Timeline

The newly elected Conservative government announces that existing subsidies for international students are to be phased out. All overseas students starting at UK institutions from 1980 will have to pay full-cost fees.

Mr Francis Pym, then Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, announces that the government has decided to increase its support for overseas students with the establishment of an international scholarship programme.

Referred to as the ‘FCO Scholarships and Awards Scheme’ (FCO SAS), the programme welcomes its first 100 scholars.

The programme quickly grows in importance to British embassies and high commissions around the world.

Foreign Secretary Douglas Hurd renames the programme after Chevening House, the official residence of the Foreign Secretary in Sevenoaks, Kent.

Rinchinnyamyn Amarjargal becomes prime minister of Mongolia.

After 18 years of the programme, Chevening comes of age and celebrates reaching 25,000 alumni.

The Chevening Gurukul Fellowship celebrates its 10th anniversary.

The CAA launches with the mission of keeping alumni connected beyond their scholarship or fellowship experience, contributing to the community, and leading and inspiring future generations.

Chevening marks a special moment in its history at the 2018 Farewell event, as the global network of Chevening Alumni reaches 50,000.

For the first time, Chevening delivers the majority of its events programme online in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Chevening celebrates its 40th anniversary with a global alumni community of more than 57,000 people, including 20 current or former heads of state.