career plan essay chevening

AGRICULTURE FIRST

My Chevening Journey, Part 4: Career Essay Plan

The final essay you will write for your Chevening scholarship application is on your career plan. The question you will be answering in this essay is; Chevening is looking for individuals who have a clear post-study career plan. Please outline your immediate plans upon returning home and your longer term career goals. You may wish…

The final essay you will write for your Chevening scholarship application is on your career plan. The question you will be answering in this essay is; Chevening is looking for individuals who have a clear post-study career plan. Please outline your immediate plans upon returning home and your longer term career goals. You may wish to consider how these relate to what the UK government is doing in your country. (Minimum word count: 100 words, maximum word count: 500 words)

More tips on the career plan essay on my YouTube channel:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PndU6Tcnjz8

In this essay you are required to demonstrate that you have a clear and defined career plan. This should be the easiest to write because you are writing about your future. However, the plan should be realistic for instance, although it’s in order to dream of being the president of your country, you should have demonstrated in your leadership and networking essays that you have started or at least you are interacting with the people who will help you actualise your dream.

Just like the other essays, it should start with an introduction on its own paragraph. Here you should introduce a problem in your country that you seek to solve by following your career plan. As explained in Studying in the UK essay, looking at DFID projects can provide a guideline but shouldn’t limit you. My introduction was as follows;

According to a 2017 report by Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, over 70% of Kenya’s poor and hunger-stricken people live in rural areas and depend on agriculture for their livelihoods. Growth in the agricultural sector has been estimated to be over ten times more effective in reducing poverty compared to growth in other sectors in poor countries. According to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the sector employs over 40% of Kenya’s population. This could increase if more efforts are directed there and this is why am seeking to build on my experience with rural poor communities to pursue a career in International Development. This will impart me with knowledge and skills to influence policies on poverty reduction through small-scale agriculture, rural development and research.

The career plan should be structured into short term, middle term and long term. In each you should mention the organizations you plan to work for/ or you plan to start, their objectives, your role/title and how the skills and training received will facilitate that. If shortlisted this will be the backbone of your answers in the following questions; where do you see yourself in x years? What’s your immediate/ long term plan after studying in the UK?

It is important that your community or country should be the focal point where your career plan should revolve. You will be representing your country as a Chevening scholar. Chevening awards are an important element in Britain’s public diplomacy effort and bring professionals, who have already displayed outstanding leadership abilities, to study in the UK. The objective of Chevening is to support foreign policy priorities and achieve FCO objectives by creating positive relationships with future leaders, influencers and decision makers. In addition, show how the UK will benefit by awarding you the scholarship and foster relations between the two countries although this should not be at the expense of your country. At this juncture, it’s also important to indicate you know what the UK is doing in your country.

My second paragraph covered my short term career plan (1-2 years although this is not standard) as it varies from one person to another.

I n the short term, I see myself starting a community-based organization in Murang’a County that will endeavour to transform agriculture into a viable businesses for rural small-scale farmers. I will achieve this by seeking partnerships with the county government and relevant social enterprises such as Juhudi Kilimo to increase smallholder farms productivity, enhance marketing systems and offering business, safety standards and technical skills training. These initiatives will turn small-scale farms to businesses, link them to regional and global food chains and create job opportunities.

My medium term career plan was in the third paragraph and covered 3-5 years after returning from the UK. As I said previously, this is not standard and will vary from one individual to the other.

I plan to serve in the next Murang’a County Government as a County Executive Committee Member in charge of Agriculture and Cooperatives. In this role, I will work with the County Assembly to improve the reliability of water supply for irrigation for small-scale farmers, build more wholesale market sheds, employ more extension officers, identify and invest in first-mover crops and improve on feeder roads to support agriculture.

My long term career plan covered was more detailed and was as follows;

In the long-term, with experience and skills gained in the local government, I plan to serve as Member of Parliament in the National Assembly, chairing the Agriculture, Trade and Cooperatives Committee. In this role, I will build on my success with the County Government to work closely with the Executive arm of government to spearhead legislation to transform Kenya’s Agricultural sector to ensure food security and create more jobs. I will lead negotiations with United Kingdom Multinationals such as Marks & Spencer to increase their fair-trade products in Kenya and rope in more tea and coffee factories in their supply chain. In addition, I will advocate for Diageo to replace imported grains with local crops such as sorghum and cassava for their beers. This will promote trade between Kenya and the United Kingdom, deepen our relations and create jobs in the country. By following this career progression, it will be possible to make necessary adjustments based on my experience and the prevailing circumstances.

As you can note, my career plan had a progressive pattern and building up on skills and experience gained in previous roles.

Finally I had a conclusion that summed up everything as follows;

Generally, training in the United Kingdom will help me develop networks and collaborations that will contribute to Kenya’s agenda on food security while creating jobs especially among rural women and the youth. This is line with DFID’s initiatives in Kenya on hunger and prosperity which are also part of global goals for sustainable development.

This being your last essay, do not submit very early because you might get stronger examples in leadership or networking because as a leader you continue to evolve and grow. At the same time do not wait till the last day due to unforeseen circumstances such as power outage, network problems or computer crashing that can make you fail in submitting your essays in time.

Finally be authentic, give your story and do not copy essays of previously selected scholars. The readers can detect plagiarism (an academic offence ) and it makes your interviews in later stages easier when you own your story. In addition, use simple grammatically correct English sentences. Your essays are the opportune moment to create a first impression and writing skills are paramount in this. Have people to proofread your essays for guidance and where you use abbreviations, make sure you give their meaning initially.

Watch this video on common errors applicants make and how to avoid them:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fo7WIowfwO0&t=34s

Once shortlisted for the interview, check the blog article on interview preparation, and once selected there is also advice for you on how to navigate the next steps.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are purely mine and do not reflect the position of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and or its partner organizations.

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66 responses to “my chevening journey, part 4: career essay plan”.

Thank you Samuel.All your advise is very insightful. You are indeed a great leader of our time. God bless you!

Welcome and all the best in your application.

Like Liked by 1 person

Hello Sam, I have a query. When applying for the scholarship and when choosing the courses section, How am I supposed to answer on the question ” Have you applied for the course? I can’t understand what the choices of ye, I have a conditional offer mean.

I wish to say enjoy your journey to chevenig in UK, hope that you will also feed us on your coming back as you use to do. In all, I want to say safe journeyand safe return, God Bless you. Kind regards . Solomon Solly Mbiko.

Thank you so much. Expect more insightful articles as I learn about agriculture and development.

Thank you so much for these information Samuel.. I hope all of us got an idea of what and how to create it.. Indeed it is a great sharing. You guided us pretty well.. Thanks again and wish your all dreams come true with Chevening.

Welcome and best wishes in your application.

Thank you and best wishes in your application.

Thank you so much Samuel for the detailed information. You gave me a clearer idea of how to go about writing my essay. I pray you achieve all you have planned to achieve. Please I will like for you to review my essays when I’m done, will that be possible?

Thank you for all of the advice Samuel!

A very insightful write up. Sure it would be helpful in my application.

Thanks and all the best in your application.

I have never come across someone who doesn’t know you from Adams and who has dedicated himself to seeing others succeed as far Chevening is concerned. Thank you, sir. What you make happen for others, God will make happen for you in hundred folds.

