Chevening LSE Fellowship

The British Embassy and British Consulates-General in China work closely with a number of key Chinese institutions and top UK universities to support the professional development of mid-career fellows in key thematic sectors throughout distinct research fellowship programmes.

The Chevening LSE Fellowship is hosted by the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).

The fellowship is funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office.

Programme structure

The Chevening LSE Fellowship allows successful applicants to spend either three, six, or nine months working on a defined research project at LSE. Fellows will identify and secure an adviser, and will be hosted in a department, institute, or centre at LSE in line with their research interests.

During their time at LSE, fellows are expected to work on their research and complete a paper, which is then presented at LSE at the end of the period covered by the fellowship. Fellows may also audit relevant lectures (subject to instructor approval) and participate in seminars and discussion groups throughout their time at LSE.

The programme welcomes applications across all social science disciplines, with a particular emphasis on international relations, public policy and administration, public diplomacy, social, economic, and environment policy, and development studies. All applications must include a research proposal.

Benefits

Each fellowship includes:

• Full programme fees
• Living expenses for the duration of the fellowship
• Return economy airfare from China to the UK
• Allowance package for research-related activities
• Access to a programme of cultural events and activities organised by the FCDO and the Chevening Secretariat

Eligibility

• Agree to adhere to all relevant guidelines and expectations for the programme.
• Be a citizen of China, currently live in the country, and intend to return to China at the end of the period of study.
• Hold a postgraduate (PG) level qualification (or equivalent professional training or experience in a relevant area) at the time of application.
• Obtained significant and meaningful professional experience of five plus years of employment, or currently enrolled PhD candidate (PhD must not be with a UK/EU or USA university).
• Not hold dual nationality where one nationality is British (other than for nationals exempt from this requirement listed in the Chevening Guidance for Applicants);
• Not be an employee, a former employee, or relative* of an employee of His Majesty’s Government, or have been within the last two years from the opening of Chevening applications (including the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, all British Embassies/High Commissions, the Home Office, the Ministry of Defence, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, the Department for International Trade and the UKVI), the British Council, or a sponsoring UK university.

Additionally,

• Applicants who have previously received financial benefit from an HMG-funded scholarship or fellowship, are eligible to apply after a period of five years following the completion of their first HMG-funded award and are required to demonstrate their career progression from that point.
• 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.

*Relatives are defined as parents or step parents, siblings or step-siblings, children or step-children, spouse, civil partner, or unmarried partner (where the couple have been in a relationship akin to marriage or civil partnership for at least two years).

We expect strong applicants to have:  

• An excellent academic track record and a demonstrated interest in the chosen area of research, measured by previous professional development and work-related experience and projects and/or research output, including, but not limited to, journal articles, policy papers, reports, and other form of publications. 

• Enthusiasm for engaging with LSE’s intellectual community and contributing to their host department’s academic activities. 

Hear from our fellows

You should apply for this fellowship because it gives you a chance to refresh, recharge, and reset yourself.

Yuan Ming
Chevening LSE Fellow