studying in the uk chevening essay example

2 Chevening Essays: Studying in the UK

Outline why you have selected your chosen three university courses, and explain how this relates to your previous academic or professional experience and your plans for the future.

See complete examples of Chevening Scholarship: click here .

“Studying in the UK” Chevening Essay Example 1

For my master’s degree course, I have a keen interest in specializing in Financial Economics and seek to pursue it in the UK at the University of Manchester, the University of Kent, or the University of Glasgow. My decision to zero in on Financial Economics as opposed to any other course has been underpinned by my long-term career goal: to rise through the professional ranks to eventually become the Chief Financial Economist in the National Treasury (Kenya).

See also:  Ultimate Chevening Scholarship Resources

I am acutely aware that such a senior and critical position will require expert-level knowledge and advanced understanding of financial analysis, planning and strategy, international and bilateral trade, investment policy, micro and macro-economic trends, global, regional, and sectoral developments, international business development, negotiating international agreements, trade litigation, and the production and distribution of goods and services. It also requires the ability to collect and process economic and statistical data, carry out trade and economic research, and perform high-level analysis using different sampling and econometric methods, hence my desire to become an expert in Financial Economics.

A rigorous course that equips me with the above knowledge, practical skills, and more will be critical. From my extensive research, all three universities I have chosen offer very high-quality training in Financial Economics, and I am confident that any of the three universities are well equipped to help me advance my knowledge in this area. The University of Manchester, in particular, stands out to me because it has been ranked sixth in the UK in the 2019 Academic Ranking of World Universities. It also offers a wide array of facilities and resources, plus numerous societies at the university, which will provide me with excellent opportunities for networking and exchanging great ideas.

Moreover, the Financial Economics course perfectly aligns with my current educational background and professional experience. I possess a Bachelor of Science in Actuarial Science from the University of Nairobi and CISI Level 1 and Level 2 professional qualifications. Given my existing grasp of finance and economics, I will be able to cope with the challenges of the course with relative ease. As far as my work experience is concerned, I presently work as an Equities and Fixed Income Trader at NIC Securities Ltd. Before this position, I had worked as the Operations Assistant/ Supervisor at NIC Bank Kenya, the Relationship Officer (Operations) at Equity Bank Limited, the Acting Supervisor (Operations) at Equity Bank Limited, and the Relationship Officer (Operations) at Equity Bank Limited, respectively. These professional experiences perfectly lend themselves to the field of Financial Economics, and I do not doubt that I will be able to draw on my considerable hands-on experience in both Finance and Economics to handle the course’s requirements. My work and education will be a natural progression into a Financial Economics career path.

Despite being among the top ten destinations for foreign direct investment in Africa and initiating reforms that have led to economic growth since 2003, Kenya faces a high poverty rate and a widening inequality gap. This is due to the lack of evidence-based policies, corruption, and political instability during elections. The number of millionaires is expected to increase while the number of poor people is increasing in the next decade should be a concern for any policymaker in the country. This has motivated me to pursue a Master’s degree in International Development to gain knowledge and skills in poverty reduction, development, and addressing inequality. Though much of my career has been in banking, my experience with poor rural communities as a parliamentary candidate in the 2017 General Election makes my case to switch careers.

My first choice is the MSc Applied International Development offered at the University of Reading. The university is among the top twenty institutions in the United Kingdom by research intensity and top thirty by research power which will develop my research competencies to develop effective evidence-based poverty reduction policies. I plan to specialize in their Agriculture and Social Development pathway as this will align with my goal of addressing poverty using agriculture. In addition, the course is offered at the Graduate Institute of International Development, Agriculture and Economics (GIIDAE), where I can take electives in agriculture, such as Agriculture Project Planning and Management in Developing Countries, taught by Dr. Chittur Srinivasan.

My second preferred course is MSc International Development: Poverty, Inequality and Development, offered at the University of Manchester. Apart from learning strategies and policies to advance equality, development, and reduce poverty, I will also have a chance for a field trip to experience the global challenge of inequality in another country as part of the course. Based on the 2018 World QS universities rankings by subject, the University is rated 14th in the world and 3rd in the United Kingdom on Development Studies.

