chevening essay questions 2022

The Wave of Study in Abroad

विद्या विनियोगात् विकासः (vidyā viniyogāt vikāsaḥ)

Breakdown of Chevening Essay Questions: A Comprehensive Guide

Navigating the Chevening scholarship application can be a rewarding yet challenging process. Among the crucial components are the essay questions, which provide an opportunity for you to showcase your aspirations, experiences, and potential. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll break down each of the Chevening essay questions and offer insights to help you craft compelling responses.

1. Chevening is looking for individuals who will be future leaders or influencers in their home countries. Explain how you meet this requirement, using clear examples of your own leadership and influencing skills to support your answer.

Focus: Demonstrating Leadership and Influence

This question aims to gauge your leadership abilities and potential to effect positive change. To answer effectively:

Provide Examples: Share specific instances where you demonstrated leadership, whether in your academic, professional, or community endeavors.
Highlight Influence: Discuss how your actions influenced outcomes, motivated others, or brought about change.
Connect to Future: Explain how your leadership experiences align with your future goals and how the Chevening scholarship will further develop your leadership potential.

2. Chevening Scholarships are awarded to individuals with demonstrable leadership potential who also have strong academic backgrounds. How do you intend to use your Chevening experience to develop your leadership skills and create a positive social change?

Focus: Linking Academic Excellence and Leadership

Here, the focus is on your academic prowess and its relationship to leadership and social impact:

Link Academic and Leadership Goals: Explain how your academic pursuits are intertwined with your leadership aspirations.
Social Impact: Discuss how your Chevening experience will enable you to contribute to positive societal changes.
Specific Plans: Outline tangible actions you’ll take to enhance your leadership skills during and after your studies.

3. Network with people of different nationalities and backgrounds. What can you learn from others? How will this enrich your experience as a Chevening Scholar?

Focus: Embracing Diversity and Networking

This question emphasizes cross-cultural collaboration and the value of a diverse network:

Learning from Diversity: Highlight the benefits of interacting with people from various backgrounds, including new perspectives and insights.
Enriching Chevening Experience: Explain how these interactions will contribute to your personal and academic growth as a Chevening Scholar.

4. What influence do you hope to have on your home country or region as a result of studying in the UK?

Focus: Positive Impact on Home Country

This question assesses your vision for the future and your commitment to your home country’s development:

Specific Goals: Outline the specific areas you aim to impact upon your return.
Alignment with UK Study: Explain how your UK education will equip you to address challenges in your home country.

5. Please explain why you want to study in the UK and why you have chosen your selected course(s).

Focus: UK Study and Course Choice

This question explores your motivations for studying in the UK and the relevance of your chosen course:

UK’s Strengths: Discuss the UK’s academic excellence, resources, and opportunities that attract you.
Course Relevance: Explain why your chosen course aligns with your academic and career goals.

6. Summarize all relevant leadership and service-related achievements in which you have participated.

Focus: Leadership and Service Achievements

This is an opportunity to succinctly list your notable leadership and service accomplishments:

Concise Presentation: List achievements in a clear and organized manner.
Highlight Impact: Briefly explain the significance and outcomes of each achievement.

Navigating the Chevening essay questions requires a thoughtful approach that showcases your unique qualities, aspirations, and commitment to positive change. By addressing each question’s specific focus and providing well-structured responses, you can present a compelling case for why you are an ideal candidate for the Chevening scholarship. Remember to tailor your answers to highlight your strengths and alignment with Chevening’s values and objectives.

India (Chevening Scholarship) | Chevening

CHEVENING APPLICATION: NETWORKING ESSAY TIPS

*Chevening is looking for individuals with strong professional relationship-building skills, who will engage with the Chevening community and influence and lead others in their chosen profession. Please explain how you build and maintain relationships in a professional capacity, using clear examples of how you currently do this, and outline how you hope to use these skills in the future. (minimum word count: 100 words; maximum word count: 500 words)*

Chevening believes in making and maintaining connections. Truthfully, that is the only way to achieve your goals. It is one thing to know what you have set out to achieve. But it is a completely different ball game to manifest it into reality, you will need a strong network of people around who have the know-how or more connections with the know-how on the various aspects of turning your dreams into reality. Afterall, no man can be an island.

On that premise, I am sure you have networked once or twice in your career or personal endeavors for the furtherance of a set out goal. And those connections have a story behind them, and you have a tale of what you achieved due to banking on and utilizing your network. Well, there you are. now you just write it down.

Start off with your personal views on networking in achieving your dreams. What are your strongest networking skills?. E.g I mentioned my diplomatic skills.

Then mention how you form connections. And if there’s a chain, Chevening wants to know them all, e.g so and so linked me with so and so…

Next? How exactly did you utilize that connection? What were the results?

Top it up with how you plan on utilizing these skills in the future.

I know it’s just 500 words so pick the strongest story (stories) you have.

Make sure your networking essay is connected to your leadership essay.

USE THE STAR APPROACH:

Situation- What was that vision you had, the dream you wanted to realise?

Task- What was the task to tackle the situation? Did you want to organise a community outreach? Was it to get funds?

Action- How did you leverage on your connections? Or did you already have a person in your network who could help? How did you reach out?

Results – Now what exactly did you achieve from leveraging on your network to provide a solution for the situation at hand.

And voila! Your networking essay is complete!

CASE IN POINT:

Situation: I wanted to organise a community humanitarian outreach to IDPs

Task: Reach out to IDPs, Get NYSC’s approval, source for funds, source for clothes and food.

Action: My team member knew some people who knew the head of the IDPs, wrote a letter to NYSC, went round to all the major stakeholders in my place of primary assignment to solicit for funds, clothes and food. Pasted an e-flier soliciting for same. Utilized the vehicles and volunteers at my place of primary assignment, etc! Who I knew played more part in making it a success than what I knew.

Result: Reached more than 300 househokds. It was so successful my place of primary assignment requested for more interventions, received NYSC letter of recommendation.

Now that you know the basic foundation of what is expected from you for networking essay, what are you waiting for?

Do you have any more questions? Suggestions? Comments? Please drop them below.

Make sure to share!

From Hafsat, With Love.

BEFORE YOU APPLY FOR CHEVENING, READ THIS!
WHAT IS CHEVENING?
CHEVENING ORIENTATION; ExCelling In London.
UNIVERSITY APPLICATION: TIPS TO WRITE AN OUTSTANDING STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

CHEVENING APPLICATION: LEADERSHIP ESSAY TIPS

Debunking some myths about chevening scholarship.

I like your breakdown Hafsat. Keep up the inspired work with your blog.

This helpful indeed. Thanks

My pleasure Abubakar. I am glad you find it useful.

Thanks Hafsah you really simplified this particular essay for me. Nagode.

Waoh!!! This is fantastic my sister, may God reward you in multiple ways.

Tips for Chevening Essay Questions, New

Written By: Shaher Hamdan, Reviewed By: Dr. Marwa Hamdan

Table of Contents

Tips for Chevening Essay Questions

Essay questions are considered the major criteria that determine the strength of your application and contribute a ton in the selection decision.

Essay questions are a good chance to show your leadership and communicating skills which are the core features of the perfect applicants, even more important than academic excellence. There’s a useful style which we recommend to follow when writing the essays called STAR. It stands for Situation, Task, Action and Result. We highly recommend using this style to present your examples either on Leadership or for speaking on networking skills. And each essay should be systematically organized and consist of introduction, body and a conclusion.

It’s recommended to write a draft on a separate document and let someone proofread it before submitting your application, also it is important to highlight your relevant activities from your studies or professional background, any project or initiative that you have been actively involved in. In addition to voluntary work which is a very important factor for Chevening scholarship.

NEVER COPY PASTE in your application as it would be easy for them to notice it since they use accurate software tools which detect copy paste plagiarism.

There are a total of 4 essays, each should be between 50-500 words;

1) leadership essay.

It’s considered to be the most important essay question in the application in which you are expected to talk about your role as a leader throughout your different study years in both school and university, work and your life in general. Give examples of the challenges you faced and how did you overcome them and what lessons you gained from these king of situations and how to utilize this experience in the future. This essay should include examples as the following:

The scenarios in which he played leadership roles.
How he managed good team management skills in different projects.
How he led community projects on a fixed budget.
How he considered the opinion of every member and negotiate among them.
How he worked with different personalities and led successful projects.
How his leadership project contributed in the long term and brought a positive change in his community.

