Chevening Scholarships 2026–27 – Fully Funded UK Master’s Program for Global Emerging Leaders
Chevening Scholarships, funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and partner organizations, support outstanding mid-career professionals from around the world to pursue one-year taught master’s degrees in the UK. Since 1983, the programme has welcomed over 60,000 alumni spanning more than 160 countries.(Chevening)
What the Scholarship Covers
Chevening recipients receive a fully funded package including:
- UK university tuition fees
- Monthly living allowance
- Round-trip travel costs to and from the UK
- Arrival and departure allowances
- Visa application fee
- Optional travel grant to attend Chevening events within the UK(Chevening)
Who Is Eligible?
Applicants must:
- Be citizens of a Chevening-eligible country (British or dual British citizens are generally ineligible)(Chevening)
- Hold an undergraduate degree that qualifies for UK master’s entry
- Have at least two years (2,800 hours) of professional work experience post-graduation—experience during studies no longer counts(Chevening)
- Apply to three eligible UK university programmes, and hold at least one unconditional offer by the official deadline(Chevening)
- Commit to returning to their home country for a minimum of two years after completing studies(Chevening)
Selection Criteria & Experience
Chevening seeks candidates with:
- Demonstrated leadership potential
- A clear vision for driving impact in their home country
- Alignment between chosen courses and global development priorities such as climate resilience, inclusive governance, and social innovation(Chevening, Chevening)
Scholarship holders will join a transformative network of global leaders, with exclusive access to academic, cultural, and professional opportunities throughout the UK and beyond.(Chevening, Study UK)
Application Timeline & Process
- Applications 2026–27 open: 5 August 2025
- Applications close: 7 October 2025
- Interviews and selections occur between late 2025 and early 2026
- Scholarship term: begins autumn 2026 (typically September/October)(Study UK, Chevening)
Candidates apply online via the official portal, with evaluations managed in partnership with British embassies. Final offers are communicated by June 2026.(Study UK, Chevening)
Why Choose Chevening?
- Globally recognized as one of the most prestigious scholarship programmes for leadership development
- Provides access to world-class UK master’s education and extensive networks
- Afterward, alumni join a vibrant community of over 60,000 Cheveners, sharing lifelong opportunities and impact initiatives(Study UK, Wikipedia)