Applications for the Chevening Scholarship 2026-2027 are now closed. According to the official Chevening website at chevening.org, the application deadline was October 7, 2025 at 12:00 UTC. If you applied before this deadline, shortlisted candidates are being invited to interview from mid-February 2026, with final results announced in mid-June 2026.
For those who missed the 2026-27 cycle, applications for Chevening Scholarship 2027-2028 will open in August 2026.
My name is Babatunde Oladepo, and I created NG Career to help students access verified scholarship information. This guide covers the current timeline for 2026-27 applicants awaiting results, comprehensive interview preparation guidance, and everything you need to know to prepare a competitive application for the next cycle.
Chevening Scholarship 2026 Current Status
According to the official Chevening application timeline at chevening.org/scholarships/application-timeline:
| Stage | Status/Date |
|---|---|
| Applications Opened | August 5, 2025 at 12:00 UTC |
| Applications Closed | October 7, 2025 at 12:00 UTC |
| Eligibility Sifting | October 2025 |
| Reading Committee Assessments | October 2025 to January 2026 |
| Interview Invitations | Mid-February 2026 |
| Interviews | March to April 2026 |
| Results Announced | Mid-June 2026 |
| Unconditional Offer Deadline | July 9, 2026 at 17:00 BST |
| Studies Begin | September/October 2026 |
Chevening Scholarship 2026 Results: When Will They Be Announced?
According to the official Chevening application timeline, results will be announced from mid-June 2026 onwards.
According to chevening.org: “After months of preparation and trepidation, successful candidates will experience jubilation when interview results are announced from mid-June onwards.”
Important note: According to the official Chevening website, results are released gradually, so you may receive your results sooner or later than others. This does not reflect the status of your application.
What is the Chevening Scholarship?
According to the official Chevening website and chevening.org/resource-hub, Chevening is the UK Government’s flagship international awards programme, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) alongside partner organisations. It offers exceptional future leaders the chance to pursue a fully funded master’s degree in the UK and to join a global network already making impacts in fields such as climate action, economic prosperity, and conflict recovery.
According to the official Chevening interview guidance: “Your Chevening interview is your chance to show how you’ll use a world-class UK education to return home, lead with purpose, and work with the UK and the Chevening network to tackle global challenges.”
How Much Money Does Chevening Give?
According to the official Chevening website, the scholarship is fully funded and covers:
| Benefit | Coverage |
|---|---|
| University Tuition Fees | 100% covered |
| Monthly Living Allowance | Stipend provided throughout study period |
| Travel Costs | Economy class return flights to and from UK |
| Visa Application | Entry clearance cost covered |
| Arrival Allowance | One-time payment on arrival |
| Travel Grant | For Chevening events within UK |
| Additional Grants | To cover essential expenditure |
Bottom line: Chevening is a 100% scholarship. You pay nothing for tuition, living costs, travel, or visa.
For general scholarship application guidance, see our article on how to apply for scholarships.
Chevening Scholarship Eligibility Requirements
Basic Eligibility Criteria
According to the official Chevening eligibility page at chevening.org/resource-hub/guidance/eligibility:
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Citizenship | Must be a citizen of a Chevening-eligible country or territory |
| Work Experience | Minimum 2,800 hours (approximately 2 years full-time equivalent) |
| Education | Undergraduate degree that qualifies for a UK master’s programme |
| University Applications | Must apply to 3 different eligible UK university courses |
| Unconditional Offer | Must receive at least one unconditional offer by July 9, 2026 at 17:00 BST |
| Return Commitment | Must return to home country for minimum 2 years after award ends |
Who Cannot Apply for Chevening
According to the official Chevening eligibility criteria at chevening.org:
You are not eligible if you:
- Hold British or dual British citizenship (unless you are a citizen of a British Overseas Territory or hold BN(O) status and are applying from Hong Kong)
- Hold refugee status in a non-Chevening eligible country
- Are an employee, former employee (within last 2 years), or relative of an employee of:
- His Majesty’s Government (including FCDO, all British Embassies/High Commissions)
- The British Council
- A sponsoring UK university
- Have previously studied in the UK with funding from a UK Government-funded scholarship
Is It Difficult to Get a Chevening Scholarship?
Yes. Chevening is one of the most prestigious and competitive UK scholarships on offer to international students.
