CHEVENING GUIDANCE

FOR APPLICANTS

AUGUST 2013

Who can be awarded a Chevening Scholarship? ....................................3

What does a Chevening Scholarship enable a candidate to study? ........3
Funding and administration .....................................................................4
Eligibility..................................................................................................4
Selection criteria .....................................................................................5
English language requirement ................................................................6
Applying to your university/universities ...................................................6
Applying for a Chevening Scholarship ....................................................7
What happens next? Selection and interview..........................................7
Short listing ....................................................................................................................... 7
Interviews and final selection ............................................................................................. 8

Applying for your visa..............................................................................9

A typical Chevening applicant journey .................................................. 10
Who to contact ................................................................................................................ 10

Value of a Chevening Scholarship ........................................................ 11

Wider benefits of a Chevening Scholarship ..................................................................... 11

Other routes for applying for a Chevening Scholarship ......................... 11

Appendix A ...................................................................................................................... 12
Step by step user guide to submitting your application using the online eChevening
application form............................................................................................................ 12
1.

Logging on ........................................................................................................ 12

2.

Completing the online form ................................................................................ 13

3.

Screenshots of application form pages .............................................................. 14

4.

Submitting your application form ....................................................................... 19

5.

How to apply if your country of citizenship is NOT listed on eChevening ........... 19

6.

How to apply for a co-funded central partnership............................................... 29

Chevening Scholarships are the UK governments global

scholarship programme. Established in 1983, Chevening is an
internationally prestigious scheme with over 42,000 alumni.
In 2012-13 there were over 700 Chevening Scholars studying at
universities across the UK.

Who can be awarded a Chevening Scholarship?

Chevening Scholarships are currently offered in 118 countries.
Chevening is a merit-based, open, international competition. The
Scholarships are awarded to talented individuals who demonstrate the
potential to become future leaders, decision-makers and opinion
formers.

Scholars come from a wide range of fields; including politics, government, business, the
media, the environment, civil society, religion, and academia.

What does a Chevening Scholarship enable a

candidate to study?
Generally, Chevening Scholarships enable candidates to study a one-year postgraduate
Master's course in any discipline at any UK university. Applications from all fields are
accepted; however, the country pages of the Chevening website contain details of priority
subject areas which vary from country to country.
More information about what courses are funded by a Chevening Scholarship can
be found in point 18 of the Terms and Conditions.

Funding and administration

Chevening Scholarships are funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and
partner organisations. Candidates who are short listed are interviewed by the British
Embassy or High Commission (and partner representative, if appropriate) in their home
country. The programme is administered on behalf of the UK Foreign and Commonwealth
Office by the Chevening Scholarships Secretariat which is based in London.

Eligibility
To qualify for a Chevening Scholarship, you MUST:

Be a citizen of a
Chevening-eligible
country at the time of
applying for the
award, and intend to
return there at the
end of the period of
study.

Hold a degree that is

equivalent to at least
an upper secondclass honours
degree in the UK.

Have completed at
least two years' work
or equivalent
experience before
applying.

Demonstrate that
you have achieved
the minimum
Chevening English
language
requirement.

Be able to obtain the

correct visa, and
receive an
unconditional offer
from a UK university.

For further details of eligibility criteria please refer to Section 2 of the Terms and
Conditions.

Selection criteria
Chevening Scholarships are for high-calibre graduates with the personal, intellectual and interpersonal qualities necessary for leadership. You will need to
demonstrate that you meet ALL of the selection criteria below:

Personal, intellectual
and interpersonal
qualities necessary for
leadership in home
country.
Motivation to develop
career in order to
establish a position of
leadership within 10
years.

Able to successfully
complete proposed
course of study in the
UK.

Use studies and

experience in UK to
benefit themselves,
their country and the
UK.

A clear postScholarship plan,

outlining career
objectives and how to
achieve them.

Commitment to
networking within
Chevening community,
and alumni network in
home country.

Commitment to
networking to find
global solutions.

English language requirement

You MUST meet Chevenings minimum English language requirement by
23 June 2014.
You can fulfil the Chevening English language requirement by taking an English language
test and achieving the scores specified in the Terms and Conditions or by claiming an
exemption based on the UKBA exemption lists outlined in the Terms and Conditions. You
should take an English language test as early as possible, and well in advance of the
deadline. For Chevening candidates, no pre-sessionals are allowed in any instance (this
applies to self-funded pre-sessionals too).
Please note that Chevening does not pay for costs associated with English language.
If there are no English language test centres in your country please see your country page
for further guidance.
For full details of English language requirements please refer to section 4 of the
Terms and Conditions.

