Applying for Chevening for the first time can feel complex: there are university applications to manage alongside the Chevening application itself, four separate essays to write, references to chase, and a strict timeline to follow. Most rejections are not because the applicant was unqualified: they are because of avoidable mistakes in the application process.
This step-by-step guide walks you through the entire Chevening application from start to finish, specifically written for African students. Follow each step and you will submit a complete, professional application with the strongest possible chance of advancing to interview.
Before writing a single word, confirm you meet all eligibility requirements: (1) Citizen and resident of a Chevening-eligible country, all 54 African countries qualify. (2) Hold an undergraduate degree equivalent to a UK 2:1 (approximately 3.0 GPA or a Second Class Upper from Nigerian and Ghanaian universities). (3) Have at least two years of work experience (paid or voluntary) by the time the scholarship starts. (4) Intend to return to your home country for at least two years after completing the degree. (5) Not have previously received a Chevening scholarship. If you meet all five, proceed.
Chevening requires you to apply to three different UK universities independently through each university's own application system. Choose universities and courses that are (a) genuinely relevant to your career goal described in your application, and (b) that you can be realistically admitted to. Research the specific master's programmes, not just the universities. Identify the course content, entry requirements, and application deadlines. Submit your university applications early: some UK universities close applications before the Chevening deadline. You do not need an offer before submitting your Chevening application, but having a conditional offer strengthens your profile.
Each of the four essays is capped at 500 words. Do not exceed this limit: applications that exceed the word limit are automatically disqualified. The four questions are: Leadership and Influence, Networking, Career Plan, and Why Study in the UK. Start with your Career Plan essay: it is the foundation of your application and informs the other three. Your leadership and networking essays should tell specific stories, not describe abstract skills. Each story should have a situation, your specific action, and a clear outcome. The UK essay must name your specific courses and explain why the UK specifically (not just any English-speaking country) is the right place for this programme.
The Chevening application typically opens in August and closes in early November. The exact dates are announced on the Chevening website (chevening.org) in July each year. The application portal opens for the November deadline, and shortlisting results are sent in February, with final offers in May.
In some circumstances, yes. If you are shortlisted, Chevening may allow you to update your university choices before the interview stage. After receiving a scholarship offer, you are expected to hold a confirmed offer from one of your chosen universities. Contact Chevening directly if you need to make changes: do not simply ignore your original choices.
No. You submit the Chevening application with your intended course choices, but you do not need confirmed offers at the application stage. The university offers can come later. However, if you receive a Chevening award, you must then secure and hold a confirmed offer from one of your three chosen institutions to proceed.
The interview is with a panel of two or three people, typically including a British High Commission representative, a Chevening alumni, and possibly a representative from your professional sector. You will be asked about your career goals, your leadership experience, your understanding of UK-Africa relations, and your plans after returning home. It is conversational but formal. Dress professionally and arrive early.
Yes. Chevening explicitly encourages reapplication. Many successful Chevening scholars applied two or three times before receiving an award. After a rejection, request feedback if it is available in your country, strengthen the weakest parts of your application (usually the essays or work experience), and reapply in the following cycle.
Last updated: April 2026. Find scholarships on StudiePoint AI →