I am flattered. Thank you so much and best wishes in your application.

All the best in your studies it has been helpful.

Thank you for sharing

Great one. This is really helpful. I am diligently working on my essays at the moment. Please, would you mind helping to review them.. Thank you

I was worried, As it has been a long time I do not get your articles which are so helpful to us. I am happy that you are back again still eager to feed us with information, Because with out information will not know. There is a say, says that knowledge is power. We are now more powerful through your endeavour . I think we are now ready to save the ship as we are all in the same ship, if the ship sink, we will all sink. Therefore let us all pull up socks roll up sleeves to save the ship. In all I want to say thank you for your care. Kind Regards. Solomon Solly Mbiko.

Hello Ndungu Samuel Wairimu , My name is Eleanor Janet Kakibogo Rwakabuguli, from Uganda. Am so delighted with what you have shared..Reading your articles has helped me have a clear road map on how am going to approach my application. Thank you.

Thanks alot brother it’s very useful article

Welcome and all the best in your application. Please see my latest article and join the course on future learn.

A great path created to help us succeed. Thank you so much

Mr Ndungu God bless you. You shall be the next leader of Kenya. I will be your Nigerian counterpart.

If I do get this scholarship, I will have you to thank for it. Much appreciated! Would you mind taking a quick look at mine

Eloquently done Mr Wairimu. Thank you for your guidance. Namibia will surely become your counterpart too, just like Nigeria 🙂 Much appreciated

All the best. I am a Kenyan but most visitors to the blog are Nigerians.

You have given a new sense of expression for writing essay for Chevening Scholarships. Surely, it will not only enhance acumen of the prospective scholars but also create the chances to be an effective writer in future. thanks a lot.

All the best in your application. Welcome.

Hi, Samuel. Do you have the Chevening interview scoring guide for this section (career plan)?

Hi, Samuel. Do you have the file of chevening interview scoring guide for this section (career plan)?

I was also about to request the same.

Hello. Please can you review one of my essays?

WOW!!! This is the most insightful article I have read concerning how to go about these essays. Good job man. All the best in this new venture. We are all mgrateful

This has helped me with my application. It’s on going right now so I thank you.

THANKS IT MADE MY ESSAY EASY TO WRITE

I came across these four articles about one week before the 05th Nov 2019 deadline. I had to re-write all of my essays as they were completely out of focus. I’ve just been shortlisted for the interview and 90% of the credits should come to you. Thank you

Congratulations and welcome. Now go through the interview article and prepare adequately for the last step. All the best. Let me know how I can help further by email.

You descriptions or introduction such a good manners it’s like injection though mind direct to to the point. Thanks again for your guidance..

Hello, Thanks for article.i’m planning to apply this year. Please could you help check my essay. It’s will really mean alot to me. This’s my second time of applying for this scholarship. Thanks and warm regards.

Thanks a lot Mr. Samuel. I just came across the scholarship post randomly from my scholarships subscription page, and then remembered of doing some warm-ups from the recent beneficiaries for better preparations. And wow! God is so great. I landed at a well-vested site. I’m Hilder from Kenya. God bless you abunch brother.

This is amazing Samuel, thanks for these wonderful insights. God bless you sir.

I landed on this article let me say its very informative. Thanku

Your approach to guiding all prospective Chevening scholars is top notch and a clear demonstration of your ingenious leadership and influencing skills. While wishing you a smooth Chevening sail in the UK, I’d appreciate your mentorship opportunity. Kenya has a genius and leader in Samuel Ndungu Warimu. I’m Justice Ogie Ogene, a Public Health Enthusiast and Advocate from Nigeria

Thanks you so much for sharing Mr Samuel Ndungu Wairimu. I would like you to help review and proof read my essay. I am applying for 2021 intake. Christopher, Uganda.

Thanks so much for the guidelines plz do you review essays? If yes plz how can I reach out to you

May you remain blessed Samuel. I have followed all yoir four articles and they have been more than helpful to me, as I develop my maiden Chevening application. I will come back on this forum to give testimony to the long way your articles have gone, towards aiding my successful application.

Hello from Vietnam! Truly thanks for your sharing! Very well-constructed and detailed guidelines. May blessings be with you on your journey ahead!

Welcome and best wishes.

Good morning Samuel, I had submitted my application before I realized that undergraduate work experience that played a part in the award of my degree do not count. Does this mean that I will be disqualified ?

Make sure your work experience is at least 2 years. This includes part time work and internships that did count towards your award of the degree. For instance, a work placement which is compulsory for your course would not count as experience in the Chevening application.

Hlo Mr. Samuel Your article is very interesting and helpful, I enjoyed going through to the last piece of information. In the end, i pray we have such intelligent and ego-free people like you. Great leaders are made from your kind. Thank you very much Sir.

Thanks for your articles, Samuel. I have found in them valuable references as I prepare my essays for the scholarship. While your guidance on planning the essays themselves is thorough, inclusion of the grading template has been helpful in building a connection to the expected outcome. I was wondering if you can point me to a resource where I can refer the grading template for the Career Plan Essay? Thanks in advance for your time.

– Nilay Bhandari, Design Researcher and aspiring Chevening Scholar, India

Thank you so much Sir. I’m done writing my essay. Please is there a way I could contact you to reexamine them?

I am not reviewing essays at the moment. Best wishes.

Thank you bro for such a dedicated effort guiding us on how to go about this essays God bless you in your endeavours.

You are a real Chevening scholar and true African leader. May Allah continues to stand in your favour. Reading your Chevening essay gives me a strong hope to be successful come 2023,because you have outlined what should be done to meet a successful requirement. Thanks once more. Chernoh Mohamed Jalloh, Sierra Leone.

Thanks for the great information on essay

Thank you Sir for this great information. God bless and keep you safe.

Saying thank you in English is not enough to express my gratitude and happiness towards your act of benevolence, let me thank you in my dialect: Kaa! imele, ka Chineke goziee gi, Odogwu one of Kenya! I bless the day you were born… Eeh! I can go on and on. Your advice and guidance came in at the right time, thank Goodness I haven’t submitted my application when I saw your post, otherwise with what I have written initially. my application would’ve been automatically deleted from Chevening box. I had to start writing my essays from the scratch with your advice it feels like I have gotten the award already. I pray I make it to the final stage and land this award. I will definitely come back to testify.

Feedback!!!!!

Thank you brother! One bottle of Odogwu bitter for you… cheers!

[…] Essay example and pointers from Samuel Wairimu here […]

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The Scholarship Mentor

📚 Step 5: Chevening Scholarship Career Plan Essay

Hi friends,

Welcome to our prestigious Chevening Scholarship journey, we're now on Step 5 of our six-part series in the Chevening Scholarship Essay Writing Guide.

⚗️ Part 1: Crafting an Award-Winning Career Plan Essay for Chevening

The Career Plan essay is your canvas to paint a vivid picture of your career aspirations for your country/community and how the Chevening Scholarship will propel you towards your goals. Here are some tips and an outline to help you craft a compelling Career Plan essay:

Outline Tips for the Career Plan Essay:

Outline: You should follow the standard rule of writing an essay.

