Chevening Scholarship for Indian Students: 2026 Application Guide

The UK is a major study destination for Indian students. As per the latest reports shared by the Ministry of External Affairs, more than 185,000 Indian students are pursuing their education in the UK. While the popularity of overseas education is on the rise, a hurdle for some Indian students is the expenses involved. Scholarships help alleviate the financial burden, with fully funded scholarships being the most sought-after ones. The Chevening Scholarship deserves special mention in this category.

What is the Chevening Scholarship?

Chevening is an international scholarship offered by the UK government in collaboration with partner organisations to support the postgraduate studies of deserving candidates in the UK for one year. It is a fully-funded award. and is for students from over 160 countries, including those from India. The scholarship aims to empower emerging leaders from all over the world. Chevening also boasts an outstanding global alumni network of more than 60,000 members.

Our website lists over 2000 scholarships for International students interested in exploring study abroad opportunities in the UK.

What does the Chevening Scholarship cover?

The Chevening Scholarship provides financial support to cover all the major expenses associated with studying abroad. These include:

• The tuition fee for one year
• Travel costs to and from the UK
• Visa application costs
• A travel grant to attend events in the UK
• Arrival and departure allowances
• A monthly stipend.

If you are curious about the cost of studying in the UK and other popular foreign study destinations, please check out our article.

Chevening Scholarship Eligibility Criteria

India is one of the 164 Chevening-eligible countries or territories. So, Indian citizens automatically clear this eligibility criterion. Check if you meet the other eligibility requirements.

You can apply if you:

• Hold an undergraduate degree that makes you eligible to pursue a postgraduate course in the UK.
• Have at least two years of work experience. This could be full-time, part-time, voluntary work, or internships. You should have 2,800 hours of work experience in total.
• Commit to returning to India for at least two years after your scholarship ends.
• Apply to three different university courses and receive an unconditional offer from at least one of the institutions.

You can apply even if you already hold a postgraduate degree and are applying for a second master’s degree course.

Explore universities offering master's courses in the UK.

How to apply for Chevening Scholarships

• Applications can be made online through the official website for Chevening Scholarships, and you must register on the website before applying.
• Chevening offers multiple fellowships and a scholarship for Indian students. Choose the award ‘Chevening Scholarship 2026-2027’ before proceeding.
• Once you access the application portal, you must pass the eligibility checker. This is a set of questions to ascertain your eligibility.
• Upon clearing the eligibility checker, you will receive an email with a link to proceed with the application.
• Remember to make a note of your unique access code.
• As part of the application, you must provide your education, personal and professional details, and course choices.

(Note that it is not mandatory to apply to courses before submitting the Chevening application), However, you should have the offer letter in hand at the time of the interview.

• Provide details of two referees
• Answer the essay questions on leadership, course choices, etc.
• Submit your application

More about the documents to be submitted:

Please note that documents are not required at the application stage.

• Education documents (copies of original certificates/transcripts)
• A short biography
• An unconditional offer letter from a UK university
• Two references (Only the names and contact details of the referees need to be provided at the application stage. If you are invited for the Chevening interview, you will have to upload the reference letters)

Chevening Scholarship Application Timeline (2025-2026)

• Applications open: 5 August 2025
• Application deadline: 7 October 2025.
• Application review begins: October 2025
• Assessment of eligible applications: Mid-October 2025 to January 2026
• Shortlisting for interviews: Mid-February 2026
• Interviews conducted: March to April 2026
• Results announced: Mid-June 2026
• Deadline to submit an offer from a UK university: 9 July 2026
• Courses begin in the UK: September/October 2026

For more details, explore the official Chevening Scholarship application timeline page.

The selection process

Chevening scholars are selected based on an elaborate selection process.

• Independent reading committees will assess your application and assign scores and rankings. Candidates are shortlisted for the interview based on this review.
• Panels at British embassies and high commissions conduct the interview.
• Please carry your passport or a national ID for the interview. If any additional documents are required, you'll be informed via email.
• Results will be announced starting mid-June 2026.

For more information, please visit the official Chevening website.