Frequently Asked Questions
What is the value of a British Chevening Scholarship?
Chevening Scholarship is a full scholarship covering tuition fees up to £14,000. On top of the tuition fee, we will provide a significant amount of living allowances, international air-ticket and other miscellaneous up to a total of around HK$350,000.
For example, a Chevening scholar on a one-year postgraduate scholarship will receive a monthly stipend (approximately £700 - £870 per month), a return flight tickets and several allowance items e.g. arrival allowance, thesis allowance etc. The tuition fee will be paid direct from British Council in the UK to the institution.
What sort of scholarships are available?
There are two types of scholarship:
(i)Postgraduate Scholarships for one-year taught Masters degree courses.
Application for longer period of study will not be considered.
(ii)Shorter Specialist Scholarships for three to six months:
- Journalism
a) 3-month taught course at University of Sheffield
b) 6-month research-based programme at University of Oxford
What subjects do the postgraduate scholarships cover?
Applications for the British Chevening scholarships are accepted in any discipline as long as it is a one-year course leading to masters qualification. MSc, MA or MPhil (not research-base) are acceptable. PhD applications are not accepted.
To which universities can I apply?
Chevening postgraduate scholarships are tenable at any fully accredited UK university or tertiary education institution. Candidates are responsible for their own university placement.
Are my university applications related to my scholarship application?
Both applications are not directly related. However you need to attach acknowledgements of university applications to show that you have at least applied to one or more institutions in the UK. You also need to state on the application forms which universities you have applied.
Reminders for university application:
Familiarise yourself with the entry requirements of your targeted institutions and courses.
eg. do I need to do a GMAT or an essay for my university application?
eg. do I need to attend interview, is it possible to arrange this in Hong Kong?
eg. are there places left on the course?
eg. when should I apply so as to get a response before March? (You will need to confirm your university choice by 1 May)
Do I need to submit the university offer letter before the deadline of application?
If applicants cannot submit the university offer letter together with the application, he/she MUST submit the acknowledgement letter from the university. Offer letter must be submitted latest by 1 May, otherwise disqualified.
What should I do if I have not received the acknowledgement letter from University and that the scholarship deadline is approaching?
Applications without acknowledgement letters will not be considered. Acknowledgement by email from the university is acceptable. Applicants should enclose a printed copy of the email in the application.
How do I apply for the British Chevening scholarships?
Application forms will be available on 10 November 2008. You need to submit the following documents to the Scholarships and Educational Exchanges Officer at the British Council.
- a completed application form
- a copy of IELTS certificate.
- two reference letters (academic and professional)
- academic transcripts from HKALE to tertiary education
- THREE photocopies of the application forms and supporting documents
The closing date for submitting application and all supporting materials is 30 January 2009. Application forms can be requested from by email: chevening@britishcouncil.org.hk
OR downloaded from the British Council website.
Would I need to return to Hong Kong after completion of a Chevening Scholarship?
There is no contractual obligation to work within Hong Kong for a fixed amount of time on your return. There is however an obligation to return to Hong Kong. This may be waived upon written request and in special circumstances eg. should a scholar wish to continue studying in the UK; should the scholar be offered a work placement overseas.
Are these scholarships available for undergraduate or PhD study?
Chevening scholarships are not available for PhD programmes but can be granted for one-year MPhil programmes. It is not available for undergraduate study.
Where can I find out information about other scholarships?
The Student Financial Assistance Agency, part of the HKSAR government, administer overseas scholarships, mainly for permanent Hong Kong residents:
Website: www.info.gov.hk/sfaa
Tel: 2519 3857
A list of other scholarships available at UK institution could be found at the British Council webpage: http://www.britishcouncil.org.hk/scholarships
(Education -> UK scholarships -> other UK scholarships)
How can I apply for the Hutchison Chevening Scholarships?
All applicants of the Chevening Postgraduate Scholarships will automatically be considered for one of the Hutchison Chevening Scholarships.
Where can I obtain the course detail for the Shorter Specialist Scholarships?
All the shorter specialist scholarships are tailor made courses. After the selection process, the university will design a customised course based on the selected scholars’ need. Course details will then be confirmed around July/Aug of the year.
Regarding the two sealed reference letters, must it be one academic and one professional? Can I submit more than two reference letters?
Yes, it must be one academic and one professional.
If applicants submit more than two reference letters, only two letters will be selected as references.
What if I am currently a student and I do not have a professional reference letter? What if I graduated a long time ago and I do not have an academic reference letter?
For applicants who do not have any working experience/ who are full-time students, please submit a recreational or extra-curricular activities reference letter. On the other hand, an academic reference letter is essential to the application of the Chevening Scholarships.
Can I apply for both Postgraduate Scholarship and Shorter Specialist Scholarship?
Yes. However, applicants must state their priority among their choices.
Can I apply for more than three UK Universities?
Yes. However, applicants only need to state their first 3 priorities of universities in order of preference in the application form.
Can I attach my portfolio or resume with the application?
No. In order to maintain fairness of the scholarship scheme, selection process will only refer to the application form and the required documents, e.g. certificates of examinations and reference letters. Portfolio or resume will be taken out of the application and will not be read.
If I have not submitted all required documents in my application, can I re-submit them after the application deadline?
Priority for shortlisting will be given to those who have submitted a complete application. Applications that are missing information on the application forms, transcripts, certificates, reference letter or acknowledgement letter will be put aside in favour of the completed applications, which must be our priority.
Can I get an exemption from the IELTS test if I have taken other English test? Should I take the IELTS earlier and attach the result with my application? Which IELTS test should I take?
There is absolutely no exemption for IELTS even if you have taken GMAT, GRE, SAT, TOEFL etc.
Applicants must submit their IELTS test result together with their application form. The selection panel will take into account the IELTS test result you provided us for shortlisting.
Please take the "Academic" IELTS test for your Chevening application.
