The Chevening Scholarship is one of the most respected fully funded opportunities available to Nigerian professionals who want to study a one-year taught Master’s degree in the United Kingdom. Funded by the UK Government through the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the programme is designed for future leaders who already have work experience and a clear plan to contribute to Nigeria after their studies.
Applications for the 2027/28 academic year are currently open. The final deadline is 6 October 2026 at 11:00 UTC (12:00 noon West Africa Time). This guide explains what the scholarship offers, who can apply, whether Nigerians are eligible, the exact funding package, the documents you will need, the application steps, and the practical points many first-time applicants miss.
Scholarship Quick Overview
- Scholarship name: Chevening Scholarship
- Host country: United Kingdom
- Study level: One-year taught Master’s degree
- Eligible nationalities: Citizens of Chevening-eligible countries (Nigeria is eligible)
- Funding: Full tuition fees, monthly living stipend, return economy flights, visa cost, arrival and departure allowances
- Application deadline: 6 October 2026 at 11:00 UTC
- Start date: September/October 2027
- Application fee: Free to apply through the official Chevening system
What This Scholarship Is About
Chevening is the UK Government’s flagship international scholarship programme. It is not a general university bursary or a research studentship. It is a competitive leadership scholarship that selects mid-career professionals who show strong potential to influence their home countries.
Scholars study a full-time taught Master’s degree at any eligible UK university. The programme places strong emphasis on leadership, networking, and the ability to apply the knowledge gained in the UK to real challenges in Nigeria. After completing the degree, every scholar must return home for at least two years.
The scholarship is open to a wide range of academic fields. You choose three different eligible Master’s courses and rank them in order of preference. The courses must be full-time, taught (not research-only), start in the autumn term, last between nine and twelve months, and be based in the UK.
What the Scholarship Offers
Chevening is widely described as fully funded because the core costs of studying and living in the UK for one year are covered. The standard package includes:
- Full university tuition fees for the chosen Master’s course (with a known cap applying only to certain MBA programmes)
- A monthly personal living allowance (stipend) that covers accommodation and day-to-day expenses. The exact amount is higher for scholars studying in London than for those studying outside London and is reviewed annually
- Economy-class return airfare between Nigeria and the UK for the scholar only
- The cost of the UK student visa application for the scholar
- An arrival allowance and a homeward departure allowance
- A contribution of up to £75 towards tuberculosis testing where required
- A travel top-up allowance
- Access to the Chevening leadership and networking programme throughout the year
Accommodation is not provided as a separate benefit; scholars pay rent from the monthly stipend. Costs for partners or children are not covered. Scholars are expected to manage their own living arrangements once they arrive in the UK.
When planning your budget, it is useful to read practical advice on related expenses. Many successful applicants find it helpful to review guidance on Travel Costs and Scholarships: What Study Abroad Students Should Check so they understand what is and is not included.
Who Is Eligible?
To be considered for a Chevening Scholarship you must meet every official requirement. Applications that fail any of the criteria are normally rejected at the first screening stage.
You must:
- Be a citizen of a Chevening-eligible country or territory. Nigeria is an eligible country.
- If applying from an ODA-eligible country, be resident in an ODA-eligible country and show a clear intention to support the country of award.
- Commit to returning to your country of award (Nigeria) for a minimum of two years after the scholarship ends.
- Have completed an undergraduate degree that qualifies you for entry onto a UK Master’s programme. You must have finished your undergraduate studies at least two years before the Chevening application deadline (for the current cycle this means by October 2024).
- Have at least two years of work experience acquired after completing your undergraduate degree, equivalent to 2,800 hours. Full-time, part-time, voluntary work and paid or unpaid internships all count. You can enter up to fifteen separate employment periods.
- Apply to three different eligible UK Master’s courses and later obtain an unconditional offer from at least one of them by the deadline set on the Chevening timeline (8 July 2027).
You are not eligible if you:
- Hold British or dual British citizenship (with limited exceptions that do not apply to most Nigerian applicants).
- Are resident in the UK at the time of application.
- Are an employee, former employee (within the last two years), or immediate relative of an employee of the UK government, British Council, a partner university, or related organisations.
- Have previously studied in the UK on a UK government-funded scholarship (with a five-year waiting period after a Chevening Fellowship).
There is no upper age limit. Having a previous Master’s degree does not stop you from applying for a second Master’s under Chevening.
Are Nigerians Eligible?
Yes. Nigerian citizens are fully eligible to apply for Chevening Scholarships. Nigeria is listed as a Chevening-eligible country. Successful Nigerian scholars must return to Nigeria for at least two years after completing their studies. This return commitment is a binding condition of the award.
There is no separate Nigerian quota that blocks applications. Selection is competitive and based on the quality of the application, leadership potential, and the strength of the proposed study plan.
Do You Qualify?
Before you start writing essays, check these practical points carefully:
- Have you completed your first degree by October 2024?
- Can you document at least 2,800 hours of work experience after graduation?
- Do you hold (or can you obtain) a degree that UK universities accept for Master’s entry? Most courses prefer the equivalent of a UK 2:1, although some accept a strong 2:2 with relevant experience.
- Are you ready to choose three different eligible courses and later secure at least one unconditional offer?
- Are you prepared to return to Nigeria for two years after the scholarship?
If any of these answers is “no”, the application is unlikely to progress. It is better to confirm eligibility early than to invest weeks in essays that will be rejected on technical grounds.