Selection Process
According to the official Chevening application timeline:
- Eligibility Sifting (October 2025): Applications are sifted against eligibility criteria
- Reading Committee Assessments (October 2025 to January 2026): Independent reading committees assess all eligible applications
- Shortlisting (Mid-February 2026): British embassies and high commissions produce shortlist
- Interviews (March to April 2026): Candidates interviewed by panels at British embassies/high commissions
- Final Selection (Mid-June 2026): Results announced
Chevening Interview Process: Complete Guide
If you have been shortlisted for an interview, according to the official Chevening website at chevening.org/resource-hub/guidance/interviews, you should feel incredibly proud. Here is everything you need to know about the interview process.
Interview Timeline
| Stage | When |
|---|---|
| Interview Invitations Sent | Mid-February 2026 |
| Book Your Interview Slot | As soon as possible after receiving invitation |
| Upload Required Documents | At least 7 days before your interview |
| Interviews Conducted | March to April 2026 |
| Location | British embassies and high commissions in your country |
Pre-Interview Tasks
According to the official Chevening guidance at chevening.org/resource-hub/guidance/interviews, you must complete these tasks at least seven days before your interview:
1. Upload Your Identification Acceptable forms of ID are your passport or national ID card. This will be used to verify your identity and confirm that you hold valid citizenship for your country of application.
2. Upload Your Undergraduate Education Certificate/Diploma Please note that undergraduate transcripts will not be accepted.
3. Upload Two Reference Letters According to chevening.org: “If you are unable to provide references from the two referees you listed on your application, you may approach alternative referees. Please be prepared to explain at interview why your reference letters are not from the referees listed on your application.”
What to Expect at Your Chevening Interview
According to the official Chevening interview guidance:
“Your interview will be a competency-based panel assessment conducted in English. The panel will include representatives from the British embassy or high commission, who will evaluate your answers based on global Chevening criteria.”
According to chevening.org, you should be prepared to talk about:
- Your personal and professional aspirations
- How Chevening can help you achieve your goals for impact
- Your three course choices and the status of your UK university applications
What Interviewers Are Looking For
According to the official Chevening article at chevening.org/news, here are five things Chevening interviewers will be looking for:
1. Authenticity According to Chevening alumna Andjela Miskovic: “Authenticity matters and copied answers are easy to recognise. Share your own experiences, and be honest about your achievements, challenges, and what you have learned along the way.”
2. Clear Connection to Goals According to Chevening alumna Esty Nadya Rafyanti: “Always connect your interview answers to your past experiences! Draw connections between your past experiences, academic background, and the master’s programme you will pursue with Chevening.”
3. Demonstrated Impact According to Chevening alumna Natasha Burnett: “Using the STAR technique, use your interview as an opportunity to discuss your continued impact in your field and align this with how your studies in the UK will equip you to achieve even more when you return to your home country.”
4. Aligned Vision According to Chevening alumnus John Michael Orimbo: “I started by clearly defining my long-term goals and how they align with Chevening. Make sure to showcase your passion, motivation, leadership potential and your commitment to creating a positive impact in your workplace and community.”
5. Congruence Throughout According to the official Chevening interview video, interviewers are looking for “someone who’s truly committed to change the world… agents of change… they really want to see that congruence through and through in the interview.”
How to Prepare for Your Chevening Interview
The STAR Technique
According to Chevening alumnus Marko at chevening.org/news: “My go-to technique is to use the competency-based method: STAR (situation, task, action, result).”
| Component | What to Include |
|---|---|
| Situation | Describe the context or background |
| Task | Explain your specific responsibility |
| Action | Detail what you did |
| Result | Share the measurable outcome |
Step-by-Step Interview Preparation
According to Abraham Ologundudu, a Chevening Scholar who documented his experience:
1. Master Your Application (But Do Not Memorize) “I mastered my submitted application but didn’t memorize and repeat everything verbatim. Don’t be tempted to memorize – as you don’t want to sound scripted.”
2. Practice Your Answers “Before my interview, I came up with likely questions that I believe may come up after someone reads my application. I drafted my answers in 3-5 short sentences and practised them.”
3. Demonstrate Continuity “From the time you submit your application to the time you get an interview invite, it would be approximately 4 months. You don’t want to just present the same set of facts and data as in your application. If there’s any plan you shared, demonstrate how you have made progress.”
4. Stay Up to Date on Current Affairs According to Chevening alumnus Marko: “Stay up to date on current affairs in your field. Since my field is international security and global governance, I closely followed recent developments in cybersecurity which allowed me to demonstrate an awareness and genuine interest in the topic during my interview.”
