Chevening Scholarship in UK for International Students 2026 | Application Process

The Chevening Scholarship is one of the most prestigious fully funded scholarships for international students who wish to study in the United Kingdom. It is funded by the UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and partner organizations. The scholarship is designed for outstanding students with leadership potential, offering them the opportunity to pursue a one-year master’s degree at a top UK university.

For the 2025-2026 academic year, applications for the Chevening Scholarship will open on August 6, 2025, and close on November 5, 2025. This scholarship covers full tuition fees, a monthly living allowance, travel expenses, visa costs, and other essential benefits. The goal of the Chevening Scholarship is to develop future global leaders and influencers by providing access to world-class UK education and professional networking opportunities. Scholars are expected to return to their home countries after completing their studies and contribute to the development of their communities.

Details of the Chevening Scholarship

• Host Country: United Kingdom
• Host Institutions: UK Universities
• Program Level: Master’s Degree
• Scholarship Duration: Up to one year, depending on the selected program

Benefits of the Chevening Scholarship

The Chevening Scholarship provides a wide range of benefits, including:

• Full Tuition Fees: Covers the cost of studying a master’s degree at a UK university.
• Monthly Stipend: A living allowance to cover accommodation, food, and daily expenses.
• Travel Costs: Economy-class airfare to and from the UK.
• Arrival and Departure Allowances: Financial support upon arrival in the UK and when returning home.
• Visa Application Fee: The scholarship covers the cost of a single visa application.
• Additional Grants: Financial support to attend Chevening events and professional networking opportunities.

Eligibility Criteria for the Chevening Scholarship

To be eligible for Chevening Scholarships, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Required Language: English
• Eligible Countries: The scholarships are targeted to citizens of Chevening-eligible countries.  See the official website for complete list of countries eligible for Chevening scholarships.
• Return to your country of citizenship for a minimum of two years after your scholarship has ended
• Have completed all components of an undergraduate degree that will enable you to gain entry onto a postgraduate programme at a UK university by the time you submit your application. This is typically equivalent to an upper second-class 2:1 honours degree in the UK but may be different depending on your course and university choice.
• Have at least two years (equivalent to 2,800 hours) of work experience.
• Apply to three different eligible UK university courses and have received an unconditional offer from one of these choices by July .

You are not eligible for a Chevening Scholarship if you:

• Hold British or dual British citizenship (unless you are a citizen of a British Overseas Territory or hold BN(O) and are applying from Hong Kong).
• Hold refugee status in a non-Chevening eligible country. Applicants who are citizens of a Chevening-eligible country and who hold refugee status in a Chevening-eligible country are eligible for a scholarship.
• Are an employee, a former employee, or relative of an employee of Her Majesty’s Government, or have been within the last two years from the opening of Chevening applications (including British embassies/high commissions; the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy; Department for International Trade; the Ministry of Defence; and the Home Office), or a staff member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities.
• Employees, former employees, or relatives of an employee of Chevening Partner organisations are eligible to apply, but if the employment took place within the last two years, you cannot receive a Chevening Partner Award from the organisation from which you work, previously worked, or are affiliated with through relatives.
• Have previously studied in the UK with funding from a UK Government-funded scholarship.

How to Apply for the Chevening Scholarship

Please follow the following instructions to apply for Chevening Scholarship:

1. Choose your country from here, then choose Chevening Scholarship.
2. Create an account.
3. Fill your profile with your personal information, save the data and validate your profile, then start your application.
4. Complete the quiz to assure your eligibility for the Scholarship.
5. Fill the application with the required data and prepare the following documents:
   • Completed education documents.
   • English language qualification.
   • Conditional offers for proposed courses of study (up to three).
   • Unconditional offers for proposed courses of study (up to three) (You must upload at least one unconditional offer by July).
   • References (If you are invited to interview you will be invited to upload two references).
   • Passport / ID document.
6. Submit the application.

Documents Required

Applicants need to submit the following documents when applying for the Chevening Scholarship:

• Academic Transcripts: Official transcripts and certificates from previous studies.
• Reference Letters: Two professional or academic reference letters.
• Passport or National ID: A valid passport or national identification document.
• University Offer Letters: At least one unconditional offer from a UK university.

Application Deadline

The application timeline for the Chevening Scholarship 2026 is as follows:

• Applications Open: August 6, 2025
• Applications Close: November 5, 2025

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)