Chevening Scholarship Guide 2027/28

What is Chevening?

Chevening is the UK government's flagship international scholarship programme, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and partner organisations. It offers fully funded one-year master's degrees at any UK university. If you want to study in Britain on someone else's tab, this is the gold standard.

The programme has been running since 1983 and has built a global alumni network of over 60,000 professionals from more than 160 countries and territories. These aren't just former students — we're talking heads of state, ambassadors, Supreme Court justices and CEOs. The UK government uses Chevening as a core part of its soft power strategy, and that's exactly why it invests so heavily in it.

Chevening is not just a scholarship. It's a leadership development programme.

They're looking for people who will go back to their home countries and create real change. If you're applying just to get a free degree, the selection committee will see right through it. Your leadership potential and your plan to give back — that's what gets you in.

Around 1,500 scholarships are awarded each year in recent cycles, from over 50,000 applications. That puts the acceptance rate at roughly 2–3% — one of the most competitive scholarships on earth. But don't let that scare you off. If you understand what they're looking for and put the work into your application, you absolutely have a shot.

Types of Chevening Awards

There are different award types depending on your country and background.

Before you spend weeks crafting four essays and chasing referees, make sure you actually meet the basic requirements. These apply to all Chevening awards.

• You must be a citizen of a Chevening-eligible country and apply for that country's award. Over 160 countries and territories qualify. British and dual British citizens are not eligible, with limited exceptions.
• You need at least 2,800 hours of work experience gained after your undergraduate degree — roughly 2 years full-time. Part-time, voluntary and paid or unpaid internships count, as long as you can document them. For this cycle, that means finishing your degree by October 2024.
• You need an undergraduate degree that gets you onto a UK master's — most universities ask for the equivalent of a UK 2:1 or above. Not sure how your degree compares? Check with ENIC (formerly NARIC).
• You must return to your home country for at least 2 years after your scholarship ends. This is non-negotiable. Chevening is designed to build leadership in your own country, not to be an immigration pathway.
• You must apply to three eligible UK courses and hold an unconditional offer from one of them by 8 July 2027.
• English: Chevening dropped its own English language requirement in 2020. Your universities still set one (often IELTS 6.5 overall with minimum band scores), and you need to meet it to get that unconditional offer.

Want the full breakdown? Check our Eligibility & Requirements page.

Chevening is one of the most generous scholarships out there. It covers basically everything — you won't need to fund much yourself beyond personal spending money.

Chevening does not publish stipend rates on its website. These are the reported 2026/27 rates; they are reviewed every year, and your Final Award Letter confirms the 2027/28 rate. Grants marked “past cycles” are not on Chevening's current published list, so check your award letter.

GBP 1,516 a month in London will cover the basics but won't leave you flush. Outside London, GBP 1,215 goes further. Budget wisely. See our Benefits page for the full breakdown.

The Chevening cycle runs over about a year from application to arrival. All dates below are from the official Chevening 2027/28 timeline.

1. 1
   4 August 2026, 11:00 UTC

   Applications open

   The portal opened at 11:00 UTC on 4 August 2026. Your four essays, education and work history, course choices and referee details all go into it. There is no CV upload.

2. 2
   6 October 2026, 11:00 UTC

   Application deadline

   Official close. No extensions, no exceptions. Late submissions are automatically rejected.

3. 3
   Mid-October 2026 – January 2027

   Eligibility sifting and reading committee review

   Applications are checked for eligibility from October, then reviewed by a reading committee for your country, which shortlists candidates for interview.

4. 4
   Mid-February 2027

   Shortlisting and interview invitations

   Shortlisted? You'll get an interview invitation. Not everyone who applies gets this far. Chevening does not publish shortlist sizes, but they are usually a few times the number of available awards.

5. 5
   March – April 2027

   Interviews

   A competency-based panel interview in English, in person or virtual, usually around 30 minutes according to past candidates. The panel will drill into your essays, leadership experience and post-scholarship plans.

6. 6
   From mid-June 2027

   Results announced

   Successful candidates receive a conditional award.

7. 7
   8 July 2027, 17:00 BST

   Unconditional offer deadline

   If you succeed at interview, you must submit at least one unconditional UK university offer by 17:00 BST on 8 July 2027.

8. 8
   September/October 2027

   Arrive in the UK

   Orientation events, meet your cohort and start your master's. Your Chevening year begins.

For exact dates and what to do at each stage, check our Deadline page.

Living in the UK

Once you know where you might study, these UK guides help you plan the year itself: cost of living, accommodation, student life and top cities.

Where to Go Next