Chevening eligibility criteria

You must meet the eligibility criteria set out on this page to apply for a Chevening Scholarship. Ineligible applications will be rejected.

To be eligible for a Chevening Scholarship you must: 

  • Be a citizen of a Chevening-eligible country or territory.  
  • Commit to returning to your home country for at least two years after your scholarship ends.
  • Have at least two years (equivalent to 2,800 hours) of work experience.
  • Hold an undergraduate degree that qualifies you for a UK master’s programme. 
  • Apply to three different and eligible  UK university courses. You must have received an unconditional offer from at least one of these course choices by the references and education documents deadline listed on the application timeline.

Two updates to Chevening’s eligibility criteria new this year

What does this mean?

Experience gained while studying will no longer be eligible.

Work experience gained after graduation can include:

  • Full-time employment
  • Part-time employment
  • Voluntary work
  • Paid or unpaid internships

Read more about our work experience requirements.

Changes include:

New and updated essay questions, including a stronger focus on how your course and university choices connect to global priority areas, such as:

  • Promoting growth and prosperity
  • Building resilience in a climate-vulnerable world
  • Strengthening security and stability in a volatile world
  • Supporting development for more inclusive and effective societies

We’ve also reduced the word limit for essay responses from 500 to 300 words, to encourage you to share personal examples of your experience with greater clarity and focus.

Read more about our application criteria.

Why have these changes been made?

We’re looking for people who show the greatest potential to lead positive change in their communities, countries, and around the world.

At a time of unprecedented global challenges, the Chevening network offers a real cause for hope. Our community of leaders and decision-makers is already making a measurable impact in areas like climate action, economic growth, and inclusive governance.

But to remain effective, we must continue to evolve.

These updates to our work experience requirements and application questions are designed to help us identify candidates with the greatest potential to lead with impact, and to ensure the Chevening community remains one of the most diverse, dynamic, and solutions-focused networks in the world.

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 country not eligible for Chevening. However, if you are a citizen of an eligible country and hold refugee status in another eligible country, you are eligible for a scholarship.
  • Are an employee, former employee, or relative of an employee of the UK government, British Embassies/High Commissions, the British Council, or sponsoring UK 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 on a UK government-funded scholarship.

Please note that having a master’s degree does not prevent you from applying for a second master’s degree in the UK.

Are you ready to apply?

Take our eligibility quiz to check.

Further guidance

Apply for an award

Applications for Chevening Scholarships are now closed.