Chevening Scholarship 2027: Eligibility, Funding and How to Apply (2027 Cycle Closed)

Intro

The Chevening Scholarship is the UK government’s flagship global scholarship programme, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). Each year it enables emerging leaders from 160+ countries to complete a one-year taught master’s degree in the UK, with tuition, living costs, travel and visa fees covered.

Important for the 2027-28 cycle: applications are now CLOSED. The portal opened on 4 August 2026 and closed on 6 October 2026 at 11:00 UTC, and there is no late-submission route. If you missed it, this guide tells you exactly what Chevening covers, who is eligible, and how to build a strong application for the next cycle (expected to open for the 2028-29 intake — dates not yet announced).

Key points

Chevening 2027-28 applications closed on 6 October 2026, 11:00 UTC — you can no longer apply for this cycle.
A full Chevening Scholarship covers tuition fees, a monthly living stipend, return economy travel, the cost of one UK visa application, arrival and departure allowances, a travel top-up allowance, and up to £75 towards TB testing where required. MBA tuition is capped at £22,000.
Eligibility: citizen of an eligible country (Pakistan is eligible), an undergraduate degree completed at least two years before the deadline, at least 2,800 hours (about two years) of work experience gained after your degree, and an unconditional offer from one of three eligible UK master’s courses by the offer deadline.
You must commit to returning to your home country for at least two years after the scholarship ends.
Applying is free. Anyone charging for “guaranteed” Chevening selection is running a scam.

Status of the 2027-28 cycle
What a full Chevening Scholarship covers
Eligibility checklist
Who cannot apply
How the selection process works
The four application essays
Documents you will need
Notes for applicants from Pakistan
Beware of Chevening scams
FAQs
Sources and related guides

1. Status of the 2027-28 cycle

The 2027-28 application window has closed. Here is where the cycle stands now (all dates confirmed from Chevening’s official application timeline):

Stage	Dates
Applications opened	4 August 2026, 11:00 UTC
Applications closed	6 October 2026, 11:00 UTC
Eligibility sifting	From October 2026
Reading committees assess applications	Mid-October 2026 to January 2027
Interview shortlist announced	Mid-February 2027
Interviews at British embassies/high commissions	March to April 2027
Results announced	From mid-June 2027
Deadline for an unconditional university offer	8 July 2027, 17:00 UK time
Studies begin	September/October 2027

If you submitted an application before 6 October 2026, your work now is to keep pursuing your three UK course choices and securing an unconditional offer — you need at least one by 8 July 2027 to take up an award. If you did not submit, use the rest of this guide to prepare for the next cycle.

2. What a full Chevening Scholarship covers

According to Chevening’s official Terms and Conditions (August 2026), a full Chevening Scholarship normally comprises:

Payment of tuition fees for your one-year taught master’s course
Economy travel to and from your country of residence by an approved route — for you only
An arrival allowance, paid once you have arrived in the UK
The cost of an entry clearance (visa) application — for you only
A departure allowance, paid when you arrange to leave the UK at the end of your award
A contribution of up to £75 towards TB testing, where required for the visa
A travel top-up allowance to attend Chevening events
A monthly personal living allowance (stipend) for accommodation and living expenses — the amount depends on whether you study inside or outside London, and rates are reviewed every year. Your Final Award Letter states your exact rate.

Two exceptions to note:

MBA programmes: Chevening’s tuition contribution for MBA courses is capped at £22,000. You cover any amount above that.
Part awards: in some cases the embassy or high commission offers a part award — tuition fees only, or stipend and allowances only — with you funding the difference. In Taiwan and Singapore the scholarship covers tuition fees and one visa application only.

The scholarship does not pay flights or visa costs for a spouse or children. Scholars also get access to Chevening’s programme of exclusive events — Chevening says it organises more than 60 events for scholars each year.

3. Eligibility checklist

You must meet all of these to be eligible. Missing even one means automatic disqualification, however strong the rest of your application.

Citizenship: You are a citizen of a Chevening-eligible country or territory. Pakistan is eligible. (British citizens and dual British citizens are not eligible, with narrow exceptions for British Overseas Territories citizens and BN(O) holders applying from Hong Kong.)
Return home: You commit to returning to your country of citizenship for a minimum of two years after your award ends.
Degree: You have completed all components of an undergraduate degree that enables entry onto a UK postgraduate programme — typically equivalent to an upper second-class (2:1) honours degree — at least two years before the application deadline.
Work experience: At least 2,800 hours of work experience, acquired after completing your undergraduate degree. This is roughly equal to two years of full-time work, but part-time work, remote work, voluntary work, and paid or unpaid internships all count.
Course choices: You apply to three different eligible one-year taught master’s courses at UK universities. They should be similar in content so they demonstrate commitment to a specific career goal.
Unconditional offer: You must hold an unconditional offer from at least one of your three course choices by the offer deadline (8 July 2027 for this cycle).
No age limit: There is no upper age limit.
English: Chevening itself has no English language requirement — but your chosen universities will have their own, so check their pages before applying.

