Before applying for the Chevening Scholarship 2027–2028, applicants should carefully check whether they meet the official eligibility requirements.
One of the most important requirements is work experience. Chevening requires applicants to have at least 2,800 hours of eligible work experience acquired after completing their undergraduate degree.
For the current 2027–2028 application cycle, applicants must also have completed their undergraduate studies at least two years before the application deadline.
This guide explains the main eligibility requirements, what counts as work experience, how the 2,800 hours are calculated, and common mistakes to avoid.
Chevening Eligibility at a Glance
| Requirement | Current Rule |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Citizen of a Chevening-eligible country or territory |
| Undergraduate Degree | Must qualify you for entry to a UK Master’s programme |
| Degree Completion | Undergraduate studies completed at least 2 years before the application deadline |
| Work Experience | Minimum 2,800 hours |
| When Experience Counts | After completion of undergraduate degree |
| Minimum Period | Experience must be acquired over at least 2 years |
| Accepted Experience | Full-time, part-time, voluntary work, paid or unpaid internships |
| Course Choices | 3 different eligible UK Master’s courses |
| Return Requirement | Return to country of award for at least 2 years after scholarship |
| UK University Offer | At least one unconditional offer required by the official deadline |
Who Is Eligible for Chevening Scholarship 2027–2028?
To be eligible for a Chevening Scholarship, you must generally:
- Be a citizen of a Chevening-eligible country or territory
- Commit to returning to your home country or country of award for at least two years after your scholarship ends
- Have at least 2,800 hours of eligible work experience
- Have gained that work experience after completing your undergraduate degree
- Hold an undergraduate degree that qualifies you for admission to a UK Master’s programme
- Have completed your undergraduate studies at least two years before the Chevening application deadline
- Apply to three different eligible UK Master’s courses
- Obtain an unconditional offer from at least one of your selected courses by the required deadline
For applicants from certain ODA-eligible countries, additional residence requirements may apply. Always check your country-specific Chevening page before submitting an application.
Undergraduate Degree Requirement
You must have an undergraduate degree that allows you to apply for postgraduate study at a UK university.
Chevening requires applicants to have completed their undergraduate studies at least two years before the application deadline.
For the current 2027–2028 cycle, Chevening states that applicants must have completed their undergraduate degree by October 2024.
You do not necessarily need to have received the physical degree certificate at the time of application, but you will need the official certificate if you reach the interview stage.
Students who are still completing their undergraduate degree are therefore not eligible for the current scholarship cycle.
What Is the 2,800-Hour Work Experience Requirement?
Chevening requires:
Minimum work experience: 2,800 hours
This experience must have been acquired after completing your undergraduate degree.
Chevening describes 2,800 hours as roughly equivalent to two years of full-time employment based on a 35-hour working week.
Importantly, the experience must be accumulated over a minimum period of two years.
You therefore cannot simply work a very high number of hours for one year and claim that it satisfies the two-year requirement.
What Types of Work Experience Count?
Chevening accepts several forms of work experience.
Eligible experience can include:
- Full-time employment
- Part-time employment
- Voluntary work
- Paid internships
- Unpaid internships
You do not need to complete all 2,800 hours with one employer.
Applicants may include multiple eligible periods of work experience in their Chevening application.
The online application system currently allows applicants to enter up to 15 different work-experience periods.
Does Work Before Graduation Count?
No.
For the current Chevening Scholarship rules, qualifying work experience must have been acquired after completing your undergraduate degree.
Example:
Suppose you completed your Bachelor’s degree in:
June 2023
and worked part-time during your university studies from:
2021–2023
Those hours completed before finishing your undergraduate degree would not count toward the current Chevening 2,800-hour requirement.
Work accumulated after completing your undergraduate studies may count if it meets the other eligibility rules.
How Does Chevening Calculate 2,800 Hours?
The Chevening online application system calculates work experience using:
Number of Weeks Worked × Hours Worked Per Week
The system combines your eligible work-experience entries to determine whether you meet the required 2,800 hours.
Example 1: Full-Time Work
Suppose you worked:
35 hours per week
for:
40 weeks per year
for:
2 years
Calculation:
35 × 40 × 2 = 2,800 hours
This reaches the 2,800-hour requirement and is spread across the required minimum two-year period.
Example 2: Part-Time Work
Suppose you worked:
20 hours per week
for:
35 weeks per year
for:
4 years
Calculation:
20 × 35 × 4 = 2,800 hours
Part-time work can therefore qualify, but it may take longer to accumulate the required number of hours.
Example 3: Less Than 2,800 Hours
Suppose you worked:
20 hours per week
for:
50 weeks per year
for:
2 years
Calculation:
20 × 50 × 2 = 2,000 hours
This would not meet the 2,800-hour requirement.
You would need additional eligible work experience before applying.
Can You Combine Different Jobs?
Yes.
Your 2,800 hours do not have to come from a single employer or position.
For example, an applicant may have experience from:
Full-time employment
Part-time employment
Paid internship
Voluntary work
The important point is that the experience must satisfy Chevening’s rules and must have been gained after completing your undergraduate degree.
Enter each eligible employment period accurately in the application.
Do Internships Count?
Yes.
Chevening currently accepts:
Paid internships
and
Unpaid internships
as eligible forms of work experience.
However, the internship must have taken place after completing your undergraduate degree to count toward the current scholarship requirement.
Does Volunteer Work Count?
Yes.
Eligible voluntary work can count toward the 2,800-hour requirement.
This can be useful for applicants who have combined professional employment with substantial voluntary experience.
Make sure that the information you provide about the organisation, dates and working hours is accurate.
Does Part-Time Employment Count?
Yes.
