Guyanese urged to take advantage of Chevening Scholarships

With unlimited restrictions on the cost and subjects, Guyanese are being encouraged to apply for the prestigious Chevening Scholarship to get the opportunity to pursue their Master Degrees at renowned universities in the United Kingdom (UK).

At least four Guyanese will become beneficiaries this year of Chevening – the UK Government’s international scholarships programme.
Funded fully by the British Government, the Chevening Scholarship targets persons 18 years and older with an undergraduate degree and at least two years of work or volunteer experience to pursue a one-year Master’s programme at any university across the UK.
Applicants are allowed to apply for three different courses in any fields at any UK university. In addition to the tuition costs being covered, successful applicants will also receive roundtrip airfares, free accommodation and a monthly stipend. Extra costs for research papers and local travels relating to the scholarship programme will also be covered.
While there are multiple scholarship programmes available including the Guyana Government’s own GOAL (Guyana Online Academy of Learning) initiative, Deputy British High Commissioner, Judy Kpogho, contended that Chevening is a better option for potential students given its little to no restrictions.
No restrictions

“Chevening is phenomenal and because Chevening has no restrictions besides the age limit. You can study at any chosen university and any chosen subjects… I’ll actually challenge you to go online and check other scholarships, there are restrictions on the number of courses or the locations you can go… But Chevening is a phenomenal scholarship, there are no restrictions on the subjects you can study, no restrictions on the location of study,” Kpogho said to the Guyana Times when asked why students should choose this UK scholarship over the other programmes available.
The Deputy British High Commissioner was at the time addressing interested persons during an open-day session on Thursday at the British Residence, where they were given a detailed presentation on the Chevening Scholarship programme, benefitted from tips for the application process and also engaged with local Chevening alumni.
Kpogho further told persons gathered there that successful applicants will not only become part of the massive Chevening alumni that spans the globe but also tap into their expertise.
“The beauty of Chevening is we also have an alumni of over 85,000 members to date… You [will] become a part of this big family. So if, for example, you’re looking to address specific issues of something you’re worried about in your community, you can reach out to alumni as far as China, the US, Africa – basically globally, and you have shared knowledge and shared experiences that could potentially solve or help resolve specific issues not just in Guyana but globally,” the UK diplomat stated.
Founded in 1983, Chevening is the UK Government’s international scholarship and fellowship programme. Funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and partner organisations. This programme offers awards to study in the UK for one year on a fully funded master’s degree course.
At a reception to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Chevening Scholarship in September last year, Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, a Chevening Alumni himself, had lauded the UK Government for initiating this programme in Guyana, and for contributing to the country’s human resource development through the tertiary education scheme. He had noted that Guyanese beneficiaries should take advantage of the opportunity not only to obtain a world class education in the UK but also to immerse themselves in the cosmopolitan experience of living and studying in a diverse multicultural society, and thereby broaden their world view, all of which would be critical in the modern Guyana.
To date, almost 200 Guyanese have benefited from the Chevening Scholarship. Last year’s beneficiaries were Keisha Edwards, Joshua Benn, Deanna Walcott, and Amrita Naraine.
Applications for this year’s intake are open until November 5, 2024. (G8)