5 questions to consider before your Chevening interview

1. What does leadership mean to you?

Chevening Awards are given to talented individuals with the potential to become future leaders, influencers and decision-makers. Although journeys to leadership differ wildly, the people we’re looking for share similar qualities: empathy, perseverance, resilience, and a determination to succeed.

Ask yourself what leadership means to you, and what good leadership might look like in your field. It’s also useful to prepare at least one detailed example of your own experiences of leadership.

2. Can you influence the opinion of others?

We’ve mentioned that we believe great leaders demonstrate empathy. It’s particularly important when you’re trying to bring others round to your way of thinking.

Give us at least one detailed example of a time you’ve influenced others in a positive way and tell us about the steps you took to to achieve this result.

3. Are you good at maintaining professional relationships?

You’ll often hear us say that building professional relationships is crucial for becoming a successful leader.

Maintaining those relationships is even more important.

In your interview, tell us your ideas for calling on your networks to help you achieve your career goals. If your application is successful, you’ll be joining a diverse and supportive global Chevening community, so don’t forget to consider how you could use that to your advantage.

The best answers will also share at least one detailed example of how you’ve used your networking skills to achieve a positive outcome.

4. Have you researched your chosen courses and universities?

We want to see your determination to achieve. One way to show us, is to tell us about the detailed research you’ve carried out into your course.

Tell us about which modules you’re particularly excited about. Share why you’ve chosen that course over another related course. Detail how your chosen course links to your experience so far.

5. What impact do you want to have in your home country?

We want to know that your experience as a Chevening Scholar will have a positive impact in your home country or chosen field. Tell us about your plans for the future. What do you want to achieve?

We like people who dream big but are realistic about their career goals!

Provide detailed short-term, mid-term and long-term goals. These goals should be SMART: specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely.

We are wishing the very best of luck to all Chevening interviewees! We can’t wait to welcome successful applicants to our Chevening community later this year.