chevening application essays

• Sep 17, 2020

Part 2: Applying for the Chevening Scholarship (Essay Tips)

Updated: Oct 14, 2020

This serves as Part 2 of the Chevening Tips, in the event that you would like insight in as far as what is Chevening and an overall insight on what is required to apply, kindly have a look at Part 1: Applying for the Chevening Scholarship (FAQ).

Applying for the Chevening Scholarship Series

Three Years a Charm: Becoming a Chevening Scholar

Part 1: Applying for the Chevening Scholarship (FAQ)

Disclaimer: Note that the advice given here below is my own personal opinion and not that of the Chevening Secretariat or the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office .

When applying for the Chevening Scholarship, you will be required to submit four written essays, each a minimum of 100 words and a maximum of 500 words.

Quick Tips on how to write your 4 Chevening Essays:

When writing your essays, use the STAR and SMART approach.

Ensure that you cover the bases in each of your essays, mentioning the most important elements.

Your essays have to be truthful, concise, and well-written.

Ensure that you tell a story when writing your essays, you can add bullet points to list achievements and highlight career goals however there should be a flow.

Ensure that any stranger can make out what you are trying to say, making it clear what you are talking about. When making references to data or situations from your home country, be sure to mention the country's name.

Refrain using words like our and their, and opt to name what you are talking about.

Use Grammarly to spell check your work and ensure that your grammar is correct.

STAR Approach - Derived from Muse

Situation: Set the scene and give the necessary details of your example.

Task: Describe what your responsibility was in that situation.

Action: Explain exactly what steps you took to address it.

Result: Share what outcomes your actions achieved.

SMART Approach - Derived from CFI

Specific: Well defined, clear, and unambiguous.

Measurable : With specific criteria that measure your progress toward the accomplishment of the goal.

Achievable: Attainable and not impossible to achieve.

Realistic: Within reach, realistic, and relevant to your life purpose.

Timely: With a clearly defined timeline, including a starting date and a target date. The purpose is to create urgency.

Four Essay Topics

Leadership and Influence

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. - Question as per the Chevening Website

Using the methods explained above (STAR AND SMART Approach), ensure that you speak on the times you have depicted leadership traits, the leadership positions you have occupied and the times you have displayed a position of influence. These can range from managerial positions, leadership in organizations (NGO's included), or in your day-to-day life. In addition, you can touch on what leadership ambitions you have and how this ties back to your community.

It is important to ensure that the examples are impact-driven and not only for self-gain.

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. - Question as per the Chevening Website

Writing your networking essay is primarily about showing clear examples of the relationships you have built, how they were established, and how you have managed to maintain them. In addition, highlight how these said relationships have been instrumental in your personal development and the work that you do. Ensure that you are able to glean from every example the skill acquired and how these skills will be useful to you in the future as a possible Chevening scholar. This essay, in essence, is to show that you have the ability to use the opportunities given to you in a tangible and impactful manner.

Career Plan

Chevening is looking for individuals who have a clear post-study career plan. Please outline your immediate plans upon returning home and your longer-term career goals. You may wish to consider how these relate to what the UK government is doing in your country. - Question as per Chevening Website

This essay provides an opportunity for you to layout an immediate 2-year plan, and a 5 to 10-year plan. Your plans need to be attainable and should speak to your ambitions as laid out in your career plan. The most important tip for when writing out your career plan, is to ensure that when you touch on your professional experience, it not be written as though it is a Curriculum Vitae but rather speaking on impact, journey, and career trajectory. You too are welcome to link your journey thus far, to how this informs your next career move, namely pursuing a masters degree. You should depict an understanding of what you want to do in the future, how this is tangibly attainable, and what your ambitions are long term.

Studying in the UK

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. - Question as per the Chevening Website

Do not duplicate your career essay in this essay, however, you can link the information. You will also be required to list the three universities you will be applying to, the name of the courses at the said universities, and why you chose the particular university.

Tip: Depending on which course you intend to study, google the top-performing universities in the said field to inform your university choice. Then ensure that the universities you would like to attend are Chevening partner universities, before finalizing your list of your three chosen universities.

Bonus: I have asked three scholars who have managed to successfully be chosen for Chevening before to assist with proofreading 3 prospective scholars essays before submission. Kindly note that these will be given on a first-come, first-serve basis. This available to a total of 9 prospective scholars and no more. Only the 9 successful prospective scholars will be contacted. If you are not contacted, unfortunately, the 9 spots were already taken.

To get your essays proofread - please fill in the form at the link here .

(Available to ONLY the first 9 applicants)

Proofreading volunteer scholars (each reading 3 prospective scholars essays EACH)

Rosalia Shiimi - Rosalia holds a BSc Honours Degree in Geology and a Certificate in Investment Management from the University of Cape Town. She is currently the Acting Grade Control Geologist at Vedanta Zinc International’s Gamsberg Operation. She is a part of the 2021/2022 Chevening cohort, pursuing a Master of Science in Applied Environment Geology at Cardiff University.

Abel is a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) and former Head of Internal Audit. He holds a Bachelor of Accounting Science and Postgraduate Diploma in Internal Auditing. In addition, he too is a Section Chairperson and Branch Executive member in SPYL and serve on the NCCI Windhoek Trading Committee. He will be pursuing a Master of Arts in International Relations at the University of Birmingham.

Hilja Eelu - Hilja is a UCT molecular biology graduate and a previous recipient of the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation Fellowship. Having been awarded both the Chevening and Commonwealth scholarship, she will be pursuing the MSc Control of Infectious Diseases at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine starting September 2020, thanks to the Commonwealth scholarship.

Additional Reading Material

Essay Tips from the Reading Committee of Chevening

Essay Examples

Writing an effective networking essay

My Application for Chevening Scholarship

Chevening Leadership Essay

How I won the Chevening Scholarship - Part 2: Writing your Essays

From One Powerhouse to another

Twitter - @MavisBraga

Instagram - @MavisBraga1

Facebook - Mavis Elias

Website - www.mavisbraga.com

Recent Posts

Practical tips for preparing for university 101: A checklist guide (Part 4)

Preparing for University 101: The Chevening guide (Part 3)

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विद्या विनियोगात् विकासः (vidyā viniyogāt vikāsaḥ)

Breakdown of Chevening Essay Questions: A Comprehensive Guide

Navigating the Chevening scholarship application can be a rewarding yet challenging process. Among the crucial components are the essay questions, which provide an opportunity for you to showcase your aspirations, experiences, and potential. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll break down each of the Chevening essay questions and offer insights to help you craft compelling responses.