What the Scholarship Covers
The official package is comprehensive for a single scholar. Here is a clear breakdown of what is covered and what is not:
Tuition fees: Yes (full, subject to MBA fee cap rules)
Monthly living stipend: Yes
Return economy flights: Yes (scholar only)
UK student visa fee: Yes (scholar only)
Arrival allowance: Yes
Departure allowance: Yes
TB test contribution: Up to £75 where required
Accommodation: Paid from the monthly stipend
Dependants / family costs: Not covered
Chevening does not pay university tuition-fee deposits. Some universities may postpone or waive the deposit once they know a candidate is waiting for a Chevening decision, but this is at the university’s discretion. Any deposit paid is at the applicant’s own risk.
Important Requirements
Beyond the basic eligibility rules, the following points are critical:
- Work experience must be calculated accurately. The system multiplies weeks by hours per week. Only experience gained after the undergraduate degree counts.
- You must list three different eligible courses. Using the official Chevening course finder is the safest way to confirm eligibility.
- An unconditional university offer is required later in the process (by 8 July 2027). Conditional offers that still require language scores or academic results are not accepted at that stage (financial conditions are the only exception).
- English language requirements are set by the universities, not by Chevening. You must meet the language standard of your chosen courses.
- All identifying information must be removed from certain parts of the application where anonymisation is required, although the main Chevening form collects personal details normally.
What You Need Before Applying
Prepare the following before you open the online form:
- A clear record of your education history and exact graduation date.
- A detailed list of all post-graduation work experience with start and end dates, hours per week, and job titles.
- Three eligible UK Master’s courses you are genuinely interested in, researched for content, entry requirements and deadlines.
- Names and contact details of two referees (professional or academic) who know your work well.
- Draft answers to the four essay questions (leadership, networking, studying in the UK, and career plan). These essays are the heart of the application.
- A reliable email address and phone number. You will receive a unique access code that must be kept safe.
Many first-time applicants benefit from structured preparation. Reading A First-Time Applicant’s Guide to Searching for Scholarships can help you organise your research and avoid common early mistakes.
Important Documents
At the initial application stage you mainly complete an online form and write essays. Supporting documents become critical later:
- Undergraduate degree certificate or diploma (required by the interview stage).
- Academic transcripts.
- Two reference letters (requested after shortlisting for interview).
- Valid passport or national identity document.
- Unconditional offer letter from at least one of your three chosen courses (by 8 July 2027).
- Any English language test results required by your universities.
Keep digital copies of everything. Names, dates and spellings must match exactly across all documents and the application form.
Application Deadline
The deadline for the 2027/28 Chevening Scholarships is 6 October 2026 at 11:00 UTC. In Nigeria this is 12:00 noon West Africa Time on the same day.
The online system closes automatically. Late applications are not accepted and there is no extension. Submit well before the final hour to avoid technical problems.
Important Things to Check Before Applying
- Confirm that each of your three courses appears as eligible on the official Chevening course finder.
- Calculate your work hours carefully and keep evidence in case you are asked later.
- Make sure your undergraduate degree was completed by the required date.
- Draft and refine your four essays offline before pasting them into the form. The form does not save progress if you navigate away.
- Use a stable internet connection and, if possible, Microsoft Edge as recommended in some guidance.
- Save a full copy of your submitted application for your records.
How to Apply
The application is completed entirely online through the official Chevening system. Follow these steps:
- Go to the official application portal and select Nigeria as your country.
- Complete the eligibility checker.
- Register and note your unique access code carefully.
- Fill in personal details, education history and work experience (up to 15 employment periods).
- Select three different eligible UK Master’s courses in order of preference.
- Provide contact details for two referees.
- Write and submit answers to the four essay questions covering leadership, networking, study in the UK, and career plans.
- Review every section thoroughly and submit before the deadline.
After submission you will receive an acknowledgement. Later stages include independent reading committee assessment, possible shortlisting for interview at the British High Commission, and the requirement to upload supporting documents and an unconditional university offer.
When preparing formal documents or motivation statements for the university applications that run in parallel, some applicants find tools such as an Application Letter Generator useful for structuring their first drafts. Always personalise any generated text so that it reflects your genuine experience and voice.
Common Application Mistakes to Avoid
- Calculating work experience incorrectly or including hours gained while still an undergraduate.
- Choosing courses that are not eligible or that do not align with your stated career goals.
- Writing generic essays that could belong to anyone. Specific examples of leadership and impact are essential.
- Leaving the application until the last day and encountering technical problems.
- Failing to keep a copy of the submitted form.
- Applying for courses that require more than one month of study outside the UK or that are research-only.
- Ignoring the two-year return commitment or treating it as optional.
Application Checklist
- Confirmed Nigerian citizenship and eligibility
- Undergraduate degree completed by October 2024
- At least 2,800 hours of post-graduation work experience documented
- Three eligible UK Master’s courses researched and selected
- Four essays drafted, reviewed and refined
- Two suitable referees identified
- Access code and login details saved securely
- Application submitted well before 6 October 2026, 11:00 UTC
- Copy of the full application saved for personal records
AlertNaija247 Student Tip
Treat the four essays as the most important part of the application. Use concrete examples that show leadership, collaboration and impact rather than listing job titles. Start drafting early, leave time for feedback from trusted colleagues, and make sure every sentence answers the exact question asked. Also begin researching and applying to your three UK courses as soon as possible; waiting until after the Chevening decision is risky because unconditional offers take time.
Apply Now
Applications are free and must be submitted through the official Chevening online system. Use the button below to go directly to the application portal.
Always verify the latest information on the official Chevening website before submitting. Requirements and deadlines can be updated by the provider.
The Chevening Scholarship remains one of the strongest fully funded Master’s opportunities open to qualified Nigerian professionals. Careful preparation, accurate eligibility checks, and thoughtful essays give you the best chance of progressing through the competitive process. Start early, stay organised, and apply only through the official portal.