Chevening Eligibility & Requirements 2027
Quick Eligibility Checker
Answer 5 questions to find out if you qualify for Chevening 2027.
1. Are you a citizen of a Chevening-eligible country? (160+ countries qualify — UK citizens are NOT eligible)
2. Do you have a Bachelor's degree (upper second-class / 2:1 equivalent or above)?
3. Do you have at least 2,800 hours (~2 years full-time) of work experience after graduation?
4. Are you willing to return to your home country for at least 2 years after the scholarship?
5. Are you free of UK citizenship, dual nationality, or permanent UK residence?
You meet the basic eligibility criteria!
You pass all 5 non-negotiable checks. Next step: start your application.
You may not be eligible yet
One or more criteria are not met. Review the details below or check alternative scholarships.
Work Experience Calculator
Chevening requires 2,800 hours of post-graduation work. Use this calculator to check if you qualify. Part-time, voluntary, and self-employment all count.
You meet the work experience requirement.
Full-time employment — the most straightforward path.
Part-time work — calculate actual hours (20 hrs/wk for 2 yrs = 2,080 hrs).
Voluntary work — counts if you can document it.
Self-employment — provide business registration, contracts, invoices.
Post-graduation internships — paid or unpaid, hours count.
Work during your undergraduate degree does NOT count.
Part-time jobs, internships, or any work while enrolled as an undergraduate — none counts. The clock starts after graduation.
Academic Requirements by Country
You need an upper second-class honours degree (2:1) or equivalent. Select your country to see what that means for you.
USA: GPA 3.3+ on a 4.0 scale
India: First Division or 60%+ (varies by university)
Nigeria: Second Class Upper Division
Bangladesh: First Class or GPA 3.0+ on a 4.0 scale
Pakistan: First Division or GPA 3.0+
Ghana / Kenya: Second Class Upper Division
Note: Some UK universities may require higher grades. Always check the university's own entry requirements too.
English Language Requirements
You need to meet Chevening's baseline and your university's requirement. Select your test to see minimums.
IELTS Academic
Overall
6.5
Reading
5.5+
Listening
5.5+
Speaking
5.5+
Writing
5.5+
TOEFL iBT
Overall
79
Reading
18+
Listening
17+
Speaking
20+
Writing
17+
PTE Academic
Overall
58
No section below
42
Don't cut it close
If you don't meet the minimum by the deadline, your offer is withdrawn. Book early and leave time for a retake.
The Return-Home Requirement
After your course ends, you must return to your country of citizenship for a minimum of two years. During that time you cannot apply for UK Graduate visa, Skilled Worker visa, or any other leave to remain.
The FCDO can demand full repayment of the scholarship — tens of thousands of pounds. This is not theoretical. It happens.
Yes. After the two-year period, you can apply for UK visas, move wherever you want, and do whatever you like. The restriction is only for the first two years.
Country-Specific Considerations
Different countries have different numbers of awards. India, Pakistan, Nigeria, and Indonesia tend to have more slots. Smaller countries might have only a handful. Competition varies wildly by country.
Some countries have co-funded partnerships creating extra places. These may have additional requirements or preferred study areas. Check your local British High Commission website.
Some countries have priority areas aligned with UK diplomatic priorities. Applying in a priority area can strengthen your application if your career plan aligns naturally.
Check country-specific details at the official Chevening website.