1. 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.

Focus: Demonstrating Leadership and Influence

This question aims to gauge your leadership abilities and potential to effect positive change. To answer effectively:

• Provide Examples: Share specific instances where you demonstrated leadership, whether in your academic, professional, or community endeavors.
• Highlight Influence: Discuss how your actions influenced outcomes, motivated others, or brought about change.
• Connect to Future: Explain how your leadership experiences align with your future goals and how the Chevening scholarship will further develop your leadership potential.

2. Chevening Scholarships are awarded to individuals with demonstrable leadership potential who also have strong academic backgrounds. How do you intend to use your Chevening experience to develop your leadership skills and create a positive social change?

Focus: Linking Academic Excellence and Leadership

Here, the focus is on your academic prowess and its relationship to leadership and social impact:

• Link Academic and Leadership Goals: Explain how your academic pursuits are intertwined with your leadership aspirations.
• Social Impact: Discuss how your Chevening experience will enable you to contribute to positive societal changes.
• Specific Plans: Outline tangible actions you’ll take to enhance your leadership skills during and after your studies.

3. Network with people of different nationalities and backgrounds. What can you learn from others? How will this enrich your experience as a Chevening Scholar?

Focus: Embracing Diversity and Networking

This question emphasizes cross-cultural collaboration and the value of a diverse network:

• Learning from Diversity: Highlight the benefits of interacting with people from various backgrounds, including new perspectives and insights.
• Enriching Chevening Experience: Explain how these interactions will contribute to your personal and academic growth as a Chevening Scholar.

4. What influence do you hope to have on your home country or region as a result of studying in the UK?

Focus: Positive Impact on Home Country

This question assesses your vision for the future and your commitment to your home country’s development:

• Specific Goals: Outline the specific areas you aim to impact upon your return.
• Alignment with UK Study: Explain how your UK education will equip you to address challenges in your home country.

5. Please explain why you want to study in the UK and why you have chosen your selected course(s).

Focus: UK Study and Course Choice

This question explores your motivations for studying in the UK and the relevance of your chosen course:

• UK’s Strengths: Discuss the UK’s academic excellence, resources, and opportunities that attract you.
• Course Relevance: Explain why your chosen course aligns with your academic and career goals.

6. Summarize all relevant leadership and service-related achievements in which you have participated.

Focus: Leadership and Service Achievements

This is an opportunity to succinctly list your notable leadership and service accomplishments:

• Concise Presentation: List achievements in a clear and organized manner.
• Highlight Impact: Briefly explain the significance and outcomes of each achievement.

Navigating the Chevening essay questions requires a thoughtful approach that showcases your unique qualities, aspirations, and commitment to positive change. By addressing each question’s specific focus and providing well-structured responses, you can present a compelling case for why you are an ideal candidate for the Chevening scholarship. Remember to tailor your answers to highlight your strengths and alignment with Chevening’s values and objectives.

India (Chevening Scholarship) | Chevening

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Thoughts Left Unspoken

Writing Chevening Essay: Breakdown Those 4 Questions

Writing an essay for Chevening scholarship was not an easy task. But surely, we need to invest our time to write, revise and polish it. The whole writing process took me 1.5 months, but let’s not use this as a standard as anyone can have different situations.

In this post, I’m going to breakdown each question and share how I answered my Chevening essay. It is surely not the perfect one, but I’d like to share what I think essential when answering those four questions. I also did a mentoring program for Chevening applicants 19/20 and some of my mentees were accepted! Having said that, I’m sure there are some of my tips that you can use.

Disclaimer. This post does not reflect on the Chevening Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and its partner organisations. This story is just my experience and personal thoughts working on Chevening’s essay.

Without further ado, let’s go through each question.

Leadership and Influence 

One of the common thoughts that most applicants have about leadership is the position; the title. I would say, no. The title is a legitimation that you have the power to lead, but beyond that, I think the most important thing that Chevening really look is the impact of your leadership. They are also looking for a potential leader. So, it does not matter if you don’t have a Manager, Head, Leader, etc in your resume as long as you can showcase your influencing and leadership skills by giving examples.

Before start writing, think about what leadership accomplishments that you had. List all down and select two to three examples that gave great impact and made you learn the most. Each question only allows 500 words hence we really need to be careful to choose which experience to be put in the essay. If you can, try to put examples in different cases and environment to show that you have a range of leadership experiences.

As I already mentioned in the previous post about general tips for writing Chevening  essay, it is important to give an introduction. Although this is just a suggestion, if you’re unsure where to start, you can try with what you believe about leadership or a brief about what kind of leader you think you are. After that, you can link to your leadership experiences, supporting your statement about the leadership that you write in the introduction. Build an engaging introduction is also crucial to make the panel stay reading your story. Remember, they read thousands of essays, at least you want to keep them engaged with your essay.

In my case, my first sentence in the intro was: I believe that the leaders are not born, but made through a process of hard work.  I then supported this statement by briefly telling several experiences during high schools and how it has been forming me primary wisdom about leadership. However, this is not my highlight of the leadership experience that I want to tell the panel. Hence, I used a linking sentence such as  I apply this wisdom to excel my role in current employment, but my training is never complete. The linking sentence could also serve as a bridge to the next thing I have on my plate and build the story’s flow.

Then, I wrote two examples of my leadership experiences which are happened in my office using Situation, Task, Actions, Result (STAR) structure. Read about this here . I would say give more portion for “action” because the more specific and detail you give, the more panellist know you hence more room to asses you.

I wrote one success story about my experiences in leading an early-stage start-up company. When you write a success story, make sure that you’re really specific about what you did, what steps that you did differently to achieve the goal? Did you face challenges? How did you overcome the challenge? Did people doubt you? How did you convince them to finally follow your leadership? I wrote about making an unpopular decision which I deemed a huge challenge; I should do it otherwise it won’t do any good for the company. From this story, I took an angle on the lesson learned and how it contributed to mature my emotions.

When you write about result, if you can, give a quantifiable result to justify the impact. However, the bottom line is to justify your impact. Tell them that there are people who benefited from the projects that you led — it could be personal or organisational.

Another thing is to mention your lesson learned. What you learned from each experience that contributes to your personal development. I personally think this is critical to show that you’re a human and a growing person. We all know that leadership is not a one-day skill, it takes years to sharpen it hence mistakes are okay to be mentioned as long as you can turn the “angle” into supporting your story.