2) Networking skills essay

In this essay you should mention your networking and personal relations at the national as well as international levels,talk about how you deal with the people in a variety of professions including government and international representatives, public authorities, and academia and show how you are familiar with a different culture, age groups, socioeconomic classes. Show your interest in improving your network skills by involving in the alumni community and all the different activities and how you will learn and apply your skills in the future to benefit your home country.

3) Why do you want to pursue your studies in the UK essay

In this essay you will start by describing your field of study and career and how they are related to your chosen courses and what these courses have to offer for your improvement and what makes UK universities so special for you specially in your field of study and how big your knowledge will increase by studying these courses in the UK. the candidate should mention his interest in cross-cultural understanding. And finally show how all this is related to and necessary for you in order to achieve your goals and plans for the future.

4) Future career plan essay

Chevening is basically looking to invest into future leaders and influencers, so your essay should demonstrate that:

You will be a leader in your chosen field and you will bring a great impact once back.
You should be clear and specific regarding your future plan.
You should have realistic goals.

There are common styles that successful candidates usually follow:

Short term & long term career goals.
It is advisable to elaborate further in your answer as which sector you are planning to work at:
In the academic filed: For instance working to improve education at Palestinian universities.
In Governmental field
In local NGOs
In the international NGOs
Starting your own business.You can add any other relevant field where applicable
Chevening is looking for individuals who have a clear post-study career plan. outline your immediate plans upon returning home and your longer term career goals. You may wish to consider how these relate to what the UK government is doing in your country.
You should mention your career plans that show how he is going to support his community or country.
All Goals should be smart enough and realistic.
A candidate’s plans should include a social, academic, and professional approach.
You must relate your skills, volunteer activities, and work experience to your career plans.
A candidate should show his interest in International research that would contribute to the community.

Reference letters

Chevening requires 2 letters of reference..

A referee must know the applicant either professionally or in academics.
Reference letters would be verified by the British council once a candidate gets shortlisted.

Still more to come, Our next article regarding Chevening Interviews will be published soon.

Keep follouing our CHEVENING SCHOLARSHIP page: https://mdguidance.com/category/chevening-scholarships/

Here is an overview of the application and selection process, so you always know what’s going on.

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Crafting Your Chevening Scholarship Application Essay: A Structured Template

The Chevening Scholarship is a prestigious international scholarship program fully funded by the UK government. It is specifically designed to provide opportunities for outstanding individuals from around the world to pursue postgraduate studies in the United Kingdom. The program is named after the Chevening House in the UK, which is used for many of its events.

To be selected for a Chevening Scholarship, applicants must meet specific eligibility criteria and go through a competitive application and selection process. The eligibility criteria include:

Being a citizen of a Chevening-eligible country.
Having an undergraduate degree or equivalent work experience.

Once the eligibility is confirmed, applicants are evaluated based on their leadership qualities, academic achievements, and potential to contribute to their home country. The selection process involves multiple rounds of assessment, including written applications, interviews, and references from credible sources. Only the most exceptional candidates are chosen for the prestigious Chevening Scholarship.

Crafting an effective Chevening essay requires a thoughtful approach that begins with a deep understanding of the essay prompt. By brainstorming, outlining, highlighting achievements, and improving on grammar, flow, composition, and relevancy, applicants can create a compelling narrative that demonstrates their suitability for the scholarship. This strategic approach will increase their chances of becoming Chevening Scholars and pursuing their academic and leadership goals in the UK.

The provided hypothetical responses to the Chevening scholarship essay questions should not be used or referenced in your application, as doing so could lead to automatic disqualification. The purpose of these responses is to assist inexperienced scholarship applicants in effectively approaching the essay task.

BY ALL MEANS AVOID COPY AND PASTE IN YOUR ESSAY.

HYPOTHETICAL RESPONSE: I possess the qualities and experiences necessary to meet Chevening’s requirement of being a future leader or influencer in my home country. Throughout my academic and professional journey, I have consistently demonstrated leadership and influencing skills, which I intend to develop further during my time in the UK.

One significant example of my leadership ability is when I served as the president of a student organization during my undergraduate studies. In this role, I successfully led a team of diverse individuals toward a common goal. I organized events, managed budgets, and ensured effective communication among team members. Through this experience, I not only honed my organizational and managerial skills but also learned the importance of collaboration and teamwork in achieving objectives. I organized a symposium titled Life after Undergraduate Studies. This symposium recorded 1000 participants including the vice chancellor of the university and several guest speakers.

In my professional life, I have held a position as a project manager in a non-governmental organization focused on environmental conservation. During my tenure, I initiated a campaign to raise awareness about sustainable practices in our community. Through strategic planning and effective communication, I garnered support from local businesses, government agencies, and community members. This campaign resulted in a significant reduction in environmental degradation in our area. My ability to mobilize resources and inspire action illustrates my capacity to influence positive change.

Furthermore, my involvement in advocating for educational reform in my home country underscores my commitment to becoming a future influencer. I have actively participated in discussions with policymakers and educational institutions, presenting innovative ideas to improve the quality of education and access for underprivileged communities. My efforts have contributed to policy changes and the implementation of programs aimed at bridging educational disparities.

I intend to capitalize on the world-class education and networking opportunities Chevening offers to further enhance my leadership and influencing skills. I will pursue a Master’s degree in Public Policy, focusing on sustainable development and social equality, which are critical issues in my home country. This academic experience will provide me with the knowledge and expertise needed to address pressing challenges effectively.

In conclusion, my track record of leadership roles and influencing outcomes, coupled with my dedication to addressing pressing issues in my home country, makes me a strong candidate for Chevening’s mission of nurturing future leaders and influencers. My time in the UK will serve as a transformative experience, equipping me with the skills, knowledge, and network needed to make a lasting positive impact on my community and beyond.

ALSO READ: Call for Applications: Schwarzman Scholars Program in China 2024-25 | Fully Funded

NETWORKING QUESTION: Chevening is looking for individuals with strong professional relationship-building skills, who will engage with the Chevening community and influence and lead others in their chosen profession. Please explain how you build and maintain relationships in a professional capacity, using clear examples of how you currently do this, and outline how you hope to use these skills in the future. (minimum word count: 100 words; maximum word count: 500 words)

HYPOTHETICAL RESPONSE: Building and maintaining professional relationships has been an integral part of my career journey, and it is a cornerstone of effective leadership and influence. I have consistently demonstrated my ability to connect with individuals from diverse backgrounds and industries. Below, I provide clear examples of how I currently build and maintain professional relationships and how I plan to leverage these skills in the future, especially during my time in the UK through the Chevening program.

In my current role as a project manager at XXX, I have had the opportunity to work with cross-functional teams comprising members from various departments, each with distinct roles and responsibilities. To foster collaboration and ensure project success, I proactively initiate meetings, facilitate open communication channels, and actively listen to my team members’ ideas and concerns. By valuing their input and expertise, I have established trust and respect within the team, which has resulted in enhanced teamwork and project outcomes. These relationships are essential not only for project success but also for my personal and professional growth.

Furthermore, I engage in professional networking events and conferences within my industry. At these events, I approach professionals with a genuine curiosity about their work and experiences. I ask insightful questions and actively listen, seeking to understand their perspectives and challenges. By doing so, I have built a valuable network of industry experts and peers whom I can turn to for advice, collaboration, or knowledge sharing. One notable example is when I connected with [Industry Expert’s Name] at a conference. Our discussions eventually led to a collaborative research project that has since been published in a reputable industry journal.

Looking ahead, I aspire to use these relationship-building skills during my Chevening journey. In the UK, I plan to actively engage with the Chevening community, my fellow scholars, and faculty members at my chosen university. I intend to organize and participate in academic and professional networking events, creating an environment conducive to sharing knowledge and experiences. By fostering a sense of community and camaraderie, I hope to encourage meaningful interactions and collaborations among scholars from diverse backgrounds.

