Chevening Scholarship
Chevening is the UK government's flagship international scholarship, fully funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). It supports one-year taught Master's study at any UK university for emerging leaders. Sri Lanka is an eligible country and typically receives 7–12 awards per cycle, with final interviews held at the British High Commission in Colombo.
UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Government-funded
emoji_events Award Overview
Value
Fully Funded
Duration
1-Year Master's
Travel
Return Flights Included
fact_check Eligibility Criteria
Bachelor's Degree
Undergraduate degree equivalent to a UK upper second-class (2:1) — typically a first-class honours from a Sri Lankan university qualifies you for most courses.
2,800 Hours Work Experience
Minimum 2,800 hours of work experience (about 2 years full-time) accumulated by the application deadline. Paid work, voluntary work, internships and part-time roles all count.
Three UK Offers
Apply to three different eligible UK Master's programmes and secure an unconditional offer from at least one by the offer deadline (typically mid-July before September entry).
Return to Sri Lanka
A binding commitment to return to Sri Lanka for at least 2 years immediately after the scholarship ends. This is non-negotiable.
account_tree Application Process
Apply online by early October
Submit the Chevening application at chevening.org. Four essays are critical: Leadership & Influence, Networking, Studying in the UK, and Career Plan.
Reference & document stage
Shortlisted applicants are asked for two references and education transcripts — typically December to January.
Interview in Colombo
Final interviews are held at the British High Commission in Colombo, usually February to April.
Secure your UK offer
Conditional awardees must hold at least one unconditional UK Master's offer by the FCDO deadline (around 9 July) to confirm the scholarship.
Why Chevening?
Chevening Alumni hold senior leadership roles in government, business, civil society, and academia worldwide — including a strong Sri Lankan network that actively mentors new scholars.
50,000+
Alumni Globally
160+
Eligible Countries
£40k+
Avg. Total Award
Similar Scholarships
Other curated opportunities for Sri Lankan students.
Commonwealth Master's Scholarship
Commonwealth Scholarship Commission UK
GREAT Scholarships
British Council
Manchester Global Futures Scholarship (PG)
University of Manchester