INTRODUCTION

Write one paragraph with a clear statement to introduce the problem in your country, your goals to tackle them and your vision/impact once you achieved your goals.

Introduction of the problem

Before you talk what you want to do, it is important to first tell what the problem is. Providing solutions without describing what the problem is, is not logical of course.

What is the problem?

How many people are impacted?

What is your vision?

This means, after you explain your goals, your vision should appear.

Short term Goals

Short term goals are normally for 1-5 years upon your return.

Mid-term Goals

Mid-term goals are between 5-15 (average 10 years) after you return to you home country.

Long term Goals

Long-term goals are typically 15-25 years

Tips for Writing a Career Plan Essay:

Start with Clarity: Begin by clearly articulating your career goals. What impact do you aspire to make in your field and community, and how?

Pathway to Success: Describe the steps you plan to take to achieve your goals. This includes short-term, mid-term, and long-term goals.

Alignment with Course: Explain how your chosen course or program aligns with your career aspirations. How will it provide the necessary skills and knowledge?

Impactful Vision: Showcase your vision for how your career will address a critical issue or problem in your country or field. Highlight the significance of your work.

⚗️ Part 2: Problem, Solution, and Impact

Beyond career aspirations, Chevening Scholars are expected to be Agents of Change, and are expected to think about how they can contribute to solving pressing problems in their countries or fields. Here's a framework to consider:

Problem: Identify a significant issue or challenge in your country or field that you're passionate about addressing.

Solutions: Describe the short-term, mid-term, and long-term solutions you envision to tackle this problem. These become your goals in the course of the next 1-20 years.

Impact: Explain the positive impact your proposed solutions will have. How will they transform your community, country, or field?

Vision: Summarize your overarching vision for your role in creating positive change. What legacy do you aspire to leave behind?

This part of your essay demonstrates your commitment to making a difference and aligns with Chevening's mission to empower future leaders who are dedicated to improving the world.

Do you have problem writing your essays: Here is how I can be helpful.

Learn more: You can enroll in my essay writing course which I brought a huge discount. Check it out here .

🏗️ Example:

In the short term, my focus will be on building a robust foundation for my career as a Women's Rights activist in Iran. Over the next 1-5 years, I aim to achieve the following:

Raise Awareness: Launch targeted awareness campaigns to highlight the pressing issues faced by women in Iran, including discriminatory laws and practices. Utilize social media, workshops, and partnerships with local organizations to amplify the voices of marginalized women.

Legal Advocacy: Collaborate with legal experts and organizations to challenge discriminatory laws and policies through legal means. Work towards the repeal of laws that perpetuate gender inequality and advocate for the enforcement of existing laws protecting women's rights.

Mid-term Goals (5-15 Years): In the mid-term, spanning 5-15 years, I envision building on the foundation laid in the short term and expanding my impact:

Policy Reform: Engage in sustained advocacy efforts to influence policy changes at the national level. Collaborate with like-minded organizations and activists to draft and promote legislation aimed at gender equality and the protection of women's rights.

Crisis Intervention: Develop a comprehensive crisis intervention system to provide immediate assistance to women facing domestic violence, discrimination, or other forms of abuse. Establish safe shelters and helplines for those in need.

Long-term Goals (15-25 Years): Looking 15-25 years into the future, my long-term goals are aimed at creating a lasting legacy for gender equality in Iran:

Cultural Transformation: Work towards a cultural shift that recognizes and celebrates the contributions of women in all aspects of society. Promote gender-sensitive education and media representation to challenge stereotypes and biases.

Political Participation: Encourage women's active participation in politics and decision-making processes. Support women to run for political office and ensure their voices are heard at all levels of government.

International Collaboration: Foster international collaboration with women's rights organizations and activists to apply global pressure on Iran to uphold human rights and gender equality standards. Engage with international bodies to monitor and report on the state of women's rights in Iran.

Vision: My overarching vision is to see Iran as a nation where women enjoy full and equal rights in all spheres of life, where gender-based discrimination is eradicated, and where every woman has the opportunity to reach her full potential. I envision a society that embraces diversity and empowers women to be leaders, decision-makers, and agents of positive change.

🚀 Essay Writing Support

check my website : www.sirathaidary.com

💁🏾 Part 3: Receive Essay Writing Support and Empower Girls’ Education

I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for your support, as the funds generated through my Courses , Mentorship , Consultations, and Essay Support go directly to the Roshna Social Organization (roshna.org) . This organization is dedicated to providing educational opportunities for underprivileged girls and children who are banned from going to school in Afghanistan . Your contributions are making a significant difference in the lives of these young girls, helping to break the cycle of gender apartheid and poverty through education.

By investing in your Chevening Scholarship journey, you're also investing in a brighter future for those who need it most. Thank you for your commitment to both personal growth and community empowerment.

🤑 Part 4: Special Discount for Essay Writing Courses

Great news! I've listened to your feedback, and in an effort to make my Essay Writing courses more accessible and affordable, I've reduced the price exclusively for my newsletter subscribers. Check the link above…

🆘Important Updates on Essay Writing Support

Starting from October 1, there will be a price adjustment for my essay writing support program.

Standard Support Price Change

45$ → 55$ > 1 October to 15 October

55$ → 65$ > 16 October to 31 October

65$ → 75$ > 1 November to 7 November

Premium Plan Support Price Change

95$ → 105$ > 1 October to 15 October

105$ → 110$ > 16 October to 31 October

110$ → 120$ > 1 November to 7 November

NEED Help : Don't hesitate to find mentors or friends to help you with the writing process. You can book consultation sessions with me at www.sirathaidary.com or you can enroll in my essay writing course to learn tips and tricks to prepare yourself and win the award.

Stay tuned for our next issue, where we'll delve into the Career Plan essay. Crafting a compelling career plan is essential for your Chevening Scholarship application, and we'll provide you with expert guidance to make it stand out.

If you are interested to book 1 on 1 consultation with me, Click here

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Ep9: How To Write Your Career Plan Essay For The Chevening Scholarship

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Defining your career plan ahead of your Chevening interview

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Here’s how to communicate a clear career plan in your Chevening interview, with advice from real interviewers.

When interviewing candidates for a Chevening Scholarship, there is no one ‘type’ of person that we’re looking for. Excellence comes in many different packages, and the variety among Chevening Scholars is what makes our network so rewarding to be a part of.

However, all of our successful candidates do express, in their own ways, a few key qualities:

• Leadership and influencing
• Relationship building
• Enthusiasm for studying in the UK
• A strong career plan

In this blog, we’ll focus on communicating a solid career plan to your interview panel. Here are our tips – complete with advice from interviewers.

Reflect on your goals and values

Just as we’re not looking for just one “type” of person, there is no “right” answer when we ask you about your career plan. The best answer will be one that comes from the heart and aligns with your values.

Try to ask yourself some serious questions about what’s important to you in your life and work. This is big picture thinking, and don’t be afraid to be ambitious. Ask yourself questions like:

• What are you best at? What skills are you most proud of, and bring you the most satisfaction when you use them?
• What are you passionate about? What change would you like to see in your home country?
• What does career success look like to you? Does it mean running your own company? Working in government? Working for a charity?

At the end of this thought experiment, you should have a good sense of where you would like your career to take you, and how this relates to your individual skills, as well as your broader community.