Moreover, the Chevening experience is an opportunity to expand my global network. I aim to connect with British professionals, entrepreneurs, and academics who can provide unique insights into their fields and contribute to my personal and professional growth. Through these interactions, I plan to bring back valuable knowledge and experiences to my home country, fostering international collaborations that can address pressing global challenges.

In conclusion, my ability to build and maintain professional relationships has been instrumental in my career growth thus far. I am excited about the prospect of further developing these skills during my Chevening journey. Through active engagement with the Chevening community, networking with professionals in the UK, and fostering international collaborations, I aim to use my relationship-building skills to influence and lead others in my chosen profession and make a positive impact on a global scale.

ALSO READ: The Rhodes Scholarship for outstanding young people from around the world to study at the University of Oxford

STUDY IN UK QUESTION: Outline why you have selected your chosen three university courses, and explain how this relates to your previous academic or professional experience and your plans for the future. Please enter new information and examples here and not duplicate the information you have entered on the work experience and education section of this form (minimum word count: 100 words, maximum word count: 500 words)

HYPOTHETICAL RESPONSE: I have meticulously selected my three university courses for the Chevening Scholarship with a clear vision of how each choice aligns with my previous academic and professional experiences and contributes to my plans.

My first choice is to study Public Policy at Oxford University. This is rooted in my deep-seated commitment to public service and policy advocacy. Throughout my career in xxx, I have actively engaged in policy analysis and contributed to the development of initiatives aimed at improving public services and addressing societal challenges. Oxford University’s rigorous curriculum and esteemed faculty members in the field of public policy make it the ideal place for me to deepen my understanding of policy formulation, implementation, and evaluation.

Oxford’s academic excellence will not only enhance my policy analysis skills but also provide me with a global perspective on effective governance. Armed with this knowledge, I aim to return to my home country and play a pivotal role in shaping policies that address pressing issues such as education reform, healthcare access, and poverty alleviation.

My second choice is to pursue a degree in Public Project Management at the University of Cambridge. This stems from my extensive experience in project management and my aspiration to contribute to efficient and impactful public projects. In my current role as a Project Manager at [Company Name], I have led cross-functional teams and overseen the successful execution of complex projects. However, I recognize the unique challenges that public projects present, including budget constraints and stakeholder engagement.

The University of Cambridge’s program is renowned for its emphasis on project management within the public sector. By acquiring advanced project management skills tailored to the public domain, I aim to bridge the gap between private and public project management practices. This knowledge will enable me to lead public projects that are not only cost-effective but also yield significant social benefits.

My third choice of the Public Engagement and Sustainability program at University College London reflects my passion for environmental conservation and community engagement. Over the years, I have been actively involved in environmental initiatives and community outreach programs. The intersection of public engagement and sustainability is crucial for addressing the global climate crisis and promoting responsible citizenship.

University College London’s program offers a comprehensive curriculum that combines sustainability studies with effective public engagement strategies. By enrolling in this program, I will gain a deeper understanding of sustainable practices and the means to engage communities in adopting them. This knowledge will be instrumental in my long-term career goal of advocating for sustainable policies, promoting eco-friendly practices, and fostering a culture of environmental responsibility in my home country.

In conclusion, my choice of these three university courses is a strategic step in my journey to becoming a global leader who can drive positive change in my home country. These programs will not only enrich my academic and professional knowledge but will also empower me to tackle complex issues related to public policy, project management, sustainability, and community engagement. Through the Chevening Scholarship, I aspire to return home with the expertise needed to make a lasting impact on the development and well-being of my community and nation.

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CAREER PLANS QUESTION: Chevening is looking for individuals who have a clear post-study career plan. Please outline your immediate plans upon returning home and your longer term career goals. You may wish to consider how these relate to what the UK government is doing in your country. (minimum word count: 100 words, maximum word count: 500 words)

HYPOTHETICAL RESPONSE: My post-study career plan and long-term career goals are intricately connected to my aspirations to contribute to the development and prosperity of my home country. Upon completing my studies in the UK through the Chevening program, I have a clear vision of my immediate and longer-term career objectives.

Upon returning to my home country, I intend to actively apply the knowledge and skills I acquire during my studies in the UK to make an immediate impact. Given my background and career in the public sector, I aim to return to my current position or a higher-ranking role within my government agency. My immediate goal is to use the insights gained from my academic program to contribute to more effective and evidence-based policy formulation and implementation. I aim to be at the forefront of initiatives that address critical issues facing my country, such as healthcare reform and education enhancement.

I am committed to sharing the knowledge and experiences I gain in the UK with my colleagues and peers. This includes organizing workshops, seminars, and training sessions within my government agency to promote best practices and foster a culture of continuous learning. I plan to engage actively with local communities and civil society organizations. Through volunteering and collaborative projects, I want to apply my expertise to address social and environmental challenges, aligning with the UK government’s emphasis on sustainable development and community engagement.

Looking further into the future, my long-term career goals are shaped by a commitment to sustainable development, social progress, and the values promoted by the UK government in my home country. Over the long term, I aspire to take on leadership roles within my government’s policy-making bodies. I aim to play a pivotal role in shaping policies that address complex societal challenges, foster economic growth, and promote social inclusivity. I envision fostering international collaborations between my home country and the UK. Leveraging the networks I build during my Chevening journey, I will seek opportunities for knowledge exchange, joint research projects, and partnerships that benefit both nations.

I am passionate about education and its role in societal progress. Therefore, I plan to establish educational initiatives, scholarships, and mentorship programs that empower the next generation of leaders and scholars in my country. This aligns with the UK government’s commitment to global education and capacity-building. Long term, I aim to be a prominent advocate for sustainable practices, environmental conservation, and renewable energy solutions in my country. I will work towards aligning national policies with global sustainability goals, reflecting the UK government’s focus on climate action and environmental protection.

In conclusion, my post-study career plan and long-term career goals are driven by a strong commitment to making a meaningful impact in my home country. I intend to leverage the knowledge, skills, and networks gained during my Chevening-sponsored education in the UK to contribute to effective governance, sustainable development, and positive change. By aligning my aspirations with the values and goals of the UK government in my country, I aim to be a catalyst for progress and development in the years to come.

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5 Chevening Scholarship interview questions and how to answer them

If you are an international student who aspires to study in the UK, you will have heard of the Chevening Scholarship. This prestigious international scholarship allows some of the brightest international students from eligible countries to pursue their master’s in the UK for free.

One factor that will influence your success in securing the scholarship is to ace your Chevening Scholarship interview. Preparing for any scholarship interview — especially for prestigious international scholarships such as Chevening — can be stressful and challenging if you are unsure what to expect or how to best answer the interviewer’s questions.

Fortunately, the Chevening website and YouTube are great places to search for tips and tricks from past Chevening scholars on how to answer the common questions that interviewers will ask during the interview process.

We draw on their advice for this list on acing your Chevening Scholarship interview:

The interview is an important part of the Chevening scholarship application process. Source: Niklas Halle’n/AFP

Top tips on acing the Chevening scholarship interview

1. “tell us about yourself.”.

Keanu Reeves famously said: “Sometimes simple things are the most difficult things to achieve.” Likewise, some of the most challenging questions to answer are straightforward ones.

For Argenis Toyo, a Chevening scholar from Venezuela, one of the first significant challenges of the interview process was when his interviewers asked him to describe himself. Toyo advises applicants to consider what sets them apart from others when presenting themselves to the interview panel.

“This is not a list of what you have done, this is about who you are and how that impacts your country,” he explains.

In Toyo’s case, his research into architectural technology allowed him to create a positive impact in communities by involving people in sustainable projects. In his interview, he highlighted his work on educating young students about new design tools.

2. “Tell us about your leadership experience.”

Kerry-Ann Harriot, a Chevening scholar from Jamaica, shared that she used the CAR method (Context, Action and Result) and storytelling approach in answering this question.

“My example was about leading the implementation of a platform as an answer to an organisational problem,” she explains. “I started about what my observation was, how did it impact the organisation, what I did, who I led and influenced decisions, and what the results were.”

In her YouTube video, she also provides a script on how she tackled this specific question. Click here to view it.

3. “What are your career goals?”

