General Information About the Chevening Scholarship Application and Tips

General Information About the Chevening Scholarship Application and Tips

This PDF file contains information about a Chevening Scholarship Application Information Session, where the 2023/24 Scholar Leju Benjamin Modi, from London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), shares general information, tips and conducts Q&A. The file provides demographic statistics on those who attended the call, such as 15 different countries represented, educational attainment, and work experience. The file also includes a disclaimer from the presenter/commenter stating that the information shared in the session does not guarantee selection for the scholarship.

1. Chevening Scholarship
Application Information Session 1
Leju Benjamin Modi (2023/24 Scholar)
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM)
17 August 2024
General Information About the
Chevening Scholarship
Application, Tips and Q&A

2. Chevening Application Mentors on the Call?
•Self-introductions

3. Who registered for this call?
•145 of you; 105 (72%) Males
•133/145 (92%) responded “Yes” to Bachelor’s degree attainment
•At least 2 years’ work experience? 137/145 (94%) responded “Yes
•Where’s everybody from? 15 countries! (Brunei, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia,
Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan,
Tanzania, Uganda, & Yemen)
•How many sessions to attend? 124/145 (86%) said All sessions; 11/145 (8%)
said First Session
•Ever applied for the Chevening Scholarship before?
•No = 115/145 (79%)
•Yes, once = 21/145 (14%)
•Yes, twice or more times = 9 (6%)

4. DISCLAIMER
This Information-sharing Session enlightens prospective
applicants about the Chevening Scholarship application
process. It does not guarantee anyone’s selection for the
scholarship. The views expressed in this session are not
necessarily those of the Chevening Scholarship or Excellence
Foundation for South Sudan but are those of the
presenter/commenter based on his/their experience of the
scholarship.

5. Why this session?
•Paying it forward!
•“A rising tide lifts all boats”, John F. Kennedy.
•“If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” –
Sir Isaac Newton

6. OUTLINE
•What Chevening Scholarship is
•Eligibility
•Application Timeline
•How to apply
•The essays in brief
•General tips and resource links
•Q&A

7. What is Chevening Scholarship/Fellowship?
• Fully funded (flights, accommodation, and course fees are all included) UK
government scholarships for international students from all over the world to
undertake 1-year full time Master’s course in a UK university.
•Established 1983 – 41
st
anniversary!
•Free online application, DO NOT PAY ANY MONEY!
•Over 60,000 alumni from over 160 countries and territories across the world
•Various courses and universities, check the Chevening website for more.
•The Chevening Secretariat, under the Foreign, Commonwealth and
Development Office (FCDO) in collaboration with the British Council
•Can apply as many times as you wish, until you ace it!
•Total of 1,364 scholars selected in 2023 from 71,912 applications received (~
2% selection rate) from 140 countries into 111 UK universities.

8. Eligibility – who can apply for the scholarship?
•“Outstanding emerging leaders from all over the world.” [not necessarily politicians!]
To be eligible for a Chevening Scholarship you must:
•Be a citizen of a Chevening-eligible country or territory – check website!
•Return to your country of citizenship for a minimum of two years after your award has
ended.
•Have completed all components of an undergraduate degree that will enable you to
gain entry onto a postgraduate programme at a UK university by the time you submit your
application. This is typically equivalent to an upper second-class 2:1 honours degree in
the UK but may be different depending on your course and university choice.
•Have at least two years (equivalent to 2,800 hours) of work experience.
•Apply to three different eligibleUK university coursesand receive an unconditional offer
from one of these choices by the deadline listed on theapplication timeline.
•Check the website for who’s NOT eligible!

9. Application Timelines (2025/26 Year)
AUG 6 – NOV 5, 2024:
•Applications open & close
•Start preparations EARLY!
6 NOV 2024 - JAN, 2025:
•Applications are sifted against eligibility
•Readers assess eligible applications, score,
and rank them
•Ranked applications passed back to the local
British Embassy/High Commission
MID FEB, 2025:
•Local Emb./High Com
Shortlisting for interviews;
Notifications follow
•Upload academic and
reference documents (19
th
)
26 FEB – 25 APRIL, 2025:
•Interviews world wide
EARLY SEPT - OCT, 2025:
•FLY TO THE UK!!
•Studies begin!
JUNE, 2025:
•Interview results
•Conditional Award Letters
(CALs)
JULY 11, 2025:
•Deadline for unconditional offer
•Receive Final Award Letters (FALs)
MID JUL – EARLY SEPT, 2025:
•Receive CAS
•Take TB Test, apply for visa
•Book flight to the UK

10. Can’t Keep Calm – 2
nd
time lucky!!
You,
too,
can do
it!

11. How to apply?
•Do your homework early and thoroughly!
•Read the Chevening website (Eligibility; Application Guidance; How to find a
course; Why study in the UK; FAQs, etc.)
•Decide on your course(s)/Universit(y)ies of choice to study; read about the course
and its requirements from the university webpages.
•Find your referees and inform them early!
•Prepare your academic documents, CV, etc.
•Start your online application – country-specific URL (will show you shortly).
•Write your essays in time; let other people review them – professional
colleagues, Chevening alumni, language experts, etc.!
•Revise your application/essays again and again, before submitting
•Aim to submit a week to the deadline; then work on university applications;
English language tests (if required by your university/course), etc.

