Chevening Scholarship: Everything You Should Know

Chevening Scholarship - Chevening Scholarships, financed by the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office and allied organisations, are awarded to students who have strong academic qualifications and a track record of leadership. The scholarship gives full financial support for master's degree studies at any qualified UK university, as well as access to a wide range of quality educational, professional, and cultural experiences. Since the program's inception in 1983, approximately 50,000 excellent professionals have received the chance to grow in the UK through Chevening.

About Chevening Scholarship 

Chevening Scholarships are among the most popular scholarships offered by the UK government. Chevening Scholarships, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO), provide finances for chosen students to pursue a one-year postgraduate degree in the United Kingdom.

If you are awarded a Chevening scholarship, you will be eligible for the following perks.

• University tuition includes allowances for both arrival in the UK and return home.

• Travel costs

• Cost of visa application and travel subsidies to attend Chevening events in the UK.

• Monthly allowance to cover any additional expenditures.
  
  

Students are picked from a wide variety of ethnicities, nations, and backgrounds. Chevening applicants must have excellent leadership abilities, a solid academic foundation, and a desire to make a better society.

Chevening Scholarships provide a chance to make your studies in the UK more engaging. You may join a community of over 55,000 graduates from across the world and bring essential experiences, networks, and memories back home. 

Chevening Scholarship - Eligibility Criteria

To be considered for the Chevening scholarship, you must satisfy the standards listed below.

• You must be from a Chevening-eligible nation. India is qualified.

• You must have an appropriate (to the PG course) undergraduate degree.

• You must return to your country of citizenship for at least two years after finishing the programme.

• You must have a job experience of at least two years, or 2,800 hours.

• You should have an unconditional offer letter from at least one university.

• In 2020, the Chevening Scholarship will no longer need English competence. To receive an offer letter from them, you must first fulfil their university-specific English standards. 

Chevening Scholarship - Application Process

To apply for a Chevening Scholarship, pick your country from the dropdown list at www.chevening.org/application. After you submit your application, it will be reviewed against Chevening's qualifying requirements. Applications that are considered qualified will be evaluated by independent reading committees, who will compile a longlist of applicants.

If you are longlisted, you will be asked to submit references and attend an interview at the British embassy or high commission in the country where you applied. A panel conducts these face-to-face interviews in English, asking you questions about your personal and professional aspirations, as well as how a Chevening Scholarship may help you accomplish them. Your course choices will also be considered. The panel will then score your interview against the global Chevening criteria.

• To apply for a Chevening Scholarship, select your country from the drop-down option at www.chevening.org/apply.

• Following submission, your application will be reviewed in light of Chevening's qualifying conditions. Independent reading committees will analyse acceptable applications and develop a long list of contenders.

• If your name is on the shortlist, you will be invited to a job interview at the British embassy or high commission in the country where you applied.

• During these in-person interviews in English, a panel will quiz you about your career and personal goals, as well as how a Chevening Scholarship will help you achieve them. Your academic preferences will be taken into consideration.

Chevening Scholarship - Selection Process

When the scholarship application form is made available on their official website, prospective students can submit their applications via the website's official OAS (Online Application System), which is also utilised for subsequent stages.

Shortlisted Chevening Scholarship candidates must attend a personal interview in a city represented by the British Embassy. This personal interview will be conducted by a panel of members from the British Embassy or High Commission. The interview will include academic information as well as inquiries about personal and professional goals.

The scholarship selection procedure would take at least seven to eight months, beginning with the application deadline and ending with the awarding of scholarship grants. The Chevening Scholarship outcomes are announced in June. 

Chevening Scholarship - References

References are critical in the selection process for scholarships and fellowships. When applying for Chevening scholarships, you must supply two references' names. Your referees must be able to remark on your suitability for the scholarship.

Chevening's criteria need your recommendations to be someone who know you in an academic or professional position. It cannot be a relative or close acquaintance. The British embassy may contact these referees later for verification.

Chevening Scholarship - Interview Process

If your application is shortlisted, you will be invited to an in-person interview with the British embassy representative closest to you. Making it to the interview phase is a great indicator of your abilities, and it signifies your application is one of the finest.

You can reserve an interview session online on a first-come, first-served basis. You will get an email confirmation once your booking has been confirmed. You must also upload the following papers prior to your interview.

• Educational records (copy of your original certificates and/or transcripts in their native language).

• Two reference letters.

• Biography

Chevening Scholarship - Benefits

Here's a quick outline of the advantages that students can get from the Chevening Scholarship:

Financial Support: The Chevening Scholarship covers tuition, living expenses, and, in some cases, supplementary allowances. This minimises the financial load on students and their families.

Networking and Exposure: The Chevening Scholarship programme provides networking opportunities for professionals, leaders, and fellow scholars from all around the world. This exposure enables students to form crucial contacts and widen their viewpoints.

Personal Growth: Studying abroad with a Chevening Scholarship promotes personal development and independence. It encourages pupils to adjust to new situations, cultures, and modes of learning, therefore developing resilience and confidence.

Access to Quality Education: The scholarship allows students to pursue higher education at prominent schools that they would not have been able to afford otherwise. This offers access to top-tier faculty, resources, and facilities.

Increased Career Opportunities: Pursuing studies with a Chevening Scholarship improves a student's qualifications and makes them more competitive in the job market. It provides access to professional options that need higher degrees or specialised skills. 

Conclusion

The United Kingdom is an outstanding place for higher education. If you want to study in the UK but are concerned about the cost, scholarships like Chevening are a great option. Chevening scholarships have enabled almost 55,000 students to pursue a satisfying education in the UK while paying all of their expenses.

Remember that every year, millions of students apply for Chevening scholarships, but only a few are selected. Apply as soon as possible, and prepare in advance for any questions that may be asked throughout the application process. 

FAQs

Q.1. Is there any accomodation available with the Chevening Scholarship?

A. The Chevening Scholarship does not include lodging expenses. However, it offers a monthly stipend to pay your rent and other living expenses. Chevening Scholarships also cover travel fees and visa applications. As a result, you may save a lot of money on significant costs and put it towards your housing.

Q.2. Do I have to return home after receiving Chevening Scholarships?

A. Yes, you must return home for at least two years after completing your scholarship. To take advantage of all of the Scholarship's benefits, you must complete this step. If you do not follow their policy, it will be regarded as a breach of policy, and you will be required to pay them back.

Q.3. Can I reapply for Chevening Scholarships if I was not picked the prior year?

A. Yes. If you were not selected in the previous application season, you may reapply for Chevening Scholarships in following years. Each year's applications are reviewed individually, so if you match the qualifying requirements, you can apply again.

Q.4. Can I apply for a Chevening Scholarship if I have previously accepted an offer?

A. Yes. If you have already accepted an offer, you may still apply for the Chevening Scholarship. However, you must verify that there is at least a 5-year interval between the two applications. If you apply five years before finishing your first scholarship, your application will be rejected.

Q.5. Is there any accomodation available with the Chevening Scholarship?

A. The Chevening Scholarship does not include lodging expenses. However, it offers a monthly stipend to pay your rent and other living expenses. Chevening Scholarships also cover travel fees and visa applications. As a result, you may save a lot of money on significant costs and put it towards your housing.

Q.6. Do I have to return home after receiving Chevening Scholarships?

A. Yes, you must return home for at least two years after completing your scholarship. To take advantage of all of the Scholarship's benefits, you must complete this step. If you do not follow their policy, it will be regarded a breach of policy, and you will be required to pay them back.