My third choice is MSc International Development at the University of Edinburgh. The course is appealing because apart from learning about the historical approaches of international development and politics associated with the subject, there is a whole unit on contemporary issues and organizations of importance to development policy and practice. The University also offers an eight-week research-based project where one is attached to an institution either in the United Kingdom or overseas with an option of completing a research dissertation based on the fieldwork or print and library sources. This will also provide practical experience to complement coursework. The University also has beautiful classic buildings and surrounding scenery that would provide a perfect getaway after lectures to refresh the mind.

Overall, studying in the UK will provide an opportunity to build collaborations to achieve Kenyan Vision 2030, which aims to industrialize and transform the country into middle-income status while ensuring high-quality life for its citizens.

By idebeasiswa

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AGRICULTURE FIRST

My Chevening Journey, Part 3: Studying in the UK essay.

When applying for your Chevening Scholarship the third essay you write is on Studying in the UK. The question you will be answering in this essay is, Outline why you have selected your chosen three university courses, and explain how this relates to your previous academic or professional experience and your plans for the future.…

When applying for your Chevening Scholarship the third essay you write is on Studying in the UK. The question you will be answering in this essay is, Outline why you have selected your chosen three university courses, and explain how this relates to your previous academic or professional experience and your plans for the future. Please do not duplicate the information you have entered on the work experience and education section of this form.

You can watch the Studying in the UK essay tips on  YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PndU6Tcnjz8

When selecting your courses, these are some of the most important factors to consider:

 Ability~ Select courses that you can manage the academic workload. For instance some courses require specific qualifications in the bachelors degree. This is usually stated in the admission requirements for the course.

 Qualifications~ Although the scholarship accepts a 2:2 (second class lower division), most UK master’s courses accept a 2:1 and above. Some universities/courses also have higher English proficiency requirements.

 Career plan ~ Your course should also be in line with your career plan which you will write in the fourth and final essay. Your career will be determined by that problem in your country that you want to solve and in line with UK priorities in your country. These can be found in your DFID country website.

The structure of the essay should be in paragraphs not numbered with the first paragraph introducing a problem in your country that motivated you to pursue that course. The first paragraph should also state the course. You can also statistics sparingly to convince the reader of the essay the magnitude of the problem and when you do so, use the latest available data. This helps in building your case on the relevance of your program to your future career plan. In addition, this will form the answer to the interview question ‘Why have you selected this course and the basis of your three university choices’ if shortlisted. You can choose three courses from different universities or three closely related courses from the same university.

The information on courses will be found in specific universities websites, program objectives and modules. It is important to compare modules of programs with the same title in different universities to see whether they suit you. For instance MSc Food Security at University of Warwick is a science course and requires background knowledge in science compared to similar courses in other universities such as Reading. Such differences can only be identified by checking the modules/ course units.

My introduction and first paragraph of my essay was as follows;

Despite being among the top ten destinations for foreign direct investment in Africa and initiating reforms that have led to economic growth since 2003, Kenya faces a high poverty rate and a widening inequality gap. This is due to the lack of evidence-based policies, corruption and political instability during elections. The fact that the number of millionaires is expected to increase while the number of poor people is increasing in the next decade should be a concern for any policymaker in the country. This has motivated me to pursue a Master’s degree in International Development to gain knowledge and skills on poverty reduction, development and addressing inequality. Though much of my career has been in banking, my experience with poor rural communities as a parliamentary candidate in the 2017 General Election makes my case to switch careers.

The second paragraph covered my first choice. You need to convince the reader that you have researched about your universities and courses. You can use university rankings ( specify), location, delivery of content or mode of examination and co-curricula activities. For every reason you give, it is paramount to state how it applies to you. For instance when you say that the University of Reading is rated 1st and 6th in the UK and the world respectively on agriculture and forestry courses, so what? You can give two or three reasons for every course but in my case I was a bit detailed in my first choice. Stating a module that is relevant to a problem in your country and it’s lecturer will make you stand out.

