Chevening Scholarship 2027/2028: Fully Funded UK Master’s Degree — Requirements, Benefits & How to Apply

The Chevening Scholarship is the UK government’s flagship international scholarship — funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) — and it’s one of the most competitive fully funded opportunities in the world. Since 1983, Chevening has funded over 60,000 professionals from more than 160 countries and territories to complete a one-year master’s degree at any UK university, while building a global network of leaders, influencers, and decision-makers.

Applications for the 2027/2028 cycle are open now. Here’s what you need to know about eligibility, benefits, required documents, and how to actually put together a competitive application.

Quick Overview

Funded by UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), with partner organisations Level One-year Master’s degree, any UK university Application opens 4 August 2026, 11:00 UTC Application deadline 6 October 2026, 11:00 UTC Unconditional offer deadline 8 July 2027, 17:00 BST Programme start September/October 2027 Scholarships awarded annually Approximately 1,800 worldwide Acceptance rate Estimated 2–3% globally

What the Scholarship Covers

Chevening is fully funded, covering:

University tuition fees
A monthly stipend to cover living costs
Economy return travel costs to and from the UK
An arrival allowance
A homeward departure allowance
The cost of one UK visa application
A travel grant to attend Chevening-organised events in the UK

For MBA programmes specifically, Chevening contributes up to £22,000 toward tuition — applicants interested in MBAs should confirm whether additional funding will be needed to cover any gap.

Eligibility Criteria

Be a citizen of a Chevening-eligible country or territory (over 160 are eligible — check the official list for your country specifically)
Have completed all components of an undergraduate degree that qualifies you for entry to a UK master’s programme, at least two years before the application deadline — for the 2027/28 cycle, this means your degree must have been completed by 6 October 2024
Have a minimum of two years of work experience (2,800 hours), acquired after completing your undergraduate degree — this can include full-time or part-time employment, voluntary work, or paid/unpaid internships
Commit to returning to your home country for a minimum of two years after your scholarship ends
Not have received other UK government funding in the last five years (previous Chevening Fellows may reapply for a Scholarship once five years have passed since completing their Fellowship)
Chevening does not itself require an English-language test at application stage — but your chosen UK university’s own entry requirements may require one, so check this separately

Important: Chevening generally funds a first master’s degree. If you already hold a master’s or an MBA, this can affect your eligibility — check the specific guidance on the official site if this applies to you.

What Chevening Is Actually Looking For

Chevening is not a purely academic scholarship — it specifically targets emerging leaders, not just strong students. Selection is based on four criteria:

Leadership — evidence of leadership qualities and experience, whether professional, community, or informal
Networking ability — your capacity to build and use professional relationships and influence
A clear career plan — a coherent explanation of how a UK master’s degree fits into your future impact, particularly back in your home country
Quality of your study proposal — how well your chosen course(s) align with your career goals

This is why generic essays are the most common reason strong candidates get rejected — reviewers read tens of thousands of applications, and vague or interchangeable answers don’t stand out.

Required Documents & Application Steps

Confirm your country’s eligibility and read the country-specific guidance on the Chevening website — requirements can vary slightly by country.
Select three eligible master’s courses at UK universities that align with your academic background and career goals — this is a required part of the application itself.
Write your application essays. You’ll need to answer several essay questions that, together, must tell one coherent, specific story about who you are, where you’re heading, and why the UK specifically is the right place for your degree. Contradictions between essays are a common reason for rejection.
Submit your application online between 4 August and 6 October 2026, 11:00 UTC — the online system closes automatically and does not accept late submissions.
Shortlisting. Independent reading committees assess all eligible applications; British embassies and high commissions then shortlist candidates for interview.
Interview stage (February–April 2027). If shortlisted, you’ll need to upload your photo ID, undergraduate degree certificate or diploma, and two reference letters at least seven working days before your interview.
Submit an unconditional UK university offer by 8 July 2027, 17:00 BST, if your interview is successful and you receive a conditional scholarship offer.
Begin your studies in the UK from September/October 2027.

Key Dates

Applications open: 4 August 2026, 11:00 UTC
Application deadline: 6 October 2026, 11:00 UTC — the system will not be accessible after this point
Interviews: February–April 2027
Unconditional offer deadline: 8 July 2027, 17:00 BST
Programme start: September/October 2027

Official Resources

Chevening main site: https://www.chevening.org
Application timeline: https://www.chevening.org/scholarships/application-timeline/
Country/territory eligibility and how to apply: https://www.chevening.org/apply/
British Council Study UK — Chevening overview: https://study-uk.britishcouncil.org/scholarships-funding/chevening-scholarships

Always check the specific eligibility guidance for your country before applying, since Chevening runs country-specific pages with tailored details.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need an English test to apply? Chevening itself doesn’t require one at application stage, but your chosen UK university’s entry requirements might — check separately.

Can I apply if I already have a master’s degree? Chevening generally funds a first master’s degree, so an existing master’s or MBA can affect eligibility — check current guidance if this applies to you.

How much work experience do I need? A minimum of 2,800 hours (roughly two years), accumulated after completing your undergraduate degree — internships and voluntary work can count.

How competitive is Chevening really? Very — the estimated global acceptance rate is around 2–3%, with roughly 1,800 scholarships awarded annually out of tens of thousands of applicants.

What happens if I don’t have an unconditional UK university offer by the interview stage? You can still apply and interview with conditional offers or applications in progress, but you must secure and submit at least one unconditional offer by 8 July 2027 to keep your scholarship.

Do I have to return home after finishing my degree? Yes — a core condition of Chevening is returning to your home country for a minimum of two years after your award ends.

Don’t Wait on This One

With roughly 1,800 awards given out of tens of thousands of global applicants, and an application built around four detailed, interlinked essays that reviewers can tell apart from generic ones in minutes, strong Chevening applications are written and revised over weeks — not the final days before 6 October.

Want expert guidance through the process? Our experienced student counsellors can help you build a coherent, standout application — from essay strategy to selecting the right three courses — reach out today.

Follow @stepbystepscholarshipguide for more fully funded scholarship breakdowns, deadlines, and step-by-step application guidance.