Chevening Scholarship 2027: Eligibility, Deadline & How to Apply

By Olami, AbroadPilot · Reviewed September 2026

The Chevening Scholarship is the UK government’s flagship international scholarship programme, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and partner organisations. It offers fully funded, one-year master’s study at any UK university to emerging leaders from around the world. Crucially, Chevening is not an academic prize — selection is built around leadership potential, networking ability, and a credible plan to create positive change back home.

In return for full funding, scholars commit to returning to their home country for at least two years after the award ends. This guide walks through everything you need to know to apply with confidence.

What the Chevening Scholarship covers

Chevening is a fully funded award. For your one-year master’s, it covers:

• Full university tuition fees
• A monthly living stipend
• Return economy airfare to the UK
• An arrival allowance and a homeward departure allowance
• The cost of one UK visa application
• A travel grant to attend Chevening events in the UK

Who is eligible for Chevening?

You must meet every core requirement before applying. The main criteria are:

• Citizenship: be a citizen of a Chevening-eligible country or territory (this includes Nigeria, Ghana, India and many others). You cannot hold British or dual-British citizenship, with limited exceptions.
• Return home: commit to returning to your home country for at least two years after your scholarship ends.
• Work experience: have at least 2,800 hours of work experience — roughly two years of full-time work, though it can be accumulated over a longer period.
• Degree: hold an undergraduate degree strong enough for entry onto a UK master’s programme.
• Course choices: apply to three different, eligible UK master’s courses and secure an unconditional offer from at least one.
• No age limit: there is no maximum age — awards have gone to applicants in their 40s and 50s.

Chevening deadline and timeline

Chevening runs on a single global cycle each year — the same deadline applies to every country. The 2026-27 cycle has now closed; the next (2027-28) cycle is expected to follow the usual pattern: applications open in early August 2026 and close in early October 2026 at 12:00 UTC. The online system locks at the deadline, with no exceptions.

Based on the most recent cycle, the rest of the journey looks like this:

• Applications sifted against eligibility — from October
• Reading committee assessments — October to January
• Shortlisting for interview — around mid-February
• Interviews at British embassies and high commissions — March to April
• Results announced — from mid-June
• Unconditional UK university offer due — early July
• Studies begin in the UK — September / October

Always confirm the live dates on the official Chevening application timeline before you apply.

How to apply for the Chevening Scholarship: step by step

Everything is submitted online through the official Chevening application system during the application window.

1. Confirm eligibility. Check your citizenship, work-experience hours and degree against the official criteria before you start.
2. Choose three UK courses. Select three different, eligible UK master’s programmes that fit your career plan.
3. Create your application. Register on the online application system and save your unique access code — you’ll use it at every stage.
4. Write the four essays. Answer the leadership, networking, studying-in-the-UK, and career-plan questions (100–500 words each). Be authentic, specific and evidence-based — Chevening discourages AI-written answers.
5. Submit before the deadline. Send your application before the October closing date; the system locks at the deadline.
6. Upload documents if shortlisted. Provide two references, photo ID and your degree certificate at least seven working days before your interview.
7. Interview. Attend your interview at the British embassy or high commission in your country (held March–April).
8. Secure your offer. If selected, submit an unconditional offer from one of your UK courses by the July deadline, then begin study that autumn.

Tips for a strong Chevening application

The essays decide most applications. Use specific, real examples of leadership and networking rather than general claims, show a clear and credible plan for impact when you return home, and connect your chosen courses directly to that plan. Proofread carefully and write everything in your own voice.

Frequently asked questions

Is Chevening fully funded?

Yes. It covers tuition, a living stipend, return airfare, allowances and one visa application for a one-year UK master’s.

Do I need IELTS or TOEFL to apply?

Chevening itself does not require an English test to apply, but the UK universities you apply to will have their own English-language requirements for admission.

Is there an age limit?

No. There is no upper age limit for Chevening.

Apply or verify details on the official site: chevening.org/apply. Deadlines can change, so always confirm the current dates on the official Chevening timeline before applying.

Also eligible for the Commonwealth? See Chevening vs Commonwealth, compared directly to check which actually fits before you commit months to either application. Explore more fully funded options on our Scholarships hub, including the McCall MacBain Scholarship (Canada), DAAD Scholarship (Germany) and Fulbright Foreign Student Program (USA).

Olami

Olami is the founder and lead writer at AbroadPilot. He started the site after going through the visa process himself — a German student visa in 2019 and a Canadian work permit in 2023 — and learning first-hand how confusing official immigration language can be, how often rules change, and how easy it is to lose money to bad advice. He spent three years as an international education and travel consultant, helping people source and verify the information that landed their visas and planned their trips. Every guide on AbroadPilot is built from official sources — embassy pages, government immigration portals, and .gov fee schedules — and reviewed as requirements change. AbroadPilot does not sell visas or applications; it is a free resource to help readers apply with confidence.