Create a short-, medium-, and long-term plan

Once you know what your goals are, you can begin building your plan.

Here, we need to come down from the big picture thinking to get a more practical idea of how you would like to achieve these goals. You should be as specific as possible when outlining this plan.

Questions to ask yourself at this point include:

• What qualifications do you need to pursue this career?
• What roles will you be pursuing? Are there any specific companies or organisations that can give you the experience you need?
• How will this career help you to make an impact the areas you’re passionate about?

You should make sure that you have specific plans in mind for the short, medium, and long term.

For example, let’s say you are passionate about fighting climate change.

You are most skilled in the sciences and mathematics, so you decide that in the short term, you will pursue an industrial engineering degree.

In the medium term, when you graduate you will get a training contract at a company that is pushing forward sustainable building practices.

In the long term, you plan to work for the government in your home country, carrying out sustainable urban development projects.

See? Starting with your skills and passions, you can build a practical plan that benefits your community.

Advice from interviewers

Chevening interviewers say that the key to success is being as specific as possible about what your goals are, and how you are going to achieve them.

“Ambitious goals are welcome, but they shouldn’t sound as pie in the sky,” says an interviewer from the British Embassy in Yerevan, Armenia.

It is especially important to show where Chevening fits into your career plan.

“Candidates should demonstrate specifically how studying for a Master’s degree at a UK university and making use of the Chevening activities and network will help them achieve their career goals, and how those goals will benefit the wider development of their community and country.”

An interviewer from the British Embassy in Rabat, Morocco, agrees: “They should be as specific as possible. Simply saying ‘Improving my community’ is not a great response; they need to explain how and be detailed in their response.”

If you follow these guidelines, you should be able to put together a clear, actionable plan that uses your unique skills to create real good in your community. We can’t wait to hear about it in your interview. Good luck!

Keep an eye on the Chevening application timeline for updates.

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ideBeasiswa

idebeasiswa.com

Ultimate Resources to Build Your 4 Chevening Essays

This is the post you should give a read and share to assist you in securing the Chevening scholarship. Simply employ the tips, check the essay examples, and submit your application. Require any assistance? Feel free to inform us, check our services .

Chevening Scholarship is one of the best scholarships out there. The Chevening Scholarship offers a fully-funded scholarship for a one-year master’s program in U.K. universities. Chevening is the greatest master’s scholarship for students who have a strong interest in learning about various cultures and are accepting of people of different races and nations.

Crafting a Winning Chevening Essay: Key Points to Elevate Your Submission

The Chevening Scholarship is a prestigious award that opens doors to future leaders, influencers, and decision-makers. To craft a compelling Chevening essay, applicants must present a well-rounded narrative that resonates with the programme’s ethos and demonstrates individual merit. Below, we delve into essential attributes that can enhance your essay, making it a standout piece.

• Meticulous Language Use : Ensure your grammar is impeccable and your sentences are coherent. Pay attention to the spelling, especially of institutions and technical terms. Your language reflects your attention to detail and respect for the application.
• Concrete Examples : Ground your skills and achievements in real-life scenarios. Illustrate your points with stories from your work or voluntary experiences, showing tangible impacts and your role in them. Merely asserting skills without evidence will not suffice.
• Beyond Academia : Highlight experiences outside the educational realm, particularly those involving volunteer work or professional settings. These instances often provide richer insights into your capabilities and initiative.
• Personal Triumphs : Use ‘I’ to discuss your achievements. This approach places the spotlight on your individual contributions, even if they were part of team efforts.
• Narrative Over Lists : Avoid bullet points when discussing job roles or future aspirations. Full sentences and narratives provide a more comprehensive view of your experiences and ambitions, allowing assessors to understand your journey.
• Originality and Relevance : Tailor your responses to each question, avoiding generic statements or recycled content from other documents. Authenticity is key in demonstrating genuine interest and thoughtfulness.
• Strategic Course Selection : Connect your proposed study to your past experiences and future goals. Show that your chosen course is a strategic step in your career path, not a random selection.
• Leadership in Action : Provide examples where you’ve steered initiatives—alone or in teams—towards positive outcomes. Clarify your role in these achievements to underscore your leadership qualities.
• Quality Over Quantity : Instead of listing numerous accomplishments, delve deeper into one or two significant experiences. Discuss how these instances shaped you and influenced others.
• Personal Definition of Leadership : Share your leadership journey instead of quoting famous definitions. Reflect on what leadership means to you, drawing from your experiences.
• Building Networks : Discuss your proactive efforts in forging new professional relationships, particularly outside academic settings. Describe how you’ve leveraged these networks for collective benefit.
• Utilising Networks for Future Goals : Articulate how you plan to engage with Chevening’s extensive network to further your career aspirations.
• Contributing to Chevening : Reflect on how your endeavours will enrich the Chevening community post your scholarship.
• Purposeful Choice of UK Study : Explain the rationale behind selecting your UK course. How does it align with your career plans? Mention specific aspects of the course that appeal to you, demonstrating thorough research and genuine interest.
• Impact Post-Study : Discuss how your chosen course will equip you to contribute significantly to your home country’s development.
• Clear Career Roadmap : Present a well-thought-out career plan, detailing short, mid, and long-term goals. Linking your ambitions to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals can add a global perspective.
• Balancing Ambition with Feasibility : Your goals should be ambitious yet achievable. Outline a realistic pathway towards reaching these objectives, showing foresight and practicality.
• Focus on Broader Impact : Outstanding candidates envision making a substantial positive impact in their home countries. Your motivation should extend beyond personal advancement, showcasing a commitment to contributing to broader societal progress.

Remember, a winning Chevening essay is more than a showcase of achievements; it’s a testament to your future potential and the impact you aspire to make on a global stage. Infuse your essay with passion, authenticity, and a clear vision, and you will undoubtedly make a compelling case for your candidacy.

There are four essay questions in the application. The essay cannot be shorter than 100 words, and the essay cannot be longer than 500 words.

Essay 1: Leadership

Essay 2: networking, essay 3: career plan, essay 4: study selection.

Remember these handy tips:

• Check your grammar and make sure your sentences make sense. Double-check the spelling of words and institution names.
• Use relevant examples from your own experience to address the essay questions. Stating that you have the required skills is not enough. We need to hear examples of how you have used your skills to achieve something positive.
• Focus your examples on your experiences with voluntary organizations or employment rather than at school or university.
• Use ‘I’ instead of ‘we’ when discussing personal achievements.
• Do not use bullet points to outline job responsibilities or plans in your answers. We want to know as much about your goals as possible, so write in complete sentences and share your stories!
• Assessors know when answers are copied and pasted from a CV, personal statement, or reference letter. Make sure you tailor your answers to the question.
• For your application to be deemed outstanding, clearly link your chosen course of study to your previous experiences and future vision.

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• Sep 17, 2020

Part 2: Applying for the Chevening Scholarship (Essay Tips)

Updated: Oct 14, 2020

This serves as Part 2 of the Chevening Tips, in the event that you would like insight in as far as what is Chevening and an overall insight on what is required to apply, kindly have a look at Part 1: Applying for the Chevening Scholarship (FAQ).

