Sample of Personal Statement for Chevening Scholarship

Photo of author

In order to be eligible for a Chevening scholarship , you will need to submit a personal statement that tells us about your unique experience and why you are the best candidate for the program. This guide will show you how to write a personal statement for the Chevening scholarship that will help you stand out from the rest and potentially earn yourself a scholarship.

You should also apply for these Scholarships

  • Scholarships in Switzerland | Fully Funded Study
  • German Government Scholarships | Fully Funded
  • Scholarship in Italy For International Students | (Fully Funded)
  • Scholarships in Austria 2023 for International Students | Fully-Funded
  • Denmark Scholarships 2023 For International Students
  • University of Adelaide Australian Government Scholarships 2023

I am a recent graduate of a four-year university. I have participated in numerous extracurricular activities, including involvement with a student-run charity that helps underprivileged children. I also volunteer my time to teach young children how to read and write. In my free time, I enjoy reading, listening to music, and spending time with my family. I am confident that I have the qualities and experiences that will make me an excellent candidate for the Chevening Scholarship program.

As a student, I have always been an avid reader. It is through my love of reading that I have developed an interest in international affairs. I am confident that this interest will benefit me as I pursue a career in diplomacy.

My time spent at university has also given me the opportunity to develop strong leadership skills. As president of my student government, I was able to successfully lobby for funding and bring about change on campus. This experience has taught me how to work effectively with others and develop comprehensive plans. In addition, I have worked as a volunteer tutor for disadvantaged youth and as a member of Amnesty International USA’s board of directors. These experiences have shown me how to be fervently engaged in my community and how to contribute positively to society.

I am confident that my background in international affairs and my leadership skills will make me a valuable asset to any organization. If chosen for the Chevening Scholarship, I would devote myself completely to completing the program and contributing to British diplomacy.

Work Experience

I have had experience working in a variety of different environments both in the UK and abroad. I have worked as a barista, a customer service representative and most recently as a marketing manager. I have gained experience in working with a diverse range of clients and I have developed strong interpersonal skills. This has given me an insight into how businesses work and has equipped me with the knowledge to carry out effective marketing programs.

Activities and Hobbies

When I’m not studying or working, I enjoy spending time outdoors hiking, biking, and camping. I also enjoy playing the violin and reading. In my spare time, I like to cook and experiment with new recipes.

Community Service

In my community service experience, I have worked with a wide variety of organizations and communities. I have always been motivated to give back to my community, and this has been furthered by my experiences in community service.

I have found that working with different organizations gives me a better understanding of the needs of my community and the ways in which I can help meet those needs. My most recent experience was working with a homeless shelter. During my time there, I learned about the challenges facing homeless individuals and how I could help make a difference.

I am confident that my experiences in community service will help me to be successful as a scholar at the Chevening Scholarship Program. In addition, my skills in communication, problem-solving, and leadership would be valuable assets in any organization or community.

In order to be competitive for a Chevening Scholarship, it is essential to have a strong personal statement. This document should demonstrate your writing skills, your dedication to international affairs, and your passion for global travel. Here is an example of a personal statement for a Chevening Scholarship:

I am extremely passionate about international affairs and the opportunities that travel provides for understanding different cultures. I have traveled extensively throughout Africa and Asia, and I hope to continue exploring new parts of the world through scholarship programs like the Chevening Scholarship. I am confident that my experiences and interests will contribute invaluably to my academic achievements and future career aspirations. Thank you for considering me for this award!

Sample Personal Statement for a Fulbright Scholarship

I am extremely excited to be applying for the Fulbright Scholarship. I have been involved in international volunteer work since high school and have always been interested in learning more about other cultures. I believe that this program will allow me to gain invaluable experience and knowledge in different parts of the world. I am confident that my skills and experiences will benefit both my academic career and future travel plans. Thank you for considering me for this award!

             For More Scholarship Opportunities Follow our  Facebook Page,   Twitter , and Telegram

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

Latest Post

Scholarships in Hong Kong without IELTS

Scholarships in Hong Kong without IELTS 2024

York University Scholarships 2024 in Canada | Fully Funded

York University Scholarships 2024 in Canada | Fully Funded

Fully-Funded Turkish Government Scholarship 2024

Fully-Funded Turkish Government Scholarship 2024

GREAT UK Scholarships 2024-2025 | (Fully Funded)

GREAT UK Scholarships 2024-2025 | (Fully Funded)

Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2024 | Fully Funded

Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2024 | Fully Funded

1000+ Denmark Government Scholarships 2024 | Fully Funded

1000+ Denmark Government Scholarships 2024 | Fully Funded

  • Bachelor Scholarships
  • Business Scholarship
  • College Scholarship in USA
  • Fellowship/Exchange Program
  • International Jobs
  • Master Scholarships
  • Medical Scholarship
  • Online Courses
  • PhD Scholarships
  • Postdoctoral Scholarships
  • Scholarships
  • Universities Acceptance Rate
  • Without IELTS Scholarships 2024

© Scholarshipsguider.com| All rights reserved

Privacy Policy | About Us | Contact Us

  • Scholarships

How To Write Personal Statement For Chevening Scholarship

  • 8 minute read

How To Write Personal Statement For Chevening Scholarship

  • September 26, 2023
  • No comments

Every year, the Chevening Scholarship provides countless individuals with the opportunity to pursue their dreams of higher education in the United Kingdom. However, securing this prestigious scholarship is no small feat. One of the pivotal elements in your Chevening application is the Personal Statement . This document serves as a window into your life, aspirations, and values. In this guide, we’ll explore the essential aspects of crafting a compelling Personal Statement that can make the difference between a rejection and a life-changing scholarship.

To write an effective personal statement, start by researching the Chevening program thoroughly to understand its mission and values. Reflect on your personal and professional journey to identify key experiences that have shaped you. Writing a personal statement for the Chevening Scholarship is a crucial step in the application process, and it requires careful consideration and planning. This statement serves as your opportunity to present a compelling narrative that showcases your unique experiences, aspirations, and commitment to Chevening’s values. To write an effective personal statement, start by researching the Chevening program thoroughly to understand its mission and values. Reflect on your personal and professional journey to identify key experiences that have shaped you.

Craft a well-organized statement that tells your story, highlights your achievements and leadership experiences, and demonstrates how you align with Chevening’s goals. Additionally, customize your statement for specific course choices if applicable, and seek feedback from trusted individuals to ensure clarity and conciseness. A thoughtfully written personal statement can make a significant difference in your Chevening Scholarship application, setting you on the path to pursuing higher education in the United Kingdom and contributing positively to your home country’s development.

Understanding the Chevening Personal Statement

The Chevening Personal Statement is more than just a few paragraphs about yourself. It’s your chance to shine, showcasing why you’re the perfect candidate for this scholarship. But before we delve into the art of crafting an outstanding statement, let’s lay the groundwork.

Length and Format Requirements: Chevening sets specific guidelines for the length and format of your Personal Statement. You must adhere to these requirements diligently to avoid any complications during the application process.

Key Components of a Personal Statement: The Personal Statement comprises crucial elements that tell your unique story. These include your background, achievements, aspirations, leadership experiences, and how you align with Chevening’s values. Mastering these components is pivotal to your success.

 Crafting an Engaging Personal Statement

Your Personal Statement is your chance to captivate the Chevening selection committee and make them believe in your potential. It’s the most critical piece of the puzzle, and it deserves your utmost attention.

Telling Your Story

The journey to a Chevening Scholarship often starts with your own life story. Sharing your background and experiences allows the committee to understand where you come from and how you’ve evolved. It also lays the foundation for showcasing your suitability for the scholarship.

-Discuss Your Background: Offer insights into your personal and academic journey. What events and experiences have shaped you into the person you are today? Highlight any challenges you’ve overcome , as they demonstrate resilience and determination.

Highlight Achievements and Aspirations: Your achievements are the proof of your capabilities. They showcase your dedication and excellence. Furthermore, your aspirations reveal your vision for the future. How do you plan to utilize the Chevening Scholarship to achieve your goals? Make it clear, concise, and compelling.

Demonstrating Leadership and Impact

Chevening scholars are expected to be future leaders who can make a positive impact on their home countries and the world. To convince the committee that you are such a candidate, you need to demonstrate your leadership abilities and your capacity to create meaningful change.

Discuss Leadership Experiences: Share instances where you assumed leadership roles, whether in academics, work, or community projects. Detail your responsibilities, challenges faced, and the outcomes achieved.

Show How You’ve Made a Positive Impact: Leadership is not just about titles; it’s about influence and impact. Highlight how your leadership efforts have resulted in tangible, positive changes in your community, workplace, or academic pursuits.

Aligning with Chevening Values

Chevening Scholars are expected to embody the program’s values of leadership, networking, and academic excellence. You must not only meet these values but also demonstrate your commitment to them.

Emphasize Your Commitment to Chevening’s Values: Explain how your experiences and aspirations align with Chevening’s core values. Showcase your dedication to leadership, your enthusiasm for building networks, and your pursuit of academic excellence.

Contribute to the Chevening Community: Describe how you plan to give back to the Chevening community and how you will use your scholarship to create positive changes in your home country.

The Writing Process

Stress the Need for Careful Planning and Drafting: Before you start writing your Chevening Personal Statement, it’s crucial to understand that this is not a task to be rushed. Careful planning and meticulous drafting are essential to create a compelling and effective statement.

Pre-writing Steps

Research the Chevening Program and Its Values: To write a statement that resonates with the selection committee, you need a deep understanding of the Chevening program, its mission, values, and goals . Conduct thorough research to gather this essential information.

Reflect on Your Personal and Professional Experiences: Take time to introspect and reflect on your life journey. What pivotal moments, challenges, or accomplishments have defined your path? How have your personal and professional experiences shaped your aspirations and values?

Drafting and Revising

Start with a Strong Opening: The beginning of your Personal Statement sets the tone. Craft an engaging and memorable opening that grabs the reader’s attention and introduces the core theme of your statement.

Organize Your Statement Effectively: Ensure a logical flow throughout your statement. Organize your content in a way that leads the reader through your story and key points seamlessly.

Revise for Clarity and Conciseness: Clarity is paramount. Review your draft multiple times, focusing on sentence structure, grammar, and vocabulary. Trim unnecessary words to ensure your statement is concise and impactful.

Showcasing Skills and Achievements

Explain the Significance of Highlighting Skills and Achievements: Your skills and achievements are like the evidence that supports your candidacy. They substantiate your claims and demonstrate your qualifications for the Chevening Scholarship.

Academic and Professional Achievements

Discuss Academic Accomplishments: Detail your academic journey, including any notable awards, scholarships, or research projects. Highlight academic achievements that showcase your intellectual capabilities and dedication to learning.

Highlight Professional Achievements and Experience: If you have work experience, emphasize your professional accomplishments. Discuss significant projects, promotions, or contributions to your workplace that illustrate your expertise and potential.

Leadership and Extracurricular Activities

Describe Leadership Roles: Provide examples of your leadership experiences, whether in school, work, or community involvement. Explain the impact of your leadership and how it aligns with your future goals.

Discuss Involvement in Extracurricular Activities: Mention your participation in extracurricular activities, clubs, or organizations that have allowed you to develop valuable skills and contribute to your community. Highlight any leadership roles or initiatives you took within these activities.

Language and Communication Skills

Showcase Language Proficiency: If applicable, discuss your proficiency in English or any other languages relevant to your Chevening application. Provide evidence of language proficiency through standardized tests or language courses.

Emphasize Effective Communication Skills: Effective communication is a critical skill for Chevening Scholars. Share examples of situations where your communication skills played a significant role in achieving positive outcomes, whether in your studies, work, or community engagements.

By following these guidelines in outlining the writing process and showcasing your skills and achievements, you can craft a Personal Statement that not only meets Chevening’s expectations but also sets you apart as an exceptional candidate. Remember, this is your opportunity to demonstrate why you are deserving of the Chevening Scholarship, so invest time and effort into making it shine.

Tailoring Your Statement for Chevening

Stress the Importance of Customizing Your Personal Statement: Crafting a one-size-fits-all personal statement won’t do justice to your Chevening application. Emphasize the necessity of customizing your statement to align with the unique values and requirements of the Chevening Scholarship.

Addressing Chevening’s Values and Objectives

Discuss How Your Goals Align with Chevening’s Mission: Begin by explaining how your personal and professional goals align with Chevening’s mission to create future leaders and influencers who drive positive change globally.

Show Your Commitment to Contributing to Your Home Country: Elaborate on your dedication to making a significant impact in your home country upon completing your studies in the UK. Highlight your vision for contributing to the betterment of your nation.

