Chevening Scholarship 2027/28 for Indian Students: Deadline 6 October 2026, Eligibility, Benefits, Timeline and How to Apply

The Chevening Scholarship is the UK Government’s international scholarship programme. It is funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and partner organisations, and it lets future leaders study a one-year master’s degree in the UK. Indian citizens are eligible. This guide covers the 2027/28 round (studies begin in September or October 2027): who can apply, what the scholarship covers, the exact timeline, the step-by-step process, how applications are judged and the mistakes that get applications rejected.

Prepared on Saturday, 26 September 2026, 10:29 PM IST. Sources were read on 26 September 2026.

Chevening 2027/28 at a glance

Who can apply? Every eligibility rule

Chevening states that ineligible applications are rejected. To be eligible you must:

• Be a citizen of a Chevening-eligible country or territory and apply from your country of citizenship, wherever you live now.
• Commit to returning to your home country (the country of your award) for at least two years after your scholarship ends.
• Have at least two years of work experience, equivalent to 2,800 hours, gained after completing your undergraduate degree.
• Hold an undergraduate degree that qualifies you for a UK master’s programme. You must have finished your undergraduate studies at least two years before the application deadline, even if you have not yet received the certificate, but you need the certificate by the time of your interview.
• Apply to three different eligible UK courses and receive an unconditional offer from at least one by the offer deadline (8 July 2027).
• If your award is from an ODA-eligible country, you must also be resident in an ODA-eligible country and show a clear intention to support your country of award (read this condition on the eligibility page).

How the work experience rule works

• The 2,800 hours are roughly equal to two years of full-time work at 35 hours a week, and they must be gained over a minimum of two years.
• For this cycle that means you must have completed your undergraduate degree by October 2024.
• Eligible experience: full-time or part-time employment, voluntary work, and paid or unpaid internships. You can enter up to 15 employment periods.
• The system calculates hours automatically (weeks worked multiplied by hours per week). Chevening says typical entries are 35 to 60 hours a week and 40 to 50 weeks a year.
• You do not need to resign from a current job to apply. If you are selected, it is your responsibility to make sure your employer will release you.
• If you do not have the required hours, your application will be rejected.

You are NOT eligible if you

• hold British or dual British citizenship (with limited exceptions for British Overseas Territories and BN(O) holders in Hong Kong);
• hold refugee status in a country that is not Chevening-eligible;
• are resident in the UK when you apply;
• are an employee, an immediate relative of an employee, or a former employee (within the last two years from the opening of applications) of a government department, the British Council, a partner UK university or their wholly owned subsidiaries, or are contracted to work on a British Council programme. Immediate relatives means parents, step-parents, siblings, step-siblings, children, step-children, spouse, civil partner or a partner in a relationship akin to marriage for at least two years;
• have previously studied in the UK on a UK-government-funded scholarship (a Chevening Fellowship holder may apply only after five years have passed since the fellowship).

Having a master’s degree already does not stop you from applying for a second master’s in the UK.

What the scholarship covers

• Payment of tuition fees
• Economy travel to and from your country of residence, for you only
• An arrival allowance and a departure allowance, and a travel top-up allowance
• The cost of your UK visa application, for you only
• A contribution of up to £75 for a TB test, where required
• A monthly living allowance (stipend) for accommodation and living costs. It depends on whether you study inside or outside London, and the rates are reviewed every year.
• A tailored engagement programme with networking events with other scholars, alumni, the FCDO and partner organisations

The public pages we read do not list the exact stipend or allowance amounts. Successful scholars receive them in their Final Award Letter, so we do not quote a figure.

Fee rules you should know

• MBA fee cap: Chevening covers MBA fees only up to £22,000. Universities may contribute up to 20% towards the cap, and you cover any additional cost. Fees for other eligible courses are fully covered.
• Tuition discount: most UK universities contribute 20% of tuition for Chevening scholars. If your university does not, you may be asked to take an alternative course, or you may pay the difference.
• Deposits: Chevening does not pay tuition-fee deposits. Some universities postpone or waive them once your Final Award Letter arrives, at their discretion.
• London campuses: if a university has campuses in London and elsewhere and the same course is offered at both, you are expected to attend the main campus.

Which courses are eligible?

You submit three master’s choices in order of preference. Courses must be full-time, start in the autumn term (usually September or October), be taught master’s courses (not research-based MRes), lead to a master’s degree and be based in the UK. They cannot be part-time or distance learning, shorter than nine months or longer than 12 months, a PhD or DPhil, or involve more than one month of study outside the UK. The only postgraduate diploma allowed is the Diplomatic Studies diploma at the University of Oxford. Use Chevening’s course finder to check each course.

