Chevening Scholarship
A fully funded one-year Master's in the UK, for people with work experience who want to lead.
Offered by UK Government (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office)
Chevening is the UK government's international scholarship programme. It pays for one full year of a Master's degree at a UK university, plus your living costs and flights. It is aimed at people who already have some work experience and who want to go back home and build something. You apply directly on the Chevening website — it is free, and you do not need an agent.
Applications open
5 August 2026
Deadline — last day to apply
6 October 2026
at 11:00 UTC
The deadline is 6 October 2026 at 11:00 UTC. UTC is the time in London during winter. If you are in Nigeria, Cameroon or anywhere on West Africa Time (UTC+1), that means 12:00 noon your time. In Kenya, Uganda or Tanzania (UTC+3) it means 2:00pm. Do not wait until the last day — the website becomes very slow and late applications are not accepted for any reason.
Details checked against the official source on 13 August 2026. Rules change every year — always confirm on the official page before you apply.
TontonAfriJobs is not connected to this scholarship and never charges any fee. You can apply yourself, for free, using the steps below. Nobody needs to apply on your behalf.
Fully funded
Masters
Applications are OPEN now — they close on 6 October 2026
At least 2 years (2,800 hours)
No Chevening test required; your university sets its own
Competitive
What the scholarship pays for
What you still pay for yourself
Find your country
Find your country below and tap it — it opens your own country's Chevening page, where you start your application. Countries marked in red are currently CLOSED, so please read the reason before spending time on an application.
Currently closed
Cameroon
Chevening is closed for Cameroon. From 12:01am on 26 March 2026, UK Government rules stopped accepting Student visa applications made from outside the UK by Cameroonian nationals. Chevening has removed the Cameroon page entirely. If you were already granted a UK visa before that date, it was not cancelled.
Sudan
Chevening is closed for Sudan, under the same UK Student visa rule that took effect on 26 March 2026. Sudanese citizens can still apply for the Chevening OCIS Fellowship at Oxford, because the rule does not affect Fellowship visa routes.
Don't see your country? Eligibility can change each year — check the official country list.
Can I apply?
You need to be able to tick every box below. Each one links to the official page that states the rule.
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You are a citizen of a Chevening-eligible country. Most African countries are included — check the list for yours. Check your country
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You already hold an undergraduate (bachelor's) degree good enough to get you onto a UK Master's course. Official eligibility
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You have at least 2 years of work experience — 2,800 hours — gained after you finished your bachelor's degree. Full-time jobs, part-time jobs, internships (paid or unpaid), volunteering, freelancing and self-employment all count. How hours are counted
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You finished your undergraduate studies at least two years before the deadline. You do not need the certificate in hand when you apply, but you must have it by the interview stage. Official eligibility
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You agree to return to your home country for at least two years after the course finishes. This is a binding condition — breaking it means paying back everything you received. Terms & conditions
How to apply, step by step
Do these in order. Every step links to the exact official page you need — you never have to guess, and you never need an agent.
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1
Check that you qualify before doing anything else
Confirm your country is on the eligible list and that you can prove 2,800 hours of work experience. If you cannot yet, note the gap and apply in a future year — applying while ineligible only wastes your time.
Who can apply -
2
Choose three different UK Master's courses
You must pick three separate, eligible one-year Master's courses at UK universities. Choose courses that clearly connect to the work you have already done and what you plan to do at home afterwards — the connection is what the selectors look for.
How to choose your courses -
3
Add up your work experience hours honestly
The application form calculates your total automatically: weeks worked multiplied by hours per week. Gather your start and end dates for every job, internship and volunteer role before you begin filling the form.
Work experience rules -
4
Prepare your four written essays
You write about leadership, networking, your course choice, and your career plan. Write them in a separate document first, then paste them in. Use real, specific examples from your own life — vague general statements are the most common reason strong candidates fail.
Official application guidance -
5
Line up two referees
You supply the names and contact details of two people who can vouch for you — usually a manager and a lecturer. You only need their written reference letters (in English) if you reach the interview stage, but ask them early so they are not rushed.
Reference guidance -
6
Submit before the deadline
Applications are made on the official Chevening site only, and it is completely free. Submit well before the closing time — the system gets very busy on the final day, and late applications are simply not accepted.
Go to the application page -
7
If shortlisted, attend the interview at your local British embassy
Shortlisted applicants are interviewed at the British embassy or high commission in their own country. You will also upload your reference letters and proof of your degree at this stage.
Full application timeline -
8
Secure an unconditional university offer
Winning the scholarship is not the last step — you must still receive an unconditional offer from one of your three chosen courses by the date Chevening sets.
Timeline and deadlines
Papers you need to prepare
Start gathering these early — some take weeks to get.
Your bachelor's degree certificate and transcripts
Needed at interview stage, not when you first apply. If your university is slow, request it now.
Proof of work experience
Employment letters, contracts or payslips showing your dates and hours for each role.
Two reference letters in English
Only required if you are shortlisted for interview — but ask your referees early.
A valid passport or national ID
Used to confirm your citizenship and identity.
