Chevening Scholarship
Chevening Scholarship programme was established in 1983 by the Government of UK. Chevening Scholarships are funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and partner organisations. It is now an internationally prestigious scholarship programme with over 42,000 alumni. This year the Scholarships will support over 600 established or emerging leaders studying at universities across the UK. Chevening Scholarships are currently offered in 118 countries. Chevening Scholarships are offered to candidates to study a one-year postgraduate Master’s course in any discipline at any UK university. The Scholarships are awarded to talented individuals who have the potential to become future leaders, decision-makers and opinion formers. Scholars come from a wide range of fields, such as politics, government, business, the media, the environment, civil society, religion, and academia.
The name ‘Chevening’ comes from Chevening House in Sevenoaks, Kent – currently the joint official residence of the British Foreign Secretary and the Deputy Prime Minister.
The terms and conditions of the award of scholarships may vary from country to country. This article is primarily for applicants in India. Readers from other countries are advised to visit their country-specific pages of the Chevening website. Links to country pages are provided at the bottom of this article. Short courses are also funded in some countries. Further details can also be had from the local British Embassy or High Commission website. However, do not contact the local British Embassy or High Commission directly.
Short listed candidates are interviewed by the British Embassy or High Commission in their home country. The programme is administered on behalf of the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office by the Chevening Scholarships Secretariat which is based in London.
ELIGIBILITY
To qualify for a Chevening Scholarship, applicant should be a citizen of a Chevening-eligible country at the time of applying for the award, and intend to return to their country at the end of the period of study, hold a degree that is equivalent to at least an upper second-class honours degree in the UK. Candidates should have passed the minimum Chevening English language requirement (given below), have completed at least two years’ work or equivalent experience before applying, be able to obtain the correct visa, and receive an unconditional offer from a UK university. There are no age restrictions for Chevening Scholarships. Applicants who do not meet the above criteria are advised not to apply. Their applications will be rejected.
Candidates who have already received financial benefit from a UK government-funded scholarship award are not eligible to apply for a Chevening Scholarship. Candidates whose immediate relatives (immediate relatives are defined as parents or step-parents, siblings or step-siblings, children or step-children, spouse, civil partner or unmarried partner (where the couple have been in a relationship akin to marriage or civil partnership for at least two years).
Other categories of applicants who are ineligible to apply are, those employed by Her Majesty’s Government (this includes the FCO, FCO Overseas Posts, the Department for International Development, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, UK Trade and Investment, the Ministry of Defence and the UK Border Agency), the British Council, a co-sponsor or a sponsoring university and the Association of Commonwealth Universities; candidates or their immediate relatives (see the definition of immediate relatives mentioned above) left the above employment categories after 30 September 2011; candidates have already received financial benefit from a UK government-funded scholarship award; candidates who are applying from a country other than their home country, unless they are able to return to their home country for interview and demonstrate their intention to return there immediately after the completion of their courses to become a future leader, decision-maker or opinion former; candidates are dual nationals, where one of their nationalities is British (except if they are a national of a British Overseas Territory, or if they hold BN(O) nationality and are applying from Hong Kong), or if they have any valid leave to enter or remain in the UK which suggests that they may not return to their home countries after their Scholarship. They will be asked to disclose full details of any other nationalities held and their UK immigration status, if they are invited to attend an interview.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Chevening Scholarships are for high-calibre graduates with the personal, intellectual and interpersonal qualities necessary for leadership. Candidates are required to demonstrate that they meet all of the selection criteria below. Applicants should have the personal, intellectual and interpersonal qualities necessary for leadership in their home country; are motivated to develop their career in order to establish a position of leadership in their own country within 10 years of their Scholarship; have a clear post-Scholarship plan, outlining their career objectives and how they plan to achieve them; are committed to networking to find global solutions; are committed to networking within the Chevening community, via online engagement and attending Chevening events in the UK and engaging with the alumni network in their home country; are able to use their studies and experience in the UK to benefit themselves, their country and the UK; are capable of successfully undertaking and completing their proposed course of study in the UK.
The FCO and Secretariat are firmly committed to equal opportunities and do not discriminate on the grounds of race, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation or disability.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT
Applicants must meet Chevening’s minimum English language requirement.