Finish the essay with a closing paragraph which amplifies Chevening’s role in developing your leadership skill. What is your aspiration, in regards to leadership skill, if you were accepted as Chevening scholar? State this briefly and do the same for the next 4 questions.

I would say that the networking question was a bit difficult for me to elaborate. Why? Because again, Chevening is looking for someone whose networking skills could create an impact. So, in my opinion, it’s not about showing off how big your network is or how often you attend networking events, instead of how you use your network to create a greater impact.

Using the same approach as in question 1, answer the question by STAR structure. Started by an introduction, get into the main body and finish with closing.

In my case, I was using my exchange program to South Korea during undergraduate study as a chance to meet new friends — where one of that friend was playing a great role of me working at an early-stage startup company, a place where I highlighted my  leadership skills in the first question. The company is obviously has been a place for me to create an impact on the team and communities. For instance, a collaboration opportunity with external media to provide cross-content and it would give us huge traffic for the website.

Emphasise the impact you’ve created because of the networking you did. Give two to three networking skills and experiences that you have and again, be detail. Highlight that the impact is not only beneficial for you, but also for another side that you network with.

In the closing, you should elaborate Chevening’s role in your networking skills, you can try to relate how Chevening would expand your networking and how will you use Chevening networking if you were accepted as Chevening scholar.

Studying in the UK

While questions about leadership and networking are more to dig your skills and capability in becoming a potential future leader, in my opinion, questions about studying in the UK and career plan are crucial to showing your cause, passion and how do you stay true with that. This can be a very critical part that would differentiate you from other applicants I guess, as I would say that Chevening is looking for people who would serve and build their community. So, it is important to answer the last 2 questions coherently.

To make your essay coherent, try to answer these questions as a base for you to answer questions number 3 and 4.

• What is my passion/concern?
• What problems do I want to solve?
• How will I solve the problems?

My ultimate advise for this part is don’t write more than 50% for the courses and campus rank. Write more about you: your passion, area of expertise, problems found in your field and what is your vision — which supposed to be related with your expertise area. Think about why taking a master study in those three sp ecific courses and universities is going to help you to achieve your vision. This information is really helpful to link and congruent your story in the question no.4 (career plan). 

In my case, I used a fact that the growth of digital start-up in Indonesia has been astonishing recently but it is not followed by the success rate of a startup. If you want to use a fact, don’t forget to put the source. I outlined that the major problem was startup founders mostly great in building products yet tend to ignore other managerial skills such as people development, sales and finance (again, I put source). I then linked this statement to my personal experience working in an early stage start-up company where I had limited experiences or skills which happens to be a similar situation like startup founders. Hence, a degree in innovation and entrepreneurship would give me a balanced set of technical skills and knowledge in building early ventures.

From previous paragraph, I answered three basic questions to outline my background. Who am I? — A start-up early employee, what is my passion? — early venture development, what problems do I want to solve? — the high rate of startup failure rate and how will you solve it? — a degree in innovation and entrepreneurship by Chevening scholarship as one of stepping stones and followed by action plans that I will write in the question no.4

After outlining the “background” story about you, you can write the three courses. Highlight the reason why you choose them, it can be the campus ranking, curriculum, or professors/projects. I chose Warwick University’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship because of the curriculum, the final project worth 50% of the final grade in which devoted to developing the business innovation carefully.  The school also placed the second rank of best Entrepreneurship master degree in the UK, after Oxford. My second choice was Imperial College and the third was the City University of London.

By the way, another advise choosing the school, besides research the course and its curriculum, do find out about the whole campus. Think about the facilities, clubs/societies, opportunities, the lifestyle (or living cost), nearby attractions, the city it’s located, etc. Ask current students about living in your designated campus, how do they like the campus and its surroundings? How about life after campus? I’m saying this not because I dislike Warwick University, instead, the campus has its own art centre and biggest sports centre in Coventry — which is realllly cool, but I would say Coventry itself doesn’t have many attractions to offer. But for the bright side, that really helps me to focus on my study and save money (it’s true!); it forces me to travel to other places more often hehe.  I would share my travel stories in other posts. Coventry also not too far from London and Birmingham, the two biggest cities in the UK. It’s easier for me to jump on opportunities in UK startups scene.

Career Plans

One thing I always shared to Chevening applicants who asked me to proofread their essay is: make a clear plan and breakdown into short term, mid-term and long term goal. Ensure each breakdown is contributing to your long-term goals if that makes sense? This way, it shows that you know how to get there. In my case, I wrote for immediate plans (2 years after study), the next 5 years and beyond 5 years. Make sure that your career goals are answering your concern and supporting your passion (stated in question no.3) which forms a more congruent essay.

As you need to relate your career goals to what the UK Government do in your country, you need to research. This might be different in every country and it might change year by years. You can start the search from the official UK’s government website ( http://gov.uk/world/name of country/news). Research thoroughly and try to link what you can contribute through your career goal.

Another thing to highlight is state how Chevening is one of the paths you would greatly benefit to take you to your future goals. How would you apply things you got from Chevening (the scholarship, the network, the education, the international friends) in your future career path? In my case, I outlined that I would use network from Chevening alumni to open access for mentors who can guide and share expertise to founders in establishing a new business.

As this is the last question, end the whole essay with a strong “punchline”. Keep elaborate Chevening, you can try to summarise outlined your aspiration by being a Chevening scholar. In my case, I mentioned that I still have to acquire deeper knowledge in innovation and entrepreneurship, as well as expanding my network to collaborate together in solving the problem. I acknowledged that from previous experiences, I gained valuable lessons in networking and leadership, however, I believe it’s still not enough. I then closed with thus, by being a Chevening scholar, I believe I would be (fill in the blank). 

I hope this article helps you! I also want to highlight that this is just my personal experience and thoughts, it might be not relevant for different courses; many of my Chevening friends pursue a course that I don’t know it exists 😀 (but that’s what I like about Chevening: they acknowledge that future leaders can contribute in any field). Lastly, write the essay with all your heart, write what you feel right and true. Good luck, keep fighting and believe in yourself!

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Published by laurensiairma

ESTJ; my stories are on my own perspective. View all posts by laurensiairma

61 thoughts on “Writing Chevening Essay: Breakdown Those 4 Questions”

[…] breakdown of each question is posted here. However, there are some important points I want to point out when you work for Chevening […]

Thank you! That’s really inspiring!

what a magnificent breakdown kak, terima kasih 🙂 *udah pinter cantik pula idamaannnnn huaa

Haha thank you! Goodluck!!