Adapting for Different Course Choices (if Applicable)

Customize Your Statement for Specific Courses: If you are applying for different courses, tailor your statement accordingly. Explain why each course is relevant to your career aspirations and how it will enable you to make a difference in your field.

Explain How the Chosen Course Fits Your Career Goals: For each course choice, demonstrate a clear connection between the course curriculum and your long-term career objectives. Convince the selection committee that your chosen field of study will equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to achieve your goals.

 Seeking Feedback and Proofreading

Emphasize the Value of Peer Reviews: Stress the importance of seeking feedback from mentors, professors, or colleagues who can provide valuable insights into your statement’s content, structure, and overall impact.

Highlight the Importance of Proofreading: A polished and error-free personal statement is essential. Emphasize the significance of thorough proofreading to eliminate grammatical errors, typos, and formatting issues.

Customizing your Chevening Personal Statement demonstrates your dedication to the scholarship and your commitment to making a meaningful contribution to your home country and the world at large. By following this outline, you’ll be better prepared to create a tailored and compelling statement that increases your chances of becoming a Chevening Scholar.

Crafting a personal statement for the Chevening Scholarship is not merely a formality; it’s a chance to tell your story, showcase your achievements, and align your aspirations with Chevening’s values. It’s a document that can open doors to transformative educational opportunities and a platform to contribute meaningfully to your home country’s development. By following the guidelines outlined and pouring your passion into your words, you can create a compelling personal statement that sets you apart as an ideal candidate for the Chevening Scholarship.

How long should my Chevening Personal Statement be?

The Chevening program typically requires a personal statement of approximately 500 to 600 words. It’s crucial to adhere to this word limit, as exceeding it may result in your application being disqualified.

Can I reuse my personal statement for multiple course choices within the Chevening application?

While you can reuse some sections of your personal statement, it’s essential to customize it for each course choice. Explain why each course aligns with your career goals to demonstrate your commitment to your chosen field of study.

What should I do if I have limited leadership experience to include in my personal statement?

If you have limited formal leadership roles, focus on showcasing instances where you’ve taken initiative, demonstrated problem-solving skills, or contributed to positive outcomes in your community or workplace. Leadership can take various forms, and the selection committee values your potential to grow as a leader.

' src=

Blessing Etim

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

You May Also Like

How Can I Get A Free Scholarship

  • 5 minute read

Can You Earn Scholarships While In College?

' src=

  • December 5, 2023

Is Link Crew Good For College

  • 7 minute read

Is Link Crew Good For College

  • January 8, 2024

How Many Clothes To Pack For College

How Many Clothes To Pack For College

' src=

  • December 4, 2023

How Bad Is Getting Engaged While In College

How Bad Is Getting Engaged While In College

  • November 30, 2023

What Percentage Of Incoming College Students Reported

What Percentage Of Incoming College Students Reported

' src=

  • September 27, 2023

is college worth it

How To Find Scholarships For College

  • December 1, 2023

chevening scholarship personal statement sample

laurensia.saraswati

Thoughts Left Unspoken

chevening scholarship personal statement sample

Writing Chevening Essay: Breakdown Those 4 Questions

Writing an essay for Chevening scholarship was not an easy task. But surely, we need to invest our time to write, revise and polish it. The whole writing process took me 1.5 months, but let’s not use this as a standard as anyone can have different situations.

In this post, I’m going to breakdown each question and share how I answered my Chevening essay. It is surely not the perfect one, but I’d like to share what I think essential when answering those four questions. I also did a mentoring program for Chevening applicants 19/20 and some of my mentees were accepted! Having said that, I’m sure there are some of my tips that you can use.

Disclaimer. This post does not reflect on the Chevening Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and its partner organisations. This story is just my experience and personal thoughts working on Chevening’s essay.

Without further ado, let’s go through each question.

IMG_5885

Leadership and Influence 

One of the common thoughts that most applicants have about leadership is the position; the title. I would say, no. The title is a legitimation that you have the power to lead, but beyond that, I think the most important thing that Chevening really look is the impact of your leadership. They are also looking for a potential leader. So, it does not matter if you don’t have a Manager, Head, Leader, etc in your resume as long as you can showcase your influencing and leadership skills by giving examples.

Before start writing, think about what leadership accomplishments that you had. List all down and select two to three examples that gave great impact and made you learn the most. Each question only allows 500 words hence we really need to be careful to choose which experience to be put in the essay. If you can, try to put examples in different cases and environment to show that you have a range of leadership experiences.

As I already mentioned in the previous post about general tips for writing Chevening  essay, it is important to give an introduction. Although this is just a suggestion, if you’re unsure where to start, you can try with what you believe about leadership or a brief about what kind of leader you think you are. After that, you can link to your leadership experiences, supporting your statement about the leadership that you write in the introduction. Build an engaging introduction is also crucial to make the panel stay reading your story. Remember, they read thousands of essays, at least you want to keep them engaged with your essay.

In my case, my first sentence in the intro was: I believe that the leaders are not born, but made through a process of hard work.  I then supported this statement by briefly telling several experiences during high schools and how it has been forming me primary wisdom about leadership. However, this is not my highlight of the leadership experience that I want to tell the panel. Hence, I used a linking sentence such as  I apply this wisdom to excel my role in current employment, but my training is never complete. The linking sentence could also serve as a bridge to the next thing I have on my plate and build the story’s flow.

Then, I wrote two examples of my leadership experiences which are happened in my office using Situation, Task, Actions, Result (STAR) structure. Read about this here . I would say give more portion for “action” because the more specific and detail you give, the more panellist know you hence more room to asses you.

I wrote one success story about my experiences in leading an early-stage start-up company. When you write a success story, make sure that you’re really specific about what you did, what steps that you did differently to achieve the goal? Did you face challenges? How did you overcome the challenge? Did people doubt you? How did you convince them to finally follow your leadership? I wrote about making an unpopular decision which I deemed a huge challenge; I should do it otherwise it won’t do any good for the company. From this story, I took an angle on the lesson learned and how it contributed to mature my emotions.

When you write about result, if you can, give a quantifiable result to justify the impact. However, the bottom line is to justify your impact. Tell them that there are people who benefited from the projects that you led — it could be personal or organisational.

Another thing is to mention your lesson learned. What you learned from each experience that contributes to your personal development. I personally think this is critical to show that you’re a human and a growing person. We all know that leadership is not a one-day skill, it takes years to sharpen it hence mistakes are okay to be mentioned as long as you can turn the “angle” into supporting your story.

Finish the essay with a closing paragraph which amplifies Chevening’s role in developing your leadership skill. What is your aspiration, in regards to leadership skill, if you were accepted as Chevening scholar? State this briefly and do the same for the next 4 questions.

IMG_5887

I would say that the networking question was a bit difficult for me to elaborate. Why? Because again, Chevening is looking for someone whose networking skills could create an impact. So, in my opinion, it’s not about showing off how big your network is or how often you attend networking events, instead of how you use your network to create a greater impact.

Using the same approach as in question 1, answer the question by STAR structure. Started by an introduction, get into the main body and finish with closing.

In my case, I was using my exchange program to South Korea during undergraduate study as a chance to meet new friends — where one of that friend was playing a great role of me working at an early-stage startup company, a place where I highlighted my  leadership skills in the first question. The company is obviously has been a place for me to create an impact on the team and communities. For instance, a collaboration opportunity with external media to provide cross-content and it would give us huge traffic for the website.

Emphasise the impact you’ve created because of the networking you did. Give two to three networking skills and experiences that you have and again, be detail. Highlight that the impact is not only beneficial for you, but also for another side that you network with.

In the closing, you should elaborate Chevening’s role in your networking skills, you can try to relate how Chevening would expand your networking and how will you use Chevening networking if you were accepted as Chevening scholar.

IMG_5888

Studying in the UK

While questions about leadership and networking are more to dig your skills and capability in becoming a potential future leader, in my opinion, questions about studying in the UK and career plan are crucial to showing your cause, passion and how do you stay true with that. This can be a very critical part that would differentiate you from other applicants I guess, as I would say that Chevening is looking for people who would serve and build their community. So, it is important to answer the last 2 questions coherently.

To make your essay coherent, try to answer these questions as a base for you to answer questions number 3 and 4.

  • What is my passion/concern?
  • What problems do I want to solve?
  • How will I solve the problems?

My ultimate advise for this part is don’t write more than 50% for the courses and campus rank. Write more about you: your passion, area of expertise, problems found in your field and what is your vision — which supposed to be related with your expertise area. Think about why taking a master study in those three sp ecific courses and universities is going to help you to achieve your vision. This information is really helpful to link and congruent your story in the question no.4 (career plan). 

In my case, I used a fact that the growth of digital start-up in Indonesia has been astonishing recently but it is not followed by the success rate of a startup. If you want to use a fact, don’t forget to put the source. I outlined that the major problem was startup founders mostly great in building products yet tend to ignore other managerial skills such as people development, sales and finance (again, I put source). I then linked this statement to my personal experience working in an early stage start-up company where I had limited experiences or skills which happens to be a similar situation like startup founders. Hence, a degree in innovation and entrepreneurship would give me a balanced set of technical skills and knowledge in building early ventures.

From previous paragraph, I answered three basic questions to outline my background. Who am I? — A start-up early employee, what is my passion? — early venture development, what problems do I want to solve? — the high rate of startup failure rate and how will you solve it? — a degree in innovation and entrepreneurship by Chevening scholarship as one of stepping stones and followed by action plans that I will write in the question no.4

After outlining the “background” story about you, you can write the three courses. Highlight the reason why you choose them, it can be the campus ranking, curriculum, or professors/projects. I chose Warwick University’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship because of the curriculum, the final project worth 50% of the final grade in which devoted to developing the business innovation carefully.  The school also placed the second rank of best Entrepreneurship master degree in the UK, after Oxford. My second choice was Imperial College and the third was the City University of London.

By the way, another advise choosing the school, besides research the course and its curriculum, do find out about the whole campus. Think about the facilities, clubs/societies, opportunities, the lifestyle (or living cost), nearby attractions, the city it’s located, etc. Ask current students about living in your designated campus, how do they like the campus and its surroundings? How about life after campus? I’m saying this not because I dislike Warwick University, instead, the campus has its own art centre and biggest sports centre in Coventry — which is realllly cool, but I would say Coventry itself doesn’t have many attractions to offer. But for the bright side, that really helps me to focus on my study and save money (it’s true!); it forces me to travel to other places more often hehe.  I would share my travel stories in other posts. Coventry also not too far from London and Birmingham, the two biggest cities in the UK. It’s easier for me to jump on opportunities in UK startups scene.

IMG_5890

Career Plans

One thing I always shared to Chevening applicants who asked me to proofread their essay is: make a clear plan and breakdown into short term, mid-term and long term goal. Ensure each breakdown is contributing to your long-term goals if that makes sense? This way, it shows that you know how to get there. In my case, I wrote for immediate plans (2 years after study), the next 5 years and beyond 5 years. Make sure that your career goals are answering your concern and supporting your passion (stated in question no.3) which forms a more congruent essay.

As you need to relate your career goals to what the UK Government do in your country, you need to research. This might be different in every country and it might change year by years. You can start the search from the official UK’s government website ( http://gov.uk/world/name of country/news). Research thoroughly and try to link what you can contribute through your career goal.

Another thing to highlight is state how Chevening is one of the paths you would greatly benefit to take you to your future goals. How would you apply things you got from Chevening (the scholarship, the network, the education, the international friends) in your future career path? In my case, I outlined that I would use network from Chevening alumni to open access for mentors who can guide and share expertise to founders in establishing a new business.

As this is the last question, end the whole essay with a strong “punchline”. Keep elaborate Chevening, you can try to summarise outlined your aspiration by being a Chevening scholar. In my case, I mentioned that I still have to acquire deeper knowledge in innovation and entrepreneurship, as well as expanding my network to collaborate together in solving the problem. I acknowledged that from previous experiences, I gained valuable lessons in networking and leadership, however, I believe it’s still not enough. I then closed with thus, by being a Chevening scholar, I believe I would be (fill in the blank). 

I hope this article helps you! I also want to highlight that this is just my personal experience and thoughts, it might be not relevant for different courses; many of my Chevening friends pursue a course that I don’t know it exists 😀 (but that’s what I like about Chevening: they acknowledge that future leaders can contribute in any field). Lastly, write the essay with all your heart, write what you feel right and true. Good luck, keep fighting and believe in yourself!

