Dear Applicant
Welcome to the first edition of the Alphagram – our newsletter for those interested in Chevening Awards to study in the UK in 2020/2021!
Every month until the end of the application period, we’ll be sending you top tips and reminders for submitting your application, as well as informing you of what is happening in the Chevening community. You will receive a final newsletter in early 2020 with tips and advice for interviews as well as information about next steps for applicants.
You are receiving the Alphagram as you signed up to be informed about important information about Chevening.
Dates for your Diary
We are pleased to announce that applications for 2020/2021 Chevening Scholarships and some Fellowships will open on Monday, 5 August 2019.
What is Chevening?
Chevening is the UK government’s flagship international awards programme aimed at developing global leaders since 1983. It is funded by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office and partner organisations.
Chevening provides two types of awards – Chevening Scholarships and Chevening Fellowships. The recipients of both are selected by British embassies and high commissions worldwide based on the eligibility criteria of awards.
Each year, scholars from over 160 countries and territories arrive in the UK to complete a one year taught master’s degree in a wide range of subjects. Selected mid-career professional fellows arrive throughout the year to complete a variety of short courses or research placements.
Upon completion of their programmes, scholars and fellows return to their home countries where they often go on to become global leaders. You can read more about Chevening’s impact in our Impact Report.
To view more information about why you should apply to study in the UK, click here.
How to prepare for your Chevening Scholarship Application
1. Read our guidance pages on the website
Check that you meet the Chevening eligibility criteria and understand Chevening policies by reading our guidance pages. These cover advice on courses, English language criteria, and work experience requirements. If you have a query that is not answered in the guidance pages or FAQs, submit your question here.
2. Research your course choices
To apply for a Chevening Scholarship, you will need to choose three different eligible master’s courses, and select them on your application form. You will also need to apply to those courses at your chosen universities. It is very important that you pick courses that are best suited to your goals. Research the most relevant courses and institutions for your goals using the resources below:
• Chevening course finder
• www.postgrad.com
• QS University rankings
• The Complete University Guide
• Times Higher Education
3. Secure referees
You are required to enter the following information for two referees (one professional, one academic) in your application:
Name; job title; organisation; capacity in which known; email address
If you are subsequently invited to interview, you will be asked to provide references from your two referees within a short period of time. Identify two referees in good time and ensure that they will be happy to provide a comprehensive reference on your behalf. More details will be provided to you if you are invited to interview.
4. Connect on social media
Follow us on social media to keep up to date with what our scholars and alumni are up to, as well as helpful tips and Q&A sessions. Follow your local embassy or high commission for up-to-date information on the work that they are doing in your country.
We are on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
5. Be aware of deadlines
The Chevening application window for 2020/2021 intake will run from 5 August to 5 November 2019. No late applications will be accepted, so make sure you give yourself enough time to submit your strongest application.
Attend a Local Chevening Event
Your closest British embassy or high commission may be holding an event to share information about Chevening, the application process, and studying in the UK. Examples of events held include:
- Presentations/visits to universities
- Attending Study UK and other higher education fairs
- Live Facebook Q&A sessions
- Radio interviews
- And much more!
The best way to keep up to date with your nearest British embassy or high commission is to follow them on social media, and keep an eye on their Chevening country/territory page which you can find by selecting your country/territory here.
Chevening Celebrates 35 Years
Chevening’s Class of 2018 marks 35 successful years of the programme, and we’ve had double reason to celebrate as our global alumni network now surpasses 50,000. Find out more about the history of Chevening by watching this video.
Changemakers Exhibition
Visitors from all over the UK and the world discovered inspiring stories of outstanding Chevening Alumni at a photography exhibition celebrating 35 years of the scholarships programme in London during March 2019.
The exhibition, called ‘Changemakers: 35 visions of global leadership’, featured 35 specially-commissioned portraits of global leaders and changemakers from a wide range of fields. Having all been educated through the Chevening programme, their portraits were accompanied by old photographs and fond memories from their time in the UK.
Chevening Talks
From photojournalism in Chechnya, to peacebuilding in Colombia, from challenging corruption in Malta, to co-writing books across the India-Pakistan border, Cheveners are initiating and sustaining progressive dialogue around the world.
This was highlighted at the inaugural Chevening Talks event, held in central London on 10 May 2019. Drawing on their diverse personal and professional backgrounds, alumni and scholars delivered a series of inspiring talks based on the theme ‘Dialogue in the Digital Age’.
35TH Anniversary Celebrations Around the World
In the Next Alphagram
You'll receive the next Alphagram in late July.
In our next issue we'll discuss more application tips, we'll give you a behind-the-scenes look at the upcoming Farewell event, and we'll share more about how best to select your courses.
In the meantime, please forward the Alphagram to anyone that you think may be interested in applying for a Chevening Scholarship or Fellowship using the link at the bottom of the page.
If you have received this from a friend and would like to receive future Alphagrams directly, you can sign up on our website at www.chevening.org/subscribe
