Guide · UK · Chevening

Chevening Scholarship 2027/28: eligibility, coverage and deadlines

Updated 19 October 2026 · For applicants worldwide · Always confirm details on your Chevening country page

Chevening is the UK government’s international scholarship programme. It funds one-year master’s degrees at UK universities for people with leadership potential and at least two years of work experience. This guide covers who can apply for 2027/28, what the scholarship pays for, and the application window and deadlines. All of it is checked against chevening.org, and the deadline information was checked on 19 October 2026.

Deadline alert: 2027/28 applications are already closed in many countries. On 19 October 2026, chevening.org showed some countries, including Germany, Italy, Austria, Belgium, Greece and Andorra, as open until 20 October 2026 at 11:00 UTC. Check your own country page today.

What Chevening is

Chevening is funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and partner organisations. According to the Chevening scholarships page, the awards are for one-year master’s degrees in the UK and are fully funded. Chevening describes its scholars as future leaders who will drive impact in areas of shared priority for the UK and their home countries.

Applications are handled country by country. Each eligible country or territory has its own page on chevening.org, and that page shows whether applications are open and the exact closing date for that country.

Eligibility for 2027/28

The official eligibility page says you must:

• Be a citizen of a Chevening-eligible country or territory. If you are applying from an ODA-eligible country, you must also be resident in an ODA-eligible country.
• Return to your country of citizenship for at least two years after your award ends.
• Have completed an undergraduate degree that gets you into a UK postgraduate programme. The degree must have been completed at least two years before the application deadline.
• Have at least two years of work experience, equal to 2,800 hours, gained after your undergraduate degree.
• Apply to three different eligible UK courses and hold an unconditional offer from one of them by the deadline in the timeline.

Work experience

The work experience page explains that 2,800 hours is roughly two years at 35 hours a week and must be spread over at least two years. Full-time, part-time, voluntary and internship work all count, and you can list up to 15 employment periods. For the current cycle, your undergraduate degree must have been completed by October 2024. Only work done after that degree counts.

Who is not eligible

• British or dual British citizens, with some exceptions listed on the eligibility page.
• People who are resident in the UK.
• Certain employees and relatives of employees of the FCDO, other UK government departments and Chevening partners.
• People who have previously studied in the UK on a scholarship funded by the UK government.

Already having a master’s degree does not stop you from applying.

What the scholarship covers

The official FAQ, What does a Chevening Scholarship cover?, lists:

• University tuition fees
• A monthly stipend. The rate depends on whether you study in or outside London and is reviewed each year.
• Travel to and from the UK in economy class by an approved route, for the scholar only
• An arrival allowance and a departure allowance
• The cost of one visa application, for the scholar only
• Up to £75 for TB testing, where required
• A travel top-up allowance

Chevening does not publish the current stipend amount on that page, so we don’t quote one here. Your award letter states the exact figures. Costs for family members, such as their travel or visas, are not covered.

Application window and deadlines for 2027/28

Yes, the 2027/28 dates are published. The official application timeline sets out the cycle:

• August 2026: applications open.
• October 2026: applications close, at 11:00 UTC on the deadline shown on your country page.
• Mid-October 2026 to January 2027: applications go to reading committees.
• March to April 2027: interviews.
• From mid-June 2027: results.
• 8 July 2027, 17:00 BST: deadline to hold an unconditional offer.
• September/October 2027: studies begin in the UK.

Different countries close on different dates

The closing date depends on your country. These are the dates we checked on 19 October 2026:

• The Chevening apply page and country pages such as Germany showed Germany, Italy, Austria, Belgium, Greece and Andorra as open until 20 October 2026, 11:00 UTC.
• The UK government notice for Türkiye gave a closing date of 6 October 2026, 11:00 UTC.
• Other country pages, including Japan and Nigeria, already showed 2027/28 applications as closed.

Open your own country page from the apply page to confirm. If your country has already closed, you can prepare for the 2028/29 cycle. Its dates are not published yet. The 2027/28 cycle opened in August and closed in October, but treat that only as a guide until Chevening announces the new dates.

How to apply, step by step

1. Check eligibility first, especially the 2,800 hours and the date of your undergraduate degree.
2. Choose three eligible UK courses. They must be different courses, and you need an unconditional offer from one of them by 8 July 2027.
3. Write your application answers in the online system, using specific examples from your work. Keep your unique access code safe, because you need it at every stage.
4. Submit before 11:00 UTC on your country’s deadline. Don’t wait until the last day.
5. Prepare for the interview in March–April if you are shortlisted, and keep working on your university applications in parallel.

Weighing up other routes? See our guides to Erasmus Mundus scholarships, which fund two-year master’s programmes across Europe, and funded PhDs in the UK and Europe.

FAQ

What is the Chevening deadline for 2027/28?

It depends on your country. Applications close at 11:00 UTC on the date shown on your country page. On 19 October 2026, Germany, Italy, Austria, Belgium, Greece and Andorra showed 20 October 2026, 11:00 UTC. The UK government notice for Türkiye gave 6 October 2026, and many other countries had already closed.

Does Chevening cover tuition and living costs?

Yes. The official FAQ lists university tuition fees, a monthly stipend (different for London and elsewhere, reviewed each year), economy travel to and from the UK, arrival and departure allowances, one visa application and up to £75 for TB testing, all for the scholar only.

How much work experience do I need for Chevening?

At least two years, equal to 2,800 hours, gained after your undergraduate degree. Full-time, part-time, voluntary and internship work all count.

Can I apply to Chevening if I already have a master’s degree?

Yes. The eligibility page says holding a master’s degree does not by itself make you ineligible.

Do I need a university offer before applying to Chevening?

No. You apply to three different eligible UK courses and must hold an unconditional offer from one of them by 8 July 2027 (17:00 BST) for the 2027/28 cycle.

Do I have to go home after Chevening?

Yes. Scholars must return to their country of citizenship for at least two years after the award ends.

Sources

• Chevening — Scholarships overview
• Chevening — Eligibility
• Chevening — Work experience
• Chevening — What does a Chevening Scholarship cover?
• Chevening — Application timeline
• Chevening — Apply (country list and deadlines)
• Chevening — Chevening in Germany
• GOV.UK — Applications for 2027–2028 Chevening Türkiye awards are now open