My second paragraph that explained my first choice was as follows;

The MSc Applied International Development offered at the University of Reading is my first choice. The university is among the top twenty institutions in the United Kingdom by research intensity and top thirty by research power which will develop my research competencies to come up with effective evidence-based poverty reduction policies. I plan to specialize in their Agriculture and Social Development pathway as this will be in line with my goal of addressing poverty using agriculture In addition, the course is offered at the Graduate Institute of International Development, Agriculture and Economics (GIIDAE) where I can take electives in agriculture such as Agriculture Project Planning and Management in Developing Countries taught by Dr. Chittur Srinivasan.

Here are my other two paragraphs covering the second and third choices.

My second preferred course is MSc International Development: Poverty, Inequality and Development offered at the University of Manchester. Apart from learning strategies and policies being implemented to advance equality, development and reduce poverty, I will also have a chance for a field trip to experience the global challenge of inequality in another country as part of the course. Based on the 2018 World QS universities rankings by subject, the university is rated 14th in the world and 3rd in the United Kingdom on Development Studies.

My third choice is MSc International Development at the University of Edinburgh. The course is appealing because apart from learning about the historical approaches of international development and politics associated with the subject, there is a whole unit on contemporary issues and organizations of importance to development policy and practice. The university also offers an eight-week research-based project where one is attached to an institution either in the United Kingdom or overseas with an option of completing a research dissertation based on the fieldwork or print and library sources. This will also provide practical experience to complement coursework. The University also has beautiful classic buildings and surrounding scenery that would provide a perfect getaway after lectures to refresh the mind.

My last paragraph was a conclusion of my essay and to wrap up my choice of a masters in international development and was as follows;

Overall studying in the UK will provide an opportunity to build collaborations to achieve Kenyan Vision 2030 which aims to industrialize and transform the country into middle-income status while ensuring high-quality life for her citizens.

Kindly note the reasons for studying in the UK are covered in the paragraphs explaining the course choices.

PS: As I explained in the leadership essay, I will be pursuing MSc. Agriculture and Development at the University of Reading as between submitting my essays and the interview date, I had decided to change my choices and obtained the necessary offers. Kindly note you will only be allowed to change your choices once and that is during your interview. My shift was easy because my career plan was in agriculture and therefore it was easy to convince the panel. If you decide to change your courses at the interview stage, make sure the changes are in line with your career plan as this cannot be changed afterward. My final list of choices was as follows;

1) MSc Agriculture and Development- University of Reading.

2) MSc Applied International Development- University of Reading.

3) MSc International Development: Poverty, Inequality, and Development- University of Manchester.

When selecting your universities, you could start by searching UK universities offering your preferred course. You could narrow down by checking whether you meet admission requirements. Then check modules to see whether they align with your career plan and finally location. In my case, I searched universities offering MSc International Development, since I met requirements for all, I eliminated universities in London since accommodation is expensive despite a higher Chevening stipend compared to other cities. I also wanted to be close to London so Reading became a big candidate (Reading is 25 minutes from London by train). Finally MSc. international development at the University of Reading offered electives in agriculture which was in line with my career. That’s how MSc. Applied International Development ended up being my first choice. However, during my interview I changed my courses and introduced MSc. Agriculture and Development at the University of Reading as my first choice.

Finally, be authentic, give your story, and do not copy essays of previously selected scholars. The readers can detect plagiarism (an academic offense) and it makes your interviews in later stages easier when you own your story. In addition, use simple grammatically correct English sentences. Your essays are the opportune moment to create a first impression and writing skills are paramount in this. Have people proofread your essays for guidance and where you use abbreviations, make sure you give their meaning initially.

Watch this video on common errors applicants make and how to avoid them:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fo7WIowfwO0&t=34s

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are purely mine and do not reflect the position of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and or its partner organizations.

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34 responses to “my chevening journey, part 3: studying in the uk essay.”.

Thank you very much for sharing these valuable insights. You have opened my mind ,I am now able to think clearly even as I write my essays. May the Almighty God continue blessing you In all you do.

Welcome and best wishes in your application.

Agricultural development it is .

