Chevening is the UK government’s fully funded scholarship for a one-year master’s degree, and it’s one of the most competitive scholarships Pakistani students apply for — around 50-60 Pakistani applicants are selected most years, out of thousands who apply. Here’s what it actually takes, based on the current eligibility rules and application timeline.
What Chevening Covers
Full tuition fees, a monthly living allowance, economy return airfare to the UK, and an arrival allowance. It’s genuinely fully funded — you’re not expected to cover the gap yourself.
Who Can Apply
- You need an undergraduate degree completed at least two years before the application deadline
- At least two years of work experience (roughly 2,800 hours) — this can include full-time work, part-time work, paid internships, and volunteering, as long as it’s after you graduated
- Be a citizen of one of Chevening’s 160+ eligible countries or territories — Pakistan is included
- You must reside in Pakistan at the time of application, and dual nationals aren’t eligible under the Pakistan program
- You generally can’t apply if you’ve already received a UK government-funded scholarship before
Application Timeline
For the 2027-28 intake, applications opened 4 August 2026 and close 6 October 2026 at 11:00 UTC — the online system closes on the dot, so don’t wait until the last day. If you’re selected, you’ll then need to secure an unconditional offer from a UK university by 8 July 2027. Chevening lets you list up to three course choices on your application, so it’s worth shortlisting universities early rather than scrambling once you’re shortlisted.
What Actually Gets You Selected
Chevening receives thousands of eligible applications every year, so meeting the minimum criteria only gets you in the door — it doesn’t get you selected. The application itself is essay-based, built around leadership, networking, and career impact. This is exactly where a strong motivation letter and a clear sense of your career plan for the next 2, 5, and 10 years matters more than your GPA does.
If you’re working on the written part of your application, our guides on writing a strong motivation letter and getting a strong recommendation letter cover exactly this.
A Few Things Worth Knowing Before You Start
- There’s no application fee, and no minimum GPA is officially published — a strong application can come from an average academic record if the rest of it is genuinely strong
- Work experience doesn’t have to be a formal job — documented volunteering and internships count
- Start collecting concrete examples of leadership or teamwork early, since the application will ask you to describe specific situations, not general qualities
Rules and deadlines can shift slightly each cycle, so always confirm current details directly on chevening.org before applying.
Ready to look for other options too? Browse current scholarship listings on Pintern.
Further reading: Opportunities Corners also covers Chevening preparation and interview tips in detail.
