Chevening eligibility criteria

When applying for Chevening, you will need to pass an eligibility checker before you can access the application form. The eligibility checker will check if you meet all of the eligibility requirements set out on this page.

To be eligible for a Chevening Scholarship you must: 

• Be a citizen of a Chevening-eligible country or territory.  

• Commit to returning to your home country for at least two years after your scholarship ends. 

• Have at least two years of work experience (2,800 hours). 

• Hold an undergraduate degree that qualifies you for a UK master’s programme. 

• Apply to three different and eligible  UK university courses. You must have received an unconditional offer from at least one of these course choices by the references and education documents deadline listed on the application timeline. 

You are not eligible for a Chevening Scholarship if you: 

• Hold British or dual British citizenship (unless you are a citizen of a British Overseas Territory or hold BN(O) and are applying from Hong Kong).
• Hold refugee status in a country not eligible for Chevening. However, if you are a citizen of an eligible country and hold refugee status in another eligible country, you are eligible for a scholarship.
• Are an employee, former employee, or relative of an employee of the UK government, British Embassies/High Commissions, the British Council, the Association of Commonwealth Universities, or sponsoring UK universities. Employees, former employees, or relatives* of an employee of Chevening Partner organisations are eligible to apply, but if the employment took place within the last two years, you cannot receive a Chevening Partner Award from the organisation from which you work, previously worked, or are affiliated with through relatives.
• Have previously studied in the UK on a UK government-funded scholarship.

Please note that having a master’s degree does not prevent you from applying for a second master’s degree in the UK, providing you can articulate how it aligns with your career goals and will help you to drive positive change in your home country. 

Work experience requirement

Before applying for a Chevening Scholarship, you need at least two years (2,800 hours) of work experience.  

This can include: 

• Full-time employment 

• Part-time employment 

• Voluntary work 

• Paid or unpaid internships 

Experience gained during mandatory employment for your degree does not count. You can combine up to fifteen different work periods to meet the requirement.

Click on the expanding arrows below for more information about the Chevening work experience requirement.