Wow, thank you so much for your help… i was feeling a bit down but i do see the light. Enjoy your studies and may God Continue to show his light on your life.

helo my dear, i visit your website 3 times each week. i applied for 3 similar courses at different universities.

MPA Master of Public Administration University of York MPA Master of Public Administration University of EXETER

MPA Master of Public Administration at the University of Birmingham.

is that ok brother.

also, I got an offer from the University of Yor 2 years ago can i use it.

Thank you so much Sir for this essay. It has really helped me in constructing mine. God bless you richly. And I pray for a successful application

Please I need a helping hand to complete my application. it’s the referencing, and also when to upload transcript. Is it after submitting the application that I will later upload them? Thanks

Mohamed, I don’t think you can use an admission obtained two years ago, some schools state that ones an offer is more than one year and has been deferred once can not be used again. So just enquire from the intended university and go by their response. However, to be on the safe side, reapply. You don’t need to rush obtaining an offer. But you should plan to get in before June 2020.

Like Liked by 1 person

yes but Chevening accepts it

Hello Sarah, please kindly visit the chevening website and go through the frequently asked questions on transcript and reference. Few Information and requirements vary every year.

Good one…so insightful indeed

nice content

Hi there, simply became aware of your weblog thru Google, and located that it’s really informative. I’m gonna watch out for brussels. I will be grateful in the event you proceed this in future. Lots of folks will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!

Thank You. Its by the spirit of God that i found myself in your website. Very helpful guidance. Be Blessed

Thank you for any other informative web site. The place else may just I get that type of information written in such an ideal approach? I’ve a project that I’m just now working on, and I’ve been on the look out for such information.

Great insight. Kindly may i share my essays you proofread.

thanks for the good piece of information to the applicants

Hi Agriculture, May i send you an essay for proofreading? Nancy Nailantei

Your contribution has been highly valuable to me. I have been analysing my texts and I decided to evaluate every single word to make them read-count as necessary to coexist in my whole application. Something I notice is the relevancy of chosen professions. Yours, for example, is beautifully necessary for most developing countries. In my case, I must work a bit harder to demonstrate why I and my country need my chosen course.

Wow! I came across the advert on Chevening scholarship randomly from my scholarships subscription page and decided for warm-ups for better preparations on the application process. And aaaw! God is so great. I landed on a well-versed site. Am convinced that it gonna impact my application process effectively Thanks abunch brother. I’m Hilder from Kenya

Thank you very much for your tip, very helpful

Thanks Mr, Samuel, I really appreciate your sincerely help. and I wish you all the luck you deserve.

His write ups are very much helpful than others that I write, without no achievement. When one write without no samples, how will people grab what the person is driving at. May God bless you for this your article.

good day. what paragraphing style did you use. is the headings for each essay included or you just go straight to the introduction

I am surprised you ask such a question as if you’ve not read the articles.

thanks for your reply. i initially overlooked the style you wrote in, my bad. but how about the headings. please reply.

I am grateful to you for your blog. It really helped me in structuring my essays. I won the scholarship for the 2021/2022 cohort. God richly bless you.

Congratulations.

great work!

Hello, Kindly address the issue on English proficiency. Does it affect one to get un unconditional offer from the university that accepts a B from KCSE? What do I do in that case?

Every university has has its own requirements. They also accept various qualifications such as KCSE, IELTs, PTE.. So write to the university.

Thank you so much.

Thanks for sharing

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OPPORTUNITY TO EXPORT FOOD TO DUBAI: MEET THE FARMERS’ CONFERENCE 2019

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The Wave of Study in Abroad

विद्या विनियोगात् विकासः (vidyā viniyogāt vikāsaḥ)

Breakdown of Chevening Essay Questions: A Comprehensive Guide

Navigating the Chevening scholarship application can be a rewarding yet challenging process. Among the crucial components are the essay questions, which provide an opportunity for you to showcase your aspirations, experiences, and potential. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll break down each of the Chevening essay questions and offer insights to help you craft compelling responses.

