Chevening scholarships 2012/2013

About the scholarship

Chevening has, over 27 years, provided more than 30,000 scholarships at higher education institutions in the UK for postgraduate students or researchers from countries across the world.

Funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), the scholarship scheme also receives significant contributions from higher education institutions and other organisations in the UK, and from a wide range of overseas sponsors, including governmental and private sector bodies.

Chevening Scholarships are for talented people who have been identified as potential future leaders across a wide range of fields including politics, business, the media, civil society, religion and academia. 

Awards are made for one year's formal study for a Master’s qualification or for a shorter period of not less than three months to pursue private study or research at a university or similar institution in the UK.

The programme is managed by the British Council, on behalf of the FCO, both in the UK and overseas.

Who should apply?

Chevening Scholarships are for high-calibre graduates with the personal, intellectual and interpersonal qualities necessary for leadership. Applicants should be: 

•  Motivated to make a career that will take them to positions of leadership in their own country within ten years of their scholarship
•  Able to use their studies and experience in the UK to benefit themselves, their countries and the UK
•  Natural influencers and talented communicators, with energy and ambition
•  People who value networking and who can demonstrate the value of networks to their studies, and to bringing about change on a global level
•  Intelligent, with demonstrable academic potential
•  Strong characters with integrity, drive, and the ability to self manage and work independently.

Applicants must: 

•  Have good English language skills with and should check what IELTS score or equivalent is required for admission to postgraduate courses (for non-native speakers of English)
•  Meet the academic requirements for their courses of study.

Applicants cannot be:

•  A UK or EU national
•  An employee of the FCO (including British Embassies and High Commissions), the British Council, a co-sponsor or sponsoring UK university, or their relatives, or former employee who left such employment within the past two years
•  People who have already received financial benefit from a UK Government funded award.

What does the scholarship include? 

Awards are be made for full, part or fees only scholarships.

A full scholarship includes:

•  Return economy airfare to the UK from any Australian city
•  All compulsory academic fees
•  Monthly stipend
•  Book allowance
•  Thesis allowance 

The FCO makes the final decision on applications for Chevening scholarships. Candidates are assessed on academic merit, achievements to date both in and outside of the academic and workplace areas, referees' letters, proposed area of study, clear leadership potential and potential to further strengthen the UK-Australia bilateral relationship.

You must indicate which courses and institutions you would like to attend on your application form. You are strongly advised to apply to those institutions before receiving an award, as places in popular courses fill early.

Interviews will be held in Canberra in early March 2012. Applicants who have not been successful in obtaining an interview will be informed by email at the end of February 2012.

For further information, please visit the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Chevening website or The Official Chevening Page on Facebook.

The Chevening Conversation blog is a space on the Foreign Office website where Chevening scholars and alumni can share their stories.