12. https://www.chevening.org/

13. Parts of the Application Form
•Personal details
•Citizenship and travel documents
•Higher education history
•Work history
•Programme of study
•Referees
•Supporting statements – The Essays!
•Equal opportunities
•Submit Application

14. The essays…. How to ace them (Details in
future sessions!)
•S – situation (problem/challenge)
•T – task (needs to be undertaken)
•A – action (you took)
•R – results (quantifiable)
Each essay is NOT more than 500 words; don’t bother
giving definitions, quotes, etc.!!
The STAR method is particularly applicable to the
Leadership and Influence and Relationship Building and
Shared Learning essays
Try to give three – four examples of your relevant
experience in the STAR format; be succinct and to the
point – remember the word limits – write more with less!
Studying in the UK essay: show how well you have
researched your course/university of choice (mention
faculty, course modules, published articles, etc.) and
education, culture and life in UK
Career plan essay: signposting language; SMART career
plan/goals
S – specific
M – measurable
A – achievable/attainable
R – realistic
T – time-bound

15. Leadership and Influence Essay
Cheveningislookingforindividualswhowillbefutureleadersorinfluencersintheirhome
countries.Explainhowyoumeetthisrequirement,usingclearexamplesofyourownleadership
andinfluencingskillstosupportyouranswer.(minimumwordcount:100words,maximumword
count:500words)
•Future leaders or influencers in their home countries
•How you meet this requirement
•Examples (aim at 3 – 4!) of your own leadership and influencing skills
• NOT more than 500 words!
•STAR Method – measurable results!

16. Relationship-building and Shared Learning
(aka Networking) Essay
Cheveningislookingforindividualswithstrongprofessionalrelationship-buildingskills,whowill
engagewiththeCheveningcommunityandinfluenceandleadothersintheirchosenprofession.
Pleaseexplainhowyoubuildandmaintainrelationshipsinaprofessionalcapacity,usingclear
examplesofhowyoucurrentlydothis,andoutlinehowyouhopetousetheseskillsinthefuture.
(minimumwordcount:100words;maximumwordcount:500words)
•Strong professional relationship-building skills
•Engage community and influence and lead others – Chevening alumni
community = > 60,000!!
•How you build and maintain relationships in a professional capacity
•Clear examples of how you currently do this
•How you hope to use these skills in the future
•STAR Method – measurable results!

17. Studying in the UK Essay
Outlinewhyyouhaveselectedyourchosenthreeuniversitycourses,andexplainhowthisrelatesto
yourpreviousacademicorprofessionalexperienceandyourplansforthefuture.Pleaseenternew
informationandexampleshereandnotduplicatetheinformationyouhaveenteredonthework
experienceandeducationsectionofthisform(minimumwordcount:100words,maximumword
count:500words)
•Why the three courses/universities?
•Relationship with your previous academic or professional
experience?
•Relationship with you future plans?
•New information!!
Personal tip: Consider same/similar course in three different varsities

18. Career Plan Essay
Cheveningislookingforindividualswhohaveaclearpost-studycareerplan.Pleaseoutlineyour
immediateplansuponreturninghomeandyourlonger-termcareergoals.Youmaywishtoconsider
howtheserelatetowhattheUKgovernmentisdoinginyourcountry.(minimumwordcount:100
words,maximumwordcount:500words)
•A clear post-study career plan
•Immediate career goals – low hanging fruits!
•Mid/long-term career goals
•Relationship with UK government activities in your country?
•How will you put knowledge/skills/experience from the UK to use?
•Relationship with the SDGs?
•Consistency, coherence!!!
•SMART!!!

19. General Tips
•Be original – do not plagiarize or use AI! Correct English grammar is important!
•Give the application its due diligence – allow no room for errors!
•First research widely before applying – research on Chevening, the course you want
to study, the university you want to study at, life in the UK, UK Government projects
in your country, etc. – demonstrate wide knowledge!
•Select three different courses from one university or the same/similar course at
three different universities
•Stick to the word counts
•Use as different examples as possible, avoid repetitions
•After submitting your Chevening Scholarship application, apply to as many
universities/courses as possible to improve chances of offer of admission.
•Watch YouTube videos! A lot of them on how to write your essays best.
Remember the 5Ps: Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance! Plan Properly!

20. Important Resources/Links – use them!
•FAQs (for different audiences, including applicants) -
https://www.chevening.org/faqs/?chevening_audience=applicants
•The Scholarships (eligibility, timelines, guidance, Course Finder, etc.) -
https://www.chevening.org/scholarships/
•Eligibility for Chevening Fellowship –
https://www.chevening.org/fellowships/who-can-apply/
•Applying (choose country and appropriate award (scholarship or
fellowship), etc.) - https://www.chevening.org/apply/
•Reference guide -
https://www.chevening.org/scholarships/guidance/references/
•Chevening 2023 Report -https://www.chevening.org/impact/chevenings-
2022-2023-impact-report/
•Common application errors -
https://www.chevening.org/scholarships/guidance/common-errors/

21. Our Application Mentorship Offer for You….
Session 2: Writing Compelling Leadership & Networking
Essays – Saturday 7
th
Sept 2024
Session 3: Writing Outstanding Studying in the UK and
Career Plan Essays – 21
st
Sept 2024
Completed Essays Submission for Review & Feedback
via email: 21
st
Sept – 1700 GMT, 4
th
Oct 2024 (First Come
First Served)

22. Thanks for Listening!
•Additions/comments from Cheveners
•Questions from audience
•Best of luck with your application for
2025/26!