Chevening Scholarship Application and Interview Preparation Guide

Preparing for Chevening requires deep reflection on leadership, networking, and career experiences, supported by clear and evidence-based examples that show both achievement and growth. Essays should be structured, authentic, and written in line with Chevening’s mission of developing future leaders who will return home to make a meaningful impact. Use measurable results to strengthen your stories and ensure each essay highlights a different aspect of your journey. For the interview, treat it as a continuation of your essays, remain consistent, expand confidently on your examples, and demonstrate vision, ambition, and commitment to your country’s development. This is a guide to help aspiring recipients with framing their responses for success.

1. Chevening Scholarship
Essays and Interview Prep Kit
Preparing for Chevening requires reflection on leadership, networking, and career experiences with
clear, evidence-based examples. Essays should be structured, authentic, and in line with Chevening’s
mission. In the interview, stay consistent with your essays, expand confidently on your stories, and
demonstrate both vision and commitment to your country’s development.
By Leneka Terika Scott,
Chevening Scholar 2024/2025
Jamaica

2. Leadership and Influence & Networking Essays
Leadership and Influence
Chevening seeks future leaders. They want applicants who
can demonstrate that they have not only held positions of
responsibility, but have also used those opportunities to
inspire, influence, and achieve measurable impact.
Networking
Networking is a core Chevening value. They want to see that
you can build and maintain relationships that create
opportunities, solve problems, and deliver benefits for both
you and others.
Leadership Essay Tips
•Do not simply list positions or titles. Instead, describe what
you actually accomplished in those roles.
•Highlight both formal leadership (for example, leading an
organization, project, or team) and informal leadership
(mentoring, guiding peers, or initiating a new idea).
•Use evidence of impact: numbers, growth, improvements,
or testimonies.
•Structure your examples using the STAR method
(Situation, Task, Action, Result).
Example 1 (formal leadership): "As President of the
University Debate Society, I recognized that first-year
students were underrepresented in competitions. I
introduced a peer-mentorship programme where senior
debaters trained first-year members weekly. As a result,
participation increased by 60%, and three of those students
went on to represent the university at national
tournaments."
Example 2 (informal leadership): "When schools in my
community struggled with online learning during the
pandemic, I organized a group of university volunteers to
provide free tutoring sessions on weekends. Within six
months, we reached over 120 students. The average
improvement in their grades was 15 percentage points."
Questions to help you think:
•When have you convinced others to follow your idea or
vision?
•What challenges did you face as a leader, and how did you
overcome them?
•What measurable outcomes came from your leadership?
Networking Essay Tips
•Show that networking is purposeful. It should not appear
as casual socializing, but rather as building strategic,
collaborative connections.
•Give examples of how networking has produced tangible
results, such as partnerships, new opportunities, or joint
projects.
•Include both local and international networking.
•Demonstrate that you understand networking as a two-
way process—mutual benefit, not one-sided gain.
Example 1 (local networking): "I co-founded a recycling
initiative but faced challenges in funding. By reaching out
to the city's municipal office, we secured financial support
for waste bins. Additionally, through a partnership with
private company X, we arranged free weekly pickups. This
collaboration allowed us to expand the programme to three
additional campuses."
Example 2 (international networking): "At a Caribbean youth
conference, I connected with delegates from Trinidad and
Barbados who shared similar interests in climate change
awareness. Together, we designed a social media campaign
that reached over 50,000 young people across Jamaica,
Barbados, and Grenada, raising regional awareness and
building a strong professional alliance that continues
today."
Questions to help you think:
•Who are some key individuals or organizations you have
connected with?
•How did those relationships help you achieve a goal?
•How do you plan to use Chevening's alumni and
professional networks after your studies?
The Chevening essays are the most important part of the application. They allow you to present evidence of your
leadership potential, networking skills, reasons for studying in the UK, and your career plan. Each essay is limited to 500
words, which means you must write clearly, avoid repetition, and use strong, specific examples.

