Chevening Scholarship 2027/28: Applications Close 6 October 2026 — What Pakistani Applicants Need to Know

Published September 16, 2026 · by Hijrat — visa consultants, Islamabad & Rawalpindi

The UK government’s Chevening Scholarship is open for the 2027/28 academic year, and Pakistani applicants have until 11:00 UTC on 6 October 2026 to submit. That is roughly three weeks away, and the online form closes on time — late or partial applications are not considered. Chevening remains one of the few genuinely fully funded routes to a UK master’s degree for Pakistanis, which is also what makes it so competitive.

What the scholarship covers

Chevening is funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. An award covers tuition fees for a one-year taught master’s, a monthly living stipend, return economy airfare to the UK, an arrival allowance, a homeward departure allowance, the cost of one visa application, and a travel grant to attend Chevening events in the UK. Scholars still complete the normal UK student visa process — our UK student visa guide for Pakistan sets out those steps.

Eligibility for Pakistani applicants

1. Pakistani citizenship, and a commitment to return to Pakistan for at least two years after the scholarship ends.
2. A completed undergraduate degree that meets the entry standard for a UK postgraduate course.
3. At least 2,800 hours of work experience gained after graduating — roughly two years full-time. Part-time work, paid and unpaid internships and voluntary work can all be counted.
4. Applications to three different eligible one-year taught master’s courses at UK universities, entered on the Chevening form.
5. No previous UK government-funded scholarship, and you must not be an employee or immediate relative of an employee of the UK government or a Chevening partner organisation.

The four essays decide most applications

The written section asks four questions: leadership and influencing, networking, why you chose those three UK courses, and your career plan. Chevening’s own reading committees repeatedly report that weak applications fail on vagueness rather than on a weak CV. Name the people you brought together, the decision you changed and the measurable result. For studying in the UK, reference specific modules in each of your three courses and tie them to a gap in your skills. For the career plan, give short, mid and long-term goals that a stranger could check. Word limits are shown in the portal, so draft in a separate document and cut hard.

Documents and references

At application stage you upload passport or national ID, university transcripts and degree certificates, and your three course choices. Two references are requested only if you are shortlisted for interview, so brief your referees early — they are contacted independently through the Chevening portal. The English language condition is normally satisfied through your unconditional university offer. Pakistani degrees usually need verification, and UK institutions often ask for HEC attestation — see our guide to HEC degree attestation online and our attestation services.

Key dates for the 2027/28 cycle

1. 6 October 2026, 11:00 UTC — applications close.
2. From February 2027 — shortlisted candidates invited to interview, with interviews held in March and April.
3. Mid-June 2027 — results expected.
4. 8 July 2027, 17:00 BST — deadline to submit at least one unconditional UK university offer.
5. September/October 2027 — courses begin.

If Chevening is not the right fit

Chevening targets mid-career professionals with a demonstrable leadership record, so recent graduates often do better elsewhere. Our roundup of fully funded scholarships for Pakistani students covers alternatives, and if you would rather work first, the UK Skilled Worker visa is the main employment route. A full list of what we handle is on our visa services page.

Chevening publishes its own eligibility rules, word limits and deadlines, and these change between cycles. This article reflects information available on the date of publication — always confirm current requirements on the official Chevening website before applying. Hijrat is not affiliated with Chevening or the UK government, and all selection decisions rest with Chevening and the FCDO.