IMG_5889

Share this:

' src=

Published by laurensiairma

ESTJ; my stories are on my own perspective. View all posts by laurensiairma

61 thoughts on “Writing Chevening Essay: Breakdown Those 4 Questions”

[…] breakdown of each question is posted here. However, there are some important points I want to point out when you work for Chevening […]

Thank you! That’s really inspiring!

what a magnificent breakdown kak, terima kasih 🙂 *udah pinter cantik pula idamaannnnn huaa

Haha thank you! Goodluck!!

Thank you so much! My leadership essay exceeds the word count of 500, will the reading committee consider my application? this is my biggest concern, please leave me a reply if you know about the issue.

HI Mohammad, I think it will be best to stay at 500. Panellists read thousands of essays, they probably do skimming reading and you don’t want to leave them uninterested if your story is too long. It’s our challenge to make our essay is engaging and effective within 500 words. It’s hard indeed, but just be direct and straight to the answers asked in the questions. Hope it helps.

Thanks a lot for your all your tips! I’m glad I bumped into your blog. I have a tiny question related to essays 3 and 4: when I write about the efforts of the UK being made in my country, do I need to cite/quote the, let’s say, the FCDO and put their reference somewhere? I’m wondering since I think the link itself would take away many words out of my 500 word count. Or is there a specific format I should stick to? Thanks once again!!

Hi Mitch. When I cited the source, I just write “according to xxx research in 2015 (for example)..” and then put the whole link in the footnote. Actually there’s no specific format about citing (As this is not academic essay) and I guess this format worked well. Hope it helps!

Amazing guidance, many thanks for sharing this with us confused youths. I am working for an educational Facebook page in Vietnam (which works to aid scholarship applicants in their process and is currently having over 41 000 followers). May I translate this entry into Vietnamese and share it on my page? I will credit you with this link and send you the draft before publishing Thank you in advance,

Hi Anne, thanks for reaching me out. Yes, sure you can 🙂 Please head to my Instagram @laurensiaimce and dm me. Thank youu!

Thank you so much for such an amazing and detailed information.

Dear Linos, Thanks for the kind word!

Thank you. Your insights shed bright lights on what panel really look for and what they expect. It is my first year applying for Chevening. The process itself offers so much excitement. I am a language teacher and want to develop myself as leader and influencer in education. Could I contact you directly to get help for my essays? thank you.

Hi Bekzod, yes you can head to my Instagram and leave me a dm. Thank you!

Thank you for this! Its a wonderful detailed and helpful article!

Thank youuuu!

Thank you so much Lauren, your posts has been really helpful. Please do you know if Chevening also supports for non partner universities

Hi Isaiah, they support non-partners too. If Im not mistaken, what makes different between partner and non-partner is the scholarship ratio between chevening and the sponsors (partner). For awardee, there wont be any impact.

priceless informaion!!!

Thank you 🙂

Thank you for this article Lauren, please can I send you a mail

Hello ! I am a student applying for Chevening . This is my first time. I have no IG or FB. May i have your mail ID? I request you to proofread my essays and offer feedback. Many thanks, M

Hi, please contact me via linkedin: Laurensia Irma Saraswati. Thank youu!

A very thoughtful article! I am also applying for Chevening scholarship this year. This article gives me a lot of insights into my essay

May I ask you to proofread my essays kak? Thanks a lot!

Regards, FM

Hi Faisal, thank you so much for reading my blog! I’m currently unavailable for proof read, so sorry! Good luck for your application!

Hi Abdibasid, thank you for reading my blog too! Good luck for your application!

Hi Laurensia, thanks for sharing this insightful article. Just curious in your opinion, is it better to write all three courses or can I just focus to one course only?

Hi Dee, so sorry for late reply. I wrote all three courses but I explained the first choice slightly more than other two. It’s because I really like my first choice and highlight what I need to study there. Hope this helps.

Hello Laurensia, I am beyond grateful to you for this detailed article!. I tried to reach out to you on LinkedIn but it seems that it’s not possible to contact you via instant messaging. I hope you get to see my request.

Hi Assia, yeah we connected through Linkedin right? 🙂

This is a beautiful guide, if followed carefully with a mother luck, one can get the scholarship I believe. Thanks a bunch

Hi James, thank you so much for reading my blog. Good luck!!

Wow ! Just perfect post. One of the best posts I have ever read about Chevening. Heartfelt thanks ♡♡

Hi Marwa, thank youuuu!!

Thank you so much for this, your guidance was invaluable!

Dear Akeyo, thank youuu so much for the kind words. Good luck on your application!

Dear Laurensia, This is the most flexible article i have ever read for Chevening application. I have a question regarding experience as i have more than 6 years of experience which is totaling 11,000 hours (35 hours / week). The minimum requirement is 2,800 hours but i want to know is there any upper limit. if i show the full 11,000 into my application. Would it impact or not? Waiting for your reply. Thanks

Hi Sagheer,

Thanks for reading my blog! As far as I know there is an upper limit, but I forgot what the number is. Btw, if the system already recorded that you have min. 2000 hrs of working experience, you’ll be okay!

Thank you Laurensia for your reply. Yes i checked Chevening website they said a range of minimum 35 to maximum 60 hours per week. So what i understand is that i can add maximum employers as far as the time spend per week at each employer does not exceed 60 hours per week.

Halo, Kak Lauren! What an inspiring article :)) Kak Lauren, would you please be my mentee for Chevening 🙂 I do really need someone to review my essay. Hopefully you can be my mentee. Thankyou in advance :))

Hi Ratri, Apologies for late reply. I’m soo sorry I’m currently unavailable for becoming a mentor neither proofread assistance 😦 Good luck in your application!

HeyLaurensia, Loved the the detailed article. I used the contents in your blog to edit my essays. Thank you so much.

Hi Maryam, thanks for your kind word! Good luck for your application!

Dear Laurensia, I am so excited to read your blog which has a completed information for potential applicants. I have question that i have worked more than 11,000 hours and if i want to show them in full does it have a negative impact on my application? Is there any Upper limit for working hours?

Thanks the insights

hello Laurensia, Thank you for this help! I want to ask if it’s okay to write UK in essay or we have to in full (united kingdom)? another qn is that, is there a problem when one chooses one course at all three universities or we have to choose three courses as well?

That was very usefull I think if this essey included some bullet piont can be more ataractive. Tank you .

Halo kak,… Ketika kita copas essay ke sistem chevening,sebaiknya antar paragraf diberi spasi (di-enter) atau tidak ya? Apakah hal ini mempengaruhi? Terima kasih

Apologise for very late reply. Aku dikasih paragraf dulu, supaya bacanya enak. Jujur gak tau mempengaruhi atau nggaknya, cuma at least buat akunya sendiri, aku jadi bisa baca lebih jelas. Hope this helps!

Hi Laurensia, thank you for such great tips on writing the chevening essay. I have been applying for chevening scholarship for the past 3 years and I am not shortlisted for interviews. I was wondering if you would be able to give me points on my essays? It would be great help for me. Thank you!

great explanation, really help me to start my essay! i’ll just bookmarked this, then

Thank you! Goodluck!

Hello, I am really glad i came across your blog. My questions are, I was given admission in only one University and that is the course i really wanted, can i just focus on that one course? I also want to know, what to know the most challenging stage for you. How long can the process of writing the essay take? Do i need someone to guide and coach me physically?

Hi Simon, thanks for reading my blog. I think, based on Chevening requirement, we still need to provide 3 courses. Perhaps you want to include similar courses in 3 different campus? Because as far as I know, if applicants can’t obtain the unconditional acceptance letter from the first choice, then they can submit LOA from the second choice.

The most challenging stage while writing essay was connecting the dots. I had several leadership & networking experiences, but struggled to showcase which one to put in the essay(since I only have 500 words). I know what to study, but difficult how to link it with future career and past experiences. I got helped by a friend and together we dig down what should be included in the essay, what is not. The process itself was more like a journey to know more of what I’m good at and my aspiration is.

For guide and coach, it depends on you. If you think you really know what your passion is and have clear aspiration, then maybe no need. Sometimes coach/mentor helps to connect your dots, it is you who should discover the dot itself.

Hope it helps, good luck!

thanks a lot forthis great article Laurencia, I wanted to know how we can get the university admission ? in the website part where you can search the available courses , they don’t show them you have to write the name or the university or course ? thnks for your help

Hi Hamza, you can find the course & campus list here: https://www.chevening.org/scholarships/find-a-course/ the list has a direct link to the campus website.

thank you so much be blessed

Thank youu!

Hello Dear Laurencia,

I hope that you are doing well and that Eid passed in a good way for you and your family , how can I contact you please it’s urgent , thanks a lot I made comments in the past but you don’t respond

Leave a comment Cancel reply

' src=

  • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
  • Subscribe Subscribed
  • Copy shortlink
  • Report this content
  • View post in Reader
  • Manage subscriptions
  • Collapse this bar

logo

Guidance from our top admission experts — for free!

bachelors

  • Admit Finder

Discover Past Admits, Gauge Your Chances!

  • Shortlist Builder

Personalized University Picks, Just a Click Away.

  • Course Finder

Navigate Global Courses Tailored for You

  • Scholarship Finder

Unlock Funding Opportunities Worldwide.

pro

Get tailored study abroad advice.

close

Sign in for exclusive content!

chevening scholarship personal statement sample

Planning to study abroad?

close

Build your target shortlist and see your odds of getting into top schools with Ambitio's AI shortlist builder!

close

Heading Out Already?

Our Ivy League mentors and top admission experts can help with personalized tips to get you into your dream school

23 November 2023

6 minutes read

Crafting a Winning Chevening Personal Statement for Your Scholarship Essay

author-avatar

Dirghayu Kaushik

linkedin

Worried about the cost of Studying Abroad?

Sign up to access 25 game-changing scholarships that could cover your costs.

  • Introduction to the Chevening Personal Statement

The Chevening Scholarship, a renowned UK government-funded program, offers a transformative opportunity for ambitious individuals to pursue postgraduate studies in the UK.

Integral to the Chevening application is the personal statement, a pivotal document that distinguishes you in a highly competitive candidate pool.

This blog explores essential strategies for crafting a compelling personal statement, emphasizing your unique strengths and aligning them with the Chevening ethos.

Understanding the Importance of the Personal Statement in the Chevening Application

Your personal statement is not just an essay; it’s a narrative of your journey, ambitions, and potential as a future leader. It’s your chance to convey to the selection committee why you stand out from other candidates, how the Chevening Scholarship aligns with your career aspirations, and how you intend to leverage this opportunity for your personal growth and the betterment of your community.

Stuck on How to Pick Your Ideal College?

Sign up to access your tailored shortlist and simplify finding your ideal college.

  • Essential Elements of a Chevening Personal Statement

Demonstrating Leadership and Influence

Leadership and influence are cornerstones of the Chevening ethos. Discuss instances where you’ve demonstrated these traits, whether through work experience, community service, or engagement in social services.

Emphasizing Your Leadership Journey: Recount specific examples of your leadership experience. It could be a project you spearheaded at work, a community initiative you led, or a challenging situation where you influenced others for a positive outcome. Reflect on what these experiences taught you about leadership and how they have prepared you for future challenges.

Showcasing Your Ability to Influence Others: Illustrate how you’ve positively influenced your peers, organization, or community. This could include mentoring others, driving change in your workplace, or volunteering in community projects. Explain how these experiences have honed your skills in influencing and motivating others towards a common goal.

Aligning Your Career Goals with the Scholarship

Your career goals should resonate with the objectives of the Chevening Scholarship. Articulate how the scholarship will enable you to achieve your professional aspirations.

Outlining Your Career Plan: Clearly state your short-term and long-term career goals. Explain how these goals are aligned with your field of study and how the Chevening Scholarship will help you achieve them. Be specific about the role this scholarship will play in your career trajectory.

Connecting Your Studies to Your Career Objectives: Elucidate how your chosen field of study is pertinent to your career objectives. Discuss the skills and knowledge you hope to gain through your studies in the UK and how they are crucial for your future professional endeavors.

Networking and Community Engagement

Networking and community engagement are vital aspects of the Chevening experience. Highlight your skills in these areas and your plans for future engagement.

Building and Leveraging Networks: Discuss your current networking strategies and how you plan to expand them through the Chevening Scholarship.

Highlight any existing connections with Chevening alumni or other professionals in your field, and discuss how you plan to build on these relationships.

Engaging with Communities: Reflect on your past community engagement experiences. How have these shaped your understanding of global issues?

