Scholarships in India EduDiary

British Chevening Scholarship Programme
Chevening is the UK government flagship scholarship scheme, aimed at future leaders, opinion formers and decision-makers. The programme is funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and managed by the British Council worldwide, supporting over 2,300 international students annually to study in the UK. For general information on the British Chevening Scholarship programme.

Chevening in India
The India programme began in 1987 and has supported over 1600 Indians to date. It is now the FCO’s second largest scholarship programme globally with an annual budget of over $1.5 million, supporting over 120 scholarships every year. These comprise a range of short-term tailor-made professional courses and long-term taught academic courses tenable at various higher education institutions in the UK.

Aims and Objectives
The aim of the British Chevening Scholarship Programme in India is to offer an opportunity to deserving Indian students and professionals, who wish to study or train in the UK, to achieve their goals by providing financial assistance. The objective is to encourage young and dynamic Indian students and professionals to study in the UK and then return to India tc contribute to ongoing and future work in the relevant discipline. For information on the India programme,

Programmes
Scheme A - Long-term (Open) Scholarships
These scholarships are applicable for a one-year postgraduate (Master’s) study at any UK university. These are fully funded by the FCO. Last date: November. Scheme B • Short-term (Professional) Scholarships
These scholarships are for working professionals to attend tailor-made courses of up to three months at identified UK institutions. These courses are tailor-made for the targeted professional groups such as journalists, lawyers, corporate managers etc. in public, private and non-government sectors. Last date: November.

Scheme C - Long-term (Shared or Joint) Scholarships
These scholarships are applicable for a one-year postgraduate study {Master’s) at specific UK universities. These scholarships are funded by the FCO and one or two co-sponsor(s). The FCO’s co-sponsors include UK universities, British and foreign companies (including AXA and Prudential), foundations and trusts,
and other institutions. Last date: March.

Number of scholarships: Over 120 awards annually comprising of about 60 long-term scholarships for academic courses and about 60 short-term scholarships for courses tailor - made for targeted professional groups

Value: Chevening scholarships cover the tuition fee (up to a maximum of £ 12,000) and the living expenses for the scholar for the duration of the award, which normally varies from 4 weeks to 12 months. International airfares are normally not covered. (For courses with tuition fee of over £ 12,000 the excess amount should be borne by the candidates).

General eligibility
Indian nationals residing in India of outstanding academic ability with a good first degree. Candidates are normally under 35 years of age. You are eligible for a British Chevening Scholarship under the India programme, if you are:

• an Indian national with a valid Indian passport

• resident in India at the time of application

• under 35 years of age at the time of application for most of the scholarship programmes except for specified ones. You may check age limits for each programme before applying.

• of outstanding academic ability with a good (as minimum of upper second class, preferably a first class) first degree (Bachelor’s) or equivalent from a recognised Indian university.

• normally interested in pursuing a course of not more than 12 months duration in the UK

Note: Any Master’s course of more than 12 months duration is generally not eligible. PhD and other research courses are NOT eligible.

• fluent in spoken and written English.

Note: If English is neither your first language nor the medium of academic instruction, you will be required to provide evidence of your proficiency in the language e.g. a satisfactory score in IELTS or similar international English language proficiency tests. A list of acceptable tests can be obtained directly from the UK institutions you are applying to

Who is NOT eligible?

You are not eligible to apply for a British Chevening Scholarship under the India Programme, if you:

• have already started a course of study in the UK at the time of application

• have received funding for a study programme from the UK government in the past

• are in the final year of graduation not having completed your first degree at the time of application.

Note: The only exception to this clause is programme CO/ - Indian Friends
of London School of Economics Shared Scholarship, where students in their
final year of graduation are eligible to apply.

Subjects
Any subject (except medicine and related subjects like pharmacy and
physiotherapy). There are a number of programmes available and an attempt
is made to represent all subjects in one or the other programme(s). Some
programmes offer scholarships for specific subjects and/ or specific courses.
The candidates need to check the applicable subjects and courses under each
of these programmes before applying.

Levels and duration of award
Master’s such as MA, MSc, MBA, MPhil, LLM of up to 12 months duration.
Short Courses of up to 3 months duration. Any master’s course of more than
12 months duration is generally not eligible. PhD and other research courses
are NOT eligible.

Universities: Any UK university. There are a number of programmes available. The programmes under Scheme A give a wider choice to the candidates to apply to any UK university of their choice. And, the programmes under Scheme B and C offer scholarships for specific universities. The candidates need to check the applicable universities under each of these programmes in this prospectus before applying.

Application: Prospectus and application forms are available from August at the British Council offices in Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai and New Delhi and the British Libraries in Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Pune and Thiruvananthapuram. Applications should reach your nearest British Council office in Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai or New Delhi by the stipulated deadline. Applicants for Scheme A and C are advised to apply to the universities before making their scholarship application.

Selection: Candidates for the Chevening programme are selected through a process of shortlisting from the applications received by the British Council, followed by personal interviews, which are generally held in New Delhi. Subsequent to the interviews the selection committee identifies the required number of candidates for the awards. The decision of the selection committee is final.