Applying to your university/universities

You are expected to submit applications to UK universities before, or at the same time as,
applying for a Chevening Scholarship. In the majority of cases you must apply for a one-year
Masters course. More information about researching UK courses and universities can be
found on the Chevening website at www.chevening.org/study/resources. You must ensure
you meet the academic and English language requirements for your chosen course of study.
You will be asked to state the names of three chosen UK Masters' courses - a reach
course, a likely course, and a safety course - and universities on the Chevening
application form. Only Masters' courses starting in September/October 2014 are eligible.
Remember that if your application is successful you will be expected to attend your first
choice university course (your reach course) and you will not be able to amend your course
selection. In cases where your Chevening Scholarship is tied to a specific university or
course only, please see the co-funded central partnership section below.
More information about what courses are funded by a Chevening Scholarship can
be found in point 18 of the Terms and Conditions. Explanation of what
constitutes a reach course, a likely course and a safety course can be found in
point 21 of the Terms and Conditions.

Applying for a Chevening Scholarship

To apply for a Chevening Scholarship, you must complete and submit an online eChevening
application form.
Applications will open on 1 September 2013 and close in November 2013. The opening
and closing dates for each country will be available on the country pages of the Chevening
website. Applications received after the closing date for your country will not be considered.
You must set out clearly in your Personal Statement on the application form how you meet
the Chevening selection criteria.
For further information about how to apply for a Chevening Scholarship please see
section 6 of the Terms and Conditions. For step by step instructions on how to
submit your application using the online eChevening application form please refer
to Appendix A of this guidance.

What happens next? Selection and interview

Short listing

Applications are initially reviewed against the Chevening eligibility criteria, and are
then assessed by a panel of academic and regional specialists based at the
Chevening Scholarships Secretariat.

This panel makes recommendations to the local British Embassy or High

Commission about which candidates to short list for interview.

The local British Embassy or British High Commission will then make the final
decision about which candidates they will invite for interview.

Interviews and final selection

Interviews will be held in April 2014.

If you are not invited to attend an interview, you will be informed that your
application has not been successful by the Chevening Scholarships Secretariat.
Due to the high volume of applications received, it is not possible to give
feedback on individual applications.

The Chevening Scholarships Secretariat will write to the referees that you
provided on your application form to request references. Once you are invited for
interview you must also contact your referees to ensure that they provide a
reference (in English) in good time to be considered by the selection panel.

If you are successful at the interview stage, you will be assigned a Programme
Officer at the Chevening Scholarships Secretariat, who will request that you
provide additional information and documents, including unconditional offers from
your preferred university/universities. You will also be required to undertake a
medical examination at your own expense.

You should not make any financial commitment or jeopardise your

current employment until your Scholarship is confirmed and a Final
Award Letter is issued.

More information about the selection and interview process can be found in
section 6 of the Terms and Conditions.

Applying for your visa

You should be aware of the following:

At the time of applying for your visa, you should ensure that you are: 1) in your
home country or 2) able, if required, to travel to a neighbouring country for your
biometrics appointment.

Some countries require TB testing: you should organise this as early as possible
(you can apply up to six months before your arrival in the UK) as the process can
take several months.

If you need ATAS clearance you can apply up to six months before your arrival in
the UK.

Once you have received your Final Award Letter confirming your Scholarship, you should
immediately start your visa application.
You should read the Home Office details of visa processes in your country of citizenship at
www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/countries for full instructions on how to apply for a visa.