Discuss your plans to continue this engagement during and after your studies in the UK, emphasizing how the Chevening network will aid in these endeavors.

See how Successful Applications Look Like!

Access 350K+ profiles of students who got in. See what you can improve in your own application!

  • Crafting a Compelling Narrative

Creating a narrative that captivates and resonates with the Chevening Scholarship selection committee is crucial. Here are key points to consider when constructing your narrative:

  • Begin with a compelling hook that captures your unique story or perspective.
  • Introduce your background, highlighting experiences that have shaped your aspirations and values.
  • Share personal stories that showcase your ability to overcome challenges.
  • Reflect on how these experiences have contributed to your personal and professional development.
  • Illustrate how your life experiences have influenced your career path.
  • Discuss pivotal moments or influential individuals who have guided your professional journey.
  • Detail your academic achievements, professional experiences, and any recognitions or awards.
  • Emphasize how these accomplishments have prepared you for future challenges and successes.
  • Clearly state your long-term career goals and how they align with the Chevening objectives.
  • Discuss your vision for contributing to your field, community, or country in the future.
  • Include specific examples of leadership roles and initiatives you have undertaken.
  • Highlight how these experiences have honed your leadership and team-building skills.
  • Justify your selected field of study and its alignment with your career aspirations.
  • Discuss how studying in the UK under the Chevening program will help you achieve your goals.
  • Illustrate your understanding of global issues and how you plan to address them.
  • Include examples of community service, volunteer work, and international experiences.
  • Discuss why the Chevening Scholarship is crucial for your career development.
  • Explain how this opportunity will enable you to contribute to the Chevening community and beyond.
  • Reinforce your commitment to your goals and the values of the Chevening program.
  • Leave a lasting impression that underscores your potential as a future leader.

Remember, your narrative should be cohesive, engaging, and reflective of your unique journey. It should convey not only your achievements and aspirations but also your character and potential to be an influential leader.

Telling Your Unique Story

Your personal statement should reflect your unique journey. Share your personal experiences, challenges overcome, and lessons learned. This narrative should weave together your academic achievements, work experiences, and personal growth, presenting a holistic picture of who you are and what you aspire to be.

Highlighting Personal Growth and Resilience: Share anecdotes that showcase your resilience and ability to overcome challenges. This could include personal, academic, or professional obstacles you’ve faced and how you’ve grown from these experiences.

Connecting Personal Experiences with Professional Aspirations: Discuss how your personal experiences have shaped your professional goals. This could include influential moments, key individuals who have inspired you, or significant life events that have directed your career path.

Reflecting on Past Achievements and Future Potential

The Chevening Scholarship is awarded to individuals who have demonstrated exceptional achievements and possess the potential for future success. Reflect on your past achievements and how they indicate your potential for future impact.

Showcasing Academic and Professional Achievements: Detail your academic successes, professional milestones, and any recognitions or awards you have received. Explain how these achievements are steps towards your larger career goals.

Projecting Future Success and Impact: Articulate your vision for the future. How do you see yourself contributing to your field, community, or country in the long run? Discuss how the Chevening Scholarship will be instrumental in realizing this vision.

get-pro

Start Your University Applications with Ambitio Pro!

Get Ambitio Pro!

Begin your journey to top universities with Ambitio Pro. Our premium platform offers you tools and support needed to craft standout applications.

Unlock Advanced Features for a More Comprehensive Application Experience!

get-pro

Start your Journey today

  • Addressing Key Components of the Chevening Scholarship

Understanding the Chevening Criteria

It’s crucial to align your personal statement with the core criteria of the Chevening Scholarship. This includes demonstrating leadership potential, a clear career plan, the desire to develop a global network, and the intention to return to your home country post-study to contribute positively.

Meeting the Leadership Criteria: Reiterate instances where you have demonstrated leadership. This could be in a professional setting, through volunteer work, or in academic pursuits.

Outlining a Clear Career Plan: Ensure that your career plan is well-articulated, realistic, and aligns with the values and objectives of the Chevening Scholarship. Discuss how your intended course of study in the UK will help you achieve these career goals.

Writing with Clarity and Purpose

A well-written personal statement is clear, concise, and purposeful. It should be structured logically, with each paragraph flowing seamlessly into the next. Use this opportunity to demonstrate your communication skills, a key attribute for Chevening scholars.

Maintaining Clarity and Coherence: Organize your thoughts logically. Each paragraph should focus on a specific theme or aspect of your application, building a coherent narrative throughout the essay.

Being Concise and Purposeful: Avoid unnecessary details. Focus on experiences and achievements that are most relevant to the Chevening criteria and your career objectives. Each sentence should add value to your narrative.

  • Conclusion: Your Path to a Chevening Scholarship

A strong personal statement for the Chevening Scholarship is more than just an essay; it’s a testament to your journey, aspirations, and potential as a future leader.

By highlighting your leadership skills, aligning your career aspirations with the scholarship’s aims, and showcasing your potential to influence, you create a compelling narrative that resonates with the selection committee.

Remember, this scholarship is not just about academic excellence; it’s about finding future leaders who will make a global impact. Your personal statement is the first step in that journey.

How long should my Chevening personal statement be?

Your personal statement should adhere to the word limit specified by the Chevening Scholarship. It’s typically around 500-700 words. Focus on being concise and clear, covering all relevant aspects without exceeding the word limit.

Can I apply for the Chevening Scholarship if I have already studied in the UK?

Yes, previous study in the UK does not disqualify you from applying for the Chevening Scholarship. However, you should demonstrate how further study in the UK aligns with your career objectives and benefits your home country.

Should I mention specific universities or courses in my personal statement?

Yes, mentioning specific universities or courses can strengthen your application by showing that you have a clear and informed plan for your studies in the UK. Ensure that these choices align with your career goals and the objectives of the Chevening program.

Spread the Word!

Share across your social media if you found it helpful

logo

Table of Contents

  • • Introduction to the Chevening Personal Statement
  • • Essential Elements of a Chevening Personal Statement
  • • Crafting a Compelling Narrative
  • • Addressing Key Components of the Chevening Scholarship
  • • Conclusion: Your Path to a Chevening Scholarship

Build your profile to get into top colleges

Phone Number

What level are you targetting

back

Almost there!

Just enter your OTP, and your planner will be on its way!

Code sent on

Resend OTP (30s)

whatsapp

Your Handbook Is Waiting on WhatsApp!

Please have a look, and always feel free to reach out for any detailed guidance

whatsapp

Click here to download

Meanwhile check out your dashboard to access various tools to help you in your study abroad journey

get-pro

Recent Blogs

chevening scholarship personal statement sample

How To Write a Film and Media Studies Personal Statement 

chevening scholarship personal statement sample

Good Psychology Books to Read for Personal Statement

chevening scholarship personal statement sample

Good Economics Books for Personal Statement 

Find your Dream school now⭐️

Welcome! Let's Land Your Dream Admit.

Let us make sure you get into the best!

dropdown-icon

  • 2024 Winter
  • 2024 Spring
  • 2024 Summer

Enter verification code

Code was sent to

logo

  • Our Experts

Connect with us on our social media

Mavis Braga Logo.png

  • Sep 17, 2020

Part 2: Applying for the Chevening Scholarship (Essay Tips)

Updated: Oct 14, 2020

This serves as Part 2 of the Chevening Tips, in the event that you would like insight in as far as what is Chevening and an overall insight on what is required to apply, kindly have a look at Part 1: Applying for the Chevening Scholarship (FAQ).

Applying for the Chevening Scholarship Series

Three Years a Charm: Becoming a Chevening Scholar

Part 1: Applying for the Chevening Scholarship (FAQ)

Disclaimer: Note that the advice given here below is my own personal opinion and not that of the Chevening Secretariat or the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office .

chevening scholarship personal statement sample

When applying for the Chevening Scholarship, you will be required to submit four written essays, each a minimum of 100 words and a maximum of 500 words.

Quick Tips on how to write your 4 Chevening Essays:

When writing your essays, use the STAR and SMART approach.

Ensure that you cover the bases in each of your essays, mentioning the most important elements.

Your essays have to be truthful, concise, and well-written.

Ensure that you tell a story when writing your essays, you can add bullet points to list achievements and highlight career goals however there should be a flow.

Ensure that any stranger can make out what you are trying to say, making it clear what you are talking about. When making references to data or situations from your home country, be sure to mention the country's name.

Refrain using words like our and their, and opt to name what you are talking about.

Use Grammarly to spell check your work and ensure that your grammar is correct.

STAR Approach - Derived from Muse

Situation: Set the scene and give the necessary details of your example.

Task: Describe what your responsibility was in that situation.

Action: Explain exactly what steps you took to address it.

Result: Share what outcomes your actions achieved.

SMART Approach - Derived from CFI

Specific: Well defined, clear, and unambiguous.

Measurable : With specific criteria that measure your progress toward the accomplishment of the goal.

Achievable: Attainable and not impossible to achieve.

Realistic: Within reach, realistic, and relevant to your life purpose.

Timely: With a clearly defined timeline, including a starting date and a target date. The purpose is to create urgency.

Four Essay Topics

chevening scholarship personal statement sample

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. - Question as per the Chevening Website

Using the methods explained above (STAR AND SMART Approach), ensure that you speak on the times you have depicted leadership traits, the leadership positions you have occupied and the times you have displayed a position of influence. These can range from managerial positions, leadership in organizations (NGO's included), or in your day-to-day life. In addition, you can touch on what leadership ambitions you have and how this ties back to your community.

It is important to ensure that the examples are impact-driven and not only for self-gain.

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. - Question as per the Chevening Website

Writing your networking essay is primarily about showing clear examples of the relationships you have built, how they were established, and how you have managed to maintain them. In addition, highlight how these said relationships have been instrumental in your personal development and the work that you do. Ensure that you are able to glean from every example the skill acquired and how these skills will be useful to you in the future as a possible Chevening scholar. This essay, in essence, is to show that you have the ability to use the opportunities given to you in a tangible and impactful manner.

Career Plan

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. - Question as per Chevening Website

This essay provides an opportunity for you to layout an immediate 2-year plan, and a 5 to 10-year plan. Your plans need to be attainable and should speak to your ambitions as laid out in your career plan. The most important tip for when writing out your career plan, is to ensure that when you touch on your professional experience, it not be written as though it is a Curriculum Vitae but rather speaking on impact, journey, and career trajectory. You too are welcome to link your journey thus far, to how this informs your next career move, namely pursuing a masters degree. You should depict an understanding of what you want to do in the future, how this is tangibly attainable, and what your ambitions are long term.

Studying in the UK

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 do not duplicate the information you have entered on the work experience and education section of this form. - Question as per the Chevening Website

Do not duplicate your career essay in this essay, however, you can link the information. You will also be required to list the three universities you will be applying to, the name of the courses at the said universities, and why you chose the particular university.

Tip: Depending on which course you intend to study, google the top-performing universities in the said field to inform your university choice. Then ensure that the universities you would like to attend are Chevening partner universities, before finalizing your list of your three chosen universities.

Bonus: I have asked three scholars who have managed to successfully be chosen for Chevening before to assist with proofreading 3 prospective scholars essays before submission. Kindly note that these will be given on a first-come, first-serve basis. This available to a total of 9 prospective scholars and no more. Only the 9 successful prospective scholars will be contacted. If you are not contacted, unfortunately, the 9 spots were already taken.

To get your essays proofread - please fill in the form at the link here .

(Available to ONLY the first 9 applicants)

Proofreading volunteer scholars (each reading 3 prospective scholars essays EACH)

chevening scholarship personal statement sample

Rosalia Shiimi - Rosalia holds a BSc Honours Degree in Geology and a Certificate in Investment Management from the University of Cape Town. She is currently the Acting Grade Control Geologist at Vedanta Zinc International’s Gamsberg Operation. She is a part of the 2021/2022 Chevening cohort, pursuing a Master of Science in Applied Environment Geology at Cardiff University.

chevening scholarship personal statement sample

Abel is a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) and former Head of Internal Audit. He holds a Bachelor of Accounting Science and Postgraduate Diploma in Internal Auditing. In addition, he too is a Section Chairperson and Branch Executive member in SPYL and serve on the NCCI Windhoek Trading Committee. He will be pursuing a Master of Arts in International Relations at the University of Birmingham.

chevening scholarship personal statement sample

Hilja Eelu - Hilja is a UCT molecular biology graduate and a previous recipient of the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation Fellowship. Having been awarded both the Chevening and Commonwealth scholarship, she will be pursuing the MSc Control of Infectious Diseases at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine starting September 2020, thanks to the Commonwealth scholarship.