Most applicants who have researched the Chevening Scholarship know that this is a popular question that interviewers will ask during the interview. However, this question can still catch many applicants by surprise.

Sithabile Daka-Mungobe, a Chevening scholar from Zimbabwe, explained that the political situation in her home country was a barrier for her to set a specific career plan. She did not let that faze her and gave strong examples of how she was working towards her broader goals.

“Despite there being clear eligibility criteria for my long-term goal of being a judge in the higher courts, political interference makes it more of a fantasy than a reality,” she shares. “[I highlighted] my ability to give back to my community through various volunteer activities with UNICA-AfroEdge and other community-based organisations.”

4. “How will you engage with the Chevening community?”

A big part of the Chevening scholarship is the chance to join a vast alumni network . As Kuseme Iseh shares, you must show how you can contribute to this community as a Chevening alumnus.

“While answering this question, I highlighted how I was going to volunteer for the Chevening community and add value to every other Chevening scholar that I met. I talked about how I was going to network and build valuable relationships so we could come together to achieve a task in my field,” shares the Chevening scholar, who works as a Nigerian lawyer.

She also suggests that applicants emphasise how they can use the scholarship to network and give back to their local community.

5. “What is your backup plan?”

Laith Abdin, a Jordanian scholar, shares that this was the most challenging question he faced during his interview.

“As you can imagine, I was mentally focused on the exact opposite, and it took me a few seconds to make the switch,” he says.

While it may seem like a strange question, having a backup plan indicates the applicant’s strong commitment to their goals — a quality that Chevening seeks in their scholars. Abdin’s advice is to be genuine at whatever question that interviewers may ask during the interview.

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Chevening Scholarship

What are the essays for Chevening?

In my book, I explained the details of Chevening selection procedures. Please check the following page out. Chevening Scholarship step-by-step guide

Essay topics in 2022

In 2022, the Chevening Committee asked candidates to write the up to 500 words essays about the following topics.

Chevening is looking for individuals who will be future leaders or influencers in their home countries. Explain how you meet this requirement, using clear examples of your own leadership and influencing skills to support your answer.　
Chevening is looking for individuals with strong professional relationship-building skills, who will engage with the Chevening community and influence and lead others in their chosen profession. Please explain how you build and maintain relationships in a professional capacity, using clear examples of how you currently do this, and outline how you hope to use these skills in the future.
Outline why you have selected your chosen three university courses, and explain how this relates to your previous academic or professional experience and your plans for the future. Please enter new information and examples here and not duplicate the information you have entered on the work experience and education section of this form
Chevening is looking for individuals who have a clear post-study career plan. Please outline your immediate plans upon returning home and your longer-term career goals. You may wish to consider how these relate to what the UK government is doing in your country.

How should I prepare for Chevening essays?

To be honest with you, I spend a lot of time to write my essays before applying. These essays are significantly important, so if you are serious for Chevening scholarship, I would recommend for you to spend hours to structure your essays. I would like to give you some tips for your Chevening essays.

1. Understand Chevening Scholarships. 2. Structure you story behind four essays. 3. Develop your achievements/skills before your application.

Let me explain one by one.

Understand Chevening Scholarships

Chevening community is looking for a specific type of leaders. You need to explain how your experience and personalities fit to a Chevening leadership style. If you do not understand the leadership style, you cannot explain how good you are. I would like to strongly recommend that you understand the concepts of Chevening community by reading its websites or talking to Chevenors. I have advised several Chevneing applicants before, but many people did not understand this point. Therefore, their essays did not make any sense. It does not matter how good you are. You need to fit to Chevening style.

I explained the details what you need to understand and where you need to read in Chevening websites. Please check this out my book on world wide Amazon sites in your country.

Structure you story behind four essays

Chevening committee requires four different essays about leadership, networking, schools, and career plan. Many people write four different essays, but please remember that all four essays need to be connected as your story. You have a dream. You have worked for it to make your dream come true, but you realized something is missing. This is why you need to study at a British school. Right? Many people forget this point and write unconnected essays. You need to express your ability with four essays. This is not easy, but if you do a brain storming before writing essays, it is possible to structure your essays well as I did. I always advise my applicants this point. Some of my applicants passed document selection procedures.

Develop your achievements/skills before your application

Chevening has high standards. You might not have full experiences/skills which Chevening committee requires. If you realize you do not have it before application, you are lucky! You can get some experiences to support your skills. For example, if Chevening is looking for an influencer, you can start tweeting in Twitter or LinkedIn to support your career goals.

In this article, I introduced the essay themes and three tips to write Chevening essays.

Understand Chevening Scholarships.
Structure you story behind four essays.
Develop your achievements/skills before your application.
Chevening Scholarship step-by-step guide

Chevening scholarship: Requirements, Eligibility, Deadlines

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Become the scholar

Are you thinking about studying in the UK for your master's? But lacking the funds to apply to the university of your choice? You must have thought about applying for scholarships, but the list is so long it sends your mind spinning. With so many scholarships to choose between, the Chevening scholarship is one of the best ones there is out there. If you are confused about what this scholarship is? Don’t worry because we will tell you everything there is to know about Chevening scholarships. So let's take a deep dive into what it is all about!

Chevening Scholarship: Grant Details

Founded in 1983, the Chevening Programme awards international scholarships to students pursuing education in the United Kingdom. The Foreign and Commonwealth office of the British Government funds the Chevening scholarship. The programme was created as a way for the UK to build a network of connections with some of the brightest minds from around the world.

The Chevening Scholarship fully funds a one-year master’s program in any course in the UK. The scholarship looks for bright students with passion, talent and leadership skills who want to change the world positively. The Chevening Scholarship has an alumni network of 50,000 brilliant individuals from over a hundred countries. A few of the things to remember while applying for this scholarship are that the forms are country-specific and the application has a fixed timeline :

The application starts in August and ends in November
Shortlisting the applications begin from early to mid-February
Interviews take place from March till May
Results are declared in mid-June

If you are applying to study in the UK, here is everything you should know about studying in the UK .

What is covered under the Chevening Scholarship?

This scholarship fully funds one–year postgraduate course fees at any university in the UK. It also includes a monthly stipend, travel costs to and from the UK, an arrival allowance, and a thesis grant. The Chevening Scholarship also provides accommodation for the duration of the scholarship and a number of other allowances, including a visa application fee, travel insurance, and study materials.

Chevening scholarship requirements

There is a list of Chevening scholarship requirements that students must meet before they can begin their application. You have to make sure to meet the Chevening scholarship requirements, or your application will be DENIED! So just make sure you meet the eligibility criteria before submitting your application. If you are confused about the eligibility criteria, we have made a list of all the Chevening scholarship requirements.

1) Be from a Chevening Eligible country

The Chevening scholarship is available for around 160 countries, so you have to be from one of them. It is as simple as that!

2) Agree to return to their home country after their program

This Chevening scholarship requirement means that once you have finished your course in the UK, you must return back to your home for a minimum of 2 years.

3) Have work experience

This one is pretty easy to understand. It means that you must have a minimum of two years of work experience.

4) Apply to three master's programs in the UK

This Chevening scholarship requirement can be a bit tedious since it also has a few sub-requirements. We will try to keep it as sweet and simple as we can. Firstly you need to have applied for three master's programmes. If you are worried about whether your course is eligible, the Chevening website has a list of all the eligible courses . You can apply to different courses in the same university or similar courses from different universities.

Now, here comes the not-so-simple part. Here are the extra requirements for the courses.

Courses must begin in the fall (September/ October intake).
Courses cannot be research-focused MRes programs.
Courses must be full-time and not part-time or online.
Courses cannot be more than 12 months long.
Courses cannot be less than nine months long
Courses cannot be part of a PhD program

5) Must have an acceptance letter from a UK university

This Chevening scholarship requirement basically means that by mid-July of the year your programme begins, you must have received an unconditional offer from at least one of the institutions from which you applied.

While we are talking about the Chevening scholarship requirements, let's also talk about the requirements you should NOT fulfil.

You have British citizenship or dual British citizenship.
You have already studied in the UK with a scholarship funded by the British Government.
You have been employed or are currently an employee of Her Majesty’s Government.
You have been employed or are currently an employee of any of Chevening's partner organisations.

