Chevening Scholarship 2027: Full Guide, Eligibility & Deadline

Chevening Scholarship 2027: The Chevening Scholarship is the UK’s flagship international scholarship programme, jointly funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and partner organisations. Chevening has been providing fully-funded one-year master’s degrees in a UK university to tens of thousands of students from over 160 countries and territories since 1983.

The 2027–28 cycle is now open. Everything you need to know about the scholarship, who’s eligible, what the scholarship covers, the full process, and how to build a strong application is covered using only official information from Chevening.

Disclaimer: This article is provided for information only and is not a guarantee of admission or scholarship approval. Before applying please check the latest information on the official Chevening website as eligibility requirements and dates may be amended by the Chevening Secretariat.

Chevening Scholarship 2027 at a Glance

What Is the Chevening Scholarship?

Chevening is not a regular academic scholarship. There is an emphasis on academic ability, but it is evaluated in the context of leadership ability. The programme seeks candidates who have demonstrated real leadership experience, good networking skills and a clear and realistic vision of how a UK Masters’ degree will enable them to bring about positive change in their home countries.

Recipients are not only awarded funding, but they are also connected to a worldwide network of Chevening alumni such as ambassadors, ministers, senior executives and civil society leaders in over 160 countries. For this reason Chevening views the year in the UK as a means to making a long-term impact, rather than a piece of paper to have.

Official & Related Links

• Official Chevening website: https://www.chevening.org
• Official eligibility criteria: https://www.chevening.org/resource-hub/guidance/eligibility/
• Official application timeline: https://www.chevening.org/scholarships/application-timeline/
• Apply for Chevening: https://www.chevening.org/apply/
• Chevening FAQs: https://www.chevening.org/faqs/
• For more Scholarships: https://scholartechguide.com/category/scholarships/

Chevening Scholarship 2027 Eligibility Criteria

You must have all of the following criteria fulfilled to be eligible for the Chevening Scholarship 2027–28 cycle. Failure to meet any of these criteria will mean that your application will not go to a reviewer. Official eligibility criteria: https://www.chevening.org/resource-hub/guidance/eligibility/

Step 1: Check your citizenship status You need to be a citizen of one of the countries or territories that are eligible for Chevening scholarships. There are currently more than 160 countries eligible. If you are applying from an ODA (Official Development Assistance) eligible country, you will also need to be a resident of that country, although this is not necessarily based on citizenship, but rather on your demonstrated intention to benefit that country following your studies.

Step 2: Work experience requirement (2800 hours) Must have at least 2 years of work experience (total of 2800 hours) after obtaining the undergraduate degree. This may be from paid, unpaid or voluntary work, or from full-time, part-time and internships (unless an internship was required as part of your studies).

Step 3: Ensure your undergraduate degree is complete at least 2 years prior to the application deadline (6 October 2026) – even if you are not in receipt of your official certificate. However, the certificate will be required at interview stage.

Step 4: Possess a qualifying undergraduate degree The degree must be at the academic level necessary to gain admission to a master’s degree program in the UK, which is usually a UK upper-second class (2:1) honours degree.

In Step 5 of the application process, you will be required to apply to three different courses at UK universities that are eligible for the master’s program. At the point when Chevening’s official timeline is set, you will require a conditional offer from one of these three options or an unconditional offer from all three.

Step 6: Commit to returning home You will need to be willing to return to your country of award (home country) for at least two years following the end of your scholarship. It is Chevening’s mission, to develop leadership capacity in your country of origin rather than to encourage permanent relocation to the UK.

Who Is Not Eligible

Even if you meet the criteria above, you are not eligible to apply if any of the following apply to you:

• You hold British or dual British citizenship (unless you’re a citizen of a British Overseas Territory, or hold BN(O) status and are applying from Hong Kong)
• You hold refugee status in a country that is not Chevening-eligible
• You are currently living in the UK at the time of application (British Overseas Territories excluded)
• You are a current or recent (within the last two years) employee, or an immediate relative of an employee, of a government department, the British Council, a partner UK university, or their subsidiaries
• You have previously studied in the UK on a different UK government-funded scholarship (Chevening Fellowship alumni may reapply for a Scholarship only after five years have passed since completing their fellowship)

What the Chevening Scholarship Covers

Chevening is genuinely a full-funding scholarship. Recipients receive:

• Full university tuition fees for their chosen master’s programme
• A monthly living stipend, with the exact amount depending on whether you study inside or outside London (rates are reviewed annually, and stipend payments are made around the 21st of each month)
• Return economy-class flights to and from the UK, booked through Chevening’s designated travel agent
• An arrival allowance to help cover initial settling-in costs
• A homeward departure allowance at the end of the programme
• The cost of one UK student visa application
• A travel grant to attend mandatory Chevening events, typically held in London

How to Apply: Step-by-Step Process

• Please use the above criteria to check your eligibility, or use Chevening’s official eligibility quiz on the website.
• Save time in researching UK universities and courses — you’ll need to shortlist 3 courses that will be suitable for a master’s programme in your application.
• Applications open on 4 August 2026 – register your application in the official Chevening online application system.
• Fill out the application form with all of your personal, educational and work experience (2,800 hours).
• Complete four required essays on leadership, networking, career plan and course/study choice. They are of great importance in the selection process.
• Have two references available to talk about your leadership and professional skills.
• Please submit by the deadline of 6 October 2026, 11:00 UTC.
• Use the same application for each of the three universities you have selected in the UK as this will help you to get at least one unconditional offer by the deadline.
• If shortlisted, prepare for interview (usually March-April 2027) and submit necessary documents 7 working days prior to the interview.

Documents You’ll Need

• Valid passport or national ID
• Undergraduate degree certificate/diploma (or proof of completion if the certificate is pending)
• Academic transcripts
• Proof of work experience (employment letters, contracts, or similar)
• Two completed reference letters
• Unconditional offer letter from at least one of your three chosen UK universities (required later, if shortlisted)
• Passport-sized photograph meeting UK visa specifications

Tips to Strengthen Your Application

• Start your essays early — they are assessed on specific, concrete examples of leadership and impact, not general statements.
• Choose UK courses that clearly connect to your stated career plan; Chevening evaluates how well your course choice supports your goals.
• Ask your references well in advance and give them enough time to write a thoughtful letter.
• Avoid submitting on the final day — technical issues near the deadline are common, and the portal will not accept late submissions.
• Be specific about your post-study plan: Chevening wants to see a realistic route to creating impact in your home country, not vague ambitions.

What makes this scholarship so unique?What sets this scholarship apart from other scholarships in the UK?

It is important to note that many potential applicants compare Chevening with other scholarships to the UK, such as the Commonwealth Scholarship or those offered by individual universities for masters’ study. Chevening is unique in a number of ways:

• It does not only recognize academic achievement, it rewards leadership potential. Grades and test scores are a key factor in many scholarships, but Chevening places greater importance on your history of leadership and impact.
• It covers any subject at any UK university which is eligible. Scholarships are not available for any given subject or university; instead, Chevening applicants are able to apply for a course and university that best suits their individual needs, provided they fulfill the eligibility requirements.
• The Alumni Association is a long-term asset. But this is not the end of it, Chevening keeps in touch with its global alumni network of senior professionals in government, business and civil society.
• It is a full funding award, not a partial tuition waiver or ‘top-up’ award, making it more accessible to candidates who may not have been able to self-fund a UK master’s degree.

Frequently Asked Questions