Chevening 2027/28: what changed and who should apply

Chevening is the UK government's fully funded scholarship for a one-year master's, and for many Nigerian professionals it is the dream ticket. The 2027/28 window has already closed, so this guide is for two people: those who applied and want to know what happens next, and those who missed it and want to be ready for the next round.

The short version for 2027/28

Applications opened in August 2026 and closed on 6 October 2026 at 11:00 UTC. Chevening's Nigeria page now says applications for 2027/28 are closed. If you did not submit, you cannot apply for September 2027 entry, and Chevening has not yet published dates for the following cycle.

If you did apply, this is the official timeline:

If you are shortlisted, you must upload your documents at least seven working days before your interview: photo ID, your undergraduate certificate and your two reference letters.

What actually changed this year

We went through Chevening's official pages for this cycle looking for rule changes, and we could not find any announcement of a new eligibility rule for 2027/28. So we are not going to invent one. What did move is the calendar. The work experience page says that for the current cycle you must have finished your undergraduate degree by October 2024, which is two years before the October 2026 deadline.

The practical point: anyone who finished their first degree after October 2024 was not eligible this time, however strong their CV. If that was you, the clock is on your side for next year.

The rules that trip people up

These come from Chevening's eligibility and work experience pages.

2,800 hours of work after your degree. You need at least 2,800 hours, which Chevening describes as roughly two years of full-time work, gained after your undergraduate degree and spread over at least two years. Full-time jobs, part-time jobs, voluntary work and paid or unpaid internships all count. You work it out by multiplying weeks worked by hours per week, and you can list up to 15 employment periods. Applications without enough hours are rejected.

You must go back home for two years. You commit to returning to your home country for at least two years after the scholarship ends. This is not small print. It is the heart of the programme.

Three course choices and one unconditional offer. You pick three eligible UK master's courses, and you must hold an unconditional offer from at least one of them by the offer deadline. Courses must be full-time, start in the autumn, last between nine and 12 months and lead to a master's degree. Distance learning, part-time, January starts and research degrees do not qualify.

Who cannot apply. British or dual British citizens, people who have already studied in the UK on a UK government-funded scholarship, and current or recent employees (within two years) of a UK government department, the British Council or a partner university, plus their immediate relatives.

English. Chevening dropped its own English language requirement in 2020, but your universities still set theirs, and a pre-sessional course does not count.

There is no upper age limit.

What Chevening pays for

According to Chevening's FAQ, scholars get:

• tuition fees
• economy travel to and from your country of residence, for you only
• an arrival allowance and a departure allowance
• the cost of your visa application, for you only
• up to £75 towards a TB test where required
• a travel top-up allowance
• a monthly living allowance, which is different inside and outside London and reviewed every year

Notice the "for you only". Flights and visa for a spouse or children are not covered, and there is no listed family allowance. If you plan to bring family, the extra cost is yours. Our guide to UK student visa proof of funds explains the money side of the visa.

Who should apply next time

Chevening suits a particular kind of person, and it is better to know early.

Take Tunde, a civil engineer in Abuja with four years at a construction firm since graduating in 2021. He wants a master's in infrastructure management, then a role leading public projects back home. His hours are well over 2,800, his plan points home, and he can show leadership on site. He is exactly who Chevening is designed for. His job now is to start his four essays early. The application asks about leadership, building relationships, your course choices and your career plan, and you also name two referees.

Chevening's country page also notes that applying for a partner award may increase your chances of being selected, so check the partner scholarships when the next window opens.

Who should not

Be honest with yourself here. If your real plan is to japa and stay in the UK after your degree, Chevening is the wrong tool. The two-year return commitment is a condition of the award, and building your application on a plan you do not intend to keep is a bad start.

Chevening is also not for you if you want a PhD or a two-year master's, if you graduated after October 2024 and are applying in the next cycle without checking the new cutoff, or if you need funding to bring your family.

No shaking if that is you. There are other routes. Our guide to UK scholarships still open for 2027 covers awards with deadlines in December 2026 and January 2027, and our scholarships for Nigerians page lists more. For course, cost and visa basics, start with studying in the UK.

How to use the months before the next window

Do not wait for the portal to open. Count your post-degree hours properly, period by period. Shortlist courses that fit your career plan and check their English requirements now, because an unconditional offer is not optional. Talk to the two people you want as referees. And write rough drafts of the four essays with real examples from your work, so that when the next window opens, you are editing, not starting.