Thank you so much! My leadership essay exceeds the word count of 500, will the reading committee consider my application? this is my biggest concern, please leave me a reply if you know about the issue.

HI Mohammad, I think it will be best to stay at 500. Panellists read thousands of essays, they probably do skimming reading and you don’t want to leave them uninterested if your story is too long. It’s our challenge to make our essay is engaging and effective within 500 words. It’s hard indeed, but just be direct and straight to the answers asked in the questions. Hope it helps.

Thanks a lot for your all your tips! I’m glad I bumped into your blog. I have a tiny question related to essays 3 and 4: when I write about the efforts of the UK being made in my country, do I need to cite/quote the, let’s say, the FCDO and put their reference somewhere? I’m wondering since I think the link itself would take away many words out of my 500 word count. Or is there a specific format I should stick to? Thanks once again!!

Hi Mitch. When I cited the source, I just write “according to xxx research in 2015 (for example)..” and then put the whole link in the footnote. Actually there’s no specific format about citing (As this is not academic essay) and I guess this format worked well. Hope it helps!

Amazing guidance, many thanks for sharing this with us confused youths. I am working for an educational Facebook page in Vietnam (which works to aid scholarship applicants in their process and is currently having over 41 000 followers). May I translate this entry into Vietnamese and share it on my page? I will credit you with this link and send you the draft before publishing Thank you in advance,

Hi Anne, thanks for reaching me out. Yes, sure you can 🙂 Please head to my Instagram @laurensiaimce and dm me. Thank youu!

Thank you so much for such an amazing and detailed information.

Dear Linos, Thanks for the kind word!

Thank you. Your insights shed bright lights on what panel really look for and what they expect. It is my first year applying for Chevening. The process itself offers so much excitement. I am a language teacher and want to develop myself as leader and influencer in education. Could I contact you directly to get help for my essays? thank you.

Hi Bekzod, yes you can head to my Instagram and leave me a dm. Thank you!

Thank you for this! Its a wonderful detailed and helpful article!

Thank youuuu!

Thank you so much Lauren, your posts has been really helpful. Please do you know if Chevening also supports for non partner universities

Hi Isaiah, they support non-partners too. If Im not mistaken, what makes different between partner and non-partner is the scholarship ratio between chevening and the sponsors (partner). For awardee, there wont be any impact.

priceless informaion!!!

Thank you 🙂

Thank you for this article Lauren, please can I send you a mail

Hello ! I am a student applying for Chevening . This is my first time. I have no IG or FB. May i have your mail ID? I request you to proofread my essays and offer feedback. Many thanks, M

Hi, please contact me via linkedin: Laurensia Irma Saraswati. Thank youu!

A very thoughtful article! I am also applying for Chevening scholarship this year. This article gives me a lot of insights into my essay

May I ask you to proofread my essays kak? Thanks a lot!

Regards, FM

Hi Faisal, thank you so much for reading my blog! I’m currently unavailable for proof read, so sorry! Good luck for your application!

Hi Abdibasid, thank you for reading my blog too! Good luck for your application!

Hi Laurensia, thanks for sharing this insightful article. Just curious in your opinion, is it better to write all three courses or can I just focus to one course only?

Hi Dee, so sorry for late reply. I wrote all three courses but I explained the first choice slightly more than other two. It’s because I really like my first choice and highlight what I need to study there. Hope this helps.

Hello Laurensia, I am beyond grateful to you for this detailed article!. I tried to reach out to you on LinkedIn but it seems that it’s not possible to contact you via instant messaging. I hope you get to see my request.

Hi Assia, yeah we connected through Linkedin right? 🙂

This is a beautiful guide, if followed carefully with a mother luck, one can get the scholarship I believe. Thanks a bunch

Hi James, thank you so much for reading my blog. Good luck!!

Wow ! Just perfect post. One of the best posts I have ever read about Chevening. Heartfelt thanks ♡♡

Hi Marwa, thank youuuu!!

Thank you so much for this, your guidance was invaluable!

Dear Akeyo, thank youuu so much for the kind words. Good luck on your application!

Dear Laurensia, This is the most flexible article i have ever read for Chevening application. I have a question regarding experience as i have more than 6 years of experience which is totaling 11,000 hours (35 hours / week). The minimum requirement is 2,800 hours but i want to know is there any upper limit. if i show the full 11,000 into my application. Would it impact or not? Waiting for your reply. Thanks

Hi Sagheer,

Thanks for reading my blog! As far as I know there is an upper limit, but I forgot what the number is. Btw, if the system already recorded that you have min. 2000 hrs of working experience, you’ll be okay!

Thank you Laurensia for your reply. Yes i checked Chevening website they said a range of minimum 35 to maximum 60 hours per week. So what i understand is that i can add maximum employers as far as the time spend per week at each employer does not exceed 60 hours per week.

Halo, Kak Lauren! What an inspiring article :)) Kak Lauren, would you please be my mentee for Chevening 🙂 I do really need someone to review my essay. Hopefully you can be my mentee. Thankyou in advance :))

Hi Ratri, Apologies for late reply. I’m soo sorry I’m currently unavailable for becoming a mentor neither proofread assistance 😦 Good luck in your application!

HeyLaurensia, Loved the the detailed article. I used the contents in your blog to edit my essays. Thank you so much.

Hi Maryam, thanks for your kind word! Good luck for your application!

Dear Laurensia, I am so excited to read your blog which has a completed information for potential applicants. I have question that i have worked more than 11,000 hours and if i want to show them in full does it have a negative impact on my application? Is there any Upper limit for working hours?

Thanks the insights

hello Laurensia, Thank you for this help! I want to ask if it’s okay to write UK in essay or we have to in full (united kingdom)? another qn is that, is there a problem when one chooses one course at all three universities or we have to choose three courses as well?

That was very usefull I think if this essey included some bullet piont can be more ataractive. Tank you .

Halo kak,… Ketika kita copas essay ke sistem chevening,sebaiknya antar paragraf diberi spasi (di-enter) atau tidak ya? Apakah hal ini mempengaruhi? Terima kasih

Apologise for very late reply. Aku dikasih paragraf dulu, supaya bacanya enak. Jujur gak tau mempengaruhi atau nggaknya, cuma at least buat akunya sendiri, aku jadi bisa baca lebih jelas. Hope this helps!

