Applications for Chevening Scholarships for school year 2012-13 are now open.

This year, the Foreign Commonwealth Office is also offering Cambridge Chevening Scholarships for study at the prestigious Cambridge University, to find out more, please check below.

Introduction to Chevening Scholarships

The Chevening Scholarships programme started in 1984. It was originally called the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Scholarships and Awards Scheme. A few years later the name was changed to Chevening - after Chevening House in the Sevenoaks District of Kent, which is currently the joint official residence of the Foreign Secretary and the Deputy Prime Minister.

Chevening Scholarships are for talented people who have been identified as potential future leaders across a wide range of fields including politics, business, the media, civil society, and academia. Most scholars undertake a one year master’s degree.

In the current academic year, there are over 500 Chevening scholars at universities across the UK. The programme is mainly funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, with some contributions from Higher Education Institutions and other partners in the UK.

Filipino, Marshallese, Micronesian and Palauan candidates are selected by the British Embassy in Manila. The scheme is managed by the British Council Philippines.

Chevening Scholarships are for high calibre graduates with the personal, intellectual and interpersonal qualities necessary for leadership. Applicants should be:

• Motivated to make a career that will take them to positions of leadership in their own country within ten years of their scholarship
• Able to use their studies and experience in the UK to benefit themselves, their countries and the UK
• Natural influencers and talented communicators, with energy and ambition
• People who value networking and who can demonstrate the value of networks to their studies, and to bringing about change on a global level
• Intelligent, with demonstrable academic potential
• Strong characters with integrity, drive, and the ability to work independently

The British Chevening Scholarship Award usually covers Master's degree programmes at universities in the United Kingdom with a duration of one year. Occassionally, the award is also given for shorter course or for research attachments that lasts from three to six month. They are not granted for more than a year of study.

There are Master's degree programmes that may last for more than one year. In such cases, the scholarship programme will only cover the first year of study.

Courses not covered by the programme

• Secondary education
• Undergraduate degree
• Doctoral degree
• National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ)
• Military training
• Part-time courses
• Distance learning courses
• Courses of less than three months or twelve weeks duration

Chevening scholarships are prestigious awards and highly sought after by people from all over the world. Applicants must have the potential to rise to positions of leadership and influence. They will need to demonstrate that they possess the personal, intellectual and interpersonal attributes reflecting this potential.

Applicants must also:

• Be a citizen of the Philippines, Micronesia, Marshall Islands or Palau;
• Have motivation to make a career leading to a position of leadership in their own country;
• Be committed to use their studies and experience in the UK to benefit themselves, their countries and the UK;
• Intend to return to home country at the end of the period of study (dual nationals will be considered by the FCO on a case to case basis);

and normally:

• Have two years work experience relative to their chosen career;
• Hold a local or international undergraduate degree
• Not have received or be currently receiving financial benefit from a previous UK Government funded Scholarship.

Applications are now being accepted for SY 2012 - 2013. The British Embassy in Manila accepts applications for Filipino, Marshallese, Micronesian, and Palauan nationals.

Deadline for submission of application is on 06 January 2012, 4:30PM (GMT+8). Applications submitted after this date will not be accepted.

BEFORE APPLYING

Remember that Chevening scholarships are prestigious and sought after awards aimed at extremely capable individuals who have already made an impact and are motivated to follow a career that will take them to a position of leadership within their own country.

We do not have specific criteria about areas of study, however, we recommend that you look into our priorities as they are borne in mind during the selection process.

MAKING AN APPLICATION

Prospective scholars applying for Chevening scholarships should apply using our online application tool, eChevening. If you have any questions about the online process or any other difficulties, please email us at phchevening@britishcouncil.org.ph.

For a step-by-step guide on eChevening, check the eChevening guidance here

Important reminders:

1. Username and password. Please take note of your username and password when you start your online application. We are unable to retrieve log in details for you.

2. Filling in the application. Applicants may save their application if they do not have all the required information. However, they will not be able to amend their application once it has been submitted. Please ensure that information is complete before submitting the application.

3. UK universities. We prefer applicants to have pending applications to UK universities. Please indicate status of your application details in the on-line application form.

4. E-mail notifications. Applicants will receive an e-mail confirmation 5 – 7 days after they have submitted their application. This e-mail will contain the application reference number.

If applicants have not received an e-mail confirmation after 10 days, they may contact the British Council Philippines and send their complete name and birth date at their email address: phchevening@britishcouncil.org.ph to confirm whether the application has been successfully submitted.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

First sifting of applications

The British Council will initially sift applications. Applications will be evaluated immediately after the deadline. Applicants will be informed of the status of their application within 2 weeks.

Second sifting of applications

The British Council will contact applicants who pass the first screening to submit the additional documents listed below to the British Embassy Manila for final sifting.

Please note that the Embassy will not accept incomplete and late documents. Documents submitted through fax or e-mail will be rejected.

1. Curriculum vitae
2. (Copy) transcript/s of records
3. (Original) 2 reference letters
4. Copy of valid passport

Invitation to interview

Applicants who pass the second screening will be invited for a panel interview that will be chaired by a member of the Embassy staff. Successful applicants will be contacted by the British Embassy shortly afterwards.

Timeline

• November - January 2012: Application period
• 20 January 2012 : First screening of applicants and submission of required documents by shortlisted applicants
• February 2012: Interview and announcement of Chevening Awardees

Status notification

Due to the number of applications the British Chevening Scholarship Award receives each year, we are unable to accommodate any enquiries on application status. All applicants will be notified of their status via e-mail. Please ensure the e-mail address you have indicated in the application is valid.

Other information

The Education UK website is the gateway to UK education and provides education information for international students. It covers everything from choosing the right course for you, how to apply and immigration advice, right through to your arrival and life in the UK.

The British Embassy Manila and the Cambridge Commonwealth Trust are pleased to offer scholarships to successful applicants to Masters courses at the University of Cambridge, UK for SY 2012-2013.

The Cambridge Commonwealth Trust was established in 1982 by the University of Cambridge in order to support international students on degree courses. Since then it has helped more than 8,700 young people from almost all countries in the Commonwealth to study at one of the finest universities in the world.

The University of Cambridge aims to contribute to society through the pursuit of education, learning and research at the highest international levels. While taking pride it its 800 year history, it focuses on research capable of transforming human knowledge and society. The large number of international students in the University (over 18% of the student population last year) contributes to the quality and diversity of the student community in Cambridge.

The British Embassy Manila and the Trust are working together to offer the Chevening Cambridge Scholarship for the Philippines, Palau, Micronesia and the Marshall Islands, tenable only at the University of Cambridge but forming part of the wide span of Chevening scholarships worldwide.

Fields of Study

Applications will be accepted for any MPhil or equivalent one-year postgraduate course available at the University of Cambridge. The British Embassy Manila will evaluate candidates according to the Chevening eligibility criteria, including priority fields or subjects as announced for each academic year.

Application & Selection Procedures

Candidates must apply for admission via the normal route to the University of Cambridge (Deadline: 02 December 2011).

Final decision on admission to the University of Cambridge will be the sole responsibility of the University and no award will be made to an applicant who has not already gained admission.

Candidates must apply directly for the scholarship using the Chevening portal online (eChevening) beginning 14 November 2011. eChevening guidance can be found here.