Applying for the Chevening Scholarship Series

Three Years a Charm: Becoming a Chevening Scholar

Part 1: Applying for the Chevening Scholarship (FAQ)

Disclaimer: Note that the advice given here below is my own personal opinion and not that of the Chevening Secretariat or the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office .

When applying for the Chevening Scholarship, you will be required to submit four written essays, each a minimum of 100 words and a maximum of 500 words.

Quick Tips on how to write your 4 Chevening Essays:

When writing your essays, use the STAR and SMART approach.

Ensure that you cover the bases in each of your essays, mentioning the most important elements.

Your essays have to be truthful, concise, and well-written.

Ensure that you tell a story when writing your essays, you can add bullet points to list achievements and highlight career goals however there should be a flow.

Ensure that any stranger can make out what you are trying to say, making it clear what you are talking about. When making references to data or situations from your home country, be sure to mention the country's name.

Refrain using words like our and their, and opt to name what you are talking about.

Use Grammarly to spell check your work and ensure that your grammar is correct.

STAR Approach - Derived from Muse

Situation: Set the scene and give the necessary details of your example.

Task: Describe what your responsibility was in that situation.

Action: Explain exactly what steps you took to address it.

Result: Share what outcomes your actions achieved.

SMART Approach - Derived from CFI

Specific: Well defined, clear, and unambiguous.

Measurable : With specific criteria that measure your progress toward the accomplishment of the goal.

Achievable: Attainable and not impossible to achieve.

Realistic: Within reach, realistic, and relevant to your life purpose.

Timely: With a clearly defined timeline, including a starting date and a target date. The purpose is to create urgency.

Four Essay Topics

Leadership and Influence

Chevening is looking for individuals who will be future leaders or influencers in their home countries. Explain how you meet this requirement, using clear examples of your own leadership and influencing skills to support your answer. - Question as per the Chevening Website

Using the methods explained above (STAR AND SMART Approach), ensure that you speak on the times you have depicted leadership traits, the leadership positions you have occupied and the times you have displayed a position of influence. These can range from managerial positions, leadership in organizations (NGO's included), or in your day-to-day life. In addition, you can touch on what leadership ambitions you have and how this ties back to your community.

It is important to ensure that the examples are impact-driven and not only for self-gain.

Chevening is looking for individuals with strong professional relationship-building skills, who will engage with the Chevening community and influence and lead others in their chosen profession. Please explain how you build and maintain relationships in a professional capacity, using clear examples of how you currently do this, and outline how you hope to use these skills in the future. - Question as per the Chevening Website

Writing your networking essay is primarily about showing clear examples of the relationships you have built, how they were established, and how you have managed to maintain them. In addition, highlight how these said relationships have been instrumental in your personal development and the work that you do. Ensure that you are able to glean from every example the skill acquired and how these skills will be useful to you in the future as a possible Chevening scholar. This essay, in essence, is to show that you have the ability to use the opportunities given to you in a tangible and impactful manner.

Career Plan

Chevening is looking for individuals who have a clear post-study career plan. Please outline your immediate plans upon returning home and your longer-term career goals. You may wish to consider how these relate to what the UK government is doing in your country. - Question as per Chevening Website

This essay provides an opportunity for you to layout an immediate 2-year plan, and a 5 to 10-year plan. Your plans need to be attainable and should speak to your ambitions as laid out in your career plan. The most important tip for when writing out your career plan, is to ensure that when you touch on your professional experience, it not be written as though it is a Curriculum Vitae but rather speaking on impact, journey, and career trajectory. You too are welcome to link your journey thus far, to how this informs your next career move, namely pursuing a masters degree. You should depict an understanding of what you want to do in the future, how this is tangibly attainable, and what your ambitions are long term.

Studying in the UK

Outline why you have selected your chosen three university courses, and explain how this relates to your previous academic or professional experience and your plans for the future. Please do not duplicate the information you have entered on the work experience and education section of this form. - Question as per the Chevening Website

Do not duplicate your career essay in this essay, however, you can link the information. You will also be required to list the three universities you will be applying to, the name of the courses at the said universities, and why you chose the particular university.

Tip: Depending on which course you intend to study, google the top-performing universities in the said field to inform your university choice. Then ensure that the universities you would like to attend are Chevening partner universities, before finalizing your list of your three chosen universities.

Bonus: I have asked three scholars who have managed to successfully be chosen for Chevening before to assist with proofreading 3 prospective scholars essays before submission. Kindly note that these will be given on a first-come, first-serve basis. This available to a total of 9 prospective scholars and no more. Only the 9 successful prospective scholars will be contacted. If you are not contacted, unfortunately, the 9 spots were already taken.

To get your essays proofread - please fill in the form at the link here .

(Available to ONLY the first 9 applicants)

Proofreading volunteer scholars (each reading 3 prospective scholars essays EACH)

Rosalia Shiimi - Rosalia holds a BSc Honours Degree in Geology and a Certificate in Investment Management from the University of Cape Town. She is currently the Acting Grade Control Geologist at Vedanta Zinc International’s Gamsberg Operation. She is a part of the 2021/2022 Chevening cohort, pursuing a Master of Science in Applied Environment Geology at Cardiff University.

Abel is a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) and former Head of Internal Audit. He holds a Bachelor of Accounting Science and Postgraduate Diploma in Internal Auditing. In addition, he too is a Section Chairperson and Branch Executive member in SPYL and serve on the NCCI Windhoek Trading Committee. He will be pursuing a Master of Arts in International Relations at the University of Birmingham.

Hilja Eelu - Hilja is a UCT molecular biology graduate and a previous recipient of the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation Fellowship. Having been awarded both the Chevening and Commonwealth scholarship, she will be pursuing the MSc Control of Infectious Diseases at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine starting September 2020, thanks to the Commonwealth scholarship.

Additional Reading Material

Essay Tips from the Reading Committee of Chevening

Essay Examples

Writing an effective networking essay

My Application for Chevening Scholarship

Chevening Leadership Essay

How I won the Chevening Scholarship - Part 2: Writing your Essays

From One Powerhouse to another

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How To Write Chevening Essays | Chevening Scholarship

Study in uk.

Tips for Writing Your 4 Chevening Essays.

Table of Contents

Use the tips provided below to write successful Chevening Essays.

Utilize the SMART and STAR approaches when writing essays. Make sure you have addressed all points thoroughly, highlighted the most significant ones, and followed all instructions provided. Your Chevening essays should be truthful, concise, well-written, and thoroughly researched. When writing essays, make sure you create a narrative. Utilizing bullet points can be useful to showcase achievements or career objectives; however, the narrative must have a logical flow. Make sure those who hear you speak can comprehend what you’re saying. Make sure to mention your country’s name when discussing data or situations from that location. Eliminate using words such as our or their, and instead use words that accurately convey what is being discussed. Grammarly can help you double-check your work for spelling and grammar errors, so use Grammarly today!

START Approach — Drawing From Muse

Setting the scene and providing details of your example. Task: Describe your role in this situation. Explain the steps taken to resolve it. Result Share the outcomes of your actions.