You can fulfil the Chevening English language requirement by taking an English language test and achieving the scores specified in the Terms and Conditions or by claiming an exemption based on the UKBA exemption lists outlined in the Terms and Conditions. You should take an English language test as early as possible, and well in advance of the deadline. For Chevening candidates, no pre-sessionals are allowed in any instance (this applies to self-funded pre-sessionals too). Applicants are free to take tests more than once in order to meet the Chevening English language requirement. All tests should be taken by 23 June 2014 at the latest. Chevening does not pay for costs associated with English language.
The English language test must be taken from one of the three approved providers below, on or after 1 October 2012.
Academic IELTS
Overall score – 6.5, with a minimum score in each component of: Listening – 5.5, Reading – 5.5, Speaking – 5.5, Writing – 5.5.
Pearson PTE Academic
Overall score – 58, with a minimum score in each component of: Listening – 42, Reading – 42, Speaking – 42, Writing – 42.
TOEFL iBT
Overall score – 79, with a minimum score in each component of: Listening – 17, Reading – 18, Speaking – 20, Writing – 17.
Candidates who do not already have an existing eligibility test certificate should prepare and appear for the test as early as possible. Visit the test conducting organisation’s website to locate the nearest coaching centre and test centre.
Applicants who are nationals of one of the following countries are exempt from an English language test for a Chevening Scholarship, in line with Home Office policy:
Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, the United States of America and British Overseas Territories.
Applicants who have been awarded a Bachelor’s degree or higher in one of the following countries are also exempt from submitting an English language test for a Chevening Scholarship:
Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Singapore, Trinidad and Tobago, the UK, and the United States of America.
If an Academic IELTS, PTE Academic or TOEFL iBT test is taken before applying, applicants should include their English language test score and test certificate number on their Chevening application form. These test certificates will only be valid if their tests were taken after 1 October 2012.
All Chevening Scholars must satisfy the academic and English language requirements for their chosen course of study. The English language requirements for some courses may be higher than the minimum eligibility requirement for a Chevening Scholarship or applicants may be required to take a different English language test or obtain a higher score. It is the candidate’s responsibility to meet any higher or different requirements. Being a Chevening Scholar does not automatically exempt candidates from university requirements or the requirements of the UK Border Agency. No pre-sessional courses for Chevening candidates are allowed, even in instances where their university requests one or where attendance is self-funded.
UNIVERSITY ADMISSIONS
Candidates should submit applications to UK universities before, or at the same time as, applying for a Chevening Scholarship. The scholarship does not pay any fee relating to university applications, including administration fees, English tests and GMAT tests.
COURSES
The courses to which an applicant apply must be:
A one-year postgraduate Master’s course, the University of Oxford Certificate in Diplomatic Studies, or an approved short course (as advertised from time to time on the Chevening website and/or the applicant’s local British Embassy or High Commission website).
COURSES THAT ARE NOT COVERED
Undergraduate degrees, distance learning courses, part-time courses, courses over one year in length including PhDs or DPhils, Supervised research not leading to a Master’s degree qualification, courses with more than one month of study outside the UK will not be accepted under the Chevening Scholarships programme.
Applicants are required to state the names of three chosen UK Masters’ courses and universities on the Chevening application form, in order of preference. Applicants must include, on the Chevening application form, the full name of the university/universities and the exact name of their preferred courses (as set out on the university website or prospectus). Only Masters’ courses starting in September/October 2014 are eligible for funding. Courses starting later in 2014 or in 2015 are not eligible for funding.
Think carefully about which universities and courses applicants choose on their application forms. If the Chevening Scholarship application is successful applicants will be expected to attend their first choice university course and will not be able to change their course selection. Applicants will not be able to change their first choice unless they are declined by the university. If the first choice is not available candidates are expected to accept their second or third choice in that order.
The Chevening Scholarships Secretariat does not guarantee placement at any particular university or course, and it is the responsibility of applicants to ensure that they apply to universities sufficiently early.
APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCEDURE
Applicants may register their interest in the Chevening Scholarships programme and sign up to receive notifications of application opening and closing dates for your country via the country pages of the Chevening website. Application for a Chevening Scholarship should be submitted electronically by completing the online Chevening Scholarships application form. Before applying candidates should check their country pages for details of priority areas and any specific information that applies to applicants from their country, including the closing date for applications. Applicants must read the Guidance for Applicants and the Terms and Conditions for Chevening Scholarship Awards as these contain important information on what details you will need to include in your application.