Additional Reading Material

Essay Tips from the Reading Committee of Chevening

Essay Examples

Writing an effective networking essay

My Application for Chevening Scholarship

Chevening Leadership Essay

How I won the Chevening Scholarship - Part 2: Writing your Essays

From One Powerhouse to another

Twitter - @MavisBraga

Instagram - @MavisBraga1

Facebook - Mavis Elias

Website - www.mavisbraga.com

Recent Posts

Practical tips for preparing for university 101: A checklist guide (Part 4)

Preparing for University 101: The Chevening guide (Part 3)

What they did not tell me about preparing for University Life

Eduperspective

Chevening Scholarship

Crafting an Outstanding Chevening Scholarship Personal Statement

The Chevening Scholarship, revered for nurturing global leaders, stands as a golden opportunity for students aspiring to pursue advanced studies. In this in-depth guide, we will navigate through the intricate process of composing a compelling personal statement tailored for students applying to the Chevening Scholarship. Beyond exploring the fundamental components of an outstanding personal statement, we’ll address common queries that often perplex applicants. This guide is designed to empower students, helping them articulate a narrative that not only resonates with the scholarship’s values but also maximizes their chances in the highly competitive selection process.

1. Understanding the Chevening Scholarship for University Students:

The Chevening Scholarship, established by the UK government, serves as a catalyst for global leaders, fostering international cooperation and positive change. For university students seeking scholarships to study abroad, particularly those with competitive skills and a chosen study program, this guide is invaluable. It offers insights into the intricate application process and how to present a personal statement that stands out amidst a highly competitive pool of applicants. The influence of Chevening alumni reaches far and wide, making this scholarship a highly sought-after opportunity.

2. Importance of the Personal Statement for Scholarship Applications:

At the core of your Chevening application lies the personal statement, a document that goes beyond listing achievements. It serves as a narrative, offering glimpses into your motivations, ambitions, and the unique perspective you bring to the table. This section explores why the personal statement holds such prominence in the eyes of the Chevening selection committee. It’s not just a letter; it’s a motivation file that allows students to explain why they are highly motivated to pursue their chosen study program in London.

3. Key Components of a Personal Statement for University Students:

a. Introduction: A captivating introduction is essential, akin to a firm handshake. It should not just start the letter; it should start a journey of exploration. This section delves into the art of crafting an introduction that not only grabs attention but also provides a snapshot of your personality. Drawing from examples of impactful openings, we elucidate the strategies that can transform your introduction into a compelling narrative hook for university students seeking scholarships.

b. Educational and Professional Background: Your academic and professional journey serves as the canvas upon which your Chevening story unfolds. For students aiming to study in London, this segment explores the nuances of presenting your educational and professional background concisely yet eloquently. We discuss the delicate balance between highlighting achievements and emphasizing their relevance to the Chevening Scholarship’s overarching goals.

c. Career Aspirations: The path ahead is often illuminated by our aspirations. Here, we guide you through articulating your future plans with clarity and precision. By showcasing a vision that aligns with the values of Chevening, you can illustrate not just where you aim to be but also the transformative impact you aspire to make during your university studies in London.

d. Leadership and Networking: Leadership is a cornerstone of the Chevening experience. For students with competitive skills, this section explores the multifaceted nature of leadership, providing insights into the types of experiences that resonate with the selection committee. Moreover, we emphasize the importance of networking in fostering collaboration, both within the Chevening community and beyond—a vital skill for students entering study programs abroad.

e. Cultural Sensitivity and Adaptability: Chevening scholars are catalysts for cross-cultural understanding. For students seeking scholarships to study abroad, particularly those with a penchant for cross-cultural experiences, this section discusses the value of such encounters. Through anecdotes and examples, we elucidate how applicants can showcase their adaptability and cross-cultural experiences.

f. Conclusion: As your personal statement nears its conclusion, this section guides you through the art of summarizing key points and reiterating your enthusiasm for contributing to the global community fostered by Chevening. A strong conclusion leaves a lasting impression and reinforces your candidacy as a potential global leader and dedicated student seeking scholarships for university studies.

4. Common Questions About Chevening Scholarship Personal Statement for Students:

a. What is an example of a personal statement for a scholarship? To demystify the personal statement writing process, we provide a concrete example tailored for students applying for scholarships, breaking down its components and explaining how each element contributes to its overall effectiveness.

b. What are the 4 essays for the Chevening Scholarship? Understanding the four essays required for the Chevening application is crucial. For students applying for study programs, we delve into each essay’s purpose, offering guidance on how to approach and excel in crafting responses that align with the scholarship’s values. This insight is critical for students seeking scholarships.

c. How do you write a Chevening personal statement? This section is a deep dive into the intricacies of constructing a Chevening personal statement. From structuring your narrative to incorporating impactful language, we provide a step-by-step guide to help students articulate their unique Chevening story and enhance their scholarship application for study programs abroad.

d. How do you ace the Chevening essay? Excelling in the Chevening essay requires strategic thinking. Here, we offer insights into what the selection committee looks for and provide actionable tips to ensure students’ essays stand out from the pool of applicants, optimizing their chances of securing this prestigious scholarship for university studies.

5. Writing Tips for a Stellar Personal Statement for Students Applying for Scholarships:

a. Be Genuine: Authenticity is the linchpin of a compelling personal statement. This section explores the importance of being true to yourself in your narrative, allowing your unique voice to shine through—an essential aspect for students seeking scholarships.

b. Tailor Each Statement: Chevening seeks individuals with a distinct and authentic voice. Here, we emphasize the significance of tailoring each personal statement to the specific nuances of the scholarship, avoiding generic approaches that may dilute your unique story, catering specifically to students applying for study programs.

c. Showcase Impact: Beyond narrating experiences, this segment delves into the art of showcasing the impact of your endeavors. By articulating the ripple effect of your actions, you paint a vivid picture of your potential to effect positive change, a crucial element for students applying for scholarships.

d. Proofread and Edit: The devil is in the details, and in this case, details matter immensely. We stress the importance of meticulous proofreading to ensure your personal statement is not only error-free but also flows seamlessly, leaving a lasting impression on the reader—critical for students aiming to secure scholarships.

6. Sample Personal Statement for University Students: In this section, we provide a comprehensive sample personal statement, annotated to highlight key elements and strategies. This serves as a practical reference, offering a tangible example of how to integrate various components into a cohesive and impactful narrative for students applying for university scholarships.

Conclusion: In conclusion, crafting an outstanding personal statement is instrumental in securing the Chevening Scholarship. By following the guidelines and tips outlined in this comprehensive guide and addressing common questions, students can present a compelling case for their candidacy, demonstrating their potential as future global leaders and dedicated scholars.

This expanded guide not only equips students with a deep understanding of the Chevening personal statement but also provides practical insights and examples to empower their scholarship application. Remember, your personal statement is not just a document; it’s the canvas on which you paint your unique journey and aspirations, resonating with the ethos of the Chevening Scholarship.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Academia.edu no longer supports Internet Explorer.

To browse Academia.edu and the wider internet faster and more securely, please take a few seconds to  upgrade your browser .

Enter the email address you signed up with and we'll email you a reset link.

  • We're Hiring!
  • Help Center

paper cover thumbnail

Chevening Scholarship Essays

Profile image of Susan Munywoki

This sample is a guideline on how to apply for the Chevening Scholarship Essays.

Related Papers

Engr. Kafeel Farooqi

Detailed sample essays on the 4 topics required by Chevening. This sample is uploaded for the guidance of future aspirants.

chevening scholarship personal statement sample

Yu-Hsiu (Hugo) Lee (李育修)

Gemechis Djirata

The Free School

This document is an example of a motivation letter, also known as a motivation essay. Key words: personal letter, personal statement, motivation essay, motivation statement, scholarships, college applications.

Michael Whelan

During the course of your studies here at Southern Cross University you will be required to prepare many written assessments. These will take several forms including scientific reports, essays, literature reviews, laboratory reports and project proposals. All of these require specific skills in research, writing, and presentation, and you will generally be advised of the different requirements by the individual Unit Assessor. Despite this variety, there are some general principles which can be applied to nearly all forms of written work.

Usamah Hussain

Adrijan Seferi

Natilene Bowker

Welcome to Academic Writing! This resource has been designed for Massey University students who are new to the conventions of academic writing. Many students, including extramural, internal, and both domestic and international, may fi nd this book useful, especially as the examples provided are not limited to a specifi c discipline. The book offers advice and guidance on how to write university assignments, including a section on the writing process with particular reference to essays. Another section deals with the basics of report writing, incorporating subsections on business report writing as well as lab report writing. When writing university assignments, referencing the work of others is integral, hence there are sections on integrating the opinions of authors into your assignments, as well as how to construct a Reference List at the end of your assignment. As a student for many years, as well as an academic author of research publications, I have designed the book to help new...

Muhammad Rifky Mubarok

Loading Preview

Sorry, preview is currently unavailable. You can download the paper by clicking the button above.

RELATED PAPERS

IELTS Documents

Markéta Gregorová

Richard Beach

Clare O’Brien

Rosana Pinheiro-Machado

James Elander

Isabel Muñoz

Advances in Space Research

Elena Poltavtchenko

Võ Hồng Ngọc

Adil Naseem

zulqurnain khan

University of the Western Cape,[Online]

Nelleke Bak

Antonino Stracuzzi

Dekris Pratama

Mary Virginia Therese Orna

Justyna Kowalska

eltrima laoly

Hela Mornagui

Shobhana L Chelliah

afraz ahmad

RELATED TOPICS

  •   We're Hiring!
  •   Help Center
  • Find new research papers in:
  • Health Sciences
  • Earth Sciences
  • Cognitive Science
  • Mathematics
  • Computer Science
  • Academia ©2024
  • FindAMasters
  • How I Won a Chevening Scholarship – 10 Tips for Success

chevening scholarship personal statement sample

If you’re planning to do your Masters in the UK as an international student, chances are you’ve already heard of the Chevening scholarship. The UK government’s international award scheme is highly prestigious due to its competitive selection process. My cohort (2018-2019) had over 68,000 applicants from 168 countries, but only 1,800 of us made it! Chevening scholars attain academic and professional growth, extensive networking opportunities, the UK cultural experience, and lasting positive relationships with the UK. And we get to join an exclusive alumni network! How cool is that?

The selection process takes roughly a year, and comprises application, interview, conditional offer, final award and pre-departure briefing stages. I won’t lie, the process will demand exceptional mental and emotional strength, but don’t let that deter you from this life-changing opportunity.

Personally I’m glad I went through the process, and I am now enjoying my Masters here in the UK. If you’re thinking of applying yourself, here are some tips from my experience!

#1 It’s not just about you

Chevening wants you to use the knowledge you gain in the UK to give back to your home country, not just to advance your own career.

Remember that scholars carry the reputation of Chevening and their home countries, so they are encouraged to look beyond themselves. That’s why we cannot apply to remain in the UK immediately after our studies (instead, we’re expected to return home and work for at least two years).

#2 Check the eligibility criteria

You’d be surprised how many people overlook this obvious requirement. You’ll need at least two years’ work experience and an undergraduate degree equivalent to an upper second-class 2:1 honours degree in the UK.

Don’t forget to check admission criteria when browsing courses and universities, as it helps to apply to these at the same time. Note that some universities may also charge non-refundable application fees.

#3 Observe the timeline

The Foreign Commonwealth Office releases a timeline for the selection process each year. Follow them on social media ( @CheveningFCDO ) so you don’t miss out on vital information. You must be physically present at certain stages (e.g. interview and pre-departure briefing) so it’s best to keep travel plans in check.

#4 Research, research, research!

You can either choose to apply to three similar courses at different universities, or three different courses at one university. Any recognised UK university and course is fine, provided it is a one-year taught postgraduate course which leads to a Masters degree. You cannot change your choices later on, so this is your one chance to pick something that matches your development goals.

#5 Write your essay with conviction and consideration

The essays you’re asked to write will be an important part of your application. Think about what you want to say and believe in yourself! I had initially contemplated applying for public policy and governance instead of journalism, but I quickly realised I could not convince myself that the subject was the best choice for me. If you cannot convince yourself of the justifications you are making in your essays, how can you convince the selection panel?

For essays that stand out, explore other potential angles on a topic instead of stating the obvious. In the leadership section of my essays, the easy route would have been to talk about my leadership skills and how I benefited from them. Instead I highlighted how good leadership can inspire and contribute to human capital development. Draw on your experiences where need be but keep examples short and let the word limit steer you to be concise. For after-study plans, it may help to refer to the UK’s efforts in your home country that are aligned to your field of study.