Part-time employment is accepted.
Applicants working part-time may simply require a longer period to reach the minimum 2,800 hours.
Do not increase your stated weekly hours simply to reach the requirement.
Your work history should accurately represent your real experience.
Does Remote Work Count?
Remote employment can count when it represents genuine eligible work experience.
What matters is the nature of the work and whether it satisfies the Chevening work-experience requirements.
You should accurately enter your employment dates, employer information and working hours.
Does Your Work Experience Need to Match Your Master’s Course?
Not necessarily.
Chevening does not require every applicant’s work experience to be directly related to the Master’s course they want to study.
However, if you are changing career direction, you should be able to explain the reason for the change and show how your previous experience and transferable skills connect with your future plans.
Your course selection should still make sense within your overall career objectives.
Can You Apply With a Master’s Degree Already?
Yes.
Having an existing Master’s degree does not automatically make you ineligible for a Chevening Scholarship.
You may apply for another Master’s degree if you meet the Chevening eligibility requirements and the entry requirements of your selected UK universities.
Is There an Age Limit?
Chevening currently does not specify an upper age limit for scholarship applicants.
Eligibility is based on the programme requirements rather than a general maximum age.
Do You Need IELTS for Chevening Eligibility?
Chevening itself does not currently impose its own English-language test requirement.
However, your selected UK universities may require IELTS, TOEFL or another accepted form of English-language evidence.
Always check the admission requirements of each university separately.
Who Is Not Eligible?
Applicants should carefully review the full official eligibility rules.
You may be ineligible in circumstances including:
- Holding British or dual British citizenship, subject to specified exceptions
- Being resident in the UK at the time of application, subject to specified exceptions
- Holding refugee status in a country that is not Chevening-eligible, subject to the official rules
- Certain current or recent employment relationships with UK government departments, the British Council, partner UK universities or related organisations
- Having previously studied in the UK using certain UK Government-funded scholarships
There are detailed exceptions and conditions, so use the official Chevening eligibility page for your individual situation.
Three UK Master’s Courses Are Required
Eligibility is not based only on work experience.
Applicants must also select:
3 different eligible UK Master’s courses
The courses may be at the same university or different universities, provided they meet Chevening’s course eligibility requirements.
You must later obtain at least one unconditional offer from one of your selected courses by the deadline specified by Chevening.
Do You Need University Admission Before Applying for Chevening?
You do not need to already hold an unconditional university offer when submitting the initial Chevening application.
However, university applications are separate from the Chevening scholarship application.
Applicants should apply to their selected universities early enough to obtain at least one unconditional offer before the Chevening offer deadline.
Return-to-Home-Country Requirement
Chevening scholars must commit to returning to their home country or country of award for at least:
2 years
after completing the scholarship.
Applicants should consider this condition carefully before applying.
Quick Eligibility Checklist
Before submitting your application, ask yourself:
| Question | Check |
|---|---|
| Am I a citizen of an eligible Chevening country or territory? | Yes / No |
| Did I complete my undergraduate studies at least 2 years before the deadline? | Yes / No |
| Do I have at least 2,800 eligible work hours? | Yes / No |
| Was my qualifying experience gained after completing my undergraduate degree? | Yes / No |
| Was the experience accumulated over at least 2 years? | Yes / No |
| Does my undergraduate degree qualify me for UK Master’s admission? | Yes / No |
| Can I choose 3 eligible UK Master’s courses? | Yes / No |
| Can I commit to returning home for at least 2 years after the scholarship? | Yes / No |
If you answer “No” to a mandatory eligibility requirement, check the official Chevening guidance carefully before applying.
Common Work Experience Mistakes
Avoid:
- Counting work completed before finishing your undergraduate degree
- Applying with fewer than 2,800 eligible hours
- Trying to accumulate 2,800 hours in less than the required two-year period
- Entering incorrect employment dates
- Entering unrealistic weekly working hours
- Counting the same work period more than once
- Exaggerating responsibilities
- Forgetting legitimate voluntary or internship experience
- Assuming that two calendar years automatically equal 2,800 hours
- Waiting until after submission to calculate your total experience
Calculate your work experience before completing the application.
Important for 2027–2028 Applicants
Applications for the current Chevening Scholarship cycle close on:
6 October 2026 at 11:00 UTC
Do not wait until the final day to determine whether you meet the work-experience requirement.
Before applying:
Check eligibility → Calculate work hours → Verify degree completion date → Choose 3 eligible courses → Review country-specific requirements → Start application
Official Information
Official Chevening Eligibility Criteria confirms nationality, return-home, degree, 2,800-hour, three-course and offer requirements.
Official Chevening Work Experience Requirements confirms 2,800 hours, minimum two-year period, accepted employment types and calculation method. Official Chevening Apply Page use this to check country/territory eligibility and access the relevant award.
Official Chevening Application Timeline confirms the 6 October 2026, 11:00 UTC deadline.
Official Online Application Guidance explains how work-history entries and hours are entered and calculated.
Final Advice
The most important work-experience rule is simple:
Complete Undergraduate Degree → Gain Eligible Work Experience → Accumulate at Least 2,800 Hours Over a Minimum of 2 Years → Apply for Chevening
Do not assume that having “two years of experience” automatically makes you eligible.
Calculate the actual number of eligible hours and make sure the experience was acquired after completing your undergraduate studies.
If you meet the requirements, the next important step is selecting three suitable and eligible UK Master’s courses that match your academic background, professional experience and future career plan.
Important Note
This guide is prepared for applicants planning to apply for the Chevening Scholarship 2027–2028 based on official information available in September 2026.
Eligibility rules and programme requirements may change. Always check the latest official Chevening guidance before submitting your application.