Preparing for Chevening
How to prepare for your Chevening Scholarship and year in the UK.
You’ve been awarded a Chevening Scholarship. What a remarkable achievement! So, what happens next? Read on to find out.
Scholarships Placement Timeline
June
- First Conditional Award Letters (CALs) sent to selected candidates.
July
- CALs continue to be sent; applicants complete and sign the documents requested with their CALs and return them to their Programme Officer in PDF format.
- Universities complete placement information.
- Final Award Letters (FALs) are sent to British embassies and high commissions for signing; once they have been signed by British embassies and high commissions, FALs are sent to scholars.
August
- FALs continue to be sent.
- Placement process with universities continues.
- Information on flight bookings and cash cards sent to confirmed awardees.
What do you need to do once you’ve received your Final Award Letter (FAL)?
This will prompt your university to issue your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS). Send your FAL to your university whether you’ve already received your CAS or not – it’s important your records are kept up to date. Contact your university directly for updates.
You need both your CAS and FAL to apply for your visa.
It is your responsibility to apply for your visa; the Secretariat or your embassy cannot apply for you. Read our visa guidance for more information.
You will be asked to select where you will collect your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) on your visa application. You’ll need to pick this up when you arrive in the UK.
Complete the survey link provided by your Programme Officer-UK after your visa appointment. We will use this to inform the United Kingdom Visas & Immigration office (UKVI) that you are a Chevening Scholar, and you have applied for your visa.
Your university will have lots of information on the different accommodation options available. Read more about accommodation in the UK. Chevening is not involved in this process.
You must book your flight through our dedicated travel agent. Details will be emailed to you when it’s time.
Your embassy or high commission will provide details. You’ll likely receive a cashcard at this event. This is a temporary card with money for you to use in your first few weeks in the UK. Read our guidance on planning your finances in the UK for more information on cash cards and opening a UK bank account.
Connect with your Chevening cohort! Details on joining the group will be in the Scholargram, your dedicated monthly email newsletter.
Questions?
Before reaching out to the Chevening Secretariat, please check if the answer to your question can be found in the FAQs on this page by clicking on the expanding arrows below or visit our dedicated FAQs page.
Programme Officers will endeavour to respond to your question within 3-5 working days (excluding weekends). However, as each Programme Officer manages hundreds of scholars, responses may take longer – especially during the busy season (June-August). Please do not send multiple emails; you will get a response as soon as possible.
Your FAL will be sent to your High Commission or Embassy to be signed. They will then send it to you. Your Programme Officer cannot speed up this process.
The password for your Conditional Award Letter was sent to you via email by your Programme Officer. Check with your Programme Officer if you cannot find your password.
Your university is best placed to support with finding accommodation. It’s also worth reading our accommodation guidance.
Do not send them again and please do not send a chasing email – you will get a response once the documents have been processed. If there are any issues with them, you will be informed and asked for further information.
There are many free online services to convert files to PDF. Sending files in another format may slow the placement process.
We can’t wait to welcome you to the UK and to the Chevening community. Safe travels and see you soon!