Hi Laurensia, thank you for such great tips on writing the chevening essay. I have been applying for chevening scholarship for the past 3 years and I am not shortlisted for interviews. I was wondering if you would be able to give me points on my essays? It would be great help for me. Thank you!

great explanation, really help me to start my essay! i’ll just bookmarked this, then

Thank you! Goodluck!

Hello, I am really glad i came across your blog. My questions are, I was given admission in only one University and that is the course i really wanted, can i just focus on that one course? I also want to know, what to know the most challenging stage for you. How long can the process of writing the essay take? Do i need someone to guide and coach me physically?

Hi Simon, thanks for reading my blog. I think, based on Chevening requirement, we still need to provide 3 courses. Perhaps you want to include similar courses in 3 different campus? Because as far as I know, if applicants can’t obtain the unconditional acceptance letter from the first choice, then they can submit LOA from the second choice.

The most challenging stage while writing essay was connecting the dots. I had several leadership & networking experiences, but struggled to showcase which one to put in the essay(since I only have 500 words). I know what to study, but difficult how to link it with future career and past experiences. I got helped by a friend and together we dig down what should be included in the essay, what is not. The process itself was more like a journey to know more of what I’m good at and my aspiration is.

For guide and coach, it depends on you. If you think you really know what your passion is and have clear aspiration, then maybe no need. Sometimes coach/mentor helps to connect your dots, it is you who should discover the dot itself.

Hope it helps, good luck!

thanks a lot forthis great article Laurencia, I wanted to know how we can get the university admission ? in the website part where you can search the available courses , they don’t show them you have to write the name or the university or course ? thnks for your help

Hi Hamza, you can find the course & campus list here: https://www.chevening.org/scholarships/find-a-course/ the list has a direct link to the campus website.

thank you so much be blessed

Thank youu!

Hello Dear Laurencia,

I hope that you are doing well and that Eid passed in a good way for you and your family , how can I contact you please it’s urgent , thanks a lot I made comments in the past but you don’t respond

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• FindAMasters
• How I Won a Chevening Scholarship – 10 Tips for Success

If you’re planning to do your Masters in the UK as an international student, chances are you’ve already heard of the Chevening scholarship. The UK government’s international award scheme is highly prestigious due to its competitive selection process. My cohort (2018-2019) had over 68,000 applicants from 168 countries, but only 1,800 of us made it! Chevening scholars attain academic and professional growth, extensive networking opportunities, the UK cultural experience, and lasting positive relationships with the UK. And we get to join an exclusive alumni network! How cool is that?

The selection process takes roughly a year, and comprises application, interview, conditional offer, final award and pre-departure briefing stages. I won’t lie, the process will demand exceptional mental and emotional strength, but don’t let that deter you from this life-changing opportunity.

Personally I’m glad I went through the process, and I am now enjoying my Masters here in the UK. If you’re thinking of applying yourself, here are some tips from my experience!

#1 It’s not just about you

Chevening wants you to use the knowledge you gain in the UK to give back to your home country, not just to advance your own career.

Remember that scholars carry the reputation of Chevening and their home countries, so they are encouraged to look beyond themselves. That’s why we cannot apply to remain in the UK immediately after our studies (instead, we’re expected to return home and work for at least two years).

#2 Check the eligibility criteria

You’d be surprised how many people overlook this obvious requirement. You’ll need at least two years’ work experience and an undergraduate degree equivalent to an upper second-class 2:1 honours degree in the UK.

Don’t forget to check admission criteria when browsing courses and universities, as it helps to apply to these at the same time. Note that some universities may also charge non-refundable application fees.

#3 Observe the timeline

The Foreign Commonwealth Office releases a timeline for the selection process each year. Follow them on social media ( @CheveningFCDO ) so you don’t miss out on vital information. You must be physically present at certain stages (e.g. interview and pre-departure briefing) so it’s best to keep travel plans in check.

#4 Research, research, research!

You can either choose to apply to three similar courses at different universities, or three different courses at one university. Any recognised UK university and course is fine, provided it is a one-year taught postgraduate course which leads to a Masters degree. You cannot change your choices later on, so this is your one chance to pick something that matches your development goals.

#5 Write your essay with conviction and consideration

The essays you’re asked to write will be an important part of your application. Think about what you want to say and believe in yourself! I had initially contemplated applying for public policy and governance instead of journalism, but I quickly realised I could not convince myself that the subject was the best choice for me. If you cannot convince yourself of the justifications you are making in your essays, how can you convince the selection panel?

For essays that stand out, explore other potential angles on a topic instead of stating the obvious. In the leadership section of my essays, the easy route would have been to talk about my leadership skills and how I benefited from them. Instead I highlighted how good leadership can inspire and contribute to human capital development. Draw on your experiences where need be but keep examples short and let the word limit steer you to be concise. For after-study plans, it may help to refer to the UK’s efforts in your home country that are aligned to your field of study.

#6 Don’t duplicate, don’t cheat!

The folks at Chevening want to know who you are as a person, not just your qualifications and career plans. Never get someone else to write your essays because your interview session will revolve around the points you made in them. Beware using repetitive answers as well. It’s easy to fall into this trap as the essay questions are related to each other. Instead, work your essays in such a way that they complement each other, and have a coherent flow.

#7 Prepare to elaborate

It’s easier to justify courses in a field of study that you are already involved in, but Chevening doesn’t stop you from choosing a different course from your current career path. If you’re making the switch, you must explain why this is beneficial to your future and how you expect to cope. Talk about your academic / professional background and mention relevant experiences that led you to this decision.

#8 Choose your referees carefully

Many applicants choose one academic and one professional referee, but it’s fine to provide two professional ones instead. I approached two bosses who I believed knew me better than professors who might not recall some kid they taught many years ago. Contact your referees when filing your application because if you make it to the interview stage, the referral letters must be submitted before your interview date.

#9 Check if you need language qualifications

I’m of little help here, since I was exempted from this requirement. What I do know is that you must provide proof of language qualifications (unless exempted) as part of three required documents within a set deadline to secure a full award. If you’re putting off taking the language qualification exams until after the conditional offer, plan well so you can get the results before deadline.

#10 Don’t delay

As with all other applications, do not leave anything until the eleventh hour. The online application system can slow down badly as the deadline approaches, so try to get things sorted well ahead of time. This year, the deadline is 1 November 2022 .