You may apply to your universities before or after you submit your Chevening application, but you must not miss any university deadline. Chevening suggests three similar courses at three different universities for flexibility, or different courses at the same university with similar content. Duplicate courses at the same university are not accepted. Chevening will verify course eligibility.

Timeline for the 2027/28 round

How to apply, step by step

1. Check that you meet every eligibility rule above and calculate your work hours honestly.
2. Research and shortlist three eligible UK master’s courses using Chevening’s course finder and each university’s website. Note each university’s own deadline.
3. Go to Chevening’s India page. To apply you need an email address, a phone number and your unique access code for the online application system, which you need at every stage.
4. Complete the online application: personal details, work experience, your three course choices, the essay questions, and the names and contact details of two referees.
5. Submit before the deadline. Do not wait for the last hour; the system closes at 11:00 UTC (4:30 PM IST) on 6 October 2026.
6. If you are shortlisted (mid-February 2027), upload your documents at least seven working days before your interview.
7. If you pass the interview, submit at least one unconditional offer from a UK university by 8 July 2027.

How applications are judged

Independent reading committees assess your application in four areas. Chevening’s own guide poses these questions:

• Leadership and influencing: do you have good examples of your leadership and influencing skills?
• Networking: do you have good examples of building professional relationships to achieve positive outcomes?
• Studying in the UK: how will your chosen course give you the skills to address pressing challenges linked to UK priority areas?
• Career plan: how will your career plan support your ambition to drive positive change?

Chevening’s common-errors page lists the UK priority areas as promoting growth and prosperity, building resilience in a climate-vulnerable world, strengthening security and stability in a volatile world, and supporting development for more inclusive and effective societies. Your course choice should connect to your home-country goals and to these areas.

Referees and reference letters

• You name two referees and give their contact details in the application.
• Reference letters are needed only if you are invited to interview. Upload them to the application system, or give them directly to your local Chevening team, at least seven working days before the interview.
• Each letter must be in English (or come with a notarised English translation), be addressed to the British embassy or high commission in your country, and include the referee’s address, email and phone number, how long they have known you, in what capacity, and when they last had regular contact.
• The letter should briefly endorse your leadership and networking skills, your personal and interpersonal qualities, and your ability to complete a demanding UK master’s programme.

Common mistakes that get applications rejected

• Not meeting the 2,800 hours, entering weeks or hours wrongly, entering the same work experience twice, or unrealistic hours.
• Choosing duplicate courses at the same university (these cannot be considered).
• Using AI software to write your answers. Chevening says this is strictly prohibited, that it uses tools to detect fraud, plagiarism and AI-generated content, and that fraudulent or copied applications are disqualified. Write in your own words.
• Not completing the form in English (the application is then deemed ineligible).
• Applying without meeting the eligibility rules: Chevening says it is better to wait for a future cycle if you do not yet have enough experience.

A 10-day plan to finish on time (our suggestion)

This plan is our own suggestion built around the official rules, not an official Chevening timetable.

What if you miss this round?

Chevening runs every year. Prepare for the next round using the same eligibility rules, and use the time to build work experience, leadership examples and a clear career plan. Chevening’s India page also says that partner organisations offer additional awards and that every year some of them go unfilled, so applying for a partner award may improve your chances. Explore them on the India page.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Chevening deadline for Indian students?

6 October 2026 at 11:00 UTC, which is 4:30 PM IST, for the 2027/28 round.

Is Chevening free to apply for?

Yes. Applying is free, and Chevening does not endorse or work with third parties who charge for application help.

Do I need IELTS or another English test to apply?

Chevening itself does not require an English test score, but you must write the application in English, and UK universities usually require a test for admission. Check each university’s entry requirements.

Can I apply with a master’s degree already?

Yes. Having a master’s does not stop you from applying for a second master’s degree in the UK.

How much work experience do I need?

At least 2,800 hours (roughly two years full-time) over at least two years, gained after your undergraduate degree. For this cycle your degree must have been completed by October 2024.

Can I use AI to write my essays?

No. Chevening says using AI software to generate answers is strictly prohibited and that it checks for AI-generated content.

Do I need a university offer before applying?

No. You need at least one unconditional offer by 8 July 2027, after a successful interview. You choose three courses in the application.

How many scholarships go to India?

The public pages we read do not state the number of awards for India or per country.

Official sources (all read on 26 September 2026)

• Chevening: Application timeline
• Chevening: India page (deadline and how to apply)
• Chevening: Eligibility criteria
• Chevening: Work experience
• Chevening: Application criteria
• Chevening: Common application errors
• Chevening: Choosing a UK university course
• Chevening: References
• Chevening: What does a Chevening Scholarship cover?