3. Why Study in the UK Essay
What Chevening is looking for: Chevening wants to know why the UK, specifically, is the right place
for you to study. They expect evidence that you have researched your course choices and can
clearly connect UK study to your career goals.
Be Specific, Not Generic
Do not rely on generic phrases such as
"world-class education." Instead, explain
why the UK is particularly suited for your
field.
Name Specific Programmes
Mention specific universities, modules,
professors, or research facilities that are
relevant to your career objectives.
Highlight UK Education Features
Highlight features of the UK education
system such as practical teaching
methods, strong industry connections, or a
multicultural learning environment.
Connect to Global Influence
Show that you understand how the UK's
global influence in your sector will help you
grow.
Example: "My decision to pursue an LLM in Energy and Climate Change Law at Queen Mary
University of London is motivated by its unique module on Nuclear Energy Regulation taught by
Dr. X, a leading scholar in the field. This course directly aligns with my goal of helping Jamaica
develop a safe, modern nuclear regulatory framework. Also, consider the fact that the UK's
position as a global leader in renewable and nuclear energy policy offers a rare opportunity to
gain practical knowledge and experience that would not have been afforded to me in my home
country."
Questions to help you think:
•Why do these specific UK courses or universities fit your career goals?
•What opportunities are available in the UK that are not available elsewhere?
•How will your studies in the UK help you contribute when you return home?

4. Career Plan Essay & General Advice
Short-term
2 years: Upon return, get promoted
or start an initiative
Medium-term
5 years: Lead projects and mentor
teams
Long-term
10 years: Drive national policy and
impact
What Chevening is looking for: Chevening expects applicants to return home after their studies and apply their new skills to national or regional development. They want a clear,
realistic, and ambitious career plan.
1
Short-term (2 years)
"On returning, I will take up a policy role at the Ministry of Energy, where I can
apply the knowledge gained in the UK to strengthen renewable energy regulation."
2
Medium-term (5 years)
"I aim to advance to Deputy Director level, where I will lead the design of national
frameworks to expand renewable energy by 30%."
3
Long-term (10 years)
"I see myself as an international advisor representing Jamaica at global climate
negotiations and working with Caribbean governments to harmonize regional
energy policy."
Questions to help you think:
•Where do you see yourself in 2, 5, and 10 years?
•How will your career impact your country's development?
•How does Chevening study fill the gap between where you are now and where you need to be?
General Advice for All Essays
•Word limit: Stay within 480–490 words. Every word must count.
•Avoid repetition: Each essay should highlight a different side of your story.
Together, they must present a full picture.
•Clarity: Write in simple, direct English. Long sentences and jargon make your
essay harder to follow.
•Evidence: Always link achievements to measurable outcomes. Numbers,
percentages, and results make your essays stronger.
•Reflection: Share not only what you achieved, but also what you learned about
leadership, resilience, or collaboration.
•Strong endings: Conclude each essay with a forward-looking statement that
reinforces your vision and your readiness to lead change.
Special Note
Think of the essays as four connected pieces of a larger story.
•The Leadership essay shows what you have already done.
•The Networking essay shows how you collaborate with others.
•The UK essay shows how you will prepare for the future.
•The Career Plan essay shows where you are going and how you will make a difference.
Together, they must demonstrate that you are not only capable of excelling in your studies, but that you will return to your country as a leader, equipped to influence
policy, create change, and contribute to national and global development.

