A Guide to the Chevening Scholarship: Eligibility, Work Experience, and Common Mistakes

The Chevening Scholarship is a prestigious scholarship for students to study in the UK on a fully-funded master’s degree course. However, the scholarship is highly competitive, and applicants must meet strict eligibility criteria and avoid common mistakes when applying. In this guide, we will discuss the key requirements for the scholarship, including eligibility, work experience, and common mistakes to avoid.

Eligibility Criteria: To be eligible for the Chevening Scholarship, applicants must:

• Be a citizen of a Chevening-eligible country or territory.
• Return to their country of citizenship for a minimum of two years after their award has ended.
• Have completed all components of an undergraduate degree that will enable them to gain entry onto a postgraduate program at a UK university by the time they submit their application.
• Have at least two years of work experience.
• Apply to three different eligible UK university courses and have received an unconditional offer from one of these choices by the deadline.

Work Experience: To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must have at least two years of work experience, or 2,800 hours. The types of work experience that are eligible for Chevening can include full-time employment, part-time employment, voluntary work, and paid or unpaid internships. However, any mandatory employment that counted towards the applicant’s undergraduate or postgraduate course will not be eligible.

Calculating Work Experience: Applicants must calculate their work experience by multiplying the number of weeks worked by the number of hours worked per week. A working week comprises 35-60 hours, and a working year comprises 40-50 weeks. Applicants can submit up to fifteen different employment periods to meet the requirement.

Common Mistakes: There are several common mistakes that applicants make when applying for the Chevening Scholarship. These include:

• Failing the pre-screen stage of the application by not answering all eligibility questions correctly.
• Applicants with dual citizenship from the United Kingdom cannot be considered for an award.
• Not meeting the minimum number of hours worked prior to submitting their application.
• Entering an unrealistic number of hours or weeks worked.
• Entering the same work experience entry more than once.
• Applicants must select three different courses. Those who enter duplicate courses at the same universities cannot be considered for a scholarship.
• Applicants must meet the minimum word count in the essay questions. If the minimum word count is not met, the application will be deemed ineligible.

Conclusion: The Chevening Scholarship is a fantastic opportunity for students to study in the UK on a fully-funded master’s degree course. However, applicants must meet strict eligibility criteria and avoid common mistakes when applying. By following the guidelines in this guide, students can increase their chances of success and achieve their academic and professional goals.