#6 Don’t duplicate, don’t cheat!

The folks at Chevening want to know who you are as a person, not just your qualifications and career plans. Never get someone else to write your essays because your interview session will revolve around the points you made in them. Beware using repetitive answers as well. It’s easy to fall into this trap as the essay questions are related to each other. Instead, work your essays in such a way that they complement each other, and have a coherent flow.

#7 Prepare to elaborate

It’s easier to justify courses in a field of study that you are already involved in, but Chevening doesn’t stop you from choosing a different course from your current career path. If you’re making the switch, you must explain why this is beneficial to your future and how you expect to cope. Talk about your academic / professional background and mention relevant experiences that led you to this decision.

#8 Choose your referees carefully

Many applicants choose one academic and one professional referee, but it’s fine to provide two professional ones instead. I approached two bosses who I believed knew me better than professors who might not recall some kid they taught many years ago. Contact your referees when filing your application because if you make it to the interview stage, the referral letters must be submitted before your interview date.

#9 Check if you need language qualifications

I’m of little help here, since I was exempted from this requirement. What I do know is that you must provide proof of language qualifications (unless exempted) as part of three required documents within a set deadline to secure a full award. If you’re putting off taking the language qualification exams until after the conditional offer, plan well so you can get the results before deadline.

#10 Don’t delay

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. In some countries, the British embassy hosts workshops featuring past scholars and guest speakers. I attended one in Malaysia, where I learned more insider tips on what makes a successful Chevening application. I hope you find these tips helpful, and please don’t be put off applying for the Chevening because the prize is worth the fight. Good luck!

Editor's note : This blog was first published on 08/02/19. We've checked and updated it for current readers.

Search for a Masters

Browse over 20,000 Masters courses on FindAMasters today.

Our free newsletter will keep you up to date with Masters funding opportunities throughout the year.

You may also like...

chevening scholarship personal statement sample

Why you should consider studying in the UK on a Chevening Scholarship

Chevening Scholarships enable outstanding emerging leaders from all over the world to pursue one-year Masters degrees in any subject at any UK university.

chevening scholarship personal statement sample

9 (and a half) myths about postgraduate study

Is it that hard? Do you have to study the same subject? Will you need to completely give up your social life? We've busted a few misconceptions about postgrad degrees.

chevening scholarship personal statement sample

What are the most popular postgraduate subjects?

Which subjects do most people study for a Masters? Knowing the answer could help you decide how valuable postgrad study could be in your field.

FindAMasters. Copyright 2005-2024 All rights reserved.

Unknown    ( change )

Have you got time to answer some quick questions about Masters study?

Select your nearest city

  • Aberystwyth
  • Beaconsfield
  • Bishop Burton
  • Bournemouth
  • Bridlington
  • Chatham Maritime
  • Cirencester
  • East Malling
  • Hemel Hempstead
  • High Wycombe
  • Huddersfield
  • Isle of Man
  • Jordanstown
  • London Central
  • London East
  • London South
  • London West
  • Londonderry
  • Loughborough
  • Middlesbrough
  • Milton Keynes
  • Musselburgh
  • Northampton
  • Potters Bar
  • Saffron Waldon
  • Scarborough
  • Southampton
  • St Leonards on Sea
  • Stoke on Trent
  • Wolverhampton

You haven’t completed your profile yet. To get the most out of FindAMasters, finish your profile and receive these benefits:

  • Monthly chance to win one of ten £10 Amazon vouchers ; winners will be notified every month.*
  • Access to our £6,000 scholarship competition
  • Weekly newsletter with funding opportunities, application tips and much more
  • Early access to our physical and virtual postgraduate study fairs

Or begin browsing FindAMasters.com

or begin browsing FindAMasters.com

*Offer only available for the duration of your active subscription, and subject to change. You MUST claim your prize within 72 hours, if not we will redraw.

chevening scholarship personal statement sample

Do you want hassle-free information and advice?

Create your FindAMasters account and sign up to our newsletter:

  • Find out about funding opportunities and application tips
  • Receive weekly advice, student stories and the latest Masters news
  • Hear about our upcoming study fairs
  • Save your favourite courses, track enquiries and get personalised subject updates

chevening scholarship personal statement sample

Create your account

Looking to list your Masters courses? Log in here .

Modal image

Let us help you find a Masters

Never miss a course

Enter our ambassador competition

Get funding news, tips and advice

Hear about upcoming events

Sign up to our newsletter today

We've been helping students find the right postgraduate course for over a decade.

Login to your account

Enter your username below to login to your account.

European Scholarship

How To Write Chevening Essays | Chevening Scholarship

Study in uk.

Photo of Rizwan Hameed

Tips for Writing Your 4 Chevening Essays.

Table of Contents

Use the tips provided below to write successful Chevening Essays.

Utilize the SMART and STAR approaches when writing essays. Make sure you have addressed all points thoroughly, highlighted the most significant ones, and followed all instructions provided. Your Chevening essays should be truthful, concise, well-written, and thoroughly researched. When writing essays, make sure you create a narrative. Utilizing bullet points can be useful to showcase achievements or career objectives; however, the narrative must have a logical flow. Make sure those who hear you speak can comprehend what you’re saying. Make sure to mention your country’s name when discussing data or situations from that location. Eliminate using words such as our or their, and instead use words that accurately convey what is being discussed. Grammarly can help you double-check your work for spelling and grammar errors, so use Grammarly today!

START Approach — Drawing From Muse

Setting the scene and providing details of your example. Task: Describe your role in this situation. Explain the steps taken to resolve it. Result Share the outcomes of your actions.

Smart Strategies Inspired by CFI

Specific: Accurate, unambiguous and well-described. Measurable – With specific criteria to measure progress towards reaching the goal. Possible: Realizable and achievable. Realistic: Within reach yet realistic and pertinent for life purpose. Timely Establish a timeline with both start and goal dates, then create urgency around each topic. Four che Chevening essays Topics to Get You Moving forward Leadership and Influence Chevening is seeking individuals who can serve as leaders and influencers in their countries. Use concrete examples of your leadership and influence skills to demonstrate how you meet this requirement, according to the Chevening Website.

Utilize the STAR AND SMART Approach (STAR and SMART Approach) to reflect upon times you have demonstrated leadership traits, held leadership positions, or been influential. These could include managerial duties, NGO leadership positions, or your everyday life. Furthermore, discuss your leadership objectives and how they relate to those in your community.

Networking and Chevening Essays:

Leadership and influence.

Chevening seeks individuals with strong professional relationship-building abilities, who will engage with the Chevening community and inspire others in their chosen profession. Please describe how you have developed and maintained professional connections; give examples, as well as your plans to utilize these abilities going forward. – Please answer the following questions as posed on the Chevening website:

Your networking essay should provide concrete examples of relationships you’ve formed, nurtured and maintained. Highlight how these contacts have contributed to both personal growth and the work you do. As a potential Chevening scholar, you should be able to draw upon each example the skills learned and how they will benefit you in the future. The purpose of this essay is to demonstrate that you can maximize opportunities presented to you.

Career Plan:

Chevening seeks individuals with a comprehensive career plan after they graduate. Please outline both your immediate plans and long-term ambitions, which may include involvement with the UK government in your country. – Questions as per Chevening Website

This essay will enable you to craft 2-year and 5- to 10-year plans that are achievable, while also reflecting your career plan. When crafting this document, avoid treating it like a Curriculum Vitae; rather, emphasize its impact and path in relation to other opportunities like pursuing master’s degrees. Your career journey also serves as an opportunity to show that you have thought deeply about long-term ambitions as well as short-term targets.

Study In UK:

Please explain why you selected these three courses and how it relates to your professional and academic experiences. Do not repeat information provided in the education or work experience sections of this form. – Questions as per Chevening website

It is best not to duplicate information within this essay. Instead, link the information together. Furthermore, you must list three universities to which you are applying and include the names of courses offered at each one as well as your reasons for selecting that particular institution.

Tip: To help you decide which university to attend, research the top-performing institutions in that field. Before making your selections, be sure to confirm them with Chevening partner universities so that all is confirmed.

Questions with Sample Answers for Chevening Exams

1-  Chevening seeks individuals who can become leaders or influencers in their home countries. Demonstrate how you can meet this requirement by providing specific examples of your ability to influence others and lead others toward your answer (minimum word count 100 words; maximum word count 500 words).

As a disaster management professional and agriculturalist, I am given the opportunity to organize events, seminars, or workshops where my leadership abilities can be demonstrated. As a professional, I must attend field trips with farmers and laborers who have undergone training or attend seminars or group discussions held. Through these experiences, my leadership abilities must be demonstrated. I possess excellent management, leadership, and operational abilities as well as a broad practical and theoretical knowledge of projects such as Project Management, Climate Change & Disaster Management, Agriculture Planning & Food Security Disaster Response Sustainable coastal livelihoods Physical & Social Survey Techniques (qualitative/quantitative), Geographic Information System (GIS) Report Writing Qualitative In addition To Quantitative Methods Research etc..

Leadership abilities have the power to shape people’s environments, and can be passed down from family members or close relatives. A leader must put their plans into action with determination, vision, and perseverance for results. At the university, I was part of various cultural groups and organized successful programs. After graduating, I decided to work with street children but lacked enough money for schooling. No matter how many times I tried to open a school, my drive never wavered. To reach my goals, I sought ways to make them happen; so after consulting with friends about my idea and visiting teachers to convince them of its viability, we launched Our Education Training for street children as an initiative.

Leaders must be dedicated to their job and put in the effort, as dedication and perseverance play a crucial role. They aren’t those who seek out opportunities; rather, they create them by applying vision and perseverance towards an ideal. As a new leader, I feel I’ve made great achievements thus far; however, to further hone my leadership qualities I plan to enhance both education and professional capabilities by learning more about people development through service to my country and society. With this knowledge gained, I hope to serve my nation for its improvement through service towards its people.

2-  Chevening seeks individuals with strong relationship-building capabilities, who can engage within the Chevening community and motivate others in their field of expertise. Demonstrate how you create and maintain professional connections, giving specific examples of your accomplishments; also discuss how these abilities will be employed in the future (minimum word count: 100 words; maximum word count: 500 words).

Chevening scholarships have given me the chance to meet people from many cultures. If I were chosen as the winner, I hope to build relationships with Chevening graduates and company representatives to find better solutions for environmental foreign policy – since these issues concern us all. My life experiences have given me opportunities to connect with hundreds of people from various countries, religions, cultures, and professions; now through Chevening’s scholarship program I hope to connect even more people around the world!

My work at a non-profit organization has given me the chance to connect with many networks. I’ve formed connections with donor organizations, local stakeholder groups and community members alike. Additionally, as organizer of trainings, seminars and campaigns I was able to build rapport with experts in the field. So I participated in numerous field trips including one for farmers living rurally as well as urban slum dwellers; gathering data regarding their problems before presenting it in writing to authorities or daily newspapers. Now my aim is to build an effective network to address these matters efficiently.

My network skills are used to support my job responsibilities, personal growth and gathering data that can inform strategic actions. As I progress in my profession, I will devote more time to using my network for guidance when making decisions. Since many issues I need to solve and the results I must deliver require collaboration with people both inside and outside my network; thus, in addition to connecting with those within and outside of my professional environment I also plan on expanding it outside these immediate circles.

Thus, I will not settle for a casual presence but will remain active through social media platforms such as Emails, LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. With passion and determination I aim to expand my networking experiences and knowledge so that I may contribute towards improving my country and contributing towards everyone’s wellbeing.

3- Outline the reasons you selected these three courses for your university education and how they relate to both your prior professional or academic experience and future plans. Do not duplicate information already filled out on the education and work experience section of this application (minimum word count 100 words; maximum word count 500 words).

As a disaster management expert and agriculturalist, my knowledge makes me particularly sensitive to environmental concerns. Currently employed as the Project Officer for Charity Foundation – a national NGO – my projects revolve around environmental protection, climate change adaptation strategies in agriculture as well as other sectors.

While completing my Master’s studies, I became deeply engaged in climate change issues that impact urban slum dwellers’ quality of life. I have been exploring the impacts of climate change on five assets for livelihood, as outlined in the Sustainable Livelihood Framework from DFID. My undergraduate research focused on discovering alternative sources of chemical pesticides to control plant diseases through plant tissue cultivation, genetic engineering and biotechnological advancement. Through bio-control agents and botanical extracts, I’ve provided biologically eco-friendly alternatives to seed-borne and soil-borne fungal pathogens. To date, three papers have been published and several more are under examination.

