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Chevening is the UK Government’s global scholarship programme offering awards to outstanding future leaders around the world to undertake fully funded postgraduate studies in the UK.
The Chevening Scholarship is more than just an academic opportunity—it’s a gateway to a world of leadership, influence, and global impact. Chevening offers fully funded postgraduate studies to exceptional individuals who have demonstrated the potential to become future leaders and change-makers in their countries. Through providing access to world-class education in the UK, Chevening empowers scholars to refine their skills, expand their networks, and return home equipped to make meaningful contributions to their communities and beyond. If you’re ready to take the next step in your journey and join a global network of innovators and leaders, the Chevening Scholarship could be the key to unlocking your potential.
Since receiving the Chevening Scholarship in 2022, I have had a truly life-changing experience and nothing short of an incredible journey. Some highlights include studying my dream course (MSc Cybersecurity and Forensics) at the University of Westminster, serving as a #Chevening Social Media Ambassador and Social Media Ambassador at the University of Westminster, attending over 30+ Chevening events, travelling extensively across the UK, attending the 2023 Commonwealth Day in the presence of the Royal Family, speaking for the alumni address at the 2023 Chevening Orientation, and representing Cameroon to receive the Chevening Alumni of the Year Award in May 2024 at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office in London.
Benefits of the Chevening Scholarship
- Payment of tuition fees
- Economy travel to and from your country of residence by an approved route for you only
- An arrival allowance
- The cost of an entry clearance (visa) application for you only
- A departure allowance
- A contribution of up to £75 for TB testing, where this is required
- A travel top-up allowance
- A monthly personal living allowance (stipend) to cover accommodation and living expenses. The monthly stipend will depend on whether you are studying inside or outside London. These rates are subject to annual review.
In this guide, we’ll explore how to craft compelling responses for each key essay in the Chevening Scholarship application.
1. The Leadership and Influence Essay
Question: Chevening is looking for individuals who will be future leaders or influencers in their home countries. Explain how you meet this requirement, using clear examples of your own leadership and influencing skills to support your answer.
How to Approach:
- Use the STAR Approach: Structure your essay using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to clearly outline your leadership experiences.
- Provide Concrete Examples: Share specific instances where you led a team, initiated a project, or influenced outcomes in your community or workplace. Highlight your role, the challenges faced, and the impact of your leadership. 2 or 3 Examples are okay. For my Chevening essay, I provided 3 leadership examples.
- Demonstrate Growth: Show how these experiences have shaped your leadership style and how you intend to apply these skills to drive change in your home country after your studies.
2. The Networking Essay
Question: Chevening is looking for individuals with strong professional relationship-building skills, who will engage with the Chevening community and influence and lead others in their chosen profession. Please explain how you build and maintain relationships in a professional capacity, using clear examples of how you currently do this, and outline how you hope to use these skills in the future.
How to Approach:
- Showcase Networking Abilities:Highlight your ability to build and maintain professional relationships. Describe situations where you’ve leveraged your network to solve problems, gain insights, or create opportunities.
- Impact Through Networks: Provide examples of how your connections have led to tangible outcomes, whether in your career, community, or personal growth. Also, mention how you were able to build the networks and connections you mentioned. How did you stay in touch? How did you make use of the connection to achieving an impactful outcome or goal?
- Future Networking with Chevening: Illustrate how you plan to engage/network with the Chevening network during your studies and how you’ll utilize it to create an impact once you return home as a Chevening Alumni in your home country.
3. The Study in the UK Essay
Question: Outline why you have selected your chosen three university courses, and explain how this relates to your previous academic or professional experience and your plans for the future. Please do not duplicate the information you have entered on the work experience and education section of this form.
How to Approach:
- Why your selected course: Explain your reasons for choosing your chosen courses and their respective university. This can be written out clearly in three separate paragraphs. For each school and its course, clearly explain why you chose that course. You can also go further by outlining why you’re interested in studying at that specific university, the presence of World-Class staff and lecturers, study facilities and many more depending on your choices.
- Course Relevance: Explain how each of your chosen courses aligns with your past academic or professional experiences and how they will enhance your ability to contribute to your field and country.
- Commitment to Learning: Show that your pursuit of knowledge is ongoing, and not just limited to your master’s degree. Mention relevant courses, certifications, or learning experiences you’ve undertaken to prepare for this opportunity.
- Why the UK: Articulate why studying in the UK is crucial for your development. Discuss the unique academic strengths of the UK institutions and how they will provide you with the tools and perspectives needed to achieve your goals.
- Outside Study: You can equally outline, how you will make the most of your time in the UK and all that you’re aiming to do in the UK aside from your studies. The Chevening scholarships offers a lot aside from studies. Throughout your scholarship year, the secretariat will organize several events across the UK. It is important to outline how you will make the most of your time in the UK aside from studies.
4. The Career Plan Essay
Question: Chevening is looking for individuals who have a clear post-study career plan. Please outline your immediate plan upon returning home and your longer-term career goals. You may wish to consider how these relate to what the UK is doing in your country.
How to Approach:
- Clear and Ambitious Goals: Outline your short-term, medium-term, and long-term career objectives. Ensure your goals are specific and measurable, and demonstrate a clear purpose beyond conventional career paths.
- Alignment with Chevening: Show how the Chevening program and network will support your career ambitions. Discuss how you’ll leverage the skills, knowledge, and connections gained to drive innovation and leadership in your field.
- Understanding of UK Activities: Demonstrate awareness of the UK’s initiatives in your country and align your career goals with these efforts. Explain how your work will complement or enhance these initiatives, making a case for mutual benefit.
Final Tips
- Start Your Application Early: The Chevening application process is rigorous and time-consuming. Starting early gives you ample time to research, reflect, and refine your responses. It also allows you to gather the necessary documents and reach out to potential referees without the pressure of looming deadlines.
- Write Your Essays in a Word Document: Before submitting your essays in the application system, draft them in a Word document. This allows you to carefully edit and revise your work, ensuring clarity, coherence, and impact. Plus, it helps prevent losing your work due to any technical issues.
- Be Specific: Avoid vague statements. Each essay should be rich in detail and specific examples.
- Show Impact: Whether discussing leadership, networking, academic plans, or career goals, always link your experiences and ambitions to the potential impact on your community or country.
- Reflect Your Unique Path: Chevening seeks diverse candidates with unique perspectives. Highlight what makes your journey, vision, and contributions stand out.
- Never Give Up: It took me two years to get the Chevening Scholarship, after failing to progress past the interview stages in the previous year. However, I never gave up but prepared better for the following year which became history. To everyone who hasn’t been successful in their first attempt: Stay determined and keep aiming high.
I hope this application guide inspires and supports those embarking on their Chevening journey. Please note that these insights and tips reflect my personal experiences and views, and are not endorsed by the Chevening Secretariat. Each applicant’s path is unique, and I encourage you to bring your strengths and aspirations to your application. Best of luck!!!
Application Link: https://www.chevening.org/apply/
Application Guidance by Chevening: https://www.chevening.org/resource-hub/