Smart Strategies Inspired by CFI

Specific: Accurate, unambiguous and well-described. Measurable – With specific criteria to measure progress towards reaching the goal. Possible: Realizable and achievable. Realistic: Within reach yet realistic and pertinent for life purpose. Timely Establish a timeline with both start and goal dates, then create urgency around each topic. Four che Chevening essays Topics to Get You Moving forward Leadership and Influence Chevening is seeking individuals who can serve as leaders and influencers in their countries. Use concrete examples of your leadership and influence skills to demonstrate how you meet this requirement, according to the Chevening Website.

Utilize the STAR AND SMART Approach (STAR and SMART Approach) to reflect upon times you have demonstrated leadership traits, held leadership positions, or been influential. These could include managerial duties, NGO leadership positions, or your everyday life. Furthermore, discuss your leadership objectives and how they relate to those in your community.

Networking and Chevening Essays:

Leadership and influence.

Chevening seeks individuals with strong professional relationship-building abilities, who will engage with the Chevening community and inspire others in their chosen profession. Please describe how you have developed and maintained professional connections; give examples, as well as your plans to utilize these abilities going forward. – Please answer the following questions as posed on the Chevening website:

Your networking essay should provide concrete examples of relationships you’ve formed, nurtured and maintained. Highlight how these contacts have contributed to both personal growth and the work you do. As a potential Chevening scholar, you should be able to draw upon each example the skills learned and how they will benefit you in the future. The purpose of this essay is to demonstrate that you can maximize opportunities presented to you.

Career Plan:

Chevening seeks individuals with a comprehensive career plan after they graduate. Please outline both your immediate plans and long-term ambitions, which may include involvement with the UK government in your country. – Questions as per Chevening Website

This essay will enable you to craft 2-year and 5- to 10-year plans that are achievable, while also reflecting your career plan. When crafting this document, avoid treating it like a Curriculum Vitae; rather, emphasize its impact and path in relation to other opportunities like pursuing master’s degrees. Your career journey also serves as an opportunity to show that you have thought deeply about long-term ambitions as well as short-term targets.

Study In UK:

Please explain why you selected these three courses and how it relates to your professional and academic experiences. Do not repeat information provided in the education or work experience sections of this form. – Questions as per Chevening website

It is best not to duplicate information within this essay. Instead, link the information together. Furthermore, you must list three universities to which you are applying and include the names of courses offered at each one as well as your reasons for selecting that particular institution.

Tip: To help you decide which university to attend, research the top-performing institutions in that field. Before making your selections, be sure to confirm them with Chevening partner universities so that all is confirmed.

Questions with Sample Answers for Chevening Exams

1-  Chevening seeks individuals who can become leaders or influencers in their home countries. Demonstrate how you can meet this requirement by providing specific examples of your ability to influence others and lead others toward your answer (minimum word count 100 words; maximum word count 500 words).

As a disaster management professional and agriculturalist, I am given the opportunity to organize events, seminars, or workshops where my leadership abilities can be demonstrated. As a professional, I must attend field trips with farmers and laborers who have undergone training or attend seminars or group discussions held. Through these experiences, my leadership abilities must be demonstrated. I possess excellent management, leadership, and operational abilities as well as a broad practical and theoretical knowledge of projects such as Project Management, Climate Change & Disaster Management, Agriculture Planning & Food Security Disaster Response Sustainable coastal livelihoods Physical & Social Survey Techniques (qualitative/quantitative), Geographic Information System (GIS) Report Writing Qualitative In addition To Quantitative Methods Research etc..

Leadership abilities have the power to shape people’s environments, and can be passed down from family members or close relatives. A leader must put their plans into action with determination, vision, and perseverance for results. At the university, I was part of various cultural groups and organized successful programs. After graduating, I decided to work with street children but lacked enough money for schooling. No matter how many times I tried to open a school, my drive never wavered. To reach my goals, I sought ways to make them happen; so after consulting with friends about my idea and visiting teachers to convince them of its viability, we launched Our Education Training for street children as an initiative.

Leaders must be dedicated to their job and put in the effort, as dedication and perseverance play a crucial role. They aren’t those who seek out opportunities; rather, they create them by applying vision and perseverance towards an ideal. As a new leader, I feel I’ve made great achievements thus far; however, to further hone my leadership qualities I plan to enhance both education and professional capabilities by learning more about people development through service to my country and society. With this knowledge gained, I hope to serve my nation for its improvement through service towards its people.

2-  Chevening seeks individuals with strong relationship-building capabilities, who can engage within the Chevening community and motivate others in their field of expertise. Demonstrate how you create and maintain professional connections, giving specific examples of your accomplishments; also discuss how these abilities will be employed in the future (minimum word count: 100 words; maximum word count: 500 words).

Chevening scholarships have given me the chance to meet people from many cultures. If I were chosen as the winner, I hope to build relationships with Chevening graduates and company representatives to find better solutions for environmental foreign policy – since these issues concern us all. My life experiences have given me opportunities to connect with hundreds of people from various countries, religions, cultures, and professions; now through Chevening’s scholarship program I hope to connect even more people around the world!

My work at a non-profit organization has given me the chance to connect with many networks. I’ve formed connections with donor organizations, local stakeholder groups and community members alike. Additionally, as organizer of trainings, seminars and campaigns I was able to build rapport with experts in the field. So I participated in numerous field trips including one for farmers living rurally as well as urban slum dwellers; gathering data regarding their problems before presenting it in writing to authorities or daily newspapers. Now my aim is to build an effective network to address these matters efficiently.

My network skills are used to support my job responsibilities, personal growth and gathering data that can inform strategic actions. As I progress in my profession, I will devote more time to using my network for guidance when making decisions. Since many issues I need to solve and the results I must deliver require collaboration with people both inside and outside my network; thus, in addition to connecting with those within and outside of my professional environment I also plan on expanding it outside these immediate circles.

Thus, I will not settle for a casual presence but will remain active through social media platforms such as Emails, LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. With passion and determination I aim to expand my networking experiences and knowledge so that I may contribute towards improving my country and contributing towards everyone’s wellbeing.

3- Outline the reasons you selected these three courses for your university education and how they relate to both your prior professional or academic experience and future plans. Do not duplicate information already filled out on the education and work experience section of this application (minimum word count 100 words; maximum word count 500 words).

As a disaster management expert and agriculturalist, my knowledge makes me particularly sensitive to environmental concerns. Currently employed as the Project Officer for Charity Foundation – a national NGO – my projects revolve around environmental protection, climate change adaptation strategies in agriculture as well as other sectors.

While completing my Master’s studies, I became deeply engaged in climate change issues that impact urban slum dwellers’ quality of life. I have been exploring the impacts of climate change on five assets for livelihood, as outlined in the Sustainable Livelihood Framework from DFID. My undergraduate research focused on discovering alternative sources of chemical pesticides to control plant diseases through plant tissue cultivation, genetic engineering and biotechnological advancement. Through bio-control agents and botanical extracts, I’ve provided biologically eco-friendly alternatives to seed-borne and soil-borne fungal pathogens. To date, three papers have been published and several more are under examination.

My courses from esteemed UK universities are focused on environmental change and management, which can have disastrous results if not managed effectively. Since my master’s program in Environmental Change and Management overlaps with my professional and academic interests in environmental engineering and project management, this field was an obvious choice for me to further hone. Environmentalism also plays a large role in international development – something which challenges both my professional and academic abilities to the limit.

