Chevening Scholarships – A Guide for 2025

Chevening Scholarships are provided by the UK Government for international students from over 140 countries looking to study a Masters in the UK. The scholarhsip amount covers your tuition fees, travel, visa application fees and also includes a monthly living allowance, or stipend. To be eligible, you must be a citizen of an eligible county, have an undegrad degree (2:1 or equivalent), have two years' work experience and have an unconditional offer for a Masters at a UK university.

Chevening Scholarships are part of a prestigious UK Government postgraduate funding scheme specifically for international students in the UK.

It offers an annual scholarship competition for Masters programmes, designed to develop international leadership and expertise. Many Chevening alumni have gone on to become highly successful figures in business, industry and politics (no pressure - honestly!).

To help you better understand Chevening Scholarships, I'll give you an introduction to the programme, with information on eligible countries, the application process and more.

As an initiative by the UK Government, Chevening Scholarships are funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

Chevening Scholarships are aimed at international postgraduates with high leadership potential, enabling them to study a Masters at a British university and develop useful professional / academic networks. These connections can then be used to build a strong relationship with the UK and make a positive impact in your home country.

Along with generous funding, the Chevening programme includes plenty of extracurricular activities and volunteering opportunities designed to help Chevening Scholars experience the best of British culture and make the most of their time in the UK. These range from sightseeing trips in different parts of the country to networking events with other scholars on the programme.

If you’d like to find out more about these opportunities, we’d recommend reading Loshana’s blog on her own Chevening experience.

Chevening scholarships are designed to cover the full cost of studying a Masters degree in the UK, including any additional expenses you may incur as an international student.

You will typically receive:

• Full payment of Masters tuition fees
• Payment of travel to and from the UK
• Payment of visa application fees
• A monthly living allowance (stipend) for accommodation and expenses – this amount will be confirmed in your acceptance letter and will be higher if you’re studying in London

You may also receive an ‘events travel top-up allowance’ to contribute towards the cost of travelling to any mandatory Chevening events, which are usually held in London.

The total value of a scholarship is usually around £30,000 over the course of a one-year Masters, but the exact amount will vary depending on your circumstances and requirements. Stipend amounts are reviewed each year.

Chevening has enabled more than 3,300 Indian students to pursue postgraduate study in the UK since 1983 – making India’s Chevening programme the largest in the world. Around 50 Indian students are awarded a scholarship each year.

Why is Chevening so popular among Indian students? Well, aside from the prestige and the fact that you won’t have to sell a kidney to cover tuition fees, the programme is a fantastic opportunity to build global networks and leadership skills.

What's covered?

• Tuition fees (up to £18,000)
• Travel expenses to and from the UK
• Visa application fees (currently around £365 for Indian students)
• Monthly stipend for accommodation and living expenses
• Top-up allowance for travel to mandatory Chevening events in London

Eligibility for Indian students

• Hold an undergraduate degree with a UK 2:1 equivalent
• Have at least two years' work experience
• Apply to three eligible Masters courses and have an unconditional offer from at least one
• Commit to returning to India for at least two years after completing their Masters (this isn't Hogwarts - you can't just stay indefinitely)

The application follows the same structure as for other Chevening applicants:

• Apply via the Chevening website (August - November)
• Shortlist and interview invitation (February - April) - interviews take place in New Delhi
• Final decision (June)

The prestige and value of the Chevening scholarships programme means that applications are highly competitive.

You will need to demonstrate strong existing qualifications as well as future potential.

In order to fulfil the Chevening Scholarship requirements, you must:

• Be a citizen of an eligible country (there are over 140 ‘Chevening-countries’, most of which are developing nations in Africa, Asia, South America and Eastern Europe – there are some exceptions, however) and return there for two years after graduation.
• Hold an undergraduate degree equivalent to a UK 2.1 (‘upper second-class honours’).
• Have two years’ work experience.
• Have an unconditional offer for a Masters at a UK university (you can find out more about eligible Masters courses below – see below).

One of the main conditions for Chevening funding is that you return to your home country for at least two years after finishing your Masters course. This is so that you can put into practice the leadership skills you’ve developed during your time in the UK and make a positive impact in your community.

Start early, as the application is no joke—give yourself time to craft strong essays. Brag responsibly by showcasing your achievements without sounding like you’re running for world domination. Choose courses wisely, ensuring your selections align with your career goals. Prepare for the interview with confidence and a solid understanding of your subject. Lastly, network! Even if you don’t get the scholarship, connecting with past scholars can be invaluable.

And there you have it – your Chevening 101. Good luck with your application, and remember: leadership isn’t just about titles; it’s about making an impact. Go be the change.

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