It’s 2025 and a master’s degree is still one of the best ways to enhance any career.
From the ever-popular Master in Business Administration (MBA) to the up-and-coming Master’s in IT or AI, they’ll equip you with the latest knowledge and skills, thus making you more desirable in the eyes of employers.
That, in turn, leads to a better shot at the role and salary you want.
The catch is that pursuing a master’s degree doesn’t come cheap. In the UK, international students can pay up to 30,000 pounds (US$39,154) per year — a hefty sum, especially if you add that to your cost of living, which could be anywhere from 900 to 1,400 pounds (US$1,174 to US$1,827) monthly.
But with a Chevening Scholarship, you won’t have to worry about your finances at all.
Funded by the UK government, Chevening is one of the most prestigious and competitive scholarships in the world.
Each year, around 1,000 scholars are selected from a pool of tens of thousands of applicants — proof that only the most driven and talented individuals make the cut. Since its launch in 1983, Chevening has supported over 60,000 scholars from more than 160 countries.
“I can certainly say that Chevening is not just a scholarship; it is an experience of a lifetime,” says Chevening alumnus Krishan Insan. “You’re a scholar for a year, but you’re a Chevener for life.”
One of the greatest benefits of the Chevening Scholarship is that it opens doors to connections.
Scholars meet policymakers, industry leaders, and innovators who shape the world. They exchange ideas with peers from around the world, forming friendships and professional relationships that last a lifetime.
Bogolo Kenewendo, former Minister of Investment, Trade & Industry, Government of Botswana and former President of Costa Rica, Carlos Andrés Alvarado Quesada, walked this path — proof that Chevening alumni return home and lead.
And then there’s the UK experience itself. There, quality education is a given, regardless of university or location.
So, if you’re looking for guidance on successfully obtaining this prestigious scholarship, you’re in luck.
Study International has compiled insights from Chevening scholars who shared how they secured their scholarships:
Sharon Jessy, born and raised in Malaysia, earned her Chevening scholarship in 2023 and studied at King’s College London for LLM. Source: Sharon Jessy
Degree: Master of Laws (LLM)
University: King’s College London
The first step of the Chevening scholarship is the four 500-word essay writing assessments, and it’s crucial to ace it. There are two key aspects they are looking for.
The first part is about presenting yourself on paper, which is difficult. I remember having to rewrite my application three to four times. The first draft looked robotic and didn’t represent me accurately. The second draft wasn’t much better. It was only in the third draft that I felt I was being more vulnerable and honest.
I detailed specific experiences, including feedback from people and stakeholders involved, and discussed the intangible impacts — not just statistics but also emotional or mental reactions.
The second aspect is coherence.
The application consists of four essays, each focusing on different aspects of your journey: leadership, networking, past studies/current work, and future aspirations. These essays are like different chapters of the same book — your book. They want to see you in all these dimensions because the essays address different questions. Each essay should be interrelated and interdependent, presenting a cohesive and comprehensive picture of who you are.
Benny Prawira Siauw, born and raised in Indonesia, earned his Chevening scholarship in 2023 and studied at the University of Oxford for an MSc in Medical Anthropology. Source: Benny Prawira Siauw
Degree: MSc in Medical Anthropology
University: University of Oxford
I had to deal with my insecurities as I had seen that most of my Chevening alumni friends could not secure it in their first shot. However, turned out that my extensive work in youth suicide prevention through Into The Light Indonesia, a community I founded in 2013, combined with various fellowships (Ashoka, Atlantic Fellows for Health Equity, YSEALI), helped strengthen my application.
The application process itself was intense.
I had only one month to prepare for IELTS, where Oxford required higher scores than most universities (7.5 with no component below 7). At first, I failed in my Writing score component. After another attempt, I managed to achieve the required Writing component score, even surprising myself with a higher total score than required.
For my personal statement, I leveraged my decade-long portfolio in mental health work and sought feedback from various sources, including cold-emailing Oxford students and Chevening alumni, both from Indonesia and other countries.
Kartini Ariffin from Malaysia earned her Master’s in Broadcast Journalism at Goldsmiths College at the University of London. Source: Kartini Ariffin
Degree: MA Broadcast Journalism
University: Goldsmiths, University of London
My first application wasn’t successful, but I stayed persistent and determined to go through the process again. The second time around, I was one of the 26 recipients from Malaysia embarking on a journey to the UK.
