Chevening Fellowships: Eligibility, Application and What to Expect

A Chevening Fellowship is a UK government-funded opportunity for mid-career professionals to spend a period in the United Kingdom on a tailored short course, research or a professional placement. It is part of Chevening, which GOV.UK describes as “the UK government’s largest scholarships programme for international students.”

Independent guide

Next Step Forward is an independent publication. It is not affiliated with Chevening, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office or the UK government, and it does not offer an application form. Apply only through the official Chevening website at chevening.org.

This guide explains how fellowships differ from Chevening Scholarships, how eligibility works and how to prepare. This is an international program located in the United Kingdom, with nationality-based eligibility. Many readers of this US-first publication may not be eligible, so check eligibility before anything else.

Fellowships and scholarships are different programs

Chevening runs two kinds of award, and they’re easy to confuse.

Chevening Fellowships compared with Chevening Scholarships

Chevening Fellowships compared with Chevening Scholarships

Consideration	Chevening Fellowships	Chevening Scholarships
Who it is for	Mid-career professionals already in positions of influence	Future leaders with a clear plan for impact
What it funds	Tailored short courses, research or professional placements in the UK	A one-year master's degree at a UK university
Eligibility	Set per fellowship programme, including country and experience	General scholarship criteria, including country of citizenship and work experience
Time away from work	Shorter periods, at set times	An academic year of full-time study

According to Chevening, fellowships suit professionals who usually can’t take a full year out of work for a master’s degree. GOV.UK notes that Chevening “also offers a limited number of fellowships to mid-career professionals.”

How eligibility works

Fellowship eligibility has two layers.

Chevening’s general fellowship criteria. Chevening’s eligibility page lists requirements including being a citizen of a fellowship-eligible country or territory, showing potential to rise to a position of leadership and influence, and returning to your country of citizenship for at least one year after the fellowship ends.

Each programme’s own criteria. Every fellowship programme sets its own requirements, which can include specific countries, sectors, qualifications and length of experience. Chevening states a general minimum of five years’ relevant work experience, and notes that some programmes have different or additional requirements.

Because the rules are set per programme and can change between cycles, this guide doesn’t list eligible countries or programmes. Use Chevening’s Find a programme page to see what’s currently offered and who each programme is open to.

A note for US-based readers

Chevening eligibility depends on nationality, and not every country is included. Check the official country and programme lists before investing time in an application. If you’re not eligible, our pillar on scholarships and fellowships and our guide to international research experiences cover other routes.

What a fellowship involves

Depending on the programme, a fellowship might involve a structured short course at a UK institution, self-directed professional or academic research, or a professional placement. Chevening describes fellows as people active in their field who use the time to collaborate with peers and build networks. The length, timing and content vary by programme, so read each programme’s page closely.

Applying

Applications go through Chevening’s official online application system. Chevening says applicants answer eligibility questions there and find out immediately whether they pass the eligibility check. Deadlines and application windows are programme-specific, so take them only from the official programme page.

Applications for competitive fellowships generally ask you to show leadership, influence and a clear plan for how the fellowship fits your career. To prepare:

1. Read the programme description carefully and note exactly what it is looking for.
2. Gather specific examples from your work that show leadership and impact. Concrete, evidence-based examples usually say more than general statements.
3. Plan your references early, following the programme’s requirements.
4. Track every requirement and date in one place. The funding application tracker is built for this, and our research funding application checklist covers each step.

An invented teaching example: an applicant drafting a leadership answer replaces “I am a strong leader in my organization” with a short account of a project they led: the problem, what they did, who they brought together and what changed as a result. The example is made up; the shift from claim to evidence is the point.

Common questions

Is a Chevening Fellowship the same as a Chevening Scholarship?

No. Scholarships fund a one-year master’s degree; fellowships offer shorter, tailored programmes for mid-career professionals.

Can US citizens apply?

Eligibility is nationality-based and set per programme. Check Chevening’s official lists rather than relying on secondary sources, including this guide.

Where do I apply?

Only through the official Chevening website. Next Step Forward doesn’t accept or forward applications.

What does a fellowship cover?

It depends on the programme. Check the official programme page for what is funded.

A practical next step

Open Chevening’s official Find a programme page and filter for your country of citizenship. If a programme fits your field and experience, note its eligibility requirements and dates in your tracker. If none fits, explore the alternatives linked above.