South Asia Journalism Fellowship (SAJP)

Hosted by the University of Westminster

Open for applications until 7 October 2025, at 12:00 (UTC)

Apply today

Overview

The Chevening South Asia Journalism Fellowship (SAJP) is funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. 

It’s for mid-career journalists from South Asian countries including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. 

Fellows will learn about the ways in which the media plays a part in holding democratic processes to account, including government, the civil service and security, and the broader political system in both South Asia and the UK. 

The fellowship will take place at the University of Westminster. 


Duration

The duration of this fellowship is eight weeks.

  • Start: April
  • End: May/June

More about the programme

Are you ready to expand your networks, deepen your leadership skills, and collaborate with a vibrant community of changemakers? 

The Chevening South Asia Journalism Fellowship (SAJP) offers a unique opportunity for 20 exceptional candidates to develop the leadership skills necessary to tackle issues such as: 

  • The media’s role in promoting good governance and democratic accountability in South Asia’s changing political landscapes
  • The challenges of misinformation, media freedom, and press independence in complex social and political environments
  • The impact of digital transformation on journalism, including ethical reporting, social media influence, and audience engagement

Fellows will gain: 

  • Specialised training on governance, media ethics, and political reporting focused on South Asia’s unique challenges
  • Exposure to UK media practices and policy discussions through seminars, workshops, and visits to leading institutions
  • Opportunities to build lasting connections with fellow South Asian journalists and UK media professionals, fostering collaboration beyond the fellowship

Applications are open

Ready to turn your ambitions and experiences into lasting change?

Apply today

Eligibility

In addition to meeting our standard eligibility criteria, you must:  

  • Be a citizen of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, or the Maldives 
  • Have a postgraduate level qualification (or equivalent professional training or experience in a relevant area) at the time of application 
  • Have at least seven years’ work experience prior to applying 
  • Be a mid-career journalist working in the political or economic sectors in one of the above-mentioned countries 

Funding and benefits

Each fellowship includes: 

  • Full programme fees 
  • Living expenses for the duration of the fellowship 
  • Return economy airfare

Hear from our fellows

The SAJP Fellowship is structured in a way that exposes you to different points of views to learn, research, absorb, think, and widen your own outlook and worldview. The free flow nature of the programme provides a conducive atmosphere for varied perspectives from the participants to come to the forefront and the participants themselves are a diverse mix. It is an enriching experience to collaborate with them on projects, spend time together, share lighter moments, and really learn from each other’s experiences. At an individual level, the fellowship also provides enough scope to explore ideas you are either passionate about, or discover topics that you want to learn about and normally don’t get the time to research or develop.

Sonia Bhaskar
Chevening SAJP Fellow

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