If you are planning to study in the UK with financial support, the Chevening scholarship is one of the best opportunities available for international students. This scholarship provides fully funded programs at top UK universities across a wide range of fields. In this article, we will explain everything you need to know about the Chevening scholarship 2027, including its benefits, eligibility criteria, required documents, and a detailed step-by-step application process to help you apply successfully.
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The Chevening Scholarship 2026-2027 covers university tuition fees, a monthly living allowance, economy class return airfare to the UK, and additional grants and allowances to cover essential expenditures for master’s students.
Chevening provides future leaders and influencers from around the globe a distinctive chance to grow professionally and academically, network widely, experience UK culture, and create enduring, beneficial interactions with the UK. Chevening is the international awards system of the UK government that aims to develop worldwide leaders. There will be around 1,500 scholarships being provided worldwide.
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Funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and partner organizations, Chevening provides two kinds of awards—Chevening Scholarships and Chevening Fellowships—with recipients personally chosen throughout the globe by British embassies and high commissions.
Chevening Scholarship Summary
- Level of Study: Master’s
- Institution(s): UK Universities
- Courses Offered: Full-time taught master’s degree program in any subject.
- Program Period: One year.
Chevening Scholarship Application Deadline:
The application deadline for the Chevening Scholarship 2027 is 7 October 2026 (applications will open on August 5, 2025). Click here for more details about the deadline.
Chevening Scholarship Coverage
The Chevening Scholarship provides the recipient with the following benefits:
- University tuition fees.
- A monthly stipend.
- Travel costs to and from the UK.
- An arrival allowance.
- A homeward departure allowance.
- The cost of one visa application.
- A travel grant to attend Chevening events in the UK.
Eligibility Criteria for the Chevening Scholarship
To be eligible for the Chevening Scholarship, applicants must meet the following criteria:
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- Required Language: English
- Eligible Countries: The scholarships are targeted at citizens of Chevening-eligible countries. See the official website for a complete list of countries eligible for Chevening scholarships.
- Return to your country of citizenship for a minimum of two years after your scholarship has ended
- Have completed all components of an undergraduate degree that will enable you to gain entry onto a postgraduate program at a UK university by the time you submit your application. This is typically equivalent to an upper second-class 2:1 honors degree in the UK but may be different depending on your course and university choice.
- Have at least two years (equivalent to 2,800 hours) of work experience.
- Apply to three different eligible UK university courses and have received an unconditional offer from one of these choices by July.
You are not eligible for a Chevening Scholarship if you:
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- Hold British or dual British citizenship (unless you are a citizen of a British Overseas Territory or hold BN(O) and are applying from Hong Kong).
- Hold refugee status in a non-Chevening-eligible country. Applicants who are citizens of a Chevening-eligible country and who hold refugee status in a Chevening-eligible country are eligible for a scholarship.
- Are an employee, a former employee, or relative* of an employee of Her Majesty’s Government or have been within the last two years from the opening of Chevening applications (including British embassies/high commissions; the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy; the Department for International Trade; the Ministry of Defense; and the Home Office), or a staff member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities.
- Employees, former employees, or relatives of an employee of Chevening Partner organizations are eligible to apply, but if the employment took place within the last two years, you cannot receive a Chevening Partner Award from the organization for which you work, previously worked, or are affiliated with through relatives.
- Have previously studied in the UK with funding from a UK government-funded scholarship.
How to Apply for the Chevening Scholarship?
Please follow the instructions below to apply for the Chevening Scholarship:
- Choose your country from here, then choose the Chevening Scholarship.
- Create an account.
- Fill your profile with your personal information, save the data, validate your profile, and then start your application.
- Complete the quiz to ensure your eligibility for the scholarship.
- Fill the application with the required data and prepare the following documents:
- Completed education documents.
- English language qualification.
- Conditional offers for proposed courses of study (up to three).
- Unconditional offers for proposed courses of study (up to three) (you must upload at least one unconditional offer by July).
- References (If you are invited to interview, you will be invited to upload two references).
- Passport / ID document.
- Submit the application.
Website
To learn more about the Chevening Scholarships, please visit the official website:
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Frequently Asked Questions
How strict is the “2 years / 2,800 hours” work-experience rule, and what actually counts toward the hours?
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You must reach at least 2,800 hours of work experience gained after finishing your undergraduate degree. The hours can come from full-time work, part-time work, voluntary work, and paid or unpaid internships. The system calculates hours by weeks × hours per week, and you can combine multiple roles (up to 15 employment periods) to reach the total.
I’m living outside my home country right now. Can I still apply for Chevening from where I live?
You apply under your country of citizenship (the Chevening-eligible country you are a citizen of), even if you currently live elsewhere. If shortlisted, interviews are typically arranged by the relevant British embassy/high commission, so plan for the possibility you may need to attend in that location.
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Do I need IELTS/TOEFL for Chevening, or can I apply without an English test?
Chevening itself does not require an English test score. You still need to meet the English and admission requirements set by your chosen UK universities and secure at least one qualifying offer by the offer deadline.
What kinds of master’s courses are NOT eligible (distance learning, 2-year programs, courses with overseas modules, etc.)?
Your course must be a full-time taught master’s in the UK that starts in the autumn term (usually September/October) and lasts 9–12 months. Part-time courses, distance learning, PhD/DPhil, courses shorter than 9 months or longer than 12 months, and courses with more than one month of study outside the UK are not eligible.
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Do my three course choices need to be at three different UK universities?
They don’t have to be at three different universities, but choosing different universities is recommended to improve your chances of getting at least one offer. Your three courses should be similar in content and aligned with your career goals.
Can I change my course choices after I submit my Chevening application?
No, you cannot edit your course choices after submitting your application. In exceptional situations (for example, if a course is discontinued), changes can be discussed at the interview stage and only go ahead if authorised.
Do I need an unconditional offer to win Chevening, and are ‘conditional’ offers acceptable?
To be awarded the scholarship, you must upload evidence of at least one qualifying offer from one of your three chosen courses by the offer deadline. An unconditional offer is accepted, and an offer that is only conditional on finance can also be accepted for this requirement.
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When are references and documents actually required—do I upload them at the time of application?
You submit your application first without uploading documents, but you must enter the contact details of two referees in the application. If your application progresses, you will then need to upload two reference letters before your interview (typically no later than seven working days before the interview). Education documents are also requested later in the process, such as your official degree certificate.