One-year taught master’s courses only: PhDs, research master’s (MRes) degrees, undergraduate programmes, distance-learning and part-time courses are not eligible.

4. Who cannot apply

You are ineligible if you:

Hold British or dual British citizenship (see the narrow exceptions above);
Are living in the UK at the time of application (excluding the British Overseas Territories);
Have previously studied in the UK with a UK government-funded scholarship;
Are an employee, certain former employees, or an immediate relative of an employee of a restricted organisation — such as a UK government department, the British Council, a Chevening partner university, or their wholly owned subsidiaries;
Work under contract on a British Council programme or project, or are an immediate relative of someone who does.

If any of these apply to you, do not apply — Chevening says such applications are not considered.

5. How the selection process works

Apply online (free) through chevening.org during the application window, selecting your country. You register an account and keep your access code safe.
Eligibility sifting — applications that fail the checklist are filtered out.
Reading committees assess your application, with heavy weight on the four essays.
Shortlisting — around mid-February for this cycle. Shortlisted candidates upload documents.
Interview at the British embassy or high commission in your country (in Pakistan, the British High Commission in Islamabad), in English, where you give specific examples of the skills you described.
Results from mid-June 2027, then the unconditional-offer deadline of 8 July 2027.

Chevening confirms you may apply again in a later cycle if unsuccessful — reapplying neither advantages nor disadvantages you.

6. The four application essays

Chevening says the essays are where applications are won or lost. The four essay areas, all equally weighted, ask for evidence of your leadership potential and networking skills, your personal goals and how they will benefit your home country, and a clear understanding of how the scholarship and your chosen master’s courses will help you achieve those goals.

Advice drawn from Chevening’s own guidance:

Leadership comes in many forms — you do not need managerial experience, but share concrete examples of leading a project, group or team, ideally in a professional context.
Be specific about how your three course choices connect to your career plan.
Do not submit AI-generated answers — Chevening does not permit them.
Re-read and improve your essays if you reapply; committees only assess your latest application.

7. Documents you will need

Valid passport or national ID (for the application)
Undergraduate degree certificate and transcripts (by the interview stage)
Names and contact details of two referees — professional or academic, not relatives or close personal friends. They are only contacted if you are shortlisted.
Unconditional offer from one of your three course choices (by 8 July 2027)

You do not need an unconditional offer at the time you submit your Chevening application.

8. Notes for applicants from Pakistan

Pakistan is a Chevening-eligible country and one of the programme’s largest recipient countries, with hundreds of Pakistani alumni over its history.
Interviews for Pakistani applicants are conducted at the British High Commission in Islamabad. Prepare for a panel interview focused on your leadership narrative and career plan, not academic subject questions.
The two-year return-home commitment is strictly enforced for Pakistani scholars — build a credible post-study plan into your application.
Start UK university applications early: popular programmes (for example at LSE, UCL and King’s College London) fill quickly, and you need an unconditional offer by 8 July 2027.
Pakistani applicants may need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge separately as part of the UK visa process — check the latest UK visa rules on gov.uk before budgeting.

9. Beware of Chevening scams

Chevening states clearly that applying is free — you do not need to pay anyone to apply, and Chevening does not endorse or work with third parties that charge for application support. No one can “secure” a Chevening award for you. Walk away if anyone:

asks for an application, processing or “express review” fee;
guarantees your selection;
claims insider access to the selection committee or the embassy;
contacts you from a personal email address (Gmail, Yahoo) rather than an official domain such as @chevening.org or @fcdo.gov.uk.

If you were already selected and someone demands money for your award, report it through Chevening’s official contact form on chevening.org.

10. FAQs

Can I still apply for Chevening 2027-28?

No. The 2027-28 portal closed on 6 October 2026, and late submissions are not accepted. Prepare for the next cycle instead.

When will the next Chevening cycle open?

Chevening has not announced dates for the 2028-29 cycle. Check chevening.org rather than trusting rumoured dates.

Can I apply before finishing my undergraduate degree?

No — you must have completed all components of your degree by the time you submit your Chevening application.

Does my master’s degree disqualify me?

No — you can still apply if you already hold a master’s degree, provided you meet your chosen universities’ other entry requirements.

Can I apply if I studied in the UK before?

Yes, as long as you did not receive financial benefit from the UK government.

Does Chevening cover my family’s costs?

No — travel and visa support is for you only.

Can I apply for an MBA?

Yes, but Chevening caps its MBA tuition contribution at £22,000 and you pay the difference.

Sources and official links

Chevening official website
Chevening official application timeline (2027-28)
Chevening Applications Q&A (official, confirms essays, course rules, MBA cap, work experience)
Chevening Terms and Conditions for Scholarships, August 2026 (official PDF — what the award comprises)
Chevening FAQs (official)
University of Leicester Chevening page confirming the 6 October 2026 deadline