If you are confused about which degrees are available, then our blog about the types of degrees in the UK will surely solve your doubts.

Countries eligible for the Chevening Scholarship

Before we learn how to apply for the Chevening Scholarship, let us get to know Chevening-eligible countries. The list is very long, so we have just listed a few. For more information about the Chevening eligible countries , you can visit their website.

Afghanistan

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How to apply?

Now that you know all the Chevening scholarship requirements, let’s talk about how to apply for one in four simple steps.

Step 1: Apply for your desired master's program at a UK university (Remember that you can apply to 3 UK universities covered under the Chevening Program)
Step 2: Apply for your Chevening scholarship in August using the Online Application System (OAS).
Step 3: Answer all the questions in the application form, with each answer being 100-500 words long and in English (a bit obvious, we know).
Step 4: Submit the scanned copies of your documents (transcripts, offer letters and passport) and your references. Ensure all your documents are submitted online by the deadlines and are in the required format (JPG/PNG/PDF).

Chevening scholarship application timeline

The application timeline takes around eight months to complete, from start to finish. It might be long, but with so many applicants, what can they do? It usually starts in August and ends in September of the following year. Here is a detailed timeline to help you understand more about the process.

Early August: Applications being.
Early November: Applications close.
November to December: Applications are reviewed.
February: Applicants are shortlisted for interviews.
February to April: Deadline to send in all necessary documents and reference letters.
February to April: Interviews are also scheduled at the same time.
June: Results are declared.
Mid-July: Deadline to send in an offer letter from a university.
September to October: Courses begin.

Questions asked in the application

When filling out the application form, you will face the four questions that you need to answer in an essay format, with the word limit being 500 words. The questions will vary, but the type of questions will be similar. Here are the different topics of each question and some tips on answering them.

Q1) Networking Skills

There are a few ways to answer this question, but the best way to answer this question is by:

Talking about how you cultivate and maintain relationships with figures of authority in professional circles.
Elaborating on how you have kept relationships going regardless of age, gender, economic background and ethnicity. Use a few examples to bring a personal touch to your essay.
Mentioning ways you plan on improving your communication strategies to strengthen your relationships.

Q2) Leadership Qualities

This question will simply see if you have the qualities to become a leader and can hold your own in difficult situations. The best way to answer this question would be:

Explain the different leadership opportunities you've held and how you've dealt with managing and working in a team.
Mention any problems you've faced while holding a leadership position, how you overcame them, and what you've learned from them.
Using examples wherever you can to increase the credibility of your answer, and try to use recent examples.

Q3) Career Plans

The question that is asked in almost every interview that you will give is, "what are your career plans?" This cliche question is among the important questions as a typical Chevening scholar tends to have ambition. The best way to answer this question would be:

Talk about your future career plans, how and why you've chosen that particular path, and how you believe your career can help better people's lives.
How has your previous work experience played a role in helping you achieve your future career goals or help you better understand what you want to achieve in the future.
Highlight your skills, notable achievements and professional working style when you answer and give the reader a clear picture of your past work.

Q4) Why the UK?

We hope you have prepared for this cliche question, as it is, again, important. Why would they award anyone with a scholarship which isn't interested in why they want to study in that country. If you are confused about how to answer this question, this would be the best way:

Elaborate on why you believe the UK is the perfect destination for pursuing your degree.
Explain what the UK has that you can't find in other countries with similar courses and what drew you to the UK above other options.
Mention how your career goals align with getting an education in the UK and why you believe international education will benefit you.

Remember that you need to keep your answer unique and leave an impression, so the best way would be by using many personal details and elements as possible so your essay has a strong sense of your personality. The Chevening Scholarship receives thousands of applicants, so try hard to make your application stand out from the rest.

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Next edition launching soon! Stay tuned!

Do’s and Don’ts

Since the application process can be lengthy, you might make mistakes and might leave room for improvement. So we have made a list of do’s and don’ts to help you find room for improvement or find the mistake you made.

Do answer the essay questions, use relevant examples from your personal experience. Merely saying that you have the necessary skills is insufficient. They need to hear examples of how you've used your abilities to help others.
To make your application stand out, make sure you clearly connect your selected course of study to your previous experiences and future goals.
Try to centre your examples on your experiences with voluntary organisations or jobs rather than your experiences in school or university whenever possible.
Ensure that you do not repeat any answers in your application to different questions.
None of your content should be plagiarised and must be written entirely by you. All applications are run through plagiarism software, and the applicant will be disqualified if any plagiarism is detected.
The entire application must be filled out in English. The application form, reference letters, and other written content must all be in English. Any applications not written in English will not be considered.

What is the Chevening fellowship?

Chevening fellowships are only given to mid-career professionals who have achieved a position of influence and desire to expand their expertise through targeted short courses, research, or professional placements at UK institutions. The Chevening fellowship is a key component of the United Kingdom's public diplomacy effort, providing chances to mid-career leaders and influencers worldwide.

People who get this fellowship are frequently people of substantial status in their home countries and will have already completed some elements of higher education. It offers dynamic training, professional development, and other opportunities for individuals to spend time in the UK researching subject matters that are relevant to their professional interests as well as to the UK’s international strategic priorities. Remember that each scholarship has a different requirement from country to country, so check the fellowship page to see all the opportunities you might be available for. For more, check out our webstory on all you need to know about Chevening Scholarships!

These were all the Chevening scholarship requirements, application processes and common questions. You can learn all about Chevening scholarships on their home page . However, the application process for the Chevening Scholarship can be competitive and challenging. That's where Amber Scholarship comes in as a helping hand. Amber Scholar will offer scholarships of up to £10,000 to a handful of individuals who got what it takes. You would not want to miss out on this great opportunity – apply for amber scholar today. Now that you have your scholarships settled, better check out some student accommodations too.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you only apply to a chevening partner university, what are the dates for the chevening scholarship 2024 application, how much is the chevening scholarship worth, does chevening pay for your visa, is the chevening scholarship only for masters programs.

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Chevening Essay Competition For Nigerian Undergraduates 2022

Chevening Essay Competition is currently on for undergraduate students in Nigeria who are interested in submitting their entries.

The Chevening Alumni Programme Fund (CAPF) of the British High Commission (BHC) supports Chevening Alumni Association activities across the globe. The Alumni Association are professionals who are beneficiaries of the Chevening Scholarship Programme for Post-Graduate Studies in various disciplines in the United Kingdom (UK). The Chevening Alumni Association of Nigeria (CAAN) has received funding from the Chevening Alumni Programme Fund (CAPF), to organize an essay competition for young people in Nigeria, as part of its community service endeavours. CAAN is therefore pleased to publish details of the competition as follows.

Chevening Essay Competition Topic

“Alternative Narratives to illegal Migration Amongst Young People in Nigeria”

Background to Essay Topic:

The essay seeks to stimulate thoughts on illegal migration, especially amongst young people, towards preventing the occurrence, and for providing options to breaches of immigration regulations. The options should not only help stop the risks that it exposes perpetrators to, but should offer alternative ideas on earning a living, aside from the belief that the option can only be elsewhere. It seeks to challenge the youths on creating and harnessing opportunities in the local environment, and to envision migration from the legal path, if desired. The focus of the essay is on emphasizing the risks of illegal migration by deepening knowledge on other possibilities.

Essay Objective:

The overarching objective of the competition is to:

Generate ideas that will be helpful for CAAN future engagement with the private sector, the Nigerian government and multilateral agencies on curbing illegal migration.
Foster deeper inter-generational learning through interactions between CAAN members and the younger generations.
Encourage young Nigerians to engage in the discussion of a core trans-national governance issue, ahead of future leadership roles.

Eligibility

Undergraduate students in Nigerian public and private universities and in other tertiary institutions of learning
1st Place prize: A Laptop and 1-month Data subscription.
2nd Place Prize: A Tablet and 1-month Data subscription.
3rd Place prize: A Smart Phone and 1-month Data subscription.
Prize winners will receive a Certificate of Good Performance.

How to Submit Entries for Chevening Essay Competition

Not more than 2000 words, including references.
Must be original, as the essay will be subjected to credit reference checks.
Typed and double-spaced.
Appropriate use of examples and illustrations
Creative and engaging, with realistic solutions to the migration saga.
Comprehensive prose.