A typical Chevening applicant journey

1

2
Research
and choose
three
courses

3
Apply online
by regional
deadline

9
Complete
medical and
client care
forms by 15
Jul

4
Long listed by
31 Jan

10
Obtain
unconditional
offer from UK
university by
15 Jul

Short listed
by 17 Feb

Attend
interview:
31 Mar
18 Apr

11
Fulfil all
award
conditions by
15 Jul

Provisional
selection
by 30 May

13

12
Receive and
sign Final
Award Letter
by 31 Jul

Visa
application
and (if
required) TB
screening
from home
country

Meet
English
language
requirement
by 23 Jun

14
Book flights
as directed
by Secretariat
in Aug/Sep

Attend predeparture
briefing in
Aug/Sep and
start course
in Sep/Oct

Who to contact

Enquiries about submitting your online application: The Chevening Scholarships Secretariat via the websites enquiry form

Enquiries about applying for a UK university course: The UK university itself

Enquiries about organising an English language test: Your local English language test provider

Enquiries about your Chevening interview: Your local British Embassy/High Commission

Enquiries about provisional selection and documentation required: Your Programme Officer at the Chevening Scholarships Secretariat

Enquiries about immigration and visas: The Senior Welfare and Immigration Officer at the Chevening Scholarships Secretariat

Enquiries about booking flights: Your Programme Officer at the Chevening Scholarships Secretariat

Enquiries about the pre-departure briefing: Your local British Embassy/High Commission

Enquiries about arriving in the UK: Your Programme Officer at the Chevening Scholarships Secretariat
10

Value of a Chevening Scholarship

A FULL Chevening Scholarship award normally comprises:

1.

Payment of tuition fees

2.

Travel to and from your country of residence

by an approved route for you only

3.

An arrival allowance

4.

The cost of an entry clearance (visa)

application for you only

5.

An excess baggage allowance

6.

A grant for the cost of preparation of a thesis

or dissertation (if required)

7.

A monthly personal living allowance (stipend)

to cover accommodation and living expenses

Please note that some Chevening Scholarships are part awards. Further details of
what a Chevening Scholarship can cover are explained in section 7 of the Terms
and Conditions.

Wider benefits of a Chevening Scholarship

The wider benefits of a Chevening Scholarship include a tailored engagement
programme, creating opportunities for Scholars to network with fellow Scholars and alumni,
the FCO, high profile speakers, and select UK organisations. Through this, the Scholarships
provide a unique opportunity for leaders of the future to build a global network of continuing
professional significance and to establish social, cultural, academic and commercial
partnerships with the UK.

Other routes for applying for a Chevening

Scholarship
You should consult the partnerships section of the website at www.chevening.org/partners
for details about partnership Chevening Scholarships for specific programmes/countries and
how to apply for these.

11

Appendix A
Step by step user guide to submitting your application using the online
eChevening application form
1.

Logging on
You can access eChevening using the following link:
https://www.chevening.fco.gov.uk/CheveningApplications/Modules/PUBLICUser/CA_Log
on.aspx

If you are a first time applicant you will need to register on the site by completing the new
user registration page and create a login ID and password (below).

It is important that you remember your own login ID as we do not keep

records of account details. If you forget your login details you will have to
start the entire process again by creating a new account.

eChevening allows partial completion of an application so you can save and return to
complete the form as many times as required. If you are a returning applicant you can
simply click on the Returning Applicants option and enter your existing login details.

12

2.

Once registered and logged onto the site the application will be presented with the
Information screen below. You will need to press OK to proceed to the next page.

Completing the online form

Once logged on, you will be presented with the Applicant Details screen, as shown
below. You will need to complete all the mandatory fields before proceeding with your
application. If your Country of Citizenship is not listed please refer to section 5. below.

Once completed you should click Save.

You can now complete the rest of the online form. Each page can be accessed by
clicking on the individual headers under the Additional Details heading at the bottom
of the Applicant Details page.

13

Below are screen shots of the individual pages. On each page once all the mandatory
details are completed, you should click OK to save details and return to the Applicant
Details page.

Screenshots of application form pages

3.

Contact Details:

Current Situation:

14

English Language and Academic Background if you meet the English language
exemption criteria:

English Language and Academic Background if you do not meet the English
language exemption criteria but have taken an English language test and have the
results:

15

English Language and Academic Background if you do not meet the English
language exemption criteria but have not yet taken a test:

Professional Background:

16

Proposed Course Details. You MUST select three courses - a reach course, a likely
course, and a safety course - and universities. If you select Not Stated in any of these
fields your application will NOT be valid. If you are applying for a Chevening Scholarship
co-funded by a central partnership please refer to section 6. below.

Details of UK Scholarship:

17

References:

Personal Statements (word limit 1,000 words):

18

Submitting your application form

4.

Once you have completed all the pages of the application form, all of the boxes should
show 100% completions and have turned green (as shown below).