1. Chevening is looking for individuals who will be future leaders or influencers in their home countries. Explain how you meet this requirement, using clear examples of your own leadership and influencing skills to support your answer.

Focus: Demonstrating Leadership and Influence

This question aims to gauge your leadership abilities and potential to effect positive change. To answer effectively:

• Provide Examples: Share specific instances where you demonstrated leadership, whether in your academic, professional, or community endeavors.
• Highlight Influence: Discuss how your actions influenced outcomes, motivated others, or brought about change.
• Connect to Future: Explain how your leadership experiences align with your future goals and how the Chevening scholarship will further develop your leadership potential.

2. Chevening Scholarships are awarded to individuals with demonstrable leadership potential who also have strong academic backgrounds. How do you intend to use your Chevening experience to develop your leadership skills and create a positive social change?

Focus: Linking Academic Excellence and Leadership

Here, the focus is on your academic prowess and its relationship to leadership and social impact:

• Link Academic and Leadership Goals: Explain how your academic pursuits are intertwined with your leadership aspirations.
• Social Impact: Discuss how your Chevening experience will enable you to contribute to positive societal changes.
• Specific Plans: Outline tangible actions you’ll take to enhance your leadership skills during and after your studies.

3. Network with people of different nationalities and backgrounds. What can you learn from others? How will this enrich your experience as a Chevening Scholar?

Focus: Embracing Diversity and Networking

This question emphasizes cross-cultural collaboration and the value of a diverse network:

• Learning from Diversity: Highlight the benefits of interacting with people from various backgrounds, including new perspectives and insights.
• Enriching Chevening Experience: Explain how these interactions will contribute to your personal and academic growth as a Chevening Scholar.

4. What influence do you hope to have on your home country or region as a result of studying in the UK?

Focus: Positive Impact on Home Country

This question assesses your vision for the future and your commitment to your home country’s development:

• Specific Goals: Outline the specific areas you aim to impact upon your return.
• Alignment with UK Study: Explain how your UK education will equip you to address challenges in your home country.

5. Please explain why you want to study in the UK and why you have chosen your selected course(s).

Focus: UK Study and Course Choice

This question explores your motivations for studying in the UK and the relevance of your chosen course:

• UK’s Strengths: Discuss the UK’s academic excellence, resources, and opportunities that attract you.
• Course Relevance: Explain why your chosen course aligns with your academic and career goals.

6. Summarize all relevant leadership and service-related achievements in which you have participated.

Focus: Leadership and Service Achievements

This is an opportunity to succinctly list your notable leadership and service accomplishments:

• Concise Presentation: List achievements in a clear and organized manner.
• Highlight Impact: Briefly explain the significance and outcomes of each achievement.

Navigating the Chevening essay questions requires a thoughtful approach that showcases your unique qualities, aspirations, and commitment to positive change. By addressing each question’s specific focus and providing well-structured responses, you can present a compelling case for why you are an ideal candidate for the Chevening scholarship. Remember to tailor your answers to highlight your strengths and alignment with Chevening’s values and objectives.

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CHEVENING ESSAYS: STUDY IN THE UK ESSAY TIPS

Chevening’s question **outline why you have selected your chosen three university courses, and explain how this relates to your previous academic or professional experience and your plans for the future. please enter new information and examples here and not duplicate the information you have entered on the work experience and education section of this form (minimum word count: 100 words, maximum word count: 500 words).***.

ANSWER TIPS As you move ahead every step, remember one thing, the real reason why you want to go to the UK; to study. It then goes without saying that you must have a strong study plan to back up your studies plan. Do I make sense?

Why do you want to further your studies? Why in the UK? Why those three courses? Why in those three Universities? By the time you can successfully respond to those, you have done 80% of the work. The rest is fine tuning. But getting the answers to that 80% of the work will require research. A lot of research.

Research more about your intended courses of study and why in those particular Universities. Therefore you should mention a few course modules and how they relate to your past career and future career goals. Why the UK? 

Research the best fitting Universities for your course. Please compare about three rankings. St Andrews or Oxford might be overall best but Uni of Sussex is best in some courses while UCL is best in other courses while another Uni is best in another course. It is your job to find out the Uni’s best for your course.