My courses from esteemed UK universities are focused on environmental change and management, which can have disastrous results if not managed effectively. Since my master’s program in Environmental Change and Management overlaps with my professional and academic interests in environmental engineering and project management, this field was an obvious choice for me to further hone. Environmentalism also plays a large role in international development – something which challenges both my professional and academic abilities to the limit.

I hope to further cement myself as an environmental expert by expanding my knowledge and experience.

4-  Chevening seeks individuals with clearly stated post-study career plans. You should include both your immediate objectives upon return home as well as long-term plans that align with what the UK administration is currently doing in your home country (minimum word count: 100 words; maximum word count: 500 words).

My country faces numerous UK priorities, but the one most relevant to my goals is Environment and Climate Change. Bangladesh has always been vulnerable to natural disasters due to climate change, rising sea levels, and higher temperatures that pose greater threats. Development in our country is necessary and I aspire to contribute my expertise in this area in order to benefit my people and my nation. By sharing what I know with others, I hope to give something back and make a positive impact on my home turf. I want to contribute towards the development of my nation and make a larger impact. Bangladesh’s frequent disasters and their effects on agriculture pose risks to livelihoods such as hunger, poverty, unemployment insecurity, malnutrition, loss of food production and migration into cities.

After I finish my MSc program, I plan to specialize in climate change and environmental problems. As an environmental expert, I will work with research institutions or institutes. With my dedication and extensive experiences from the UK, I am certain that with determination and hard work I will be able to surpass expectations and contribute significantly towards Bangladesh’s progress in the near future.

Check Out: Chevening Scholarships 2023-2024 | Masters

Tips for Solving Chevening Essay Questions:

1- Essay Discusses Networking Capabilities Candidates

He should discuss how he has been exposed to different cultures, age groups, and socioeconomic classes. Additionally, he must give an outline of the length of time he’s been involved in relationships that have lasted for some time. He must further develop his communication abilities across a range of contexts. Candidates are encouraged to demonstrate their connections and personal relationships on both national and international levels. He should describe how he interacts with individuals from a range of professions, such as international and government representatives, public officials, and academics.

2- The second essay will ask questions about your leadership abilities.

How did he take into account each member’s opinions and negotiate between them? His experiences working with various personalities and leading successful projects. How his leadership program had long-lasting effects in his community, ultimately leading to positive changes? The candidate should describe situations in which they served as leader. How did he manage his team’s management skills across various projects? He should also describe how he managed community initiatives with an annual fixed budget.

3- The third essay will focus on your professional goals for the future.

Candidates should create a comprehensive educational, social and professional plan. Candidates must be able to articulate their experiences, abilities, volunteer activities or work-related knowledge. Candidates should clearly articulate their career objectives and plans to demonstrate how they plan to contribute to the nation or community. Every goal should be intelligently set and achievable.

4- Chevening essays should focus on why you wish to study in the UK.

Academically, The UK is one of the top nations. Candidates should demonstrate their interest in understanding cross-cultural differences. Furthermore, they should demonstrate an enthusiasm for international research that benefits society as a whole. Individual reasons for wanting to study in the UK vary, but must remain valid and relevant. For a master’s degree that lasts one year, studying here offers great advantages. Furthermore, the UK boasts some of the world’s top-ranking universities.

Check:  How I Won a Chevening Scholarship – 10 Tips for Success

Apply Now Official Site:

Photo of Rizwan Hameed

Rizwan Hameed

Related articles.

University of Paris-Saclay Scholarships

University of Paris-Saclay Scholarships 2024-2025 | France

How to find a scholarship abroad?

How to find Scholarships abroad | Fully funded

CFA Scholarship

CFA Scholarship 2023-2024 | List Of Scholarships

RTP Scholarship Australia

RTP Scholarships 2024-2025 | Study In Australia

Seeking for Essay question for 2024 admission

go through The article Please.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Graduate development Programme

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Duke University

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

chevening scholarship personal statement sample

How to Write a Personal Statement for a Scholarship + Examples

What’s covered:, what is the purpose of the scholarship personal statement, what to include in your personal statement, personal statement example: breakdown + analysis, how to make sure your writing is effective.

Either before or after you’ve gotten into your dream school, you’ll have to figure out how to pay for it. For most students, this involves a combination of financial aid, parent contributions, self-contributions, student loans, and scholarships/grants. Because scholarships are money out of someone else’s pocket that you never have to pay back, they are a great place to start!

Scholarships come in two forms: merit-based and need-based. Need-based scholarships are also often called grants. These designations tell you whether an organization looks at your financial situation when deciding about your scholarship.

Additionally, different scholarships fall under different categories based on the mission of the organization or person providing the scholarship’s financing. These missions typically emphasize different things like academic achievement, specific career goals, community service, leadership, family background, skill in the arts, or having overcome hardship. As you select scholarships to apply for and complete your applications, you should keep these missions in mind.

No matter what type of scholarship you are applying for, you will be asked to provide the review committee with standard materials. This includes your transcript, GPA, and resume/extracurriculars, but also, importantly, your personal statement. A scholarship personal statement is a bit different from your normal college essay, so we’ve put together this guide and some examples to help you get started!

The purpose of your personal statement is to help a review committee learn more about your personality, values, goals, and what makes you special. Ultimately, like with your college essays, you are trying to humanize your profile beyond your transcript, GPA, and test scores.

College essays all have one goal in mind (which is why you can apply to multiple schools at once through applications like the Common App or Coalition App): convince admissions officers that you would be a valuable addition to the university environment. The goal of your scholarship personal statement is different and differs more from one scholarship to the next. Rather than convincing various review committees that you are a generally good candidate for extra funding for college, you need to convince each review committee that your values have historically aligned with their organization’s mission and will continue to align with their organization’s mission.

Common missions amongst those who give scholarships include:

  • Providing opportunities for students with career ambitions in a particular field
  • Helping students who have experienced unexpected hardship
  • Supporting students who show outstanding academic achievement
  • Funding the arts through investing in young artists with strong technical skill
  • Supporting the development of civic-minded community service leaders of the future
  • Providing opportunities for historically underrepresented ethnic communities 

If a specific mission like this is outlined on an organization’s website or in the promotional material for its scholarship, the purpose of your personal statement is to show how you exemplify that mission.

Some scholarships ask for your personal statement to be guided by a prompt, while others leave things open for interpretation. When you are provided a prompt, it is obvious what you must do: answer the prompt. When you are not provided a prompt, you want to write a personal statement that is essentially a small-scale autobiography where you position yourself as a good investment. In either case, you should identify a focus or theme for what you are trying to say about yourself so that your application does not get lost in the shuffle.

Prompts include questions like:

  • Why do you deserve this scholarship?
  • How have you shown your commitment to (leadership/community service/diversity) in your community?
  • When did you overcome adversity?
  • Why is attending college important to you?

If you are provided a prompt, develop a theme for your response that showcases both your values and your achievements. This will help your essay feel focused and will subsequently help the review committee to remember which candidate you were as they deliberate.

Themes include things like:

  • I deserve this community service scholarship because my compassion for intergenerational trauma has inspired me to volunteer with a local after-school program. I didn’t just sympathize. I did something about my sympathy because that’s the type of person I am. Within the program, I have identified avenues for improvement and worked alongside full-time staff to develop new strategies for increasing attendance.
  • I overcame adversity when my mother had to have a major surgery two months after giving birth to my younger brother. I was just a kid but was thrown into a situation where I had to raise another kid. It was hard, but I’m the kind of person who tries to grow from hard times and, through my experience taking care of a baby, I learned the importance of listening to body language and nonverbal cues to understand the needs of others (baby and nonbaby, alike).

Without a prompt, clarity can be harder to achieve. That said, it is of the utmost importance that you find a focus. First, think about both your goals and your values.

Types of goals include:

  • Career goals
  • Goals for personal growth
  • The type of friend you want to be
  • The change you want to make in the world

Values could include:

  • Authenticity
  • And many more!

After you write out your goals/values, write out your achievements to see what goals/values you have “proof” of your commitment to. Your essay will ultimately be an exploration of your goal/value, what you have done about your goal/value in the past, and what you aspire to in the future.

You might be tempted to reflect on areas for improvement, but scholarships care about you living out your values. It is not enough to aspire to be exemplary in leadership, community service, or your academic field. For scholarships, you have to already be exemplary.

Finally, keep in mind that the review committee likely already has a copy of your extracurricular activities and involvement. Pick one or two accomplishments, then strive for depth, not breadth as you explore them.

My interest in the field of neuroscience began at a young age.  When I was twelve years old, my sister developed a condition called Pseudotumor Cerebri following multiple concussions during a basketball game.  It took the doctors over six months to make a proper diagnosis, followed by three years of treatment before she recovered.  During this time, my love for neuroscience was sparked as I began to research her condition and, then, other neurocognitive conditions.  Later, my love of neuroscience was amplified when my mother began to suffer from brain-related health issues.  My mother had been a practicing attorney in Dallas for over twenty years.  She was a determined litigator who relentlessly tried difficult cases that changed people’s lives.  Now, she suffers from a cognitive impairment and is no longer able to practice law.  Oftentimes, she has headaches, she gets “cloudy,” her executive functioning slows down, she feels overwhelmed, and she forgets things.  My mother has gone from being the strong, confident, emotional and financial caretaker of our family to needing significant help on a daily basis. Once again, with this illness came a lot of research on my part — research that encouraged me to pursue my dreams of exploring neuroscience.

Due to my experiences with my mother and sister when I was in middle school, I knew that I wanted to make a difference in the field of neuroscience.  I also knew that, to obtain this goal, I needed to maintain superior grades in school while also pursuing opportunities outside of school to further my education.  In school, I was able to maintain superior grades to the point where I am currently valedictorian in a class of 567 students.  In addition, in school, I challenged myself by taking 16 Advanced Placement classes and 19 Honors classes.  Two of the most beneficial classes were AP Capstone Seminar and AP Capstone Research.  AP Capstone Seminar and AP Capstone Research are research-oriented classes where students are given the opportunity to pursue whatever track their research takes them down.  As a junior in AP Capstone Seminar, I researched the effects of harmful pesticide use on the prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in children.  This year, as a senior in AP Capstone Research, I am learning about the effects of medical marijuana on the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis (MS).  

Outside of school, I furthered my education through taking advantage of the Duke TiP summer program. Duke TiP is a summer program run by Duke University where students who score extremely well on the SAT as middle schoolers are able to take college classes at different universities throughout the summers of their middle school and high school years.  I took advantage of this opportunity twice.  First, I went to Trinity University in San Antonio to expand my horizons and learn more about debate.  However, once I was done exploring, I decided I wanted to go into neuroscience.  This led me to take an Abnormal Psychology class at Duke University’s West Campus.  This class opened my eyes to the interaction between neuroscience and mental health, mental illness, and personality.  Years later, I am currently continuing my education outside of school as an intern at the University of Texas Dallas Center for Brain Health.  Through this internship, I have been able to see different aspects of neuroscience including brain pattern testing, virtual reality therapy, and longitudinal research studies.  With this background, I have positioned myself to be accepted by top neuroscience programs throughout the nation.  So far, I have been accepted to the neuroscience department of University of Southern California, the University of Virginia, the University of Texas, and Southern Methodist University, as well as the chemistry department at University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill.  

It is with this passion for neuroscience driven by my family and passion for education driven by internal motivation that I will set out to conquer my career objectives.  My educational aspirations consist of acquiring a bachelor’s degree in a biological or health science that would assist me in pursuing a medical career as a neuroscience researcher.  I decided to attain a career as a researcher since my passion has always been assisting others and trying to improve their quality of life.  After obtaining my Masters and my PhD, I plan to become a professor at a prestigious university and continue performing lab research on cognitive disorders.  I am particularly interested in disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).  In the lab, I hope to find different therapies and medications to help treat the 3.5 million people around the world suffering from ASD.  Furthermore, I want to contribute back to underserved populations that struggle because they do not have as much access to medical assistance as other privileged groups.  As such, I hope to do a part of my research in less developed or developing Spanish-speaking countries. This will also allow me to pursue my love of Spanish while pursuing my love of neuroscience.  I think that following such a career path will provide me the opportunity to learn about the medical needs of the autistic community and improve their quality of health.  Furthermore, I hope to train a new generation of students to strive to research and make comparable discoveries.  Whether it be through virtual reality labs or new drug discoveries, I believe that research leads to innovation which leads to a brighter future. 

