Rise in the number of Chevening Scholarships offered to Indian students
Chevening Scholarship, UK Government's prestigious scholarship has just completed its 30 years this year.The number of Chevening scholarships awarded to Indian students has been trippled and will now increase to 150 for the year 2015-16. The increase in the budget allotted to the scholarships will rise from the present £ 600,000 to £ 2.4 million. Most of the Chevening scholarships cover tuition fee, living allowance, an economy class return air fare to UK and other grants to cover other essential expenses.
Hugo Swire, Minister of state in the Foreign and Common Office, cleared the idea of tripling the scholarships in a meeting with journalists on July 8.The statement was passed one day before the celebration of the 30 year anniversary of UK’s scholarships at Chevening house
Swire also stated that the increase in the scholarships would invite brilliant minds from all over the world to study in the universities in UK. This practice in turn would help building relationships that are beneficial and long-lasting.
Chevening scholarships are UK Government's global scholarship programme and is funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and partner organisations. It gives students a chance to study one year Master’s Degree in any course at any of the leading universities in UK. The scholarships are specially crafted for graduates with brilliant minds who wish to enlighten their future. There are 118 universities that are part of the program at present and Chevening Scholars come from over 110 countries worldwide excluding USA and EU.This year Chevening Scholarship will support about 700 students.
India is at number second after China holds the largest number of scholarships. The funding for scholarships will witness a rise of £ 1 million for the year 2014-15 and around £ 800,000 in the year 2015-16.
Apart from the one year Master's course, there are several short term courses specially for India and are listed below:
- 12-week bespoke Chevening Gurukul programme at King’s college, London designed for 12 professionals for a mid-career skills upgradation ,
- 12-week Chevening India Journalism Programme at Westminster University
- 11-week Chevening Rolls-Royce Science and Innovation Leadership Programme held at the SAID Business School, Oxford.
- 10-day intensive Chevening Parliamentary Programme for around 10 Indian parliamentarians at King’s College
- Chevening Cyber Security Programme for six Indian scholars at Cranfield University.
- 70 per cent of the funding for which is provided by Tata Consultancy Service.
The applications for the year 2015-16 will open on August 1. Each year 1500 scholarships are awarded to students. There are around 41,0000 alumni of Chevening scholarships all over the world.
Points to be noted
- Increase in the budget allotted to Chevening scholarships to Indian students
- Increase in the budget statement passed by Hugo Swire, a day prior to the celebration of 30th anniversary of the prestigious Chevening scholarships program.
- Focus on building a more healthy relationship between countries.
- Scholarships funding will rise to £ 800,000 in the year 2015-16
- Scholarship program at present is offered at 118 universities in UK.