Social media and messaging policy

Chevening has a range of social media platforms for scholars and alumni to interact with. You can find us on:

Please note that in some countries you may not wish to make your association with Chevening public. Please consider the context in your own country carefully before posting about your award or your life in the UK on social media.

The spirit

We welcome your comments and encourage open, lively discussion. All we ask is that scholars, fellows, and alumni keep conversations polite, respectful, and constructive.

Chevening Awardees come from diverse backgrounds and cultures, so please be mindful of how your statements, comments, articles, or jokes may be received, both face-to-face and online.

The terms of use outlined below form part of the Chevening terms and conditions that you agreed to abide by when you accepted your Chevening Award.

The terms of use

You should not publish content that:

• 1. Is unlawful, defamatory, or harassing. This includes:
  • 1.1. Publishing unlawful, discriminatory, derogatory, or harassing content relating to sex, gender, race, nationality, disability, sexual orientation, religion/beliefs, age, or any other such trait.
    1.2. Publishing content that is hateful, defamatory, threatening, discriminatory, or pornographic.
    1.3. Behaving in a bullying, intimidating, or harassing manner towards other users, organisations, or page administrators.
    1.4. Contains, or alludes to, unlawful material.
    1.5. Encourages anyone to act in contravention of the terms of their award.
    1.6. Constitutes spam or promotes or advertises products that have little relevance to the spirit and purpose of the group.
    1.7. Associates the Chevening Secretariat, the FCDO or its embassies/high commissions, or universities with personal views or comments.
• 2. The Chevening Secretariat will determine whether content contravenes any of the above terms.
• 3. Content that contravenes any of the above terms will be removed by the Chevening Secretariat from spaces that the Secretariat administers. Transgressors may face disciplinary action, which could range from an official warning to the revocation of your award.
• 4. We will not edit any of your comments.
• 5. You should always be aware of maintaining security and take the necessary precautions when using social media and messaging platforms. Be mindful that any content which is posted on such platforms – even within closed spaces – may make it into the public domain.
• 6. The Chevening Secretariat reserves the right to use content posted in our official social media groups for marketing or promotional purposes.
• 7. You are not permitted to create a Chevening group, page, profile, or website on any online platform. This extends to the use of the word ‘Chevening’ or its derivatives in the name of any group, page, profile, domain, etc., and use of the logo. You are not permitted to use the Chevening logo without our explicit, written consent. You are encouraged to add Chevening to your online bios and profiles if you would like to. If you wish to use the Chevening name or branding in any other manner, please contact your programme officer first for permission.
• 8. If you take it upon yourself to administer an unofficial online group containing members of the Chevening community, you also assume responsibility for ensuring that the spirit of the Chevening programme is upheld in those spaces.
• 9. We may at any time, and without notice to you, revise this policy.
• 10. Nothing in this Social Media and Messaging Policy limits your rights to freedom of speech within the law in line with the provisions in the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023.