If you need more guidance, I’d suggest you keep an eye out for Chevening workshops. In some countries, the British embassy hosts workshops featuring past scholars and guest speakers. I attended one in Malaysia, where I learned more insider tips on what makes a successful Chevening application. I hope you find these tips helpful, and please don’t be put off applying for the Chevening because the prize is worth the fight. Good luck!

Editor's note : This blog was first published on 08/02/19. We've checked and updated it for current readers.

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Top Tips For A Great Chevening Scholarship Application From Us At Notts

The Chevening Scholarship programme for the year 2019/2020 is open for applications. Chevening is the UK Government’s international awards scheme aimed at developing global leaders.

Funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and partner organisations, Chevening offers two types of award – Chevening Scholarships and Chevening Fellowships – the recipients of which are personally selected by British embassies and high commissions throughout the world. With an alumni community of 50,000 individuals, the highly prestigious Chevening Scholarship programme has produced leaders across the world in various sectors.

Top Tips For A Great Chevening Scholarship Application

Getting the Chevening scholarship was a dream come true for me and a life changing moment. In this post I share some tips I hope will help you put together a good application to increase your chances of being selected for the scholarship. There are a few key components of your Chevening application and I will be highlighting each of them. I have also asked a few friends of mine who are also Chevening scholars to include their comments and you will find them quoted in this post!

‘’Chevening is a partnership, show what you offer as a partner and how what the Chevening scholarship offers will help you achieve a shared goal (read about their programs in your country)’’ – Noor Mousa, Iraq

• ENGLISH TESTS

The English Language Requirement is an important part of your application and it’s best to take your English Language test as early as possible (Usually from when you begin your application). You do need your English test to get admission into your University of choice except you’re exempt from this, however, Chevening would only require you to fulfil the English test requirement by July of the next year and your test should have been taken after October 2017. When deciding on which test to take, consider if the test center is available in your country or near you and also consider if the test is accepted by the universities where you want to apply.

Chevening accepts a number of English language tests.

• Test Time – approx. 2 hours 45 minutes spread over 2 separate days
• Result time – approx.. 13 days
• Test Time – approx. 4 hours
• Result time – approx. 10 days

PTE ACADEMIC

• Test Time – approx. 3 hours
• Result time – Usually 5 business days but mostly you should receive it in approx. 24 – 48 hours
• UNIVERSITIES

At the point of application. Chevening will require you to list 3 Universities and courses in order of preference. You do not need to have gained admission into these universities at the point of application but you do need to have an unconditional offer from at least one university before the final deadline if you do get selected for the scholarship. Also, you will be given a final opportunity to change your university choices during your interview if you make it to that stage.

Check the Chevening website for a list of universities and courses that are accepted. Chevening typically accepts a wide range of Universities in the Uk so it is highly unlikely that the university you desire is not on that list, regardless, still check to be sure. Research the Universities and the courses thoughtfully and carefully. Make sure you can demonstrate passion and a connection between your course choices, your professional experiences and your future career plans when writing about this in your essays. Check if your course is in line with Chevening priority areas in your country, it helps if your choices are aligned. Most of all, it should be clear how your university and course choices will develop you personally and professionally, and also equip you to be a leader in your country on your return.

Make sure you choose the right course that will support your career and professional development. Take your time to check out the course details. Read about the modules, course entry requirement, fees, and make sure it is a Taught course! If you are applying for an MBA, be aware of the Chevening scholarship cap (currently 18,000 GBP for MBAs). If your MBA course fee is higher than the indicated amount, you will need to pay the balance. Try to apply for tuition scholarships from the school as soon as possible. – Nguyen Thi Ph ươ ng Thao, Vietnam

Your essays are easily a very crucial part of your application. This is where chevening gets to interact with you at first instance to try to understand you as an individual, assess your motivations, leadership potential and the potential impact you would make in your country as a result of the opportunity the scholarship brings. You will be required to write 4 essays in 500 words each across leadership, networking, career plans.

Here are a few tips to guide you:

• Starting the essay may seem difficult but a great tip is to break up each essay into bullet points and begin developing your ideas from there.
• This may be stated in every application advice column but I cannot stress how important it is to be original. Let your essay truly be a reflection of who you are. Chevening essays can be somewhat a soul searching process, take your time, do not put yourself under pressure, find some time to sit still and think deeply about why you want this scholarship and how your previous work has prepared you for this opportunity. I can truly say I rediscovered myself after writing these essays. I recommend writing something down before searching for essay samples online. The samples can be a good guide but sometimes can lead you to think in the direction of the writer when Chevening is more likely to appreciate a well put together original line of thought. Also, do not plagiarize . Chevening will check but bear in mind that you would have to defend your words if you do make it to the interview stage.

Spare time to finish the 4 essays. Try to complete and focus on one essay before moving to the next one. If you get stuck, find essay forums or other Chevening scholars group to get enlightenmen. –  Andina Dwi Kanti Setyaningrum – Indonesia (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

• Your essays should reflect strong passion and vision. Your leadership potential is extremely important. Build on and highlight your involvement in community development. Your essays should display that you are a worthy investment.
• Be clear, concise and specific.

Remember that you only have one chance to make a good first impression and these four essays are your opportunity to tell Chevening you are the candidate they are looking for!!! Take a lot of time drafting and proofreading your essays! Keep in mind that reaching the interview stage is the most difficult part considering that you only have 500 words in each essay to prove you are the ideal candidate! Pick your best examples and don’t try to tell your whole story in the essays. It will make it confusing! Choose two or three examples and work deep in them! – Dariela Valdes, Cuba

• When writing about your work, do not just write vaguely but show your impact in numbers. It should be clear how many people you have reached and intend to reach. Use measurable values.

Mention specific examples in the essays that show your role and the impact you have done. Also, take some time after finishing the application to reflect on your writing for editing purposes. – Sondos Alqutati, Palestine

• Maintain consistency and good flow in your essays.
• Do not lie but don’t be shy either. This is your time to speak extensively about your work. Make sure you highlight the key information. Try to summarize without leaving out the most important aspects of your essay and leverage the 500 words to reflect yourself as a promising individual set to leave a lasting impact in your country and the world.

“Be succinct and honest. Do not write something you do not understand. Be genuinely honest about your experience, you may want to exaggerate but do it in a very nice and light way” – Andina Dwi Kanti Setyaningrum – Indonesia

The scholarship application process may differ from country to country but generally you’d need to have the following documents for your initial application (Could be more):

• Valid International Passport
• University Transcripts
• University Certificate
• English Language certificate (Needed before final deadline)
• Reference letters (Needed before interview)  

You will need two references for your application. You would be listing the names and details of the references at the point of application but the reference letters would only be required before your interview. It is also good to work on this early. Make sure you list people who are easily accessible as well. Your references should be people who can really comment on your work and abilities and can reflect how well they know you. In selecting your references, seek one academic reference and one professional reference, but professional references will also work just fine.