This student does a great job of making themself appear competent and dedicated to the field of neuroscience. This is primarily because they provided tangible evidence of how they have pursued their dedication in the past—through their AP Capstone courses, their Abnormal Psychology class at Duke TiP, and their internship at UTD. There is no doubt in the mind of a reader that this student is high-achieving. 

This student also engages successfully with a past-future trajectory, where they end with a vision of how they will continue to use neuroscience in the future. This helps the review committee see what they are investing in and the ways that their money will go to good use.

This student has two major areas for improvement. As we have said, the purpose of a personal statement is for a student to humanize themself to a review committee. This student struggles to depict themself separately from their academic achievements. A solution to this would be for the student to establish a theme towards the beginning of their essay that relates to both their values as a human and their achievements.

At the beginning of the essay, the student explores how their interest in neuroscience began. They explain their interest through the following sentences: “During this time, my love for neuroscience was sparked as I began to research her condition and, then, other neurocognitive conditions” and “Once again, with this illness came a lot of research on my part — research that encouraged me to pursue my dreams of exploring neuroscience.” The student made the great decision to tell the backstory of their interest, but they described their research in very mundane and redundant terms. Instead, they could have focused on their value of intellectual curiosity as a magnetic force that encouraged them to research their mother and sister’s ailments. Curiosity, then, could serve as a value-related thematic throughline to taking AP Capstone classes, taking college courses during the summer that weren’t required, and interning before even graduating high school.

A second area for improvement would be avoiding statistics. As the student identifies their valedictorian status and the number of AP classes they have taken, they might turn away certain personalities on a review committee by appearing braggy. Even further, these statistics are a waste of space. The review committee already has access to this information. These words distract from the major theme of the essay and would have been better used to humanize the student.

Throughout my academic career, I have been an avid scholar, constantly pushing myself towards ambitious goals. I held and continue to hold myself to a high standard, enrolling myself in rigorous curriculum, including Honors and Advanced Placement courses to stretch my mental potential. During my junior year of high school, I took four AP tests, two on the same day, and earned the AP Scholar with Honor Award. Additionally, I received the Letter of Commendation for the PSAT/NMSQT, and qualified for Rotary Top 100 Students both my freshman and senior year, a sign of my commitment to my studies. However, school has not been all about having the best GPA for me; beyond the numbers, I have a deep drive to learn which motivates me to do well academically. I truly enjoy learning new things, whether it be a new essay style or a math theorem. I always give each class my best effort and try my hardest on every assignment. My teachers have noticed this as well, and I have received school Lancer Awards and Student of the Month recognitions as a result. It is a major goal of mine to continue to aspire towards a high level of achievement regarding future educational and occupational endeavors; I plan on continuing this level of dedication throughout my educational career and implementing the skills I have learned and will learn into my college experience and beyond.

This fall, I will begin attending the University of California Los Angeles as an English major. I chose this major because I am fascinated by written language, especially its ability to convey powerful messages and emotions. I also enjoy delving into the works of other authors to analyze specific components of their writing to discover the meaning behind their words. In particular, I cannot wait to begin in-depth literary criticism and learn new stylistic techniques to add more depth to my writing. Furthermore, I recently went to UCLA’s Bruin Day, an event for incoming freshmen, where I was exposed to many different extracurriculars, some of which really piqued my interest. I plan on joining the Writing Success Program, where I can help students receive free writing help, and Mock Trial, where I can debate issues with peers in front of a real judge. The latter, combined with a strong writing background from my undergraduate English studies will be extremely beneficial because I plan to apply to law school after my undergraduate degree. As of now, my career goal is to become a civil rights lawyer, to stand up for those who are discriminated against and protect minority groups to proliferate equality.

As a lawyer, I wish to utilize legislation to ameliorate the plight of the millions of Americans who feel prejudice and help them receive equity in the workplace, society, and so on. Though this seems a daunting task, I feel that my work ethic and past experience will give me the jumpstart I need to establish myself as a successful lawyer and give a voice to those who are often unheard in today’s legal system. I have been a Girl Scout for over a decade and continually participate in community service for the homeless, elderly, veterans, and more. My most recent project was the Gold Award, which I conducted in the Fullerton School District. I facilitated over ten workshops where junior high students taught elementary pupils STEM principles such as density and aerodynamics via creative activities like building aluminum boats and paper airplanes. I also work at Kumon, a tutoring center, where I teach students to advance their academic success. I love my job, and helping students from local schools reach their potential fills me with much pride.

Both being a Girl Scout and working at Kumon have inspired me to help those in need, contributing significantly to my desire to become a lawyer and aid others. My extracurriculars have allowed me to gain a new perspective on both learning and teaching, and have solidified my will to help the less fortunate. In college, I hope to continue to gain knowledge and further develop my leadership skills, amassing qualities that will help me assist others. I plan to join multiple community service clubs, such as UCLA’s local outreach programs that directly aid residents of Los Angeles. I want to help my fellow pupils as well, and plan on volunteering at peer tutoring and peer editing programs on campus. After college, during my career, I want to use legal tactics to assist the underdog and take a chance on those who are often overlooked for opportunities. I wish to represent those that are scared to seek out help or cannot afford it. Rather than battling conflict with additional conflict, I want to implement peaceful but strong, efficient tactics that will help make my state, country, and eventually the world more welcoming to people of all ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. These goals are close to my heart and therefore I will be as diligent as I am passionate about them. My perseverance and love for learning and community service drive my ambition in both education and life as a whole, and the drive to make the world a better place is one that I will carry with me for my entire life.

This student emphasizes two values in this essay: hard work and community service. These are values that go together nicely, and definitely make sense with this student’s end goal of becoming a civil rights lawyer! That said, some changes could be made to the way the student presents their values that would make their personal statement more convincing and engaging.

Structurally, instead of using a past-future trajectory, this student starts by explaining their academic achievements, then explains their career goals, then explains their history of community service, then explains their future desires for community service. This structure loses the reader. Instead, the student should have started with either the past or the future. 

This could look like 1) identifying their career goals, 2) explaining that hard work and a commitment to community service are necessary to get there, and 3) explaining that they aren’t worried because of their past commitment to hard work and community service. Or it could look like 1) providing examples of their hard work and community service in the past, then 2) explaining how those values will help them achieve their career goals.

Additionally, like with our other example, this student shows a heavy investment in statistics and spouting off accomplishments. This can be unappealing. Unfortunately, even when the student recognizes that they are doing this, writing “beyond the numbers, I have a deep drive to learn which motivates me to do well academically. I truly enjoy learning new things, whether it be a new essay style or a math theorem,” they continue on to cite their achievements, writing “My teachers have noticed this as well, and I have received school Lancer Awards and Student of the Month recognitions as a result.” They say they are going beyond the numbers, but they don’t go beyond the awards. They don’t look inward. One way to fix this would be to make community service the theme around which the essay operates, supplementing with statistics in ways that advance the image of the student as dedicated to community service.

Finally, this student would be more successful if they varied their sentence structure. While a small-scale autobiography can be good, if organized, every sentence should not begin with ‘I.’ The essay still needs to be engaging or the review committee might stop reading.

Feedback is ultimately any writer’s best source of improvement! To get your personal statement edited for free, use our Peer Review Essay Tool . With this tool, other students can tell you if your scholarship essay is effective and help you improve your essay so that you can have the best chances of gaining those extra funds!

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

chevening scholarship personal statement sample

Home — Essay Samples — Education — Scholarship — My Motivation To Attend The Chevening Scholarship

test_template

My Motivation to Attend The Chevening Scholarship

  • Categories: Personal Goals Scholarship

About this sample

close

Words: 401 |

Published: Jun 10, 2020

Words: 401 | Page: 1 | 3 min read

Image of Dr. Charlotte Jacobson

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

  • 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
  • Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

author

Verified writer

  • Expert in: Life Education

writer

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

2 pages / 895 words

2 pages / 808 words

4 pages / 1605 words

1 pages / 617 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

My Motivation to Attend The Chevening Scholarship Essay

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Scholarship

The National Honor Society (NHS) is a prestigious organization that recognizes outstanding high school students who demonstrate excellence in scholarship, leadership, service, and character. These four pillars are the foundation [...]

Wake Forest University's Presidential Scholarship is a prestigious award that recognizes and rewards academic excellence and leadership potential. In this essay, we will analyze the significance of the Presidential Scholarship, [...]

The pursuit of personal goals is often a journey marked by resilience, determination, and a deep-rooted desire for self-improvement. Scholarships, in this context, play a pivotal role in enabling ambitious individuals to [...]

The Ron Brown Scholar Program is a prestigious scholarship that aims to support and empower exceptional young African American students as they pursue their academic and professional goals. Established in memory of Ron Brown, [...]

I am writing this essay about why I deserve the scholarship. To start, Aristotle, the famous Greek philosopher once said, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” And while I pride myself in [...]

For as long as I could remember, I have wanted to be a participant in the Global UGRAD Program which enables students to study abroad. I have been curious about studying abroad, especially in the USA ever since my English [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

  • Instructions Followed To The Letter
  • Deadlines Met At Every Stage
  • Unique And Plagiarism Free

chevening scholarship personal statement sample

Scholarship Story

Personal Statement for Scholarship: How to Write and Examples

Table of Contents

A substantial part of the applications are personal statement for scholarship. Writing a stunning personal statement is vital if you’re hoping to win a scholarship. The personal statement is your chance to convince the board that you deserve the scholarship. While your curriculum vitae may be remarkable, hundreds, perhaps even thousands of students are likely to be just as remarkable. A personal statement is an excellent way of setting yourself apart.

Personal Statement for Scholarship

There’s no right way to write a personal statement for a scholarship, but here are some tips on how you can write a killer personal statement that can help you to elevate your pitch.

What is a personal statement for scholarship?

A personal statement is an overview of your accomplishments, talents, interests and objectives that are often included in applications for universities or scholarships or on resumes. It is a sample of writing (often about 2 pages) that describes you to the best of your abilities, your reasons for choosing the course you have chosen, your research interests, your goals and the creative ways you can add value to the program you are applying to.

The purpose of the personal statement is to provide an opportunity for those reviewing applications to learn more about you, your education goals, and how the scholarship will help you to continue your education.

How do you write a personal statement?

To guide you in composing your scholarship personal statement, here are some tips on how to get started.

Be concise, be organized, be focused

Make sure that your personal declaration follows a coherent order. Try to ponder how it might sound to an audience that doesn’t know you. Getting input from people you trust can help you get different points of view on how those who read it actually impact your personal statement. Avoiding long, drawn-out essay responses will not only help keep the attention of your reader, but will also show you’ve been thoughtful about your writing.

Be reflective

A personal statement, just because it narrates challenging times, is not always impactful. Strong personal statements should show that the writer has reflected on their past experiences and achievements and learnt from them. Ideally, the writer will be able to show progress towards a clear outlook on how he or she sees the world and the direction he or she is heading in the future. An effective personal statement gives a clear sense of your personal qualities and how you used and developed them to respond to your challenges and opportunities.

Get personal

The readers want to get an understanding of who you are, and the only way to do that is by sharing a little about who you are. That’s why it is called a personal statement after all. This is your opportunity to share what you feel they should know about you for making an informed decision with the reader.

Make it authentic

A personal statement for scholarship should show you who you really are and what you support about, not what you assume the readers want to hear. Remember that those who read your application will also be able to read many other applications, and will be able to tell you immediately if what you write is honest and genuine. It’s also worth remembering that some programs require a finalist interview where it’ll be easy to spot those who haven’t been authentic in their personal statements.

Give yourself plenty of time for revisions

Before submission, personal statements need to go through several revisions. Read your writing to others, and rewrite the content and style for accuracy. Pay attention to proper grammar and punctuation rules, and don’t forget spell checking. It’s also strongly advised that you make use of campus resources to gain valuable insight into how to improve your personal statement for scholarship.

A short personal statement, a strong personal statement

“My love of astronomy started when I looked up as a child at the darkness of space and found it captivating and awe-inspiring at the same time.” “From seeing my first production on stage I have been passionate about William Shakespeare’s works. I am fascinated by the way in which Shakespeare is still relevant today.

Can you see why these two examples are inaccurate?

While they are very favorable and well-worded statements about why a student might want to study astronomy, or Shakespearean literature, both of these examples of Personal Statement lead to clichés and generalization very rapidly.

We are not suggesting that when writing a personal statement for scholarship you should not use positive words, but this positive language needs to be supported up with solid, specific examples and thorough analyses. Remember: Showing, not telling, is the key to an