5. Interview Stage
1
Personal Introduction
•Can you please introduce yourself?
•Talk about your past, where did you
come from or how did you land here?
•Can you please introduce yourself and
tell us how you heard about the
Chevening Programme?
2
Educational Background
•Talk about your education background,
were you involved in any extracurricular
activities?
•What were your biggest achievements
during your educational journey?
•What field did you study and why?
•Have you written any articles or research
paper or had any other academic
achievement?
3
Professional Experience
•Talk about your professional background
and achievements.
•What are you doing currently? Where do
you work?
•What are the key important leadership
functions you pay attention to in your
current job/position/company etc.?
•What is your biggest achievement at your
current job?
4
Social Engagement
•Talk about your social activities,
volunteer activities, participation in
parties or social movements and your
achievements.
•Tell us about your networks, interaction
with people and/or your networking
skills.
•How have you used your network to
achieve something for yourself, company
or community?
Interviewers want to understand your complete profile, including your personal journey, educational
achievements, professional experience, and social engagement. Be prepared to discuss specific
examples that highlight your accomplishments in each area.
Preparing for a Chevening Scholarship interview requires understanding the types of questions that may be asked.
This document compiles common interview questions to help candidates prepare effectively.

6. Study Plans and UK Experience
Academic Choices
•What do you want to study and at which university?
•Why have you selected this field?
•Have you researched for your courses and what attracts
you to the programme?
•Why do you want to do your master's? You are a
successful person, as you already described, so why a
master's?
•What will your thesis be about?
•Do you want to make any change in your university
choice?
•Why the chosen university? Did you have any criteria for
choosing?
UK Experience
•Why this City? London? Birmingham? Or x?
•Will you participate in any extracurricular activities or
apply for internship or work in the UK during your stay or
when it is completed?
•How will you manage your schedule and classes during
your time in the UK?
•How will you handle being away from home, family, and
friends? What will you do when you get homesick?
•How will you balance your programme with
extracurricular activities you want to do in the UK?
•Why the UK and no other country?
Maximize
Chevening
Experience
Location
City setting and lifestyle
fit
Career
Prospects
UK Graduate outcomes
and employability
Networking
Opportunities
Chevening Alumni and
professional contacts
Course Content
Modules and skills
alignment
Academic
Reputation
UK University standing
and research
Why Chevening?
•Have you applied to any other scholarships?
•Why the UK or Chevening programme? Why not USA or any other scholarship?
•How can you contribute to Chevening network or community?
•How can the Chevening community benefit from having you?
The interviewers want to understand your motivation for choosing your specific course, university, and the UK as your study
destination. They also want to ensure you have a clear plan for making the most of your time in the UK and contributing to the
Chevening community.

7. Leadership, Networking, and Future Plans
Leadership Experience
•Tell us about a leader you admire and
what qualities make them a good
leader.
•Give an example of when you used
your leadership skills, from your work
or other place.
•Tell us about your leadership
experience.
•Did you receive pushback when
making unpopular decisions and how
did you deal with that?
•Who is your role model? What have
you learned from him? Give three
examples?
Networking Skills
•What does effective networking mean
to you?
•How has effective networking helped
you bring a positive result?
•Chevening is based on networking, do
you have this character? with
examples.
Future Plans
•Give a convincing reason that you will
return back to your country after your
studies have been completed.
•What are your short-term goals in the
next five years after your return?
•What are your long-term goals after
you return?
•What are your long-term goals for the
next 25 years?
•What do you want to fulfil in the field
in your country?
•Where do you want to be if you would
work for this
company/firm/organization in the
next 10 years?
•Outline your post graduate 5 years and
explain how Chevening will help you to
achieve it.
•What are your short-term, medium-
term and long-term plans?
What do you think are the main concerns in the field you have applied for and how will the courses contribute in solving them?
This question requires you to demonstrate your understanding of current challenges in your field and how your chosen course will equip you
to address them. Be specific about how the knowledge and skills you'll gain will help you make an impact.
1
Before Interview
Research common questions, prepare examples of leadership and
networking experiences, and clarify your future plans (as per your
essays).
2
During Interview
Be authentic, provide specific examples, and demonstrate your
commitment to returning to your country.
3
Final Question
Be prepared for: "Do you have any questions?" Have 1-2
thoughtful questions ready about the Chevening experience.
The Chevening interview process aims to identify candidates who demonstrate strong leadership potential, networking abilities, and a clear
vision for how they will use their UK education to make a positive impact in their home countries. Prepare concrete examples that showcase
these qualities.