If you are dreaming of pursuing a master’s degree in the UK, and you don’t want to spend your savings on it, then here’s good news for you. Application for Chevening Scholarships 2027-2028 is open now. This is the flagship award of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. Since 1983, over 60,000 people from over 160 countries and territories have received sponsorship through it. Every year, about 1800 Candidates get through, chosen from the one that runs into the tens of thousands.
You should get the message: this isn’t the type of scholarship you apply for on Sunday night and forget about. You must actually get down to work.
It’s not in the habit of pursuing candidates with the highest grades. What stands Chevening out is simple. It seeks individuals who have demonstrated their leadership ability in the workplace and in the community. If your CGPA is not stellar, but you have spent years building something, managing people or driving change in your sector, do not disqualify yourself before trying. The UK government has developed an innovative program through which international students can study in the United Kingdom for free. Successful candidates will have access to over 12,000 approved one-year master’s programs at over 100 UK universities. This program will cover the entire tuition fee, a monthly stipend, flights, and some extra grants to help you settle in.
Applications for the 2027-2028 cycle opened on 4 August 2026 and will shut on 6 October 2026. If you get in, you’ll be starting your programme in the UK around September or October 2027. Below is everything you need to know, laid out plainly.
What Exactly Is the Chevening Scholarship?
Chevening is a partnership between the FCDO, the British Council, and universities in the UK. Chevening has been designed to develop people who will go back home and change things, unlike many scholarships that merely give out tuition money and leave. That is the reason work experience and a clear career plan are weighted equally to academic record, sometimes more so.
Around 1800 people are selected every year from tens of thousands of applicants from more than 160 eligible countries. Since 1983, the program has created a network of over 60,000 alumni, many of whom now hold top positions in government, business and civil society back home.
For the 2027-2028 intake, over 100 UK universities are participating and they’ll cumulatively provide access to 12,000 plus eligible one year master’s courses. These cover almost any field you can think of ranging across public policy, engineering, international development, business, the arts, etc. Because the award pays for your entire stay, and not just your fees, you do not need to look for extra living expenses.
Chevening pays your full tuition fees, gives you a monthly stipend that changes depending on whether your school is in London or elsewhere, covers your return flight, pays for your visa application, and throws in extra allowances for arrival costs and travel to Chevening events during the programme.
- Host Country: United Kingdom
- Participating Universities: 100+ top UK institutions
- Funded By: The UK Government
- Funding Type: Fully funded
- Level of Study: Master’s degree programmes, all fields
What Do You Actually Get as a Chevening Scholar?
As one of the UK Government’s most prestigious scholarship schemes, Chevening offers you the opportunity to study at a top-ranked UK university and make connections with like-minded individuals across the globe. When you’re fully funded, you won’t have to spread yourself too thin trying to raise money on the side. Here’s what’s included in this.
- The whole fee of your university tuition which gets paid to the school directly.
- Your monthly stipend including an accommodation support.
- You will get full medical insurance for your course duration.
- Depending on where you study, London or elsewhere in the UK, you may receive a monthly living allowance.
- Return economy flight ticket to and from the UK.
- The price for a UK visa application.
- A travel grant that allows you to go to official Chevening networking events during your year.
- Extra grants and allowances to help cover other essential expenses.
All in all, this takes away almost every financial concern associated with studying abroad. You’re not pleading with relatives for pocket money or juggling a part-time job to make ends meet. The scholarship does that for you.
Which Courses Can You Study Under Chevening?
Students can choose from 12,000+ one-year master’s programmes approved by reputed UK universities, with over 100 UK universities represented across almost all subject areas. Still, there is a one hard-and-fast rule and that’s that the course has to be full-time for exactly one year. You cannot apply if you are studying part time, via distance learning, or any course longer than a year.
Your application for Chevening has to contain at least 3 eligible courses. You can check out the complete list on the Chevening website.
While working on your applications, these are a few things to keep in mind:
- While you may only have three courses listed on your Chevening form, don’t limit your final university applications to only these. Apply more broadly as getting an unconditional offer is required for the scholarship to be awarded, so casting a wider net improves your chances of getting one.
- You can apply for Chevening without waiting for an admission offer. You can submit your scholarship application first and sort out your unconditional offer afterward, before the offer deadline.
- Rank your three course selections in order of possibility of admission, starting with the one you’re most certain to get into. You can still change this order later, even during your interview, if things change.
