your three course choices as one coherent strategy

Your choices should collectively support the same broad career trajectory rather than appearing to be three unrelated attempts to enter the UK.

Build your evidence bank before writing

Identify factual examples of leadership, influence, relationship building and measurable outcomes. Then decide which examples best answer each Chevening criterion.

Do not use AI-generated application answers

CareerAidHub strongly recommends using official Chevening guidance to understand the criteria and then drafting all application responses personally. Chevening explicitly prohibits AI-generated answers.

Start university applications early

Universities have their own admission deadlines and processes. The Chevening application does not submit your university applications for you.

Applicants may also explore CareerAidHub’s master’s scholarships and fellowships and UK opportunities.