I hope to further cement myself as an environmental expert by expanding my knowledge and experience.

4-  Chevening seeks individuals with clearly stated post-study career plans. You should include both your immediate objectives upon return home as well as long-term plans that align with what the UK administration is currently doing in your home country (minimum word count: 100 words; maximum word count: 500 words).

My country faces numerous UK priorities, but the one most relevant to my goals is Environment and Climate Change. Bangladesh has always been vulnerable to natural disasters due to climate change, rising sea levels, and higher temperatures that pose greater threats. Development in our country is necessary and I aspire to contribute my expertise in this area in order to benefit my people and my nation. By sharing what I know with others, I hope to give something back and make a positive impact on my home turf. I want to contribute towards the development of my nation and make a larger impact. Bangladesh’s frequent disasters and their effects on agriculture pose risks to livelihoods such as hunger, poverty, unemployment insecurity, malnutrition, loss of food production and migration into cities.

After I finish my MSc program, I plan to specialize in climate change and environmental problems. As an environmental expert, I will work with research institutions or institutes. With my dedication and extensive experiences from the UK, I am certain that with determination and hard work I will be able to surpass expectations and contribute significantly towards Bangladesh’s progress in the near future.

Check Out: Chevening Scholarships 2023-2024 | Masters

Tips for Solving Chevening Essay Questions:

1- Essay Discusses Networking Capabilities Candidates

He should discuss how he has been exposed to different cultures, age groups, and socioeconomic classes. Additionally, he must give an outline of the length of time he’s been involved in relationships that have lasted for some time. He must further develop his communication abilities across a range of contexts. Candidates are encouraged to demonstrate their connections and personal relationships on both national and international levels. He should describe how he interacts with individuals from a range of professions, such as international and government representatives, public officials, and academics.

2- The second essay will ask questions about your leadership abilities.

How did he take into account each member’s opinions and negotiate between them? His experiences working with various personalities and leading successful projects. How his leadership program had long-lasting effects in his community, ultimately leading to positive changes? The candidate should describe situations in which they served as leader. How did he manage his team’s management skills across various projects? He should also describe how he managed community initiatives with an annual fixed budget.

3- The third essay will focus on your professional goals for the future.

Candidates should create a comprehensive educational, social and professional plan. Candidates must be able to articulate their experiences, abilities, volunteer activities or work-related knowledge. Candidates should clearly articulate their career objectives and plans to demonstrate how they plan to contribute to the nation or community. Every goal should be intelligently set and achievable.

4- Chevening essays should focus on why you wish to study in the UK.

Academically, The UK is one of the top nations. Candidates should demonstrate their interest in understanding cross-cultural differences. Furthermore, they should demonstrate an enthusiasm for international research that benefits society as a whole. Individual reasons for wanting to study in the UK vary, but must remain valid and relevant. For a master’s degree that lasts one year, studying here offers great advantages. Furthermore, the UK boasts some of the world’s top-ranking universities.

Check:  How I Won a Chevening Scholarship – 10 Tips for Success

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How to Write Winning Chevening Scholarship Essays?

Chevening essays play a significant role in deciding whether you are going to win a scholarship, fellowship, or any other award from Chevening. In this article, we shall have an overview of How to Write   Winning Chevening Scholarship Essays and what will help you write top-notch answers for your essays. Let’s dive into the details!

Tips on Writing Winning Chevening Scholarship Essays

Start with a captivating intro:.

Would you like to have an essay as sharp as a cutting edge and come out as the clear winner? Well, here is one such style for the introduction:

The Hook: I spent my childhood amidst so many people who, according to me, had the world at their feet. Yet although they were all so gifted in various talents, skills, and capabilities that could have been transformed into success, such people never made it due to a lack of focus.

• Credibility: The first sentence, “I grew up around a lot of people, “immediately establishes a common experience with which the reader can quickly identify with either one’s self or someone in their life who has not quite been up to living up to his or her full potential. This similarity instantly grabs the attention of the reader, and he or she feels an urge to know more about it.
• Surprise and Intrigue : The introduction is then followed by a different turn because the introduction includes mention of ‘could’ve been.’ This definitely arouses curiosity among the audience, and he or she starts wondering what the comment actually means. It tends to create a particular urge to read more of the essay.
• Build the context : bring in the theme and concept of focus in some gripping way. Express how the greatest achievements are done by those who have the focus and determination.
• Contextual solutions and examples : All right, bring in now some experiences and examples from your daily routine life, and make it a gripping story that brings forth your identity and will lend strength to your candidacy for the interview.

How many Essays are required by the Chevening Scholarship 2025/2026?

The Chevening Scholarship asks for 4 essays on 4 different topics, 500 words each . The scholarship allows students to present a comprehensive perspective of their identity, goals, and dedications, as well as a record of their past actions, in order to steer and anticipate their future actions and determine if they believe they are worthy of the scholarship.

Interviews are based on essays and documents submitted; you can’t avoid this.

Essay 1: Leadership and Influence

To write the essay on leadership and influence, you can use the STAR technique.

• Situation: Provide context for the problem your country or community has encountered.
• Task : What solutions have you proposed?
• Action : Describe the actions you have taken with real-life examples to solve the problem at hand.
• Result : How many lives have you been able to impact, describing your leadership skills

Essay 2: Networking and relationship building:

• Share real-world networking experiences.
• Explain how the connections you made during these experiences helped you overcome the challenges you have faced in an organization or a community.
• Connect your networking experience to the Chevening network and showcase your commitment and contribution to the network’s collective success

Essay 3: Studying in the UK:

The third essay is about your studies in the United Kingdom. Briefly describe how the 3 university courses you have selected align with your prior academic or professional experience.

• Write about what motivated you to study in the UK. Research the courses you have applied to and the reason for choosing those courses. You can write about a particular faculty that inspired you, any event that led you to choose the program, the rankings, study modules, campus life, anything and everything.
• Show a strong aptitude for studying in the UK.
• Demonstrate your academic awards, training courses, or production publications.
• Provide examples from your past or present to demonstrate your commitment to personal and professional development.

Essay 4: Career Plan

The final question you will write for your Chevening scholarship is about your career plan.

• Demonstrate a realistic career plan.
• Demonstrate your short-term and long-term goals
• Link it to your leadership and networking essay, explaining how your networking and leadership skills will enable you to actualize your dream.

Remember, the key to a killer essay lies in its ability to connect, surprise, and evoke emotions.

So this was all about “How to Write Winning Chevening Scholarship Essays” We hope the post is helpful for you people! Chevening Scholarships is currently accepting applications for the session 2025-26 for details and to apply visit the link below:

Chevening Scholarships 2025: Eligibility & Application Process

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Want to be a Chevening scholar? All you need to know about the prestigious scholarship

Hridya Syamala Jairam, a young social worker from Kerala, is among the top 2% of global applicants awarded Chevening honour. She speaks to THE WEEK about the scholarship

Becoming a Chevening scholar is not just about receiving one of the British government’s most prestigious scholarships—it’s a transformative step into an elite global network of emerging leaders. Among this esteemed group is Hridya Syamala Jairam, a dynamic young social worker from Kerala, whose pioneering efforts in advancing rural women’s education have placed her among the top 2% of global applicants awarded this coveted honour.