University offer letter
Must be an unconditional offer from one of your three chosen courses, by Chevening's deadline.
English test — which one to take
An English test proves you can study in English. You take it at a test centre (or sometimes at home), pay a fee, and receive a score. Book directly on the official website below — never pay an agent to book it for you.
IELTS Academic
The most widely accepted test at UK universities. If you only take one test, take this one.
Test centres exist in most African capital cities. You book and pay directly on the official IELTS site — never through an agent.
TOEFL iBT
Accepted by many UK universities. Check your specific university accepts it before booking.
Can be taken at a test centre or at home if you have a stable internet connection.
PTE Academic
Computer-based test, results usually come faster than IELTS.
Fewer test centres in Africa than IELTS — check one exists near you before choosing this option.
Duolingo English Test
Cheapest option and taken from home, but only some UK universities accept it. Confirm with your university first.
Much cheaper than IELTS and done on your own computer, which helps if no test centre is near you.
Choosing your Master's course
This is the part most people get wrong. There are two separate applications: one to Chevening for the money, and one to each university for your place. Chevening does not apply to universities for you. If you never get a university offer, the scholarship is cancelled — so start the university applications early, not after you hear from Chevening.
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1
You must name THREE different UK Master's courses on your Chevening form, in order of preference. They can be three courses at one university, or similar courses at up to three universities.
Official page -
2
The course must be a taught Master's, based in the UK, full-time, and start in the autumn term. PhD and MPhil courses are NOT funded.
Official page -
3
The course must last at least 9 months and no more than 12 months. Part-time and distance-learning courses are not accepted.
Official page -
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No more than one month of the course may be taught outside the UK.
Official page -
5
Check each course qualifies using Chevening's own course finder before you write it on your form. A course that is not eligible wastes one of your three choices.
Official page -
6
You apply to the universities YOURSELF, on their own websites — Chevening does not do it for you. You must hold an UNCONDITIONAL offer from at least one of your three choices by the offer deadline, or you lose the scholarship.
Official page
UK universities to apply to
Be careful with guides that claim a UK university has a "high acceptance rate for Africans". No UK university publishes that number — anyone quoting one has invented it. What IS published, and what actually decides your case, is each university's own entry requirements for your country: they state exactly which African degrees and grades they accept, and when they will let you skip the English test. Those pages are linked below. Every university here teaches one-year taught Master's courses that fit the Chevening rules, and the three marked with a green award run their own scholarships specifically for African students — you can hold one of those instead of, or alongside, applying for Chevening.
University of Manchester
Manchester, England
Runs one of the few UK scholarship schemes built only for Africans, and publishes a full entry-requirements page for each African country.
Equity and Merit Scholarships
For citizens of Ethiopia, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe only. Covers tuition in full, plus living costs, flights and visa. You need a bachelor's degree, at least 2 years of work experience, and you must not have studied outside Africa before.
University of Edinburgh
Edinburgh, Scotland
Hosts the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, open to citizens of any African country including North Africa.
Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
Open to citizens and residents of any African country, and to people with refugee status there. You must be 35 or under, hold the equivalent of a UK 2:1 degree, have faced barriers to education, and show leadership in your community. Read the eligibility page carefully before applying — the age rule is strict.
University of Nottingham
Nottingham, England
Its Developing Solutions scheme has funded students from African and Commonwealth countries since 2001.
Developing Solutions Masters Scholarship
Pays 50% or 100% of tuition for students from African, South Asian and selected Commonwealth countries. It rewards a clear plan for how your Master's will help your own country develop, so prepare that answer properly.
University of Glasgow
Glasgow, Scotland
Publishes a dedicated page for each African country showing exactly which local qualifications it accepts.
Glasgow scholarship search
Search their full scholarship list by your country and subject. Awards change every year, so check this page rather than trusting an old blog post.
University of Leeds
Leeds, England
Its country pages spell out when your African degree exempts you from the English test — which can save you the whole IELTS fee.
Leeds scholarship search
Note: if you completed a degree taught in English in your country, Leeds may not require IELTS at all. Check your country page before you pay for any test.
University of Warwick
Coventry, England
Strong for business, economics and development courses that suit Chevening's leadership focus.
Warwick postgraduate funding
Check this page for the current year's international Master's awards before you apply.
University of Sussex
Brighton, England
Long-established for development studies, a common choice for Chevening scholars working in government or NGOs.
Sussex Master's scholarships
Several awards here reduce tuition automatically once you hold an offer — read whether you need a separate form or not.
SOAS University of London
London, England
Specialises in Africa, Asia and the Middle East, so many courses are taught by people who research your region directly.
SOAS scholarships, bursaries and awards
Some SOAS awards are restricted to particular African regions — filter the list before spending time on an application.
This is a starting shortlist, not the only choice — any UK university is allowed as long as the course follows the rules above. Always confirm a course qualifies with Chevening's official course finder, and apply on the university's own website. You should never pay an agent to apply for you.
Questions people ask
What is the deadline for the Chevening Scholarship?
