What Is the Chevening Scholarship?
Chevening is funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and partner organisations. It offers full funding for a one-year master's degree at any UK university — including Oxford, Cambridge, LSE, UCL, Imperial, and more. It targets future leaders with demonstrated leadership potential.
Each year, Ghana receives a specific allocation of Chevening awards. Competition is high, but Ghanaians have consistently won Chevening places across disciplines including law, public policy, development economics, engineering, and health.
What Does Chevening Cover?
| Benefit | Details |
|---|---|
| Tuition fees | 100% covered — no cap |
| Monthly living allowance | Approx £1,200–£1,400/month depending on location |
| Return airfare | Economy class — Ghana to UK and back |
| Arrival allowance | One-time payment on arrival |
| Thesis or study costs | Up to £500 grant available |
| Visa application fee | Reimbursed |
Eligibility — Do You Qualify?
- You must be a Ghanaian citizen (Ghanaian passport holder)
- You must have at least two years of work experience (this is a hard requirement — not optional)
- You must hold an undergraduate degree equivalent to a UK upper second-class honours (2:1)
- You must meet the English language requirements of your chosen university
- You must be planning to return to Ghana after your studies (Chevening is about developing future leaders, not emigrating)
- Previous Chevening scholars are not eligible to apply again
Important: The 2-year work experience must be documented. Internships count if they are paid and at least 3 months long. Voluntary work can count if it is formal and consistent.
Application Timeline
| Stage | Typical Dates |
|---|---|
| Applications open | August each year |
| Application deadline (Ghana) | Early November (usually Nov 5–7) |
| Shortlisting results | February–March |
| Interviews in Accra | March–May |
| Final selection announced | June |
| Studies begin | September |
The 4 Essays You Must Write
The Chevening application requires four personal essays. These essays are the biggest factor in whether you get shortlisted. Do not rush them.
1. Leadership and Influence (600 words)
Describe a time you demonstrated leadership and influenced others. Give a specific example — not a general statement about being a leader. Show what you did, how you did it, and what changed because of you.
2. Networking Skills (600 words)
Describe a specific example of a time you built and maintained a professional network that helped you achieve a significant outcome. Chevening values connected people who multiply impact through relationships.
3. Entrepreneurship and Problem-Solving (600 words)
Show how you identified a problem, came up with a creative solution, and saw it through. The UK government wants scholars who make things happen, not just study them.
4. Study in the UK Plans (600 words)
Explain exactly why you need this master's degree now, why the UK is the right place to study it, and how it connects to your career and Ghana's development. This must be specific — name your university choices and explain why each one.
Biggest mistake Ghanaian applicants make: Writing generic essays that could apply to any scholarship. Chevening readers see thousands of applications. Yours must be specific, honest, and personal. Use real examples with real names, real dates, and real outcomes.
References
You need two professional references. These cannot be family members, friends, or fellow students. Ideal references are a direct supervisor, a senior colleague, a professor who knows your work well, or a community/professional leader who has worked with you directly.
You must select your universities before submitting. You can choose up to three UK universities and three courses. Do your research — choose universities where your profile is competitive and where the course genuinely matches your goals.
The Interview
If shortlisted, you will be invited for a face-to-face interview at the British High Commission in Accra. The interview typically lasts 30–45 minutes. Prepare to discuss your essays in depth, your understanding of Ghana's development challenges, your leadership examples, and your plans after the scholarship. Be honest — they have read your essays and will probe inconsistencies.
How to Apply
- Go to chevening.org/apply and create an account
- Start the application — do not wait until October, start in August
- Draft your four essays offline and refine them over several weeks
- Upload your CV and academic transcripts
- Select your three university and course choices
- Request references from your two referees early — give them at least 3 weeks
- Submit before the Ghana deadline (typically early November)
Official Resources
Final Word
Chevening is one of the most life-changing opportunities available to Ghanaians. It has funded engineers, economists, lawyers, journalists, doctors, and public servants from Ghana — many of whom now hold senior leadership roles. If you have the work experience, the academic record, and genuine leadership to show, apply. Spend the time on your essays. It is worth it.