To create a stronger essay, search for and outline the most unique of details. Name the places you would like to visit while studying and the things you would like to do.

Look up the lecturers, their research areas and how they relate to your future career goals. Mention those too.

-This essay requires more research than all others.

-Create a nexus between this and your leadership essay if possible.

-Please do not rush. Scour every relevant material. Take notes, make it compelling. Good luck.

From Hafsat, With Love.

PS . I do not accept essay review and editing requests. I do not share my essays.

I am open to partnerships and collaborations.

• CHEVENING INTERVIEW TIPS AND MOCK QUESTIONS
• INVITED FOR INTERVIEW? NOW THE REAL WORK BEGINS!
• CHEVENING APPLICATION: NETWORKING ESSAY TIPS

DEBUNKING SOME MYTHS ABOUT CHEVENING SCHOLARSHIP

CHOOSING THE PERFECT UK UNIVERSITY FOR YOUR MASTERS? 7 THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR!

10 comments.

Thank you Hafsah. Really helpful

I am glad you found it helpful Maryam.

I found this very helpful. Thank you sister.

You are welcome Saminu. I am glad you found it helpful.

Thank you Hafsah for the information and guideline.

A pleasure Gloria.

Thanks, this was helpful,

My pleasure Francis. I am glad you find it useful.

The 500 words seem too small to contain all these facts mentioned. I will keep writing and deleting. Please I need you to vect my essays for me please before I submit

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Tips for applying to the Chevening Scholarship

Are you thinking of applying for a Master's Scholarship in the UK ? Are you anxious because you don’t know what to expect and what to prepare for? Don’t worry about it because we’ve got you covered. In this blog, Iris, Khanh, and Abiy – our Link to Leeds Ambassadors as well as Chevening Scholars 20/21 from Cambodia, Vietnam, and Ethiopia respectively – will share with you some tips in applying for Chevening Scholarship.

Section 1: Three Things You Need to Know Before Applying for Chevening

It is important that you are aware of three main things before you apply for Chevening Scholarship. The first and the most exciting thing is that Chevening is a fully-funded scholarship that will allow you to undertake any master’s course at any UK university. Your flights, accommodation, and course fees are all taken care of so that you can fully focus on realizing your academic goals and having the best UK experience.

The second thing you must pay attention to is the eligibility criteria , some of which include being a citizen of a Chevening-eligible territory or country and completing all components of your undergraduate degree by the time that you submit your Chevening application. You will also need to have at least two years (equivalent to 2,800 hours) work experience which includes voluntary work, paid or unpaid internships, and full-time or part-time employment.

Lastly, because there are various stages (application, references, and education documents submission, interview, and unconditional UK university offer submission) that you have to go through before getting selected, it is a good idea for you to know the application and selection process as well as their deadlines . It usually varies slightly from one year to another, but the timeline is always available here .  

In general, when you start to apply for a Chevening scholarship, there will be 2 main activities that you need to do: (1) Applying for Chevening Scholarship and (2) Applying for your desired universities in the UK . Once you know that you are eligible for Chevening, go ahead and create your profile on the Chevening application online portal. From this portal, you can check what kind of essays/ how many you need to write, what kind of documents you need to prepare. For the Chevening application, you are required to submit 4 essays with a maximum word limit of 500 words per essay on these 4 themes: (i) Leadership and influencing ; (ii) Networking; (iii) Studying in the UK; and (iv) Career plan . Essay writing is the most important step within your application process so make sure you invest your time, effort, and energy effectively for this step. Start as early as you can , create your plan and make a timeline to have everything finished before the deadline. Here is a very useful link about feedbacks from the independent reading committee that can help you to improve your essay.

You will also have to submit 2 references as well, but the deadline is later compared to the application. You should choose the right people who know you in either an academic or professional capacity and give them enough time to write the recommendation letter for you. When submitting the Chevening application, you will be asked to indicate your desired master courses and universities in the UK. You will need to select three different master's courses. These can be three different courses at the same institution or three similar courses at up to three different universities. Please refer to this link to research courses/ universities that are eligible for a Chevening scholarship. 

