Opportunity

Chevening Scholarships

The Chevening Scholarships pay for a one-year master's degree in the UK, and citizens of Cambodia are among those who can apply.[1] The awards are fully funded and go to people with leadership potential and a plan to make an impact at home.[2][3] Applications for the 2027 to 2028 cycle closed in October 2026.[1]

The Chevening logo: a royal coat of arms with a lion and a unicorn above the word CHEVENING, in dark blue.
The logo of Chevening Scholarships.

Sponsorship

Chevening is the UK government's international scholarship and fellowship program. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) funds it together with partner organizations.[3] The program began in 1983, when Foreign Secretary Francis Pym announced it, and was first funded for only three years.[4] Its alumni network numbers more than 60,000 people.[5]

British embassies and high commissions draw up the shortlists and hold the interviews.[6] In 2013 the embassy announced that Prudential plc would sponsor more Chevening places for Cambodians.[7] Partner organizations also fund extra awards each year, and some of them go unfilled.[1]

Award and support

Each scholar studies a one-year taught master's course at a UK university of their choice.[8][5] The award pays tuition fees and a monthly stipend for housing and living costs, with the rate depending on whether the university is in London.[9] It also pays economy travel to and from the scholar's home country, the visa application, arrival and departure allowances, a travel top-up allowance and up to £75 for a tuberculosis test where the UK requires one.[9] Scholars take part in a program of events with other scholars, alumni, the FCDO and partner organizations.[9]

The scholarship program focuses on four shared priorities of the UK and the scholars' home countries: growth and prosperity, climate resilience, global security and stability, and more inclusive and effective societies.[3]

Eligibility

An applicant from Cambodia must be a Cambodian citizen and live in Cambodia or another country eligible for UK official development aid, and must show a clear intention to support Cambodia.[10] Each applicant promises to return to Cambodia for at least two years after the scholarship.[10]

Applicants need an undergraduate degree good enough for entry to a UK master's course, finished at least two years before the deadline.[10] They also need 2,800 hours of work after that degree, roughly two years of full-time work, gained over at least two years.[11] Full-time, part-time and volunteer work and internships all count, in up to 15 separate periods.[11] For the 2027 to 2028 cycle, that meant finishing the first degree by October 2024.[11]

Each applicant applies to three different eligible UK courses and by the program's offer deadline needs a firm, unconditional place on one or more of those courses.[10] A master's degree already earned does not rule out a second one.[10] There is no upper age limit.[8]

People who hold British citizenship cannot apply, nor can people who already studied in the UK on a UK government scholarship.[10] Current and recent staff of UK government departments, the British Council or partner UK universities, and their close relatives, are also ineligible.[10]

Application

Applications are made online through the Cambodia page of the Chevening website.[1][6] For the 2027 to 2028 cycle, applications opened in August 2026 and closed in October 2026 at 11:00 Coordinated Universal Time.[6] As of October 7, 2026, the Cambodia page showed applications as closed.[1]

After the deadline, eligible applications go to independent reading committees from mid-October 2026 to January 2027.[6] Shortlists follow in mid-February 2027, with interviews at British embassies in March and April 2027; each candidate uploads photo identification, degree certificates and reference letters at least seven working days before the interview.[6] Results follow from mid-June 2027, and successful candidates send in an unconditional university offer by 17:00 UK time on July 8, 2027.[6] Studies start in the UK in September or October 2027.[6]

Recipients

The British Embassy in Phnom Penh named three new Cambodian Chevening scholars in 2013.[7] Twelve Cambodians held the award in the 2023 to 2024 academic year.[12] On September 4, 2026, the British Embassy in Phnom Penh held a farewell reception for nine Chevening scholars about to start their 2026 to 2027 studies. Three holders of a separate UK scholarship for Southeast Asian women in science and technology joined them. Their fields ranged from public health and education to cybersecurity, environmental policy and financial technology.[13]

Recipients from Cambodia named by the program:

  • Saknakosnak "Nak" Prum, a master of science in e-business management at the University of Warwick, co-funded by Prudential Cambodia[14]
  • Rithiya Sreu, media management at the University of Westminster[15]
  • Nora, a master's at the University of Bristol in business innovation and entrepreneurship (2024 to 2025)[16]

See also

References 16
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Chevening, Chevening in Cambodia
  2. ↑ Chevening, Chevening Scholarships
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Chevening, About us
  4. ↑ Chevening, Celebrating 40 years of Chevening
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Chevening, Our vision
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 Chevening, Application timeline
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 GOV.UK, British Embassy Phnom Penh, Launch of the British Alumni Association of Cambodia (2013)
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Chevening, Who can apply for a Chevening Scholarship?
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Chevening, What does a Chevening Scholarship cover?
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 Chevening, Chevening eligibility criteria
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Chevening, Work experience
  12. ↑ Royal Embassy of Cambodia in London, Ambassador Lay Samkol met a group of 7 Chevening scholars (2023)
  13. ↑ Cambodia Investment Review, British Embassy Sends 12 Cambodian Scholars to UK in Push for Skills Development (2026)
  14. ↑ Chevening, Chevening scholar inspires as volunteer and mentor (2025)
  15. ↑ Chevening, The Chevening scholar powering Southeast Asia's digital media transformation (2025)
  16. ↑ Chevening, Five application tips from a Chevening scholar at the University of Bristol (2025)
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This page was last edited on 7 October 2026, at 19:53.