Read: List of Essay Competitions In Nigeria

NCC National Essay Competition For Undergraduates 2022
Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) Essay Competition 2022
CIPM Annual Essay Competition 2023 For Undergraduates In Nigeria
Jemila Abubakar Memorial Essay Competition For Undergraduates 2024
Nigerian Tertiary Institutions Conference SDG Youth Essay Competition 2024

Bolarinwa Olajire

The Philippines economy in 2024: Stronger for longer?

The Philippines ended 2023 on a high note, being the fastest growing economy across Southeast Asia with a growth rate of 5.6 percent—just shy of the government's target of 6.0 to 7.0 percent. 1 “National accounts,” Philippine Statistics Authority, January 31, 2024; "Philippine economic updates,” Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, November 16, 2023. Should projections hold, the Philippines is expected to, once again, show significant growth in 2024, demonstrating its resilience despite various global economic pressures (Exhibit 1). 2 “Economic forecast 2024,” International Monetary Fund, November 1, 2023; McKinsey analysis.

The growth in the Philippine economy in 2023 was driven by a resumption in commercial activities, public infrastructure spending, and growth in digital financial services. Most sectors grew, with transportation and storage (13 percent), construction (9 percent), and financial services (9 percent), performing the best (Exhibit 2). 3 “National accounts,” Philippine Statistics Authority, January 31, 2024. While the country's trade deficit narrowed in 2023, it remains elevated at $52 billion due to slowing global demand and geopolitical uncertainties. 4 “Highlights of the Philippine export and import statistics,” Philippine Statistics Authority, January 28, 2024. Looking ahead to 2024, the current economic forecast for the Philippines projects a GDP growth of between 5 and 6 percent.

Inflation rates are expected to temper between 3.2 and 3.6 percent in 2024 after ending 2023 at 6.0 percent, above the 2.0 to 4.0 percent target range set by the government. 5 “Nomura downgrades Philippine 2024 growth forecast,” Nomura, September 11, 2023; “IMF raises Philippine growth rate forecast,” International Monetary Fund, July 16, 2023.

For the purposes of this article, most of the statistics used for our analysis have come from a common thread of sources. These include the Central Bank of the Philippines (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas); the Department of Energy Philippines; the IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP); and the Philippines Statistics Authority.

The state of the Philippine economy across seven major sectors and themes

In the article, we explore the 2024 outlook for seven key sectors and themes, what may affect each of them in the coming year, and what could potentially unlock continued growth.

Financial services

The recovery of the financial services sector appears on track as year-on-year growth rates stabilize. 6 Philippines Statistics Authority, November 2023; McKinsey in partnership with Oxford Economics, November 2023. In 2024, this sector will likely continue to grow, though at a slower pace of about 5 percent.

Financial inclusion and digitalization are contributing to growth in this sector in 2024, even if new challenges emerge. Various factors are expected to impact this sector:

Inclusive finance: Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas continues to invest in financial inclusion initiatives. For example, basic deposit accounts (BDAs) reached $22 million in 2023 and banking penetration improved, with the proportion of adults with formal bank accounts increasing from 29 percent in 2019 to 56 percent in 2021. 7 “Financial inclusion dashboard: First quarter 2023,” Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, February 6, 2024.
Digital adoption: Digital channels are expected to continue to grow, with data showing that 60 percent of adults who have a mobile phone and internet access have done a digital financial transaction. 8 “Financial inclusion dashboard: First quarter 2023,” Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, February 6, 2024. Businesses in this sector, however, will need to remain vigilant in navigating cybersecurity and fraud risks.
Unsecured lending growth: Growth in unsecured lending is expected to continue, but at a slower pace than the past two to three years. For example, unsecured retail lending for the banking system alone grew by 27 percent annually from 2020 to 2022. 9 “Loan accounts: As of first quarter 2023,” Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, February 6, 2024; "Global banking pools,” McKinsey, November 2023. Businesses in this field are, however, expected to recalibrate their risk profiling models as segments with high nonperforming loans emerge.
High interest rates: Key interest rates are expected to decline in the second half of 2024, creating more accommodating borrowing conditions that could boost wholesale and corporate loans.

Supportive frameworks have a pivotal role to play in unlocking growth in this sector to meet the ever-increasing demand from the financially underserved. For example, financial literacy programs and easier-to-access accounts—such as BDAs—are some measures that can help widen market access to financial services. Continued efforts are being made to build an open finance framework that could serve the needs of the unbanked population, as well as a unified credit scoring mechanism to increase the ability of historically under-financed segments, such as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), to access formal credit. 10 “BSP launches credit scoring model,” Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, April 26, 2023.

Energy and Power

The outlook for the energy sector seems positive, with the potential to grow by 7 percent in 2024 as the country focuses on renewable energy generation. 11 McKinsey analysis based on input from industry experts. Currently, stakeholders are focused on increasing energy security, particularly on importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) to meet power plants’ requirements as production in one of the country’s main sources of natural gas, the Malampaya gas field, declines. 12 Myrna M. Velasco, “Malampaya gas field prod’n declines steeply in 2021,” Manila Bulletin , July 9, 2022. High global inflation and the fact that the Philippines is a net fuel importer are impacting electricity prices and the build-out of planned renewable energy projects. Recent regulatory moves to remove foreign ownership limits on exploration, development, and utilization of renewable energy resources could possibly accelerate growth in the country’s energy and power sector. 13 “RA 11659,” Department of Energy Philippines, June 8, 2023.

Gas, renewables, and transmission are potential growth drivers for the sector. Upgrading power grids so that they become more flexible and better able to cope with the intermittent electricity supply that comes with renewables will be critical as the sector pivots toward renewable energy. A recent coal moratorium may position natural gas as a transition fuel—this could stimulate exploration and production investments for new, indigenous natural gas fields, gas pipeline infrastructure, and LNG import terminal projects. 14 Philippine energy plan 2020–2040, Department of Energy Philippines, June 10, 2022; Power development plan 2020–2040 , Department of Energy Philippines, 2021. The increasing momentum of green energy auctions could facilitate the development of renewables at scale, as the country targets 35 percent share of renewables by 2030. 15 Power development plan 2020–2040 , 2022.

Growth in the healthcare industry may slow to 2.8 percent in 2024, while pharmaceuticals manufacturing is expected to rebound with 5.2 percent growth in 2024. 16 McKinsey analysis in partnership with Oxford Economics.

Healthcare demand could grow, although the quality of care may be strained as the health worker shortage is projected to increase over the next five years. 17 McKinsey analysis. The supply-and-demand gap in nursing alone is forecast to reach a shortage of approximately 90,000 nurses by 2028. 18 McKinsey analysis. Another compounding factor straining healthcare is the higher than anticipated benefit utilization and rising healthcare costs, which, while helping to meet people's healthcare budgets, may continue to drive down profitability for health insurers.

Meanwhile, pharmaceutical companies are feeling varying effects of people becoming increasingly health conscious. Consumers are using more over the counter (OTC) medication and placing more beneficial value on organic health products, such as vitamins and supplements made from natural ingredients, which could impact demand for prescription drugs. 19 “Consumer health in the Philippines 2023,” Euromonitor, October 2023.

Businesses operating in this field may end up benefiting from universal healthcare policies. If initiatives are implemented that integrate healthcare systems, rationalize copayments, attract and retain talent, and incentivize investments, they could potentially help to strengthen healthcare provision and quality.

Businesses may also need to navigate an increasingly complex landscape of diverse health needs, digitization, and price controls. Digital and data transformations are being seen to facilitate improvements in healthcare delivery and access, with leading digital health apps getting more than one million downloads. 20 Google Play Store, September 27, 2023. Digitization may create an opportunity to develop healthcare ecosystems that unify touchpoints along the patient journey and provide offline-to-online care, as well as potentially realizing cost efficiencies.

Consumer and retail

Growth in the retail and wholesale trade and consumer goods sectors is projected to remain stable in 2024, at 4 percent and 5 percent, respectively.