With Chevening’s support, she will soon begin her studies in social innovation and entrepreneurship at the prestigious London School of Economics.

In an interview with THE WEEK, Hridya shares her valuable insights and practical advice for aspiring scholars, particularly those from underprivileged backgrounds, striving to join the esteemed ranks of Cheveners.

Q: What are the perks of being a Chevening scholar, and is it fully funded? Give us a brief idea of this scholarship.

The Chevening Scholarship is a prestigious and highly reputed British government-funded award, administered by the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office. Unlike many other scholarships, Chevening specifically seeks emerging leaders from around the world, offering full financial support to pursue a one-year master's degree at any Chevening-supported university in the UK.

The focus is not only on funding but also on fostering global connections and leadership development. Chevening provides access to exclusive academic, professional, and cultural experiences.

Every year, over 60,000 applications are submitted, but only 2% are selected.

The programme began in 1983 and has since developed a vast alumni network, including state heads, policymakers, and civil servants globally. Chevening scholars have a saying: "Once a Chevener, always a Chevener."

The benefits of being a Chevening scholar are numerous. First, the scholarship is incredibly generous—it fully covers your tuition fees for a postgraduate course in a UK university. Additionally, scholars receive a generous monthly stipend that covers living expenses, accommodation, food, and travel costs.

The scholarship also includes round-trip airfare to and from your home country. For those not based in London, there are additional allowances for travelling to Chevening events, most of which take place in London. Scholars also receive arrival and departure allowances, and visa costs, including TB tests required for the visa, are fully covered.

In addition to financial support, Chevening offers recognition and prestige. The scholarship’s global alumni network consists of emerging leaders from diverse fields such as medicine, law, the arts, and innovation. The community includes future policymakers, state leaders, and heads of government. It’s a unique, diverse, and talented group of people who come together as part of a cohort.

Chevening is about more than just education or academics. Scholars have access to networking events, leadership seminars, cultural tours, and other experiences that enrich the year without the financial burden. This is especially valuable for individuals from underprivileged backgrounds, allowing them to explore opportunities and connect with global leaders.

Q: Could you give a brief about your life and work before being a Chevening scholar?

After earning my bachelor's degree in economics from Sacred Heart College, Thevara, in Kerala, I joined a multinational company as an intern. However, I soon realised that corporate life wasn't for me. Since the 8th grade, I had been volunteering with my mother at shelter homes, but I wasn't aware of the development sector or social work as a formal career path.

After declining the placement offer, I was uncertain about my next steps. Through a friend, I learned about a remote rural village in Rajasthan called Kotri, where they needed a teacher. I volunteered there, starting as a teacher and eventually becoming a program coordinator and project manager. My work primarily focused on education for girls, blending both education and gender equity.

In 2022, after the pandemic, I received an offer to join the Chief Minister's Youth Center project in Meghalaya. This initiative, in collaboration with the Government of Meghalaya, Sauramandala Foundation, and Project DEFY, involved managing 22 self-designed learning spaces across the state. I was the program manager, overseeing these learning hubs.

Last year, I co-founded the Centre for Social Innovation And Impact with two friends. Our organisation runs a women's night school in Rajasthan, working alongside the local community to empower women and build their agency.

Q: Can you explain in detail the process involved in applying for the Chevening Scholarship?

The Chevening Scholarship process begins with submitting an online application. The first step is to check your eligibility, which I'll explain later. In the application form, you'll need to provide personal details and course selections, but the most crucial part is writing four essays.

1. Leadership and Influence: In this essay, you must demonstrate your leadership skills and the initiatives you've taken.

2. Relationship Building and Shared Learning (Networking): Here, you need to describe how you create and maintain networks, and how you've worked with others to achieve goals, especially if you've co-created something with your networks.

3. Course Selection: This essay focuses on the courses you've chosen and why you selected the UK for your studies.

4. Future Career Plans: This essay outlines your long-term career goals.

Each essay is limited to 500 words. For the leadership and networking essays, it's important to give examples that highlight your experiences. For instance, I believe my work in starting an organisation and managing various projects contributed to my leadership essay.

In the networking essay, I emphasised how many of the projects I participated in were made possible through the support of people within my networks, rather than through fully funded programs.

One example, I included was a student exchange program where nine girls from Rajasthan came to Kerala to experience the ocean for the first time. The programme had a limited budget, but it was made possible thanks to the help of many friends across the state, from Kasargod to Trivandrum.

After the essays, the next step is an interview. The application process typically runs from August to November, with Chevening calling for applicants in August and applications closing in November.

Your application goes through multiple review committees, and by February, you receive the results. If shortlisted, you're invited to an interview, which takes place in March. My interview invitation was sent around February 16, and my interview was in March.

The interview panel typically consists of three or more people. In my interview, the panel included the head of Chevening India, a representative from the British High Commission, and a Chevening alumnus. The interview itself is quite relaxed, with the focus on getting to know you better. Final results are usually announced in June, often in the third week.

Q: How can one assess their own eligibility for applying? What are the basic requirements for pursuing this opportunity?

As I mentioned earlier, the Chevening Scholarship application is entirely online. If you have internet access and can communicate in English you're already set. Chevening has specific eligibility criteria. First, you must be from a Chevening-eligible country (India is one), so that's not an issue. You also need to commit to returning to your home country for at least two years after the scholarship ends.

Additionally, you must have two years of work experience or 2,800 hours, which can include full-time or part-time work, voluntary service, or paid/unpaid internships. An undergraduate degree that qualifies you for a UK master’s program is also required.

You can find these basic eligibility criteria on the Chevening website, where there's also an eligibility quiz to help you determine if you're a fit. The application process doesn't consider your economic, social, or financial background, so anyone can apply. In fact, Chevening encourages applicants from tier-2 and tier-3 cities, marginalized communities, and all genders.

Q: What advice would you offer to young scholars? Additionally, what tips did you find helpful while writing your essays?

I highly recommend reading through the scholarship details on the website and starting your essays early. There are many helpful tips on writing good essays and preparing for interviews, shared by alumni on the website.

One of the most important steps is to reach out to Chevening alumni for guidance. Most people will be happy to help, whether by reviewing your essays or offering advice. I personally would be happy to help applicants from marginalised communities, especially women, and you can reach me on Instagram for that.

There are also initiatives like Edu Access and Samatha Center, which provide free guidance to applicants from underprivileged communities. Alumni are generally happy to offer their support without charge, so don’t hesitate to ask for help.

My preparation tips are as follows:

Eligibility Check: Start by ensuring you're eligible for the scholarship.

Research: Thoroughly explore the website and read articles about how to apply and craft strong essays.

STAR Approach: Use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) approach in your essays. This is especially important for leadership and networking. Be specific and measurable, and avoid generalisations. Give recent examples rather than referencing college experiences, especially if you've been working for several years.

Personal Touch: Inject your personal story into the essays and write passionately. Be confident about your achievements—don’t be overly modest.

Course Research: Do thorough research on the course you're applying for and reflect that knowledge in your essays.

Seek Help: Don’t hesitate to reach out for support, and start preparing your essays early.

Being confident, detailed, and proactive will make a huge difference in your application. 

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