References are important, do not underestimate the impact they have on the overall assessment of your application. Therefore, choose your referees wisely and strategically and also ensure that your references not only corroborate your achievements but also gives the assurance that you are a future leader destined for great things. Stacey Weever- Guyana

• GETTING HELP

Hopefully, this post helps you prepare a winning application however, reach out to former scholars and people in your network to help you review your essays. They can provide useful feedback to help you tweak a few bits.

One of the key skills Chevening is looking for is Networking! Use yours and get involved with other applicants, scholars, alumni, colleagues! I always tell people, when I started to apply for Chevening I did not know a single person who knew about Chevening or scholarships at all and I still put together a successful application thanks to many scholars and applicants as me who helped me without knowing me. By the time I got the scholarship I had already met most of the applicants of this year who later became my fellow Cheveners! – Dariela Valdes, Cuba

• THE PROCESS

The entire process from application until the Final Chevening Scholarship Award can take up to one year. It will feel long and sometimes you will get anxious but find strength and faith. Believe that you are prepared for this and hopefully you are. Find faith and prayer and most of all, keep working on those great things you would’ve spoken about in your essays. Get to work on some of those career plans and projects even while you wait.

APPLY FOR THE 2019/2010 CHEVENING SCHOLASHIP NOW BEFORE THE DEADLINE NOVEMBER 6, 2018

Reach out to any of us or connect with me on linkedin

Wishing you all the best!

Author :  Deborah Braide , Nigeria

For more articles, visit OD Blog .

Opportunity Desk is the one stop place for all global opportunities. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram - @opportunitydesk

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Home — Essay Samples — Education — Scholarship — My Application For Chevening Scholarship

My Application for Chevening Scholarship

• Categories: Academic Interests Personal Experience Scholarship

About this sample

Words: 1605 |

Published: Nov 8, 2019

Words: 1605 | Pages: 4 | 9 min read

Works Cited

• African Women's Development Fund. (n.d.). Our grants. http://awdf.org/grantees/
• Arese, U. (2016). The smart money woman. Troubador Publishing Ltd.
• County Government of Kericho. (2018). Kericho County integrated development plan 2018-2022.
• Health Renaissance Network. (n.d.). About us.
• Kipkemoi, J. K. (2019). Youth leadership and representation in Kenya's devolved governance: Experiences from Kericho County. Commonwealth Journal of Local Governance, (22), 26-42.
• Kweyu, R., Opiyo, R., & Siboe, G. (2016). Determinants of early sexual debut among high school students in Kisumu County, Kenya. Journal of Education and Practice, 7(6), 147-156.
• National Youth Council of Kenya. (2019). National youth policy 2007 review report. https://nyc.go.ke/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Report-of-the-Review-of-the-National-Youth-Policy.pdf
• Population Reference Bureau. (n.d.). PACE project.
• World Vision Kenya. (n.d.). Programs. https://www.wvi.org/kenya/our-work/health
• Young African Leadership Initiative. (n.d.). About YALI.

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2 Chevening Essay: Career plan

Chevening is looking for individuals who have a clear post-study career plan. Please outline your immediate plans upon returning home and your longer term career goals. You may wish to consider how these relate to what the UK government is doing in your country.

Check the newest Chevening Scholarship essay examples: click here .

“Career plan” Chevening Essay Example 1

I intend to put the new skills and knowledge I will have acquired from my education in the UK into good use in Kenya. Therefore, as soon as I return to the country, my immediate short-term career goal will be to use my new qualifications to search for a job commensurate with my master’s degree course. The position I already have in mind is that of a Personal Financial Advisor, as it is a financial/economics advisory role that interests me. I will also seek a job as a Financial Analyst, Budget Analyst, Management Analyst, and any other related job.

See also:  Ultimate Chevening Scholarship Resources

I anticipate that getting my first job after returning home will not be too difficult, given my existing professional experience and the master’s degree I will have obtained. Moreover, since I have already built excellent relationships at NIC Bank, it will be the first place I seek employment. In whatever new job I secure, I can put into practice everything I learned in the UK. My medium-term career goal is to establish a consultancy company where I will provide expert advice on everything business, finance, accounting, and economics. This will present an admittedly daunting yet rewarding challenge as it will be the first time I will be stepping out of formal employment to run my own business. This I plan to venture into after about five years of employment.

By this time, I expect to have gained enough knowledge and skills and should have saved enough capital to sustain my business for at least one year. This one-year grace year period will allow me to roll up my sleeves and build the necessary foundation for the business from the ground up before it becomes profitable and sustainable on its own. I quite look forward to this challenge. I will give myself about ten years in this capacity to develop my skills, expertise, and a strong network of professionals in the corporate world and government before eventually applying for a senior position such as Chief Financial Economist in the National Treasury. This is my ultimate long-term career goal. By this point, I will be in a much better position to use all the information I have accrued from my education and work experience to provide the requisite expert advice that the government and government bodies need.

These plans coalesce with everything the UK currently engages in Kenya. The UK has quite a healthy economic relationship with Kenya, even in the face of Brexit. It continues to export goods from Kenya and make significant investments in the country. For instance, in May 2019, the UK government committed to funding various high-impact projects across the nation, investments that are worth KSh14.5 billion (approximately £113,655,360). This came after a proposal to establish a UK- Kenya Economic Development Forum, which shall meet biannually.

According to a 2017 report by Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, over 70% of Kenya’s poor and hunger-stricken people live in rural areas and depend on agriculture for their livelihoods. Growth in the agricultural sector has been estimated to be over ten times more effective in reducing poverty compared to growth in other sectors in developing countries. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the sector employs over 40% of Kenya’s population. This could increase if more efforts are directed there, which is why I seek to build on my experience with poor rural communities to pursue a career in International Development. This will impart me with knowledge and skills to influence policies on poverty reduction through small-scale agriculture, rural development, and research.

In the short term, I see myself starting a community-based organization in Murang’a County that will transform agriculture into a viable business for rural small-scale farmers. I will achieve this by seeking partnerships with the county government and relevant social enterprises such as Juhudi Kilimo to increase smallholder farms’ productivity, enhance marketing systems and offer business, safety standards, and technical skills training. These initiatives will turn small-scale farms into businesses, link them to regional and global food chains and create job opportunities.