- Getting an unconditional offer for at least one of your listed courses isn’t optional but rather mandatory. Without it, you lose the scholarship no matter how strong the rest of your application looks.
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Who Can Apply for the Chevening Scholarship 2027-2028?
Before you spend hours filling out that application form, make sure you actually tick these boxes:
1. Your Nationality
You must hold citizenship of one of the 160-plus countries and territories that Chevening covers. Check the Chevening eligibility page to confirm your country’s current status before you start.
2. Work Experience
You need a minimum of two years of work experience, that works out to about 2,800 hours, completed before the deadline. Chevening isn’t strict about what “counts” as experience. It recognises:
- Full-time jobs
- Part-time jobs
- Volunteer work
- Paid or unpaid internships
You can combine any of these to reach the two-year mark, so don’t panic if your experience isn’t all from one job.
3. Academic Requirements
You must have obtained a degree that enables you to pursue postgraduate study in the UK. In practice, this generally means something equivalent to a UK upper second class (2:1) honours degree.
4. English Language Ability
Chevening does not require a certain English test score. However, most UK universities will require you to get one before they make you an offer. Unless your chosen schools tell you otherwise, plan to sit for an English test.
5. Course Applications
You must apply to three different eligible UK courses and receive an unconditional offer from at least one by the offer deadline.
6. Returning Home
Chevening scholars must agree to return to their home country for a minimum of two years once the award is over. The purpose of this initiative is to create leaders who can apply their new skills in their home country, not someone who stays in the UK permanently.
Documents You’ll Need Before You Start
Prepare these beforehand, so you aren’t scrambling to do them at the last minute.
- An online application which includes the four required essays, submitted through the Chevening portal.
- Evidence of English language competence, if requested by your universities. Book your test slot early since IELTS, TOEFL, and PTE centres fill up fast.
- Academic transcripts and your degree certificate, showing you meet the 2:1-equivalent standard.
- A research proposal or study plan, if the specific course you’re applying to asks for one. This usually comes from the university and not Chevening directly.
- Two reference letters from people who know your work well and can respond quickly if contacted by the British High Commission.
Chevening Scholarship 2027 Application Timeline
| Stage | Date |
|---|---|
| Applications open | 4 August 2026 |
| Applications close | 6 October 2026, 11:00 UTC |
| Reading committee assessments (estimated) | Mid-October 2026 to January 2027 |
| Interview shortlist announced (estimated) | Early to mid-February 2027 |
| Reference and education document deadline (estimated) | February to late April 2027 |
| Interviews (estimated) | Late February to late April 2027 |
| Results announced (estimated) | Early June 2027 |
| Unconditional offer deadline | 8 July 2027 |
| Studies begin in the UK | September/October 2027 |
Everything marked “estimated” follows Chevening’s usual yearly pattern, so treat these dates as a guide and confirm them on the official Chevening timeline page closer to the time, since Chevening does update things as the cycle moves along.
When Is the Deadline for the 2027-2028 Cycle?
Mark your calendar as the deadline for the Chevening Scholarship 2027-2028 is 6 October 2026.
How Do You Apply for the Chevening Scholarship?
Every Chevening application goes through the official online portal. There are no paper forms and emailing your documents to a university or embassy won’t count.
Here’s how the process works:
- Go to the Chevening apply page and select your country, since document requirements can differ slightly from one country to another.
- Set up your account and answer the eligibility pre-screening questions as these decide whether you move forward to the full application.
- Fill in your personal information, academic background, and work history, then write your four essays, keeping each one between 100 and 500 words.
- Choose your three eligible master’s courses and list your two referees.
- Go over everything carefully and submit before the deadline. Once you hit submit, you can’t edit anything again, so read through your work more than once before that final click.
For the full official schedule and any changes Chevening announces as the cycle progresses, check their application timeline page directly.
Chevening Application Tips: How to Avoid the Common Mistakes
The Chevening portal has its own quirks, and a good number of applicants trip up on things that have nothing to do with how qualified they are. Here’s what to watch out for.
Application Basics
- Write your entire application in English.
- Keep your username and password somewhere safe. You’ll log in repeatedly to edit and complete different sections.
- Use Google Chrome on a laptop or desktop. The portal doesn’t play nice with phones or tablets, and you risk formatting errors or a failed submission.