Inflation, however, continues to put consumers under pressure. While inflation rates may fall—predicted to reach 4 percent in 2024—commodity prices may still remain elevated in the near term, a top concern for Filipinos. 21 “IMF raises Philippine growth forecast,” July 26, 2023; “Nomura downgrades Philippines 2024 growth forecast,” September 11, 2023. In response to challenging economic conditions, 92 percent of consumers have changed their shopping behaviors, and approximately 50 percent indicate that they are switching brands or retail providers in seek of promotions and better prices. 22 “Philippines consumer pulse survey, 2023,” McKinsey, November 2023.

Online shopping has become entrenched in Filipino consumers, as they find that they get access to a wider range of products, can compare prices more easily, and can shop with more convenience. For example, a McKinsey Philippines consumer sentiment survey in 2023 found that 80 percent of respondents, on average, use online and omnichannel to purchase footwear, toys, baby supplies, apparel, and accessories. To capture the opportunity that this shift in Filipino consumer preferences brings and to unlock growth in this sector, retail organizations could turn to omnichannel strategies to seamlessly integrate online and offline channels. Businesses may need to explore investments that increase resilience across the supply chain, alongside researching and developing new products that serve emerging consumer preferences, such as that for natural ingredients and sustainable sources.

Manufacturing

Manufacturing is a key contributor to the Philippine economy, contributing approximately 19 percent of GDP in 2022, employing about 7 percent of the country’s labor force, and growing in line with GDP at approximately 6 percent between 2023 and 2024. 23 McKinsey analysis based on input from industry experts.

Some changes could be seen in 2024 that might affect the sector moving forward. The focus toward building resilient supply chains and increasing self-sufficiency is growing. The Philippines also is likely to benefit from increasing regional trade, as well as the emerging trend of nearshoring or onshoring as countries seek to make their supply chains more resilient. With semiconductors driving approximately 45 percent of Philippine exports, the transfer of knowledge and technology, as well as the development of STEM capabilities, could help attract investments into the sector and increase the relevance of the country as a manufacturing hub. 24 McKinsey analysis based on input from industry experts.

To secure growth, public and private sector support could bolster investments in R&D and upskill the labor force. In addition, strategies to attract investment may be integral to the further development of supply chain infrastructure and manufacturing bases. Government programs to enable digital transformation and R&D, along with a strategic approach to upskilling the labor force, could help boost industry innovation in line with Industry 4.0 demand. 25 Industry 4.0 is also referred to as the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Priority products to which manufacturing industries could pivot include more complex, higher value chain electronic components in the semiconductor segment; generic OTC drugs and nature-based pharmaceuticals in the pharmaceutical sector; and, for green industries, products such as EVs, batteries, solar panels, and biomass production.

Information technology business process outsourcing

The information technology business process outsourcing (IT-BPO) sector is on track to reach its long-term targets, with $38 billion in forecast revenues in 2024. 26 Khriscielle Yalao, “WHF flexibility key to achieving growth targets—IBPAP,” Manila Bulletin , January 23, 2024. Emerging innovations in service delivery and work models are being observed, which could drive further growth in the sector.

The industry continues to outperform headcount and revenue targets, shaping its position as a country leader for employment and services. 27 McKinsey analysis based in input from industry experts. Demand from global companies for offshoring is expected to increase, due to cost containment strategies and preference for Philippine IT-BPO providers. New work setups continue to emerge, ranging from remote-first to office-first, which could translate to potential net benefits. These include a 10 to 30 percent increase in employee retention; a three- to four-hour reduction in commute times; an increase in enabled talent of 350,000; and a potential reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of 1.4 to 1.5 million tons of CO 2 per year. 28 McKinsey analysis based in input from industry experts. It is becoming increasingly more important that the IT-BPO sector adapts to new technologies as businesses begin to harness automation and generative AI (gen AI) to unlock productivity.

Talent and technology are clear areas where growth in this sector can be unlocked. The growing complexity of offshoring requirements necessitates building a proper talent hub to help bridge employee gaps and better match local talent to employers’ needs. Businesses in the industry could explore developing facilities and digital infrastructure to enable industry expansion outside the metros, especially in future “digital cities” nationwide. Introducing new service areas could capture latent demand from existing clients with evolving needs as well as unserved clients. BPO centers could explore the potential of offering higher-value services by cultivating technology-focused capabilities, such as using gen AI to unlock revenue, deliver sales excellence, and reduce general administrative costs.

Sustainability

The Philippines is considered to be the fourth most vulnerable country to climate change in the world as, due to its geographic location, the country has a higher risk of exposure to natural disasters, such as rising sea levels. 29 “The Philippines has been ranked the fourth most vulnerable country to climate change,” Global Climate Risk Index, January 2021. Approximately $3.2 billion, on average, in economic loss could occur annually because of natural disasters over the next five decades, translating to up to 7 to 8 percent of the country’s nominal GDP. 30 “The Philippines has been ranked the fourth most vulnerable country to climate change,” Global Climate Risk Index, January 2021.

The Philippines could capitalize on five green growth opportunities to operate in global value chains and catalyze growth for the nation:

Renewable energy: The country could aim to generate 50 percent of its energy from renewables by 2040, building on its high renewable energy potential and the declining cost of producing renewable energy.
Solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing: More than a twofold increase in annual output from 2023 to 2030 could be achieved, enabled by lower production costs.
Battery production: The Philippines could aim for a $1.5 billion domestic market by 2030, capitalizing on its vast nickel reserves (the second largest globally). 31 “MineSpans,” McKinsey, November 2023.
Electric mobility: Electric vehicles could account for 15 percent of the country’s vehicle sales by 2030 (from less than 1 percent currently), driven by incentives, local distribution, and charging infrastructure. 32 McKinsey analysis based on input from industry experts.
Nature-based solutions: The country’s largely untapped total abatement potential could reach up to 200 to 300 metric tons of CO 2 , enabled by its biodiversity and strong demand.

The Philippine economy: Three scenarios for growth

Having grown faster than other economies in Southeast Asia in 2023 to end the year with 5.6 percent growth, the Philippines can expect a similarly healthy growth outlook for 2024. Based on our analysis, there are three potential scenarios for the country’s growth. 33 McKinsey analysis in partnership with Oxford Economics.

Slower growth: The first scenario projects GDP growth of 4.8 percent if there are challenging conditions—such as declining trade and accelerated inflation—which could keep key policy rates high at about 6.5 percent and dampen private consumption, leading to slower long-term growth.

Soft landing: The second scenario projects GDP growth of 5.2 percent if inflation moderates and global conditions turn out to be largely favorable due to a stable investment environment and regional trade demand.

Accelerated growth: In the third scenario, GDP growth is projected to reach 6.1 percent if inflation slows and public policies accommodate aspects such as loosening key policy rates and offering incentive programs to boost productivity.

Focusing on factors that could unlock growth in its seven critical sectors and themes, while adapting to the macro-economic scenario that plays out, would allow the Philippines to materialize its growth potential in 2024 and take steps towards achieving longer-term, sustainable economic growth.

Jon Canto is a partner in McKinsey’s Manila office, where Frauke Renz is an associate partner, and Vicah Villanueva is a consultant.

The authors wish to thank Charlene Chua, Charlie del Rosario, Ryan delos Reyes, Debadrita Dhara, Evelyn C. Fong, Krzysztof Kwiatkowski, Frances Lee, Aaron Ong, and Liane Tan for their contributions to this article.

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Chevening Scholarships

Fully-funded scholarships to undertake any master's course at any UK university. And so much more...

In this section

Chevening Scholarships enable outstanding emerging leaders from all over the world to pursue one-year master’s degrees in the UK. Whilst there is no ‘typical’ Chevening Scholar, we are looking for the kind of people who have the passion, ideas, and influence to provide the solutions and leadership needed to create a better future.

Because these scholarships are fully-funded (flights, accommodation, and course fees are all included), you are free to focus on achieving your professional goals and maximising the experience of a lifetime. You will live and study in the UK for a year, during which time you will develop professionally and academically, network extensively, experience UK culture, and build lasting positive relationships with the UK. On completing your studies, you will leave the UK equipped with the knowledge and networks necessary to bring your own ideas to life.

This section of the website contains all of the information you need in order to successfully submit an application. We encourage you to review it fully in order to ensure that you have the best possible chance of being selected for an award.

