Have you recently enrolled, or are about to enrol, on a twelve month postgraduate course in the UK? Do you want help with funding your studies? Are you 35 or under and already experienced in your chosen career? Would you like to develop your career and become part of an influential global alumni? Then a British Chevening Scholarship could be right for you.
The Chevening Scholarship Programme is a prestigious awards scheme that funds international postgraduate students who want to study in the UK. Funded by the UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and administered by the British Council, the scheme operates in over 150 countries and annually provides funding for over 2,300 students.
Chevening scholarships are a great way of gaining access to high-quality education. Every year, hundreds of scholars come to the UK to learn new skills and make new friends.
If you want to apply, here are a few things you need to know. Please read this article in full before getting in touch, and use the website to see if the information you require is online.
The Chevening Scholarship Programme is a truly global programme. As the programme is so diverse and far-reaching there isn't a single timetable. Please see below dates for applying in Kosovo. Although the timetable for deadlines may change from country to country the application process remains the same.
Stage 1: Applications are checked to ensure that the applicant meets the standard Chevening criteria (see below) plus any other specified local criteria (see below). Because of the volume of applications and high level of competition it is not always possible to reply to each and every application.
Stage 2: If your application meets all of the criteria for the scholarship then you will be short-listed and the British Council office will write to you and ask you to attend an interview.
Stage 3: You will be interviewed by a panel of interviewers – normally consisting of a member of the British Embassy and a member of the British Council.
Stage 4: As the competition for scholarships is intense and funds limited, it is not possible to recommend for all successful candidates the length of award and level of study requested on their application.
Any award of a Scholarship to you is conditional on the following:
- Confirmation from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London that your nomination is acceptable;
- There being sufficient funds available;
- The British Council being able to place you on a suitable course;
- The British Council being satisfied with the results of a medical examination which you will be asked to undertake prior to departure.
If and when these formalities have been satisfactorily completed (which may take several months) you will receive a formal written offer of a Scholarship. You should not make any irreversible preparations to leave for Britain unless and until you receive this offer letter. Your application will be administered by the British Council on behalf of the UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
In Kosovo you are advised to select your own course of study prior to application for a scholarship. http://www.educationuk.org is a really useful website which will help you identify a suitable course of study for yourself. British Council staff will also help you in the application procedure and answer any questions you might have.
TCompetition for Chevening scholarships is intense and only one in every 25 applicants is successful.
A typical successful applicant would be:
- A graduate with proven academic skills.
- Committed to return to their country and contribute to the socio-economic development of their country through implementing new skills and knowledge acquired in the UK.
- Be able to show at interview that they possess the personal qualities to benefit from their scholarship and use it to succeed in their chosen career.
- Have a clear idea how their scholarship will benefit their country on their return.
- Have good English Language skills and must have an IELTS of 6.5 for admission onto Postgraduate courses.
- Established in a career, with a track record of excellence and achievement, and the prospect of becoming a leader in his/her chosen field. 3-5 years of relevant work experience is preferred. The vast majority of Chevening scholars are aged 25 - 35 years
- All other things being equal, preference will be given to candidates with less exposure to education outside of Kosovo, to whom the experience of studying in the UK is therefore likely to be proportionately more valuableo.
IMPORTANT: If you have graduated in Kosovo please note that we can only accept degrees from the University of Prishtina (or any other accredited degree) and NOT from any private higher education provider in Kosovo.
Most Chevening scholars already have a first degree and the majority study for postgraduate degrees particularly Masters Courses. However some scholars cannot spare that much time away from their careers and we welcome applications for shorter vocational courses as long as they are adequately challenging and relevant. We don’t fund undergraduate courses and normally only consider PhD's and MPhil's when we have a co-funding partner. Chevening scholarships can be used to study most subjects; however in different countries they may target a narrower range of subjects that are especially relevant to that country.
The full scholarships fund a whole year of postgraduate study in the UK only. This includes:
- A student visa
- All your tuition fees
- A monthly allowance to cover living expenses
- Travel costs to and from the UK
- Arrival and departure allowance
- A thesis allowance
Part funded scholarships include:
- A student visa
- All your tuition fees
- Travel costs to and from the UK
Please make sure you specify in your application form whether you are applying for full or part-funded scholarship.
- Application form
- Original support letters from two referees (academic and professional)
- Photocopies of academic certificates
- Transcript of grades or record of exams that you have passed
British Council
6 Perandori Justinian
Qyteza Pejton
10000 Prishtina
Kosovo
T: +381 38 243 292
F: +381 38 243 292
donika.berisha@ks.britishcouncil.org
Office Hours: 0900 – 1700
Public Hours: 1000 – 1800
We will advertise the Chevening scholarship on 20 August 2008 and the deadline for receiving your completed documents will be 24 September 2008 at 1800hrs. Details of the Scholarship will be advertised in ‘Koha Ditore’ and ‘Express’ daily newspapers. We will also specify what types of documents we require from you at the time of application.
Successful candidates will be required to attend the interview 29 September - 3 October, 2008.
Those successful at interview will be required to sit the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) on 11 October 2008.
To learn more about IELTS please visit www.ielts.org or contact Arlinda Dili at arlinda.dili@ks.britishcouncil.org
We strongly advise that you start preparing for IELTS as soon as possible.
For further information about Chevening programme please visit the Official Chevening website or contact our Chevening Scholarships team.
| 
