The Chevening Scholarship is the UK Government's flagship international scholarship programme, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). It awards fully funded one-year master's degrees at any UK university to students who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement, leadership, and a commitment to making a difference in their home countries.
For African students, Chevening is one of the most accessible prestigious scholarships available: it accepts a minimum GPA of 3.0, covers all costs including flights and visa fees, and actively recruits from all 54 African countries. Approximately 1,500 scholarships are awarded globally each year, with a significant share going to African applicants.
This guide covers everything about the Chevening application from an African student's perspective, eligibility, the essay questions, the interview process, and what happens once you arrive in the UK.
To be eligible for Chevening, you must: be a citizen of a Chevening-eligible country (all 54 African countries qualify), have a minimum of a 2:1 undergraduate degree (equivalent to approximately 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale), have at least two years of work experience by the time you start the scholarship, and intend to return to your home country for at least two years after completing your degree. The work experience requirement is important. Chevening is not designed for students who want to study immediately after their bachelor's degree.
The Chevening application has four essay questions, each capped at 500 words. The questions are: (1) Leadership and Influence: describe a situation where you demonstrated leadership and explain what you learned; (2) Networking: explain how you have used networking to achieve a goal; (3) Career Plan: explain how Chevening will help your career and what you will do after returning home; (4) Study in the UK: why do you want to study in the UK, and why have you chosen your specific universities and course. These essays matter more than your academic transcript. Chevening is fundamentally looking for future leaders, not academic stars.
Shortlisted candidates are invited for an interview with a Chevening Selection Panel, typically held at the British High Commission or British Council in your country. The interview is 45–60 minutes long and covers your leadership experience, your understanding of UK-home country relations, your specific course choice, and your plans after the scholarship. The panel is assessing your confidence, clarity of purpose, and genuine commitment to returning home and making an impact. Dress professionally, know your essays inside out, and prepare three or four concrete stories from your professional life.
No. Chevening requires a minimum of two years of work experience (paid, voluntary, or a combination) by the time the scholarship starts. This is a firm requirement, not a suggestion. If you have recently graduated, focus on building work experience and apply in a future cycle.
Yes. Chevening lets you choose any UK university: you apply to three universities yourself through the standard UCAS or direct application process, and Chevening pays for whichever you are accepted to. Many Chevening scholars choose University of Oxford, UCL, LSE, University of Edinburgh, King's College London, or the University of Manchester.
Any subject offered at postgraduate level at a UK university. However, your choice must be relevant to your career goals and your country's development needs as described in your application. There is no restricted subject list: but your justification must be convincing.
The most successful Chevening essays are specific, not generic. Instead of 'I want to improve healthcare in my country,' write about a specific project you led, a specific failure you learned from, and a specific policy you intend to implement on your return. The selection committee reads thousands of applications: generic ambition does not stand out. Concrete stories do.
Chevening does not publish country-specific acceptance rates. Globally, approximately 5% of applicants receive an award. Some African countries with smaller applicant pools have higher effective acceptance rates. Countries with large, well-established alumni communities (Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, South Africa) tend to have more applicants and thus lower effective acceptance rates, but also more resources to help applicants prepare.
Last updated: April 2026. Find scholarships on StudiePoint AI →