Since the Chevening Scholarship and university admissions are two separate application processes, applicants should prepare for both simultaneously to maximize their chances of studying in the United Kingdom.
Article Summary
- Scholarship: Chevening Scholarships 2027–2028
- Host Country: United Kingdom
- Funded By: UK Government (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office)
- Degree Level: Master's Degree
- Eligible Nationalities: Citizens of Chevening-eligible countries
- Scholarship Type: Fully Funded
- University Offer Required Before Applying? No
- University Application Required? Yes
- Chevening Application Period: 4 August – 6 October 2026
- Unconditional University Offer Deadline: 8 July 2027
Do You Need a University Offer Before Applying for Chevening?
No.
Applicants can submit their Chevening Scholarship application without first receiving an offer from a UK university. During the scholarship application, candidates simply need to list three eligible UK master's degree courses they intend to study.
However, submitting the Chevening application does not automatically apply you to those universities. You must submit separate applications directly to each university.
Degree Level
Chevening Scholarships support:
- Master's Degree Programs
Available Subjects
Chevening supports almost all academic disciplines offered by eligible UK universities, including:
- Business
- Engineering
- Computer Science
- Law
- Public Policy
- International Relations
- Health Sciences
- Education
- Environmental Studies
- Social Sciences
- Economics
- Media and Communications
- Arts and Humanities
- Development Studies
- Data Science
- Other eligible master's programs
Eligible Nationalities
Applicants must:
- Be citizens of a Chevening-eligible country or territory.
- Return to their home country after completing the scholarship according to Chevening requirements.
- Meet all eligibility criteria published by the Chevening Scholarship programme.
Scholarship Benefits
Successful applicants receive:
- Full university tuition fees
- Monthly living allowance
- Economy-class return airfare to the UK
- Arrival allowance
- Departure allowance
- Visa application costs
- Travel grants for approved activities
- Access to the global Chevening alumni network
- Leadership development opportunities
Why You Should Apply to Universities Early
Although a university offer is not required for the initial Chevening application, applying to universities early offers several advantages:
- More time to prepare required documents.
- Earlier admission decisions.
- Opportunity to meet English language requirements.
- Reduced pressure before scholarship deadlines.
- Better chances of securing places in competitive programs.
- Opportunity to apply for additional university scholarships.
Waiting until the Chevening results are announced could leave insufficient time to secure admission before the required deadline.
Important Timeline
July–August 2026
- Research UK universities.
- Choose eligible master's courses.
- Prepare supporting documents.
4 August – 6 October 2026
- Submit the Chevening Scholarship application.
- List three eligible UK master's courses.
September – December 2026
- Submit university applications.
- Complete admission requirements.
January – February 2027
- Follow up on university admissions.
- Submit any outstanding documents.
March – April 2027
- Attend the Chevening interview if shortlisted.
- Continue fulfilling university admission requirements.
May – June 2027
- Meet English language conditions.
- Receive final admission decisions.
8 July 2027
- Submit at least one unconditional university offer to Chevening.
What Is an Unconditional Offer?
An unconditional offer means the university has accepted your application without requiring any further academic or English language conditions.
Chevening requires candidates to submit at least one unconditional offer from an approved university before the official deadline.
IELTS and English Language Requirements
Chevening itself does not require an English language test when submitting the scholarship application.
However, many UK universities require one of the following:
- IELTS
- TOEFL
- PTE Academic
- Cambridge English Qualifications
- Other accepted English proficiency tests
Applicants should complete these requirements as early as possible to avoid delays in obtaining an unconditional offer.
Application Process
Follow these steps to increase your chances of success:
- Check your eligibility for the Chevening Scholarship.
- Research eligible UK universities and master's programs.
- Prepare all required documents.
- Submit your Chevening Scholarship application during the application period.
- Apply separately to your chosen UK universities.
- Complete any English language or academic requirements.
- Attend the Chevening interview if shortlisted.
- Obtain at least one unconditional university offer before the official deadline.