Applications will open on 1 September 2013 and close in November 2013. Candidates who have registered on the Chevening website will be notified when the eChevening site is open for applications. The opening and closing dates for each country will be available on the country pages of the Chevening website. Read the country pages carefully (links to country pages are given at the end of this article) for details of priority subject areas which vary from country to country. Applications received after the closing date for your country will not be considered. It is recommended that you submit your application as early as possible – preferably well before the closing date for your country.
PROCESSING OF APPLICATIONS
Applications will be scrutinised against the Chevening eligibility criteria. The Chevening Scholarships Secretariat will make recommendations to the local British Embassy or British High Commission about which candidates might be invited for interview. The final decision on whom to be invited for interview will be taken by the local British Embassy or British High Commission. Candidates will be informed in the letter of invitation to interview about what documents they must bring to the interview. Interviews will normally be held at the British Embassy or High Commission. Interviews will normally take place in April 2014.
The Embassy or High Commission will write to successful candidates to inform them of the outcomes. They move to the next stage. Candidates will be assigned a Programme Officer at the Chevening Scholarships Secretariat who will help the candidates through completion of documentation and medical examination. The results of the medical examination will be reviewed by the Chevening Secretariat’s Medical Adviser. After completion of this process only the scholarship will be confirmed and the Final Award Letter issued.
Scholars are advised to apply for their visa immediately after receiving their Final Award Letter confirming their Scholarship as the process can take several months. To learn more about how to apply for the visa visit http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/countries.
VALUE OF THE AWARD
Chevening Scholarships are awarded in full or in part. A full Chevening Scholarship award normally comprises payment of tuition fees (up to a limit – check individual country pages on the Chevening website for details of scholarship amount); travel to and from scholar’s country of residence by an approved route for the scholar only; an arrival allowance; the cost of an entry clearance (visa) application for the scholar only; a grant for the cost of preparation of a thesis or dissertation (if required); an excess baggage allowance; a monthly personal living allowance (stipend) to cover accommodation and living expenses. The monthly stipend will depend on whether the scholar is studying inside or outside London. The current rates are: £948 per month outside the London metropolitan area and £1173 per month inside the London metropolitan area. Tuition fee payments for Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) courses have an upper limit of £12,000. If the scholars study for an MBA they will be expected to fund any difference above this sum. The scholars may be required to demonstrate that they hold sufficient funding to cover the remaining tuition fee costs. In some countries the maximum award for tuition fees for all Masters’ courses may also have an upper limit. In such cases scholars will be expected to fund any difference above this upper limit.
The Chevening selection panel may also offer part Scholarship awards. This award may fund tuition fees only (no stipend or other allowance) or stipend and allowances only (no tuition fees). In the case of part awards the scholar will be expected to fund any difference.
Chevening Scholars are allowed to take part-time employment while in the UK. However, scholars must comply with the employment conditions of their visa, university/college regulations, and individual Scholars’ overall commitment to their studies in the UK, and the conditions of award. Scholars should remember that the part time employment does not affect their academic performance.
CAN THE SCHOLARS STAY AND WORK IN THE UK AFTER THEY COMPLETE CHEVENING SCHOLARSHIP ?
No. Chevening Scholars sign an undertaking when accepting their award to return to their home countries after they have completed their studies.
FURTHER INFORMATION: can be had from the country pages of the Chevening Scholarship website. Click on the link of your country from the following list for quick transfer to the country page.
The FCO currently offers Chevening Scholarships to citizens of the following countries: Click on the country to go to your country pages on the Chevening Scholarship website.
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Ascension Islands, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, British Overseas Territories, Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of Congo, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Falkland Islands, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montserrat, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Palestinian Territories, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Pitcairn Island, Republic of Congo, Russia, Rwanda, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, South Korea, Southern Sudan, Sri Lanka, St Helena, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & Grenadines, Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Turks and Caicos, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
IMPORTANT
Applicants should refer to the central partnerships pages for details about partnership Scholarships for specific programmes/countries and how to apply for these.
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