At this point, click the Save button and then click the Submit button to complete your
application.
Note: Once your application form has been submitted, it is no longer possible for you to
make further changes.

How to apply if your country of citizenship is NOT listed on eChevening

5.

Not all Chevening-eligible countries are listed in the Country of Citizenship drop-down
menu on the Applicant Details page. Please refer to the instructions below if you are a
citizen of one of the following countries:

Marshall Islands
Micronesia
Cape Verde
Guinea Bissau
Republic of Congo
Sao Tome et Principe
Chad
Gabon
Equatorial Guinea
Central African Republic
Samoa
Cook Islands
Somaliland

19

If you are applying from the Marshall Islands, select Fiji as your Country of
Citizenship but list Marshall Islands in the Place of Birth field:

When you get to the Contact Details page you MUST list an address in the Marshall
Islands as your contact address:

20

If you are applying from Micronesia, select Fiji as your Country of Citizenship but list
Micronesia in the Place of Birth field:

When you get to the Contact Details page you MUST list an address in Micronesia as your
contact address:

21

If you are applying from Cape Verde or Guinea Bissau, select Senegal as your
Country of Citizenship but list Cape Verde or Guinea Bissau in the Place of Birth
field:

When you get to the Contact Details page you MUST list an address in Cape Verde or
Guinea Bissau as your contact address:

22

If you are applying from Republic of Congo, select Democratic Republic of Congo as
your Country of Citizenship but list Republic of Congo in the Place of Birth field:

When you get to the Contact Details page you MUST list an address in Republic of Congo
as your contact address:

23

If you are applying from Sao Tome et Principe, select Angola as your Country of
Citizenship but list Sao Tome et Principe in the Place of Birth field:

When you get to the Contact Details page you MUST list an address in Sao Tome et
Principe as your contact address:

24

If you are applying from Chad, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea or Central African Republic,
select Cameroon as your Country of Citizenship but list Chad, Gabon, Equatorial
Guinea or Central African Republic in the Place of Birth field:

When you get to the Contact Details page you MUST list an address in Chad, Gabon,
Equatorial Guinea or Central African Republic as your contact address:

25

If you are applying from Samoa, select New Zealand as your Country of Citizenship
but list Samoa in the Place of Birth field:

When you get to the Contact Details page you MUST list an address in Samoa as your
contact address:

26

If you are applying from the Cook Islands, select New Zealand as your Country of
Citizenship but list Cook Islands in the Place of Birth field:

When you get to the Contact Details page you MUST list an address in the Cook Islands
as your contact address:

27

If you are applying from Somaliland, select Somalia as your Country of Citizenship
but list Somaliland in the Place of Birth field:

When you get to the Contact Details page you MUST list an address in Somaliland as your
contact address:

28

How to apply for a co-funded central partnership

6.

You should read the following notes if you are applying for a Chevening Scholarship cofunded by one of the following central partnerships:

African Fellowship Trust

Chevening M/Strat Scholarship
Clore Leadership Programme
Commonwealth Broadcasting Association
HSBC
Chevening/Weidenfeld Scholarship
Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies

African Fellowship Trust

Under Proposed Course Details you must select Not Stated in each one of the
University fields, and African Fellowship Trust in each one of the Course fields:

29

Chevening M/Strat Scholarship

Under Proposed Course Details you must select University of Exeter in each one of
the University fields, and M/Strat MA Applied Security Strategy in each one of the
Course fields:

30

Clore Leadership Programme

Under Proposed Course Details you must select Not Stated in each one of the
University fields, and Clore Leadership Programme in each one of the Course fields:

31

Commonwealth Broadcasting Association

Under Proposed Course Details you must enter the University of Westminster, the
University of East Anglia, or City University London in each one of the University
fields, and CBA followed by the name of your course in brackets (only six courses are
eligible for this award, please see www.chevening.org/partners/cba/apply for further
details) in each one of the Course fields:

32

HSBC

Under Proposed Course Details you must select three universities in order of
preference in the University fields. In each one of the Course fields you must write
HSBC followed by the name of your course in brackets:

33

Chevening/Weidenfeld Scholarship

Under Proposed Course Details you must select University of Oxford in each one of
the University fields, and Weidenfeld Masters in Public Policy in each one of the
Course fields:

34

Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies

Under Proposed Course Details you must select University of Oxford in each one of
the University fields, and OCIS in each one of the Course fields:

35