Applications are now open for the Chevening Scholarships 2027–28, giving international students the opportunity to study a fully funded, one-year master’s degree in the United Kingdom.
Chevening is the UK Government’s international scholarship programme for people with strong leadership potential and a clear plan to create positive change in their countries. Successful applicants can study an eligible master’s course at a UK university while receiving financial support for tuition fees and living costs.
For the 2027–28 academic year, applications opened on 4 August 2026 and will close on 6 October 2026 at 11:00 UTC.
Chevening Scholarship 2027–28 Important Dates
The full selection process takes almost a year. Applicants should keep the following dates in mind:
| Stage | Date |
| Applications open | 4 August 2026 – 11:00 UTC |
| Application deadline | 6 October 2026 – 11:00 UTC |
| Eligibility checks | From October 2026 |
| Reading committee assessment | Mid-October 2026 to January 2027 |
| Interview shortlist announced | Mid-February 2027 |
| Interviews | March–April 2027 |
| Scholarship results | From mid-June 2027 |
| Deadline for unconditional university offer | 8 July 2027 – 17:00 BST |
| Studies begin in the UK | September/October 2027 |
Applicants cannot access the online application system after the October deadline.
Who Can Apply for a Chevening Scholarship?
Applicants must meet all of Chevening’s eligibility requirements. According to the official eligibility rules, applicants must:
- Be a citizen of a Chevening-eligible country or territory.
- Agree to return to their country of award for at least two years after completing the scholarship.
- Have an undergraduate degree that qualifies them for admission to a UK master’s programme.
- Have completed their undergraduate studies at least two years before the application deadline.
- Have at least 2,800 hours of work experience gained after completing the undergraduate degree.
- Select three eligible UK master’s courses.
- Obtain an unconditional offer from at least one of the selected courses by the required deadline.
There is no upper age limit for a Chevening Scholarship.
Chevening Work Experience Requirement
One important requirement is work experience. Applicants need at least 2,800 hours, roughly equal to two years of full-time employment based on a 35-hour working week.
Chevening accepts different types of experience, including:
- Full-time employment
- Part-time employment
- Voluntary work
- Paid internships
- Unpaid internships
Importantly, the 2,800 hours must have been completed after finishing the undergraduate degree. Applicants may enter up to 15 different periods of employment in their application.
What Courses Can You Choose?
Applicants must select three different eligible master’s courses. They can be at the same university or at different universities, although Chevening recommends choosing similar courses at different universities to improve the chances of securing admission.
An eligible course normally must:
- Be based in the UK
- Be full-time
- Start in autumn, usually September or October
- Be a taught master’s degree
- Last between 9 and 12 months
Part-time courses, distance-learning programmes, PhDs, DPhils and most research-focused programmes are not eligible.
Applicants should remember that the Chevening scholarship application and university admission applications are separate. Applying for Chevening does not automatically apply to a UK university.
How to Apply for Chevening Scholarship 2027–28
Applications must be made through the Chevening online application system.
Step 1: Find your country
Visit the Chevening website and find the scholarship available for your country or territory.
Step 2: Register online
Applicants register using an email address and mobile number and receive access to the online application portal.
Step 3: Complete the eligibility checker
You must answer questions confirming that you meet Chevening’s basic eligibility requirements.
Step 4: Complete the application
The form asks for information covering:
- Personal and immigration details
- Education history
- Work experience
- Three proposed UK master’s courses
- Details of two referees
- Four application/essay questions
The four main assessment areas are leadership and influencing skills, relationship building, course choice, and future career plans. Chevening says successful applications should give clear examples and demonstrate measurable impact.
Step 5: Submit before the deadline
The completed application must be submitted by 6 October 2026 at 11:00 UTC. Chevening advises applicants not to wait until the last minute.
Do You Need University Admission Before Applying?
No. Applicants do not need to already have a university offer when submitting the initial Chevening application.
However, they should apply separately to their chosen universities. Candidates who successfully pass the Chevening interview must eventually obtain and submit at least one qualifying unconditional offer by 8 July 2027 at 17:00 BST.
References and Documents
Applicants provide the names and contact information of two referees in the initial application.
Candidates invited to interview must later provide two reference letters. These must normally be uploaded no later than seven working days before the interview.
Interview candidates must also provide required documents such as identification and their undergraduate degree certificate or diploma.
What Does the Chevening Scholarship Pay For?
Chevening is a fully funded scholarship. A standard award normally includes:
- University tuition fees
- Economy travel to and from the UK
- Monthly living allowance
- Arrival allowance
- Departure allowance
- UK visa application cost for the scholar
- Travel top-up allowance
- Up to £75 towards TB testing where required
The monthly living allowance varies depending on whether the student is studying inside or outside London and the applicable rates.
Who Is Not Eligible?
Among others, applicants are generally not eligible if they:
- Hold British or dual British citizenship, subject to limited exceptions.
- Are living in the UK when applying, apart from specified exceptions.
- Previously studied in the UK with a UK Government-funded scholarship.
- Fall within Chevening’s restrictions concerning certain employees or immediate relatives of employees of specified organisations.
Applicants should check the full official eligibility rules before applying.
Important Warning About AI
Chevening states that using AI tools such as ChatGPT to generate answers to its application essay questions is strictly prohibited. Applicants must write their application answers themselves. Chevening says applications containing AI-generated, fraudulent or plagiarised material may be disqualified.