United Kingdom International Scholarship program (Chevening Scholarship program) for the academic year of 2026-2027

Do you want to pursue your master’s degree in the UK’s prestigious universities? Do you want to have a fully funded scholarship?

Application for the UK Chevening Scholarship program 2026-2027 is  now open for Afghanistan. The global application period for this scholarship is from early August to early November, but for Afghanistan, it was not open in this period year. Now, the Chevening scholarship is resumed for Afghanistan applicants who reside in Afghanistan. It is one of the most prestigious Scholarships opportunities which is offered for International students from different countries around the world and supported by the Government of the United Kingdom to study their master’s degree in the UK.

Details of Chevening Scholarships 2026-2027

• Application start: August 5, 2025.
• Application Close:  October 5, 2025
• From October  2025: Eligibility screening of applications.
• Mid-November 2025 – January 2026: Independent committees assess eligible applications.
• Mid-February 2026: Shortlisted applicants are notified for interviews.
• 19 February 2026: Deadline to submit references and educational documents.
• 26 February – 25 April 2026: Interviews conducted at British embassies and high commissions.
• From June 2026: Interview results announced.
• 11 July 2026: Deadline to submit at least one unconditional UK university offer by 17:00 BST.
• September/October 2026: Scholars begin their studies in the UK.
• Location: United Kingdom
• Level of study: master’s degree

About Chevening Scholarships

Each year, the government of the United Kingdom offers Chevening scholarship programs for students from particular countries to pursue their master’s degrees in the United Kingdom. This fully funded scholarship program covers all expenses during the entire study period.

Benefits:

The Chevening Scholarships are full Scholarships that will cover the following expenses:

• Full Tuition Fee (but the MBA tuition fee is paid up to 22000 pounds)
• Travel cost (one round trip economy level)
• Visa fee
• Allowance for departure
• Monthly stipend for accommodation and living expenses
• TB testing allowance
• Grant to attend Chevening events

Who can apply for the Chevening Scholarship?

The applicants must fulfill the following requirements in order to apply for the UK Chevening Scholarships:

• Have citizenship of a Chevening-eligible country.  (Afghanistan applicants should be residing in Afghanistan).
• Hold a bachelor’s degree.
• Two years of working experience, including any type of work such as internships, volunteer work, full-time, or part-time, that completes 2800 working hours. Your work experience can be achieved after graduating from your bachelor’s degree
• Return to the home country after graduation.
• Receive an unconditional offer from one of three UK university courses by July 11, the following year
• The English language requirement has been removed for applicants applying to study from 2020/2021 onwards.
• Note: for the academic year 2025/2026, Afghan applicants should reside inside Afghanistan

Note: Those who have dual citizenship with one British citizenship, are current/former employees of the UK government and relatives, or have studied in the UK previously are not eligible to apply.

Which courses you can apply?

The course you select needs to be full-time, start in the fall next year  (October or September), taught master program, and be based in the UK. You can apply to any field of study you have gotten your bachelor’s degree in, or you can change your master’s degree field if you have a good reason for changing your field.

Application procedure

The UK Chevening Scholarship program applicants can apply online from August 5, 2025, to October 7, 2025. (Last year, the application timeline for Afghanistan applicants was November 14 – January 2, 2025. This year,  it is the same for all 4th August – 7th October.) Applicants are advised to read all the requirements, frequently asked questions, and other terms and conditions before applying.

You can follow these steps:

Check if you meet the eligibility criteria, then choose three master’s courses in the UK that align with your goals. Gather your references and academic documents, and submit your application online. Await an interview invitation if shortlisted, and finally, secure an unconditional offer from one of your chosen universities.

Steps for application: 

• 1) Complete the online registration form
• 2) Pass the eligibility checker
• 3) Make a note of your access code
• 4) Complete each section of the application form
• 5) Submit your application!

Required documents: 

The following documents are required to apply for Chevening Scholarships (but some of them are not mandatory at the start of the application, and you can submit them later):

• Scan of Your valid Passport
• Three University Courses you have applied to
• Academic Transcripts and Diplomas
• Contact details of two referees
• 4 essays

Note: You need to provide answers to the following essay questions in the application form:

Essay Questions (. (Minimum word count: 100 words, maximum word count: 300 words each essay)

New and updated essay questions, including a stronger focus on how your course and university choices connect to global priority areas, such as:

• Promoting growth and prosperity
• Building resilience in a climate-vulnerable world
• Strengthening security and stability in a volatile world
• Supporting development for more inclusive and effective societies

Note: Chevening has also reduced the word limit for essay responses from 500 to 300 words, to encourage you to share personal examples of your experience with greater clarity and focus.

Previously, the following were questions for essay:

Essay Questions (. (Minimum word count: 100 words, maximum word count: 500 words each essay)

* 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.

* Networking

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.

* 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 enter new information and examples here and do not duplicate the information you have entered on the work experience and education section of this form

* 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 consider how these relate to what the UK government is doing in your country.

Don’t know how to apply?

Watch the video to learn how to apply for a Chevening scholarship using the new application system of the Chevening scholarship. 

Watch on YouTube 

Watch the video below to learn the details of this scholarship from the previous year. 

Watch on Facebook Here

Apply online

Find a course

Watch the following Series of Videos by the Chevening Alumni Network 

1st video: General Information

Topic: Leadership Essay

Relationship building and shared learning

Studying in the UK Essay

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Important Notice from Chevening Scholarship:

“We have been made aware of agencies offering assistance on Chevening Scholarship applications for a fee. We can confirm that these agencies are not approved or endorsed by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the Association of Commonwealth Universities, or the Chevening Secretariat. We advise potential applicants against the use of these services in the strongest possible terms. Use of a paid for service for Chevening applications is not permitted.”

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For more opportunities, visit the Opportunities for Afghanistan website