For more information about Chevening Scholarships, please subscribe to our newsletter, The Alphagram.

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Do your homework

Applying for a Chevening Scholarship is a competitive and challenging process. To give yourself the best chance of success, it is advisable that you do as much research as possible. We've collated the most important information for you here.

Who can apply?

Are you eligible for a scholarship? Learn more about Chevening’s eligibility and work experience requirements.

Guidance for your application

Before submitting your application, it is recommended that you read the guidance offered.

Research master's courses

Trying to find the right courses for your application? Our course finder is here to make your search easier.

Application timeline

How long does it take to find out if you've been successful? Understand the process by looking at the timeline.

Why study in the UK?

The UK is home to many of the world's best universities, but why else might you want to study here?

Apply for an award

Applications for Chevening Scholarships are now closed.

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Tips for Chevening Essay Questions, New
How To Write A Winning Chevening Scholarship Essay 2021/2022
Chevening Essay Questions
Tips for Chevening Essay Questions, New
CHEVENING 2022 : ANSWERING YOUR CHEVENING QUESTIONS
How to write Chevening Essay Career Plan PART 2

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Breakdown of Chevening Essay Questions: A Comprehensive Guide
Navigating the Chevening essay questions requires a thoughtful approach that showcases your unique qualities, aspirations, and commitment to positive change. By addressing each question's specific focus and providing well-structured responses, you can present a compelling case for why you are an ideal candidate for the Chevening scholarship. ...
Part 2: Applying for the Chevening Scholarship (Essay Tips)
Four Essay Topics. Leadership and Influence. Chevening is looking for individuals who will be future leaders or influencers in their home countries. Explain how you meet this requirement, using clear examples of your own leadership and influencing skills to support your answer. ... She is a part of the 2021/2022 Chevening cohort, pursuing a ...
How I Won a Chevening Scholarship
As with all other applications, do not leave anything until the eleventh hour. The online application system can slow down badly as the deadline approaches, so try to get things sorted well ahead of time. This year, the deadline is 1 November 2022. If you need more guidance, I'd suggest you keep an eye out for Chevening workshops.
Chevening Applications Q&A: your questions answered
31 August 2023. We held two Q&A sessions on our Instagram and Facebook channels last week to answer your questions about the Chevening Application process. As we were not able to answer every question in the time that we had (we received over 500!), here is our summary of the most common questions that came up, and our answers to them.
How to Apply and Win the Chevening Award. Writing the 4 Essays
In this video, Prince Gideon Olarenwaju -a Chevening Alum- shares helpful tips in acing the 4 essay questions. Here he dissects each of the questions and of...
Guidance
Preparation is key to giving yourself the best chance of being awarded a fully funded Chevening Scholarship to study in the UK. To help you, we've collated our best guidance and advice. You'll also find our terms and conditions. If your application is successful, you'll need to agree to these before accepting your award.
CHEVENING 2022 : ANSWERING YOUR CHEVENING QUESTIONS
Chevening Scholarships are now open and I continue to receive questions on how to write the essays which I am always happy to respond to. In this video, we g...
How to answer the 4 #CHEVENING ESSAY
As a part of my Chevening video series, here I talk about the tips in answering the 4 Chevening essay! Don't forget to write down some of these valuable tips...
Application timeline
2024/2025 Chevening Scholars commence their studies in the UK, and enter into an international network that they'll be a part of for the rest of their lives! The process of selecting Chevening Scholars takes a minimum of eight months from the application deadline to when applicants are conditionally selected for an award.
Chevening Application: Networking Essay Tips
Your networking essay is complete! Situation: I wanted to organise a community humanitarian outreach to IDPs. Task: Reach out to IDPs, Get NYSC's approval, source for funds, source for clothes and food. Action: My team member knew some people who knew the head of the IDPs, wrote a letter to NYSC, went round to all the major stakeholders in my ...
TIPS ON WRITING YOUR EFFECTIVE CHEVENING ESSAYS: A ...
The final paragraph is where you bring your essay to a resounding conclusion. Summarize your perspective on the topic, referencing, and reinforcing your initial viewpoint. Offer an insightful ...
Tips for Chevening Essay Questions, New
Written By: Shaher Hamdan, Reviewed By: Dr. Marwa Hamdan. Tips for Chevening Essay Questions. There are a total of 4 essays, each should be between 50-500 words; 1) leadership essay. 2) Networking skills essay. 3) Why do you want to pursue your studies in the UK essay. 4) Future career plan essay. Reference letters.
Crafting Your Chevening Scholarship Application Essay: A Structured
Only the most exceptional candidates are chosen for the prestigious Chevening Scholarship. Crafting an effective Chevening essay requires a thoughtful approach that begins with a deep understanding of the essay prompt. By brainstorming, outlining, highlighting achievements, and improving on grammar, flow, composition, and relevancy, applicants ...
Preparing for Your Chevening Interview: Tips from a Current ...
5. The interview day. On the day of the interview, dress to impress and look confident; sit straight, keep your hands on the table, use body language, make eye contact, and smile (not all the time ...
Chevening Scholarship: How to answer these 5 interview questions
Top tips on acing the Chevening scholarship interview. 1. "Tell us about yourself.". Keanu Reeves famously said: "Sometimes simple things are the most difficult things to achieve.". Likewise, some of the most challenging questions to answer are straightforward ones. For Argenis Toyo, a Chevening scholar from Venezuela, one of the first ...
Chevening Scholars share top tips for hopeful applicants
Faith Fao. Master of Public Health, University of Glasgow. 'My top tip is to extend grace to yourself by believing you deserve the award. A positive mindset goes along way during this process!'. Applications for Chevening Scholarships are open until 7 November 2023. Don't wait until the last minute to submit your application - apply today!
What are the essays for Chevening?
Essay topics in 2022. In 2022, the Chevening Committee asked candidates to write the up to 500 words essays about the following topics. Chevening is looking for individuals who will be future leaders or influencers in their home countries. Explain how you meet this requirement, using clear examples of your own leadership and influencing skills ...
Chevening Awards 2022 Fill the Details .pdf
1/5 BACKGROUND Personal Information 2/5- ESSAY QUESTIONS In this section, you are asked to answer a series of short essay questions on the following areas: leadership and influence; relationship-building and shared learning; studying in the UK and your long-term career goals. As you are aware, Chevening is the UK Government's international awards programme aimed at developing global leaders.
Complete Chevening Essay Example
As a chevening scholar 2017/2018, i want to share my personal essay. Hopefully, it will help you to give another perspective why this essay could allow me to become cheveners. Leadership & Influence Question. I believe that leadership is one of my strongest qualities as I've had times where I needed it for survival.
Chevening scholarship: Requirements, Eligibility, Deadlines
When filling out the application form, you will face the four questions that you need to answer in an essay format, with the word limit being 500 words. The questions will vary, but the type of questions will be similar. Here are the different topics of each question and some tips on answering them. Q1) Networking Skills
Online application system
We have collated tips and advice for you when using the online application system: 1) Where possible, use the Google Chrome web browser, as this is recommended for the best experience. We recommend using a laptop or PC, rather than a mobile or tablet. 2) When completing your application form, work in a full-sized window.
Chevening Essay Competition For Nigerian Undergraduates 2022
Essay Objective: The overarching objective of the competition is to: Generate ideas that will be helpful for CAAN future engagement with the private sector, the Nigerian government and multilateral agencies on curbing illegal migration. Foster deeper inter-generational learning through interactions between CAAN members and the younger generations.
The Philippines economy in 2024
The Philippines ended 2023 on a high note, being the fastest growing economy across Southeast Asia with a growth rate of 5.6 percent—just shy of the government's target of 6.0 to 7.0 percent. 1 "National accounts," Philippine Statistics Authority, January 31, 2024; "Philippine economic updates," Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, November 16, 2023. ...
Scholarships
FAQs. Chevening Scholarships enable outstanding emerging leaders from all over the world to pursue one-year master's degrees in the UK. Whilst there is no 'typical' Chevening Scholar, we are looking for the kind of people who have the passion, ideas, and influence to provide the solutions and leadership needed to create a better future.