How to prepare your Chevening Scholarship application

Follow these six steps to begin your Chevening Scholarship application.

Are you planning to apply to Chevening this year? It’s never too early to start preparing.

Follow our step-by-step guide to understand what you need to do at each stage of the Chevening application process to give yourself the best chance of success.

For more detailed information on completing the Chevening application form, read our guidance on the online application system.

Step-by-step guide

Click on the arrows to reveal what to do at each step in the Chevening application process.

Ensure you meet these criteria: 

  • Commit to returning to your home country for at least two years after your scholarship ends. 
  • Have at least two years of work experience (2,800 hours).  
  • Hold an undergraduate degree that qualifies you for a UK master’s program. 
  • Not have studied in the UK previously with a UK government-funded scholarship.  

Read more about eligibility. 

Chevening Scholarships are for UK master’s degrees only. On your Chevening application form, you will be required to submit three master’s degree courses.

Use our course finder to select three eligible courses at up to three UK universities.  

Remember to apply to your courses as soon as possible after submitting your Chevening application. Learn more about applying to UK universities 

You will need: 

  • The names and contact details of two referees for your application. 

If you progress to the interview stage, you will need to upload the following documents to the online application system:

  • Two reference letters written by your nominated referees in English (or with notarised translation).  
  • Your undergraduate degree certificate or transcript. This must be an official document from your university proving your degree and grade. We require the original documents which do not need to be translated into English.

You can find the deadline to submit your reference letters on the application timeline.

Read more about references. 

All Chevening Scholarship applications must be submitted through the online application system. The date when applications open and close can be found on the application timeline (usually between August and November each year).

In your application, you will be asked about your:  

  • Leadership and influencing skills. 
  • Ability to build and maintain professional relationships. 
  • Reasons for wanting to study in the UK. 
  • Career goals and how the scholarship will help you achieve them. 

Remember, you can only submit one Chevening Scholarship application per year. 

Read our guidance on the online application system. 

Check the application timeline for interview invitation dates. If shortlisted, you will receive an email to schedule your interview at a local British embassy or high commission.  

Read more about the interview process 

If successful at interview, you must submit at least one unconditional offer from a UK university by the deadline 

This is the final step before preparing for your Chevening year in the UK!  

Good luck getting ready to apply – we can’t wait to hopefully welcome you to the UK as a future Chevening Scholar! 

Further guidance

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Applications for Chevening Scholarships are now open. Apply today.