You do not have to obtain any offer from the universities yet during the application stage, but there is a university unconditional offer deadline that you will have to meet once you are selected for the scholarship. Therefore, we recommend applying to the universities as early as possible (i.e. during the application stage or right after you submit the application). Generally, you can apply directly via the university’s website. The University of Leeds is in fact a long-term partner with CHEVENING so look through our University website to search for your desired courses. Section 3: You Made It! Time to Get Ready for Your One-Year Master in the UK Preparing for your journey can be an exciting transition where you get to learn more about yourself. Get yourself a list of items, books, and sentimental items that are special to you. Remember, however, not to overpack and carry too much of your old bookshelves and wardrobe. Pack lightly and be selective, as you might also find it exciting to open yourself to a new reading list and adventure. After all, you are here for a new experience! For those working, formally informing your employer or colleagues about your study plans can facilitate a smooth transition at your workplace . Try to do this as soon as you receive your conditional award letter. By around the time you received your travel arrangement, get familiarized with your itinerary within the UK. Check how far your airport is located from your accommodation? Ask if your university has arranged an airport pick up for international students , for which you might have to notify your flight details. Ordering your kitchen packs (like dishes, pots, pans, cutleries, etc.) can help you serve yourself meals as soon as you arrive.

To learn more about the city and the university before you even arrive, you can get in touch with the student ambassadors. For example, before our arrival, we had a lot of questions about student life at the University of Leeds, we contacted the Link to Leeds Ambassadors and attended their live chat events . This can help you know what to expect and how to adapt quickly to a new environment.

You can find more information about Chevening Scholarships here .

Why study in the UK?

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Chevening Alumni share their advice for successfully applying to Chevening. In this article, we hear from Basma Taysir El Doukhi about how her UK study experience is advancing her career in building a better future for refugees and forcibly displaced communities.

About the author

• Name: Basma Taysir El Doukhi, 2019-2020 Chevening Alumna
• Home country: Palestine
• Country of residence: Lebanon
• Course: Development and Emergency Practice
• University: Oxford Brookes University

I work as a gender and gender-based-violence coordinator at the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), an organisation dedicated to protecting human rights by providing basic health, education and social services to Palestine refugees.

I was the first Palestinian refugee to be awarded a Chevening Scholarship.

I am a refugee challenging people to think differently about how we perceive vulnerable communities of people.

What advice would you give to international students hoping to study in the UK to further their own career in this area?

Think about what you’d like to gain from your year studying in the UK.

I was working at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) when I decided to apply for Chevening. I felt that I was missing the academic qualification that would complement my practical experience. I decided to take a year of unpaid study leave to gain my master’s degree.

“I felt it was time to take the opportunity to go [to the UK], to learn, to reflect on my practices… to learn from other people from other countries.”

Other reasons I wanted to study in the UK included:

• The quality of UK education
• The benefits of the experience for my future career prospects
• The volunteering opportunities
• The international exposure
• The Chevening Alumni network
• The opportunity to return to my own community to try to use my acquired skills and experiences for the benefit of the refugee communities I work with

When I used to read that Chevening is a life-changing experience, I was sceptical. I used to think “let me experience it… and then I can see.”

Now I can truly say that it is a life-changing experience.

“I got every opportunity to learn, to reflect, to meet people, to discover a new culture, to leave my comfort zone and to build on what I had learned before… it was really a life changing experience for me and a very important learning curve in my life.”

Think about how the skills you intend to learn during your UK study year could bring positive change to other people.

I knew I wanted to continue working at UNHCR after completing my Chevening year. I wanted to return with new skills that would make me more effective in protecting refugees from sexual exploitation. I want to empower women by teaching them their rights, sharing how they’re able to seek support, and supporting them to find work so they can be financially independent.

One of our biggest challenges at UNHCR is raising awareness about sexual and gender-based violence.

“It’s hard because people will consider that these are western principles, and you are violating their values and their customs and their culture.”

As a result, there are a lot of barriers in place to prevent us from speaking to women, to understand their needs and their concerns.

