What does ‘Chevening’ stand for?
Chevening House is the official country residence of the UK Foreign Secretary. This name was given to the Scheme in 1994; before that it was called the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Scholarships and Awards Scheme (FCOSAS).

When and how often is the competition for the Chevening Scholarships announced and when is the application deadline?
The competition is announced annually in autumn preceding the year of the course’s commencement (e.g., competition for the 2009 awards was announced in October 2008). Application deadline is usually in November-December. Around 8 awards are offered annually for Ukraine.

How are candidates selected?
Selection is carried out in three stages. First of all, the British Council and the British Embassy agree the shortlist of around 30 applications, based on an assessment against the published criteria. Second, all short-listed candidates are interviewed by the British Embassy in Kyiv, who choose those to be nominated for a scholarship. Finally, successful candidates take an English language proficiency test.

Can I use this Scholarship to study for an undergraduate degree? A PhD?
No. Chevening Scholarships are intended for studies/research only at post-graduate (Master’s) level. The award normally lasts between three and twelve months.

Do I need to have a first degree or relevant professional experience in the subject area I choose?
Chevening Scholarships are very competitive – candidates with little previous academic/professional experience in their chosen field are unlikely to be short-listed.

Can I apply to study for an MBA under the Chevening Scheme?
No. MBA programme is not a priority for this scheme.

I am currently studying/working outside Ukraine. Can I apply for a Chevening Scholarship?
No. The candidate must be resident in Ukraine at the time of application.

Do I need to attach letters from referees and other documents to the Application Form?
No. This is only required from short-listed candidates. The initial assessment is carried out solely on the basis of the applicants’ stated previous academic and professional experience and their statement of study needs and plans.

What specialised tests (if any) do I need to take?
All applicants successful at interview have to take the IELTS test – an English language proficiency test. The test is provided for them free of charge at the British Council in Kyiv. Details about the test are available from any of the British Council’s offices. Candidates for courses in Economics are normally required to pass a GRE test as well. Certain programmes may require some other tests as their entry requirement.

I took TOEFL recently. Can I use it instead of IELTS? If so, what are the required standards?
Although preference is given to IELTS, TOEFL results may be accepted by some British universities as evidence of English language proficiency. You have to contact a university of your choice to find out if they accept TOEFL score. The TOEFL exam costs will not be covered by the British Council.

I never took an IELTS test, but in the application form it is required to indicate the IELTS score. What should I do?
You should state ‘not available’ in each section of the question about the IELTS score. This will not affect your chances of being considered, because under Chevening Ukraine/Belarus/Moldova programme short-listed candidates will have an opportunity to sit the test later. If you have taken TOEFL test, please put the score results in the application form.

What expenses are covered by the Chevening Scholarship?
Tuition fees (up to £12,000), monthly living allowance for accommodation and food, return airfare, visa.

Can I bring my spouse and/or children to the UK under the Chevening Scheme?
Yes, you can. However, you should bear in mind that the stipend is intended to cover only the scholar’s expenses. If any members of your family wish to accompany you, they must have sufficient resources to meet all their living expenses in the UK.

I am not sure which course at which university is best for my particular study needs. Can I apply for a Chevening Scholarship without identifying a specific place of study in the UK?
Yes. It is not necessary for you to know all details of possible academic programmes in advance. If you are nominated for the scholarship, you can search for a suitable course later or, if you are in doubt, British Council’s specialist advisers will recommend which courses will best fit your academic interests and needs. However, it is always a good idea to do some research about higher education in the UK yourself – you can make use of the web page www.educationuk.org.