Back then, everything was done in hard copy, so you had to type out your essays, fill in the application form, print out two copies, and then physically submit them. I got shortlisted for an interview, and in September, I left for the UK to do my master’s in broadcast journalism at Goldsmiths College at the University of London.
You need to convince yourself and the panel that you are a deserving candidate. This should be shown in your goals for social impact and nation-building — it’s all about giving back.
Degree: MSc Migration, Mobility and Development
University: SOAS University of London
The easiest part of the application was starting it. The hardest was getting to the last part and applying. I lost count of the times I edited and re-edited my entries. A lot of patience, hard work, and love were required of me to overcome these hurdles. My desire to get this scholarship to pursue my degree in the UK came from a place of love.
The first time I applied for the Chevening, I didn’t get in because I filled in an entry wrong. So, with patience for the second time, I gave it my all and prepared myself for rejection. However, it was all good news because I won the scholarship.
Be unapologetically yourself all the time. Remind yourself never to lose hope and be true to yourself. When you apply, don’t fabricate stuff just to impress the panel, as you might fool them then, but you’ll be caught up in your interview — nothing beats honesty.
Florinette Cupidon, born and raised in Mauritius, earned her Chevening scholarship in 2022 and studied at the Birkbeck, University of London, for MSc International Development and Social Justice. Source: Florinette Cupidon
Degree: MSc International Development and Social Justice
University: Birkbeck, University of London
The scholarship’s emphasis on empowering individuals to contribute to the development of their home countries resonated with my goals, and I saw it as a perfect fit for my journey.
Glitternoire Collection is my entrepreneurial venture. We believe every individual has their unique sparkle and magic. It’s the fire that encourages them to reach for their dreams.
The fact that women and people around me understand the brand’s vision and mission and actively engage with it is immensely fulfilling.
I feel accomplished that I turned my idea into a brand — and one that goes beyond fashion.
It was this that helped me win the prestigious Chevening Scholarship, convincing the judges that I could be a leader.
Lynn Zulkarim, born and raised in Malaysia, earned her Chevening scholarship in 2020 and studied at the University of Westminster for Media, Campaigning and Social Change MA. Source: Lynn Zulkarim
Degree: Media, Campaigning and Social Change MA
University: University of Westminster
Many people are intimidated by the essays, especially the ones on networking and leadership. Don’t worry if you never connected with political leaders or held a managerial post.
What Chevening is really looking for is how you maintain and use your networking skills to your advantage. They also look for how you show your influence and leadership in your work or within your community.
Make sure you keep to the 500-word limit. When you’re shortlisted for an interview, re-read your essays, as the questions will be based on what you wrote.
You can find expected questions online to get a feel of what they’ll ask. The main thing is to practice, maybe engage with a previous scholar and have mock interview runs with them.
Achaleke Christian Leke, born and raised in Cameroon, earned his Chevening scholarship in 2017 and studied at the University of Birmingham for Conflict, Security and Development MSc. Source: Achaleke Christian Leke
Degree: Conflict, Security and Development MSc
University: University of Birmingham
It definitely wasn’t a smooth process for me. Mostly due to the fact that I had a very low GPA, which didn’t meet the requirement for university in the UK, and I also lacked confidence. I thought the Chevening committee only accepted those with top grades.
I had the professional credentials but lacked a way to articulate them. Fortunately, in Cameroon, the Chevening programme has mentors you can share your application with. They help you correct your language, rate your application and approve it for submission.
When I first got rejected, I was doing consultancy for the Commonwealth Secretariat in London. I shared the news with the company director, and she was surprised. She then asked me if I told the committee about my work and who I actually was.
Basically, I applied for the Chevening Scholarship again, but this time, I shared the links to my interviews, my work, my publications and everything. Before I got shortlisted for an interview, I was also invited to be a keynote speaker at the White House Summit to counter violent extremism in the US.
Sharif Safi, born and raised in Afghanistan, earned his Chevening scholarship in 2021 and studied at London Metropolitan University for Peace, Conflict and Diplomacy – MA. Source: Sharif Safi
Degree: Peace, Conflict and Diplomacy – MA
University: London Metropolitan University
Stop believing in luck and miracles when it comes to success, start believing in yourself and your abilities. While writing your applications, be real. Be clear. Be yourself.
Don’t be afraid of failures; if you fail, try again. It’s totally fine to keep failing again and again – but make sure you fail better every time you try. Do not get disappointed if you can’t make it in your first attempts; learn from it, move on and try again better – because at the end of the day, all your hard work will pay off. Believe in it.
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