Applications for the Chevening Scholarship close on 6 October 2026 at 11:00 UTC. That is 12:00 noon in Lagos and Abuja (WAT), and 14:00 in Nairobi and Kampala (EAT). The application opened on 5 August 2026. Chevening does not accept late applications, and the online form closes automatically at that exact moment, so submit at least a day early.
Is the Chevening Scholarship fully funded?
Yes. The Chevening Scholarship is fully funded: it pays your full university tuition fees, a monthly living allowance, return economy flights to the UK, and arrival and departure allowances. It does not cover costs for your husband, wife or children, any English test fees your university requires, or pre-sessional English courses.
Which African countries are eligible for the Chevening Scholarship?
37 African countries are currently eligible for the Chevening Scholarship, including Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Egypt, Morocco and South Sudan. Cameroon and Sudan are closed: under UK Government rules that took effect on 26 March 2026, their citizens cannot obtain a UK Student visa from outside the UK. Sudanese citizens can still apply for the Chevening OCIS Fellowship at Oxford, because that rule does not affect Fellowship visa routes.
Can Cameroonians apply for the Chevening Scholarship?
No. The Chevening Scholarship is closed for Cameroon. From 12:01am on 26 March 2026, UK Government rules stopped accepting Student visa applications made from outside the UK by Cameroonian nationals, and Chevening has removed its Cameroon page. Cameroonians who already held a UK visa granted before that date did not have it cancelled.
How much work experience do I need for Chevening?
The Chevening Scholarship requires at least 2 years of work experience, counted as 2,800 hours, gained after you finished your bachelor's degree. Full-time jobs, part-time jobs, paid and unpaid internships, volunteering, freelancing and self-employment all count toward the 2,800 hours.
Do I need IELTS for the Chevening Scholarship?
Chevening itself no longer sets an English language requirement, so you do not need IELTS to submit a Chevening application. However, the UK university you apply to sets its own English requirement, and most accept IELTS Academic. Some universities waive the test entirely if you completed a degree taught in English in your own country, so check your university's entry-requirements page for your country before paying any test fee.
How many university courses do I choose for Chevening?
You must name three different UK Master's courses on your Chevening application, in order of preference. They can be three courses at one university or similar courses at up to three universities. Each course must be a taught Master's based in the UK, full-time, starting in the autumn term, and lasting between 9 and 12 months. PhD, MPhil, part-time and distance-learning courses are not funded.
Does Chevening apply to the universities for me?
No. Chevening pays the money, but you apply to each UK university yourself on that university's own website. These are two separate applications. You must hold an unconditional offer from at least one of your three course choices by Chevening's offer deadline, or the scholarship is withdrawn, so start university applications early rather than waiting for the Chevening result.
Does the Chevening Scholarship cost money to apply for?
No. The Chevening Scholarship is completely free to apply for, and applications are only accepted on chevening.org. No agent has inside access to the selection process and nobody can guarantee you a place. If someone asks you to pay for an application, a form or a recommendation, it is a scam.
Can I bring my family on a Chevening Scholarship?
The Chevening Scholarship covers you only. It does not pay for a husband, wife, partner or children to travel with you or live in the UK, and you would need to fund any dependants yourself and meet the UK visa rules for them separately.
Tips that genuinely improve your chances
- Your essays matter more than your grades. Chevening selects on leadership and clear plans, not just academic results.
- Use specific stories, not general claims. "I led a team of six to deliver X" beats "I am a good leader" every time.
- Choose courses that visibly connect your past work to what you intend to do back home — a random prestigious course is weaker than a relevant one.
- Start at least a month before the deadline. Rushed essays read as rushed.
- Do not use pre-sessional English courses to meet a university condition — this is explicitly not allowed and would cost you the scholarship.
Protect yourself from scams
Chevening is free to apply for and applications are only accepted on chevening.org. Nobody can "get you" a Chevening scholarship, and no agent has inside access to the selection process. If someone asks you to pay them for an application, a form, a recommendation, or a guaranteed place, it is a scam — report it and walk away.
Ready to apply?
Applications are made directly on the official website — it is free, and you do it yourself.
Where this information came from
- https://www.chevening.org/scholarships/who-can-apply/
- https://www.chevening.org/scholarships/who-can-apply/work-experience/
- https://www.chevening.org/resource-hub/guidance/eligibility/
- https://www.chevening.org/faqs/what-does-a-chevening-scholarship-cover/
- https://www.chevening.org/faqs/what-happened-to-chevenings-english-language-requirement/
- https://www.chevening.org/scholarships/application-timeline/
- https://www.chevening.org/terms-and-conditions-scholarships/
- https://www.chevening.org/scholarships/guidance/courses/
- https://www.chevening.org/scholarships/find-a-course/
- https://www.chevening.org/resource-hub/guidance/university-applications/
- https://www.gov.uk/guidance/visa-brake-changes-to-the-uk-visa-system
- https://www.chevening.org/fellowship/ocis/
- https://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/masters/fees-and-funding/masters-student-funding/equity-merit-scholarships/
- https://edinburgh-global.ed.ac.uk/mastercard-foundation-scholars-program/apply-for-a-scholarship/eligibility
- https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/pgstudy/funding/developing-solutions-masters-scholarship