| Application status | OPEN |
| Closing date | 6 October 2026 at 11:00 UTC (13:00 South African time) |
| Provider | UK Government, through the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), with partner organisations |
| Programme | Chevening Scholarships 2027–2028 |
| Field of study | No fixed field; eligible one-year taught Master’s courses across a wide range of disciplines |
| Study level | Postgraduate / Master’s |
| Institution scope | Eligible universities in the United Kingdom |
| Citizenship | South African citizens may apply through the South Africa award |
| Funding | Tuition fees, return economy travel, living stipend and specified allowances |
| Return commitment | Return to the country of award for at least two years after the scholarship ends |
| Academic year | 2027–2028 |
- WHAT FIELDS OF STUDY DOES THE CHEVENING SCHOLARSHIP COVER?
- WHAT ARE THE CHEVENING SCHOLARSHIP REQUIREMENTS?
- WHAT DOES THE CHEVENING SCHOLARSHIP COVER?
- HOW DO I APPLY FOR THE CHEVENING SCHOLARSHIP?
- WHAT DOCUMENTS ARE NEEDED FOR THE CHEVENING SCHOLARSHIP?
- WHEN IS THE CLOSING DATE FOR THE CHEVENING SCHOLARSHIP?
- HOW DO I CONTACT CHEVENING ABOUT THE SCHOLARSHIP?
- ABOUT CHEVENING
WHAT FIELDS OF STUDY DOES THE CHEVENING SCHOLARSHIP COVER?
The Chevening Scholarship does not restrict applicants to a fixed list of academic fields. South African applicants can choose eligible one-year, full-time taught Master’s courses in the UK across a wide range of disciplines.
- The course must lead to a Master’s degree qualification.
- The course must be full-time and based in the UK.
- The course must normally start in the autumn term, usually September or October.
- The course must last at least nine months and no more than 12 months.
- Research-focused MRes programmes, PhDs, DPhils, part-time courses and distance-learning courses are not eligible.
- Applicants must select three eligible UK Master’s courses in their Chevening application.
Similar Bursaries:
- See other Postgraduate Bursaries and Scholarships in South Africa.
- See other General Bursaries and Scholarships available.
- See other Bursaries Still Open for Applications for year 2027.
WHAT ARE THE CHEVENING SCHOLARSHIP REQUIREMENTS?
South African applicants must meet the programme’s eligibility requirements.
- Be a citizen of a Chevening-eligible country or territory, including South Africa.
- Commit to returning to the country of award for at least two years after the scholarship ends.
- Have at least two years of work experience, equivalent to 2,800 hours, gained after completing an undergraduate degree. Eligible experience can include full-time employment, part-time employment, voluntary work and paid or unpaid internships.
- Hold an undergraduate degree that qualifies the applicant for a UK Master’s programme.
- Have completed the undergraduate degree at least two years before the Chevening application deadline.
- Apply to three eligible UK Master’s courses.
- Obtain an unconditional offer from at least one of the three selected courses by the Chevening offer deadline.
Applicants are not eligible if they are resident in the UK at the time of application, hold British or dual British citizenship in circumstances covered by Chevening’s rules, or have previously studied in the UK using certain UK Government-funded scholarships.
There is no upper age limit for the Chevening Scholarship, and Chevening does not impose its own English-language requirement. Applicants must still satisfy the admission and English-language requirements of their chosen UK universities.
Selection considerations: Chevening assesses applications for factors including leadership potential, relationship-building and networking, the applicant’s course choices and future career goals. Applicants must provide their own original responses to the Chevening essay questions.
WHAT DOES THE CHEVENING SCHOLARSHIP COVER?
The Chevening Scholarship provides financial support for eligible Master’s study in the UK. The award normally includes:
- Tuition fees.
- Return economy travel between the scholar’s country of residence and the UK by an approved route.
- A monthly personal living allowance (stipend), with the rate depending on whether the scholar studies in London or elsewhere in the UK.
- An arrival allowance.
- A departure allowance.
- The cost of an entry-clearance visa application for the scholar.
- A contribution of up to £75 towards tuberculosis testing where required.
- A travel top-up allowance for eligible travel to required Chevening events.
The stipend is intended to cover basic living costs such as accommodation, meals, personal expenses, phone costs, daily travel and required course resources. Award rates and individual financial components are subject to the terms of the scholarship and annual review.
Service obligation: Chevening requires scholars to return to their country of award for at least two years after completing the scholarship. This is a return-home commitment rather than a specified work-back placement with the scholarship provider.
HOW DO I APPLY FOR THE CHEVENING SCHOLARSHIP?
Applications must be completed online through the Chevening Scholarship for Studies In The UK 2027-2028 official page.
- Go to the official Chevening South Africa page and select the application option for the 2027–2028 Scholarship.
- Register on the Chevening online application system using your email address and mobile phone number.
- Complete the eligibility checker.
- Record your unique access code and keep it safe.
- Complete your personal, education and work-history information.
- List your three eligible UK Master’s course choices.
- Provide the names and contact details of two referees.
- Answer the four Chevening essay questions in English and within the specified word limits.
- Review the completed application and submit it online before the closing deadline.
Applicants do not have to submit their UK university applications before submitting the Chevening application. However, they must secure an unconditional offer from at least one selected course by the Chevening offer deadline.
Chevening does not permit applicants to use AI-generated answers for its essay questions. The application responses must be the applicant’s own original work.
WHAT DOCUMENTS ARE NEEDED FOR THE CHEVENING SCHOLARSHIP?
No documents need to be uploaded to submit the initial Chevening Scholarship application.
Applicants must provide the names and contact details of two referees in the initial application. If an applicant progresses to the interview stage, additional documents must be uploaded.
- Official undergraduate degree certificate issued by the university.
- Two reference letters from the nominated referees, written in English.
- Photo identification, such as a passport or national ID card, for interview-stage verification.
Chevening requires the official undergraduate degree certificate rather than an undergraduate transcript for its interview-stage education-document requirement. Reference letters must be provided before the interview according to the applicable deadline on the Chevening timeline.
WHEN IS THE CLOSING DATE FOR THE CHEVENING SCHOLARSHIP?
APPLICATION STATUS: OPEN
Aplications opened on 4 August 2026 and close on 6 October 2026 at 11:00 UTC. This is 13:00 South African time.
Late submissions will be rejected.
HOW DO I CONTACT CHEVENING ABOUT THE SCHOLARSHIP?
- Official South Africa page: Chevening in South Africa
- Online contact: Chevening Contact Us
- Application system support: Chevening directs applicants with online-system login queries to its applicant support channel.
ABOUT CHEVENING
Chevening is the UK Government’s international scholarship programme, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and partner organisations. The programme supports exceptional emerging leaders to undertake eligible postgraduate study in the UK while developing professional networks and strengthening connections between the UK and scholars’ home countries.
For South African applicants, the Chevening Scholarship provides an opportunity to undertake an eligible one-year taught Master’s degree at a UK university and return to South Africa after the award to contribute to their home country.