One of the most important skills I learned during my time in the UK that helped me overcome this challenge was “…to challenge my beliefs and my perceptions about foreign people and different communities, [to learn how] to put myself in their shoes and try to understand, to actively listening… and not to defend all the time, but to empathise with people.”

I realised that to enact positive social change, we needed to empathise with the men and boys, to get them on our side too. We now focus on sharing the reasons why providing safe spaces for women and girls is also beneficial to men, namely that it ensures an inclusive and balanced environment for everyone. We try to engage men in our proposed solutions by talking to them and ensuring that we’re inclusive in our approach.

During my Chevening year, I also finessed my soft skills – collaboration, relationship building, networking skills – through meeting so many different people from different backgrounds. My work at UNHCR requires me to build trust with partner organisations so that we can work together to support victims of gender-based violence. Soft skills are critical in creating these professional relationships.

Finally, it was also useful to further develop my English-language speaking skills, to take these skills back home to pass them on to the children living in refugee communities.

Share what excites you most about your course. Which modules are you most interested in?

One of my favourite modules while studying Development and Emergency practice at Oxford Brookes University was about providing housing and shelter for people particularly vulnerable to climate change induced natural disasters.

“I remember in the course that I built a shelter to accommodate the needs of people who were fleeing from natural disasters. It got me thinking, I wonder if we could use these same practices for people who are fleeing from conflict zones.”

I shared my presentation with my colleagues at UNHCR when I returned home. It was one of my proudest moments.

Think about how you’d leverage the Chevening network to help you achieve your career goals

I was able to build lasting relationships with people from different countries around the world who are also fighting for gender equality and to eradicate sexual and gender-based violence. It was an invaluable learning experience to understand how people from other parts of the world promote these fundamental human rights in their own countries.

I’ve tried to get into the habit of contacting people I met during my Chevening year every couple of weeks. I sometimes share documents I’m working on with my friend who is based in Latin America and we call each other to discuss how climate change impacts humanitarian intervention and what we’d like to see done about it.

Chevening gave me a lot of opportunities, professional and personal, to reflect on my experiences and my work, and to reflect on my own personal story and experience as a refugee. I discovered through my Chevening experience and interactions in the UK that I sometimes forget about my personal story, which is a very important part of the story that I should be sharing.”

“I believe it’s very important in life to get to know other people, to discover new cultures, and to keep asking yourself questions to test your passion, your motivation and your beliefs.”

Chevening helped reaffirm my belief that I have a commitment to share my story about being a refugee and to shift other people’s perspectives about migrant communities through my work and through my personal story. I use all my newly acquired skills and the relationships I’ve maintained to try to create positive social change.

“I want to be a role model for women in refugee communities. I believe in the power of education; I believe that education can change lives, so when I get calls from people saying they’ve been inspired [to study] because of me, I feel particularly proud.”

And finally, if you’re successful in being awarded a Chevening Scholarship or Fellowship, make sure you give yourself time and space to reflect and adapt your perspectives.

I had a lot of positive perceptions about the UK before I arrived, most of which were met, but I was surprised to hear reports of gender-based violence during the Covid-19 pandemic.

It was reflecting on this that enhanced my understanding of how to support women from all over the world to report and escape domestic abuse. I learned about the efficacy of online tools in reporting gender-based violence without alerting the perpetrator. I also furthered my understanding of how to provide effective emotional support to victims of domestic abuse, particularly to people who may come from very different circumstances and backgrounds to me.

When I returned home, I used this knowledge to set up a support system for refugee communities I work with to use online services and dedicated phone hotlines to safely report cases of gender-based violence.

“I am so grateful for Chevening, not only as a scholar, but as refugee. Speaking about my experience, achieving this scholarship, travelling to the UK, acquiring new skills, and coming back to benefit the community and the refugee communities I work with; it’s impact is so far-reaching.”

Find out more about the Chevening community’s impact in local communities before applying when applications open this summer.

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Chevening - Studying in UK Essay (The aim of studying is not only to obtain a scientific degree)

Uk belongs to the most education supporting countries.