I plan to serve in the next Murang’a County Government as a County Executive Committee Member in charge of Agriculture and Cooperatives. In this role, I will work with the County Assembly to improve the reliability of water supply for irrigation for small-scale farmers, build more wholesale market sheds, employ more extension officers, identify and invest in first-mover crops and improve feeder roads to support agriculture.

In the long-term, with experience and skills gained in the local government, I plan to serve as a Member of Parliament in the National Assembly, chairing the Agriculture, Trade and Cooperatives Committee. In this role, I will build on my success with the County Government to work closely with the Executive arm of government to spearhead legislation to transform Kenya’s Agricultural sector to ensure food security and create more jobs. I will lead negotiations with United Kingdom Multinationals such as Marks & Spencer to increase their fair-trade products in Kenya and rope in more tea and coffee factories in their supply chain. In addition, I will advocate for Diageo to replace imported grains with local crops such as sorghum and cassava for their beers. This will promote trade between Kenya and the United Kingdom, deepen our relations and create jobs in the country. By following this career progression, it will be possible to make necessary adjustments based on my experience and the prevailing circumstances.

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"Chevening Scholarships: Empowering Global Leaders." StudyMoose, Sep 23, 2016. Accessed August 26, 2024. https://studymoose.com/chevening-scholarship-essay

"Chevening Scholarships: Empowering Global Leaders," StudyMoose , 23-Sep-2016. [Online]. Available: https://studymoose.com/chevening-scholarship-essay. [Accessed: 26-Aug-2024]

StudyMoose. (2016). Chevening Scholarships: Empowering Global Leaders . [Online]. Available at: https://studymoose.com/chevening-scholarship-essay [Accessed: 26-Aug-2024]

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Last Year's Essays Answers for My New Chevening Application - Is it acceptable?

Same essay twice.

OP brightside 2 / 6   Oct 8, 2020   #3 Thank you so much for your explanations. But I have a clarification, I applyed for Chevening three times, the first one in 2018 my application was rejected, 2019 I was selected for the intervew and things didn't wor, and the last time in 2020 and I used the same essays of 2019 & was selected for the interview but I apologized and didn't go for the intervew. I will try my best to make recognizable changes. Thank you.

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India's Best Colleges 2024

Chevening scholarships 2025: application details and eligibility.

Students wishing to apply for the scholarship must provide their educational documents, references, and an unconditional offer from a UK university by the deadline

• By India Today Research Bureau

• Aug 21, 2024

The Chevening Scholarships, fully funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office alongside partner organisations, provide complete financial support for students pursuing a master’s degree at any eligible UK university. The scholarship covers all expenses, including tuition fees, living costs, and return flights to the UK. Additionally, recipients can access exclusive opportunities such as volunteering, networking events, workshops, talks, and internships.

Applications for the 2025-26 academic year are open until 5 November 2024 at noon GMT, with results announced in June 2025.

To be eligible for the Chevening Scholarship, candidates must meet several criteria. They must return to their home country for at least two years after the scholarship concludes, possess at least two years (or 2,800 hours) of work experience, and hold an undergraduate degree qualifying them for a UK master’s programme. Applicants are required to apply to three different eligible UK university courses and must not have previously studied in the UK on a government-funded scholarship. 

The work experience can include full-time or part-time employment, voluntary work, or paid and unpaid internships. Students wishing to apply for the scholarship must provide their educational documents, references, and an unconditional offer from a UK university by the deadline.

Steps to apply:

Step 1: Visit the official Chevening website at chevening.org.

Step 2: On the homepage, select the "Apply" option.

Step 3: Choose your country and the relevant scholarship.

Step 4: Complete the online registration form provided on the subsequent page.

Step 5:  Ensure you pass the eligibility checker and submit your application.

Step 6: Save a copy of your application for future reference.

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Common application errors

Common errors to avoid in your Chevening application form.

In this section

We’ve compiled a list of the most common errors that Chevening applicants make in their application form. Learn about these mistakes to avoid common pitfalls and give yourself the best chance of joining our Chevening community.  

Eligibility criteria  

You will only be able to progress through the application form if you meet our eligibility criteria . Make sure you complete all questions honestly and accurately. Read about Chevening’s eligibility criteria and take our eligibility quiz to find out more.

Immigration details  

Applicants with dual citizenship in the United Kingdom are not eligible for Chevening.   

Work history   

• A minimum of two years’ work experience is required (2800 hours).  
• Common mistakes include not meeting the minimum hours, incorrectly entering the number of weeks worked, entering the same work experience more than once, or providing unrealistic work hours.  
• Your work experience is calculated automatically by multiplying weeks worked by hours per week (typically 35-60 hours per week, 40-50 weeks per year).  

Programmes of study  

Applicants who enter duplicate courses at the same universities cannot be considered for a scholarship. You must select three different courses. Check if your chosen courses are eligible for Chevening in our course-finder .  

Essay questions word count  

There is a 500-word count limit for each of the four Chevening essay questions. You must not exceed this limit. Similarly, if your answers are much shorter than 500 words, assessors may feel that you have not provided enough detail for each question. 

Repetition  

Do not repeat answers to any of the essay questions. Copy-pasting the same answer for multiple questions will invalidate your application.   

Plagiarism and AI  

Applicants must submit their own original work. Using AI software to generate answers for Chevening’s essay questions is strictly prohibited. You must not use someone else’s work or present content generated by AI tools like ChatGPT as your own. Doing so violates Chevening’s guidelines on plagiarism and fraud.

If any part of your application is found to be fraudulent or copied, your application will be disqualified. Chevening uses tools to detect fraud, plagiarism, and AI-generated content in applications.

Use of English language  

Applicants must complete the application form in English. If the application form is not completed in English, it will be deemed ineligible.

Though an English test score is not required for Chevening, strong English skills are necessary to write a successful application, conduct the interview, and apply to a UK university. Relying on AI tools to write your application will lead to rejection.  

Find guidance on strengthening your English skills .  

Following this guidance will give you the best chance of acing the Chevening application process. To find out more read our applications criteria , reading committee feedback , and our step-by-step guide to the online application system .  

Further guidance

Strengthen your english language skills, eligibility criteria, application criteria, using the online application system, choosing a uk university course, preparing your uk university application, apply for an award.

Applications for Chevening Scholarships are now open. Apply today.