Things to Remember
- Before you submit your application, double-check that your email address and telephone number are correct. These are how Chevening and your referees will contact you.
- Please avoid using the back and forward buttons in your browser when filling out the form. You may lose everything you have not saved when you move off the application using the menu.
- The portal does not save automatically. Make it a habit to hit save every few minutes, whether you think you need to or not.
- If your session has been inactive for 60 minutes, you will be logged out. Any actions you hadn’t saved will be gone.
The Four Essays
- All essays must be between 100 and 500 words long.
- If you exceed that range, the system may block you from submitting. So it’s a rule, not a suggestion.
- Write extensively in your own words. Chevening checks for plagiarism, and text that appears to be copied or generated by AI will hurt your chances.
Submission Rules
- You only get a limited number of tries to complete the eligibility form correctly, so slow down and read each question properly.
- Once you submit, that’s it. There are no edits, and only one application per cycle.
Reference Letters
- You need two references. Pick people who know your work closely and who’ll respond fast if the British High Commission reaches out directly as a slow referee can hold up your whole application.
Course Applications
- Apply to three different eligible UK courses, and get at least one unconditional offer to stay eligible.
Uploading Documents
- Accepted formats are JPG, PNG, and PDF, each file capped at 5MB, with file names kept under 50 characters to avoid upload errors.
Give yourself more time than you think you need. Read your essays over and over, double-check every detail, and submit well ahead of the deadline instead of waiting until the last hour as you only get one shot at this each year.
A Few More Pointers for a Stronger Application
Beyond the technical stuff, here’s what trips up a lot of applicants every year.
- Take the pre-screening questions seriously. Many people fail right there because of avoidable mistakes.
- Make sure to complete every part of the eligibility form. If you miss details, your application may be rejected without proper assessment.
- Ensure your hours and weeks are accurate when entering your work experience. It’s okay to be realistic. 20 hours a week makes sense, but something like 30,000 hours doesn’t. And don’t repeat the same position under a different description.
- Applicants who hold British citizenship in addition to another nationality stand to be automatically disqualified, so don’t apply if so.
- Choose similar programmes at three separate universities for your course selections. It shows that you know what you want to do, and that you’re not picking random, unrelated courses just to fill the form.
- Do not repeat your answers across different sections. Similarly, do not copy text from any other website as Chevening checks for this.
- Stick to the word limits on every question, no exceptions.
- Even where Chevening doesn’t insist on an English certificate, having one can strengthen your case with the university, since it helps you secure that all-important unconditional offer.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Chevening Scholarship
When does the Chevening Scholarship 2027-2028 open and close?
Applications open on 4 August 2026 and close on 6 October 2026 at 11:00 UTC. The portal shuts automatically once the deadline hits, so even a submission that’s a few minutes late won’t be accepted.
Is the Chevening Scholarship truly fully funded?
Yes. It covers your tuition fees, a monthly stipend, a return economy flight, one visa application, arrival and departure allowances, and a grant for attending official Chevening events during your programme.
Do I need a university offer before I apply for Chevening?
No. You can submit your Chevening application before any university responds to you. What you must do is secure an unconditional offer from one of your three listed courses before the offer deadline.
How much work experience do I need?
A minimum of two years, roughly 2,800 hours, made up of any combination of full-time work, part-time work, volunteering, or internships completed before the application deadline.
Does Chevening require IELTS or a similar English test?
Chevening itself doesn’t fix a required score, but most UK universities do as part of their own admission process, so most applicants will still need to sit one to secure their course offer.
Can dual nationals apply?
Generally, yes. As long as you’re applying under a nationality that’s eligible and you don’t hold British citizenship. Rules vary by country, so check Chevening’s official eligibility page for your specific situation.
How many courses can I apply for through Chevening?
Three different eligible master’s courses, whether at the same university or different ones, and you need an unconditional offer from at least one.
Can I edit my application after I submit it?
No. Once it’s submitted, it’s final, and you only get one submission per cycle. So make sure your essays and details are fully polished before you hit that button.
What happens after submission?
Your application goes through an independent reading committee, then shortlisted candidates move to interviews at their local British High Commission, with results following months later.
Do scholars have to return home afterward?
Yes, for a minimum of two years after the award ends. That’s the whole point of the programme, building leaders who take what they’ve learned in the UK and put it to work back home.