Chevening Scholarships 2026

About This Scholarship

Chevening Scholarships are funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and represent the British government's most significant investment in international leadership development. Named after Chevening House — the official country residence of the UK Foreign Secretary — the award sends exceptional professionals from over 160 countries to pursue fully funded one-year Master's degrees at UK universities. With more than 50,000 alumni worldwide currently holding senior positions across government, business, media, civil society, and academia, the Chevening alumni network is one of the most influential professional communities in the world.

For Ghanaian professionals, Chevening offers something that goes beyond academic credentials. It is the British government's formal endorsement of your leadership potential — and membership in a global community of change-makers that spans every field and every continent. Ghana has produced a significant number of Chevening scholars, many of whom now hold senior positions in government ministries, international organisations, the private sector, and civil society. The Chevening experience — the year in the UK, the network forged, the perspective gained — consistently ranks among the most career-defining experiences its recipients describe.

The full scholarship covers tuition fees, a monthly living stipend, return economy airfare, and an arrival allowance — making it genuinely cost-free for the scholar.

Chevening Scholarships are arguably the most prestigious awards offered to international students in the UK and Europe. This fully funded scholarship scheme was established to support incoming international students pursuing a taught master’s program in one of 42 affiliated universities. Students from 160 eligible countries have a chance to be part of Chevening every year, and it’s a testament to the UK government’s commitment to supporting diversity and multiculturalism within their higher education institutions.

Chevening Scholarships Coverage

This government fully funded scholarship for international students covers the following:

100% of tuition fees

A monthly stipend covering accommodation fees and living expenses

Economy flight from and to your country of residence

Departure, arrival, and travel top up allowances

Visa fees

£75 for Tuberculosis tests if applicable

Apply for 2026 Intake!

Tips for Ghanaian and African Applicants

• Two years of work experience is a hard requirement: Chevening requires demonstrable post-graduation professional experience. Applications from recent graduates without work experience will not be considered.
• The four essays are everything: Chevening's application centres on four essays covering leadership, networking, your chosen field of study, and career plans. Write specifically about your Ghanaian context — the problems you have worked on, the communities you have engaged, the leadership you have exercised. Generic essays do not succeed.
• Networking is an assessed Chevening value: The selection process explicitly evaluates your networking capability. Demonstrate purposeful, professional networking in your essays and prepare to discuss it in your interview. This does not mean social media connections — it means substantive professional relationships you have built and leveraged.
• The interview is formal and challenging: Previous Ghanaian Chevening scholars recommend deep preparation on your subject area, your specific career plan post-scholarship, and current UK-Ghana bilateral issues. You will be expected to hold a substantive conversation with a panel.
• Applications open in August and close in November: The award begins the following September. Use the time between the application close and the interview season (typically February–April) to strengthen your knowledge of your proposed field of study.

Chevening Scholarships Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for Chevening Scholarships, you need to meet the following criteria:

Reside in a Chevening-eligible country

Complete an undergraduate degree before applying

Have a minimum 2 years of work experience (2800 hours)

Receive one unconditional offer from one of your three chosen universities

Chevening Scholarships Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for Chevening Scholarships, you need to meet the following criteria:

Reside in a Chevening-eligible country

Complete an undergraduate degree before applying

Have a minimum 2 years of work experience (2800 hours)

Receive one unconditional offer from one of your three chosen universities