Chevening Scholarship 2027/28 in the UK (Fully Funded Master's) – Deadline 6 October 2026

As this is written, about a week remains to apply for the 2027/28 Chevening Scholarships, the UK government's flagship funded master's programme. The window closes on 6 October 2026, and the system locks after that with no late access.

Some listings online describe this as a "King's College London Chevening Scholarship" covering master's, MPhil and PhD study, with free accommodation and "all nationalities" welcome. That picture is wrong on several points. Chevening is a government-run programme that funds a one-year master's at an eligible UK university, not a PhD, and it is open to citizens of eligible countries and territories rather than every nationality. This guide sticks to what Chevening itself publishes.

About Chevening

Chevening is the UK government's international awards programme, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and partner organisations. It has been running since 1983 and is aimed at emerging professionals with leadership potential. Scholars join an alumni network reported at more than 60,000 people across 140 countries and territories.

What You Can Study

• A one-year master's degree at an eligible UK university
• Any subject area, as long as the course appears on Chevening's eligible course list (use the official course finder)
• You choose three different eligible courses when you apply, and you need an unconditional offer from at least one of them
• PhD and MPhil study are not covered by this scholarship
• A university such as King's College London can be one of your three choices, provided it offers a course that qualifies

Eligibility: Read This Part Carefully

• Be a citizen of a Chevening-eligible country or territory. More than 160 are eligible, and the list is on the official site. UK citizens and some other groups are excluded, so the headline "open to all nationalities" is narrower than it sounds
• Return to your home country for at least two years after the award ends
• Have completed all components of an undergraduate degree that qualifies you for UK postgraduate entry, usually equivalent to an upper second-class (2:1) UK honours degree, though it can vary by course and university
• Have at least two years of work experience, counted as 2,800 hours
• Apply to three different eligible UK courses and hold an unconditional offer from one by Chevening's offer deadline
• Meet the English language requirement set by the university course you choose
• Applicants from countries eligible for Official Development Assistance (ODA) may face an added residency or intention-to-return condition, so check your country's page

What the Award Covers

• Full tuition fees for an eligible one-year master's
• A monthly living allowance (stipend) meant to cover accommodation and everyday costs. The award does not provide free accommodation, despite what some listings say
• An economy return flight to the UK
• Other eligible costs vary, and third-party summaries note limits, such as no funding for dependants and a tuition cap on some courses, so confirm the details on Chevening's official pages

Paperwork and Selection

The source listing named no required documents. Chevening runs a fully online application, and applicants are assessed on four things: leadership and influence, networking ability, a clear career plan for how the UK degree will help them make an impact, and the quality of their study proposal. Independent reading committees assess eligible applications, and British embassies or high commissions then produce a shortlist for interview. Exact document requirements can differ by country, so check the guidance on your own country's page.

A practical tip: the deadline is set in UTC, not local time. For 6 October 2026 at 11:00 UTC, that works out to 12:00 noon in London and Lagos, 14:00 in Nairobi, 16:00 in Islamabad and 16:30 in New Delhi. Submit well ahead of that.

Key Dates

• Application deadline: 6 October 2026 at 11:00 UTC
• Unconditional offer deadline: 8 July 2027 at 17:00 BST, by which time you must have submitted at least one unconditional offer from a UK university
• Studies begin: September/October 2027

The application deadline is fixed, but interview timelines vary by country, so confirm your local schedule with the relevant British embassy or high commission.

How to Apply

Apply through Chevening's official website (chevening.org). Create an account, choose your country or territory's page, complete the online form and submit before the deadline.

OFFICIAL LINK