5. Do Mock Interviews According to Marko: “I called a friend and announced that I felt ready. But when I did a mock interview with them, I realised that actually, I was not ready. Having the support of others and doing a practice run helped refine my answers for the real thing.”
Common Chevening Interview Questions
According to Abraham Ologundudu’s documented experience, prepare for these core themes:
Why do you want to study in the UK? Do your research. Mention specific aspects of UK education, culture, or policy that align with your field.
Why are you interested in Chevening specifically? According to Abraham: “Don’t be tempted to say ‘because it’s a fully-funded scholarship.’ I remember mentioning something along the line of how Chevening gives room for both professional and academic development.”
Why did you choose your course of study? Explain how your course choice connects to your professional background and future goals.
Why do you consider yourself a leader? Refer back to your application. Use body language and your voice to convey the emotions of your story. Include additional examples if relevant.
What are your short-term and long-term professional goals? According to Abraham: “Pick one each and give more details of how you intend to achieve them and describe the current steps you are taking and how the scholarship will be a catalyst. Then try to connect it to examples of what the UK is doing in your country.”
How will your country benefit from your experience? According to Abraham: “This is where you show that you understand your country’s challenges, strengths and opportunities. Describe the better future you foresee through your professional contribution.”
Interview Day Tips
According to Chevening alumna Jaqueline in the official Chevening interview video at chevening.org:
Be Grounded and Present “Do a consistent effort to be aware of everything you’re feeling but also find some sort of way to feel more connected to the reason why you want to do this in the first place.”
Prepare the Night Before “Prepare your clothes that morning, wake up early, have amazing breakfast, eat, drink water, and then just go to the interview with time so you don’t feel pressure of any kind.”
Do Not Worry About Your Accent According to Jaqueline: “They are not going to really care if you mispronounce a word or if you invented a word or if you have a thick accent. That’s not what they are there for. They are looking for authenticity.”
Expect Follow-Up Questions According to Marko: “The interviewers may want to know more about the answers you provided. This can be an opportunity to elaborate and clarify your points. Don’t panic if you don’t know the answer to a question! When I was unsure about something, I took a moment to think before responding.”
What Not to Do
According to Abraham Ologundudu:
Do Not Lie “When I mentioned the name of 2 organizations I was helping with brand designs and communications strategy, the interviewers asked me to spell their names and they wrote them down. I suspected they wanted to research and validate my claims. Imagine I lied? Then I would have blown everything.”
Do Not Sound Scripted Memorizing answers word-for-word makes you sound rehearsed and inauthentic.
Do Not Wait Until the Last Minute The strongest Chevening candidates start preparing before they are shortlisted, not after.
Can I Stay in the UK After Chevening Scholarship?
No. According to the official Chevening terms and conditions, you must return to your home country for a minimum of two years after your award ends. This is a binding condition of accepting the scholarship.
Chevening scholars cannot apply for a Graduate Route Visa. By accepting a Chevening award, you agree to return home for two years at the end of your scholarship.
What Are the Disadvantages of Chevening Scholarship?
Based on official Chevening requirements and conditions:
| Disadvantage | Details |
|---|---|
| Must Return Home | Minimum 2 years in home country after completion is mandatory |
| No Graduate Route Visa | Cannot stay to work in UK after studies |
| One-Year Programmes Only | Cannot fund master’s programmes longer than 12 months |
| Highly Competitive | Limited places relative to global applicant pool |
| Work Experience Required | 2,800 hours minimum excludes very recent graduates |
| Three University Applications | Must apply to 3 different UK universities simultaneously |
| Course Restrictions | Cannot be distance learning, part-time, or research-based |
Chevening Scholarship 2027-28: When Applications Open
According to the official Chevening website, applications for the next cycle typically open in August.
Based on the 2026-27 timeline, expected dates for Chevening Scholarship 2027-28:
| Stage | Expected Date |
|---|---|
| Applications Open | August 2026 (likely first week) |
| Applications Close | October 2026 |
| Reading Committee Assessments | October 2026 to January 2027 |
| Interview Invitations | Mid-February 2027 |
| Interviews | March to April 2027 |
| Results Announced | Mid-June 2027 |
| Studies Begin | September/October 2027 |
How to Apply for Chevening Scholarship
According to the official Chevening guidance at chevening.org/resource-hub/guidance/online-application-system:
Step-by-Step Application Process
Step 1: Visit chevening.org/apply and select your country from the dropdown list
Step 2: Register with your email address and receive a unique access code (keep this safe)
Step 3: Answer eligibility questions to confirm you qualify
Step 4: Complete each section of the application form:
- Personal details (name as in passport, date of birth, address, preferred interview location)
- Immigration details (citizenship, passport number)
- Education history (up to 15 entries)
- Work history (up to 15 entries; system calculates if you meet 2,800 hours requirement)
- Equal opportunities information
Step 5: Complete the essay questions
Step 6: Provide contact details of two referees
Step 7: Consent to scholarship conditions and submit
According to chevening.org, you can save your application and return to it as many times as you like during the application period. Remember to click ‘save’ on each page before logging out.
Important Application Rules
According to the official Chevening online application guidance:
- No AI-generated answers: According to chevening.org, you will be asked to confirm that you have not used artificial intelligence to generate your answers
- No changes after submission: It is not possible to make any changes to your application after you have submitted it
- One application only: Each candidate can submit only one application per cycle
For guidance on writing compelling scholarship essays, see our article on how to write a scholarship essay.
Eligible UK University Courses
According to the official Chevening guidance at chevening.org/resource-hub/guidance/online-application-system:
Eligible courses must be:
- Full-time
- Starting in the autumn term (usually September/October)
- Lead to a Master’s degree qualification
- Between 9 and 12 months in duration
Courses cannot be:
- Distance learning
- Part-time
- Less than nine months in duration
- More than 12 months in duration
- Starting in January
- Research based
You must apply to three different eligible UK university courses and receive at least one unconditional offer by the deadline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Chevening Require IELTS?
Chevening requires candidates to meet the English language requirements of their chosen UK university. Interviews are conducted in English. Check your target university’s specific English language requirements.
For guidance on English tests, see our article on IELTS vs TOEFL.
Can I Get a 100% Scholarship in the UK?
Yes. Chevening is a fully funded scholarship covering 100% of tuition fees, living expenses, travel, visa costs, and additional allowances.
How Do I Check My Chevening Application Status?
According to chevening.org, you can check the status of your application by logging in to the online application system using your email address and unique access code, then looking at the status notification at the top of the page.
Can I Withdraw My Application?
Yes. According to chevening.org, you can withdraw your application at any time. However, withdrawing will remove all your details from the system, and you will have to re-enter all information to submit again.
Can I Change My University Choices After Applying?
According to chevening.org, if you are invited to interview, you will have the opportunity to raise any changes you need made with the interview panel. You cannot change choices after submission otherwise.
What If I Cannot Get References from My Original Referees?
According to chevening.org, if you are unable to provide references from the two referees you listed on your application, you may approach alternative referees. Be prepared to explain at interview why your reference letters are not from the referees listed on your application.
Reference Letter Requirements
According to Abraham Ologundudu’s documented Chevening experience, your referee should cover:
- Contact details: address, email address, and phone number
- How long have they known you
- In what capacity do they know you (professional, educational, supervisory, voluntary, etc.)
- When did they last have regular contact with you
- A brief overall endorsement including:
- Skills in leadership and networking
- Personal, intellectual, and interpersonal qualities
- Ability to complete a demanding academic programme in the UK
According to Abraham: “Your reference letter is another way to show your networking skills – that you can maintain long-term relationships with professional or academic connections.”
Alternative UK Scholarships
If you missed the Chevening 2026-27 deadline or want to explore other options:
| Scholarship | Description |
|---|---|
| Commonwealth Scholarship | Fully funded for Commonwealth country citizens |
| Gates Cambridge Scholarship | Fully funded for any country, highly competitive |
| Rhodes Scholarship | For postgraduate study at Oxford University |
| University-specific scholarships | Many UK universities offer their own international scholarships |
For other scholarship opportunities, see our guides on Commonwealth Scholarship 2026 and UK student visa application.
Official Links
- Chevening Official Website: chevening.org
- Application Portal: chevening.org/apply
- Application Timeline: chevening.org/scholarships/application-timeline
- Eligibility Criteria: chevening.org/resource-hub/guidance/eligibility
- Interview Guidance: chevening.org/resource-hub/guidance/interviews
- How to Apply: chevening.org/resource-hub/guidance/online-application-system
- Interview Success Tips: chevening.org/resource-hub/how-to-succeed-at-your-chevening-interview
