Chevening is the UK government’s global scholarship program, and it’s one of the more generous fully-funded options out there — full tuition, a living allowance, flights, and a grant to help you settle in. It’s also one of the more involved application processes, so this guide walks through what actually matters if you’re applying from the Philippines.

Who it’s for

• Philippine citizens who plan to return to the Philippines for at least two years after the scholarship ends
• At least two years (2,800 hours) of work experience, completed by the application deadline
• An undergraduate degree completed at least two years before the deadline, equivalent to a UK 2:1 honours degree
• Not a British citizen, dual British citizen, or current UK resident
• Not an employee, former employee, or close family member of an employee of the UK government, British Council, or a Chevening Partner organization within the last two years
• Not a previous recipient of a UK-government-funded scholarship within the last five years

What it actually covers

Chevening covers full tuition fees for a one-year master’s degree at any UK university, a monthly living allowance, an economy return flight to the UK, and additional grants for arrival, departure, and travel costs within the UK. It’s a one-year award only — Chevening doesn’t fund two-year master’s programs or PhDs, so factor that into which course you pick.

How to apply

1. Apply online through the Chevening website — there’s no separate country-office application for Philippine applicants.
2. Apply to three different eligible UK master’s courses, in order of preference, as part of the same application.
3. Write four essays: on leadership, networking, career plans, and why you chose Chevening and your course choices — each with a strict word limit, so be precise rather than exhaustive.
4. If shortlisted, complete an interview (often held at the British Embassy in Manila or online).
5. By the time you accept an award, you’ll need at least one unconditional offer from one of your three chosen courses — so keep your university applications moving in parallel with the scholarship process.

Deadline to watch

Applications for the 2027–2028 award year close on 6 October 2026, 11:00 UTC. Chevening runs on a strict yearly cycle with one deadline — there’s no rolling admission, so mark the date and don’t wait until the last week to start your essays. Always confirm the current cycle’s dates on chevening.org before you begin.

The honest part

The essays are the whole game with Chevening. The word limits are tight enough that most applicants over-write their first draft by double, and the real work is cutting it down to something specific and concrete — actual examples of leadership and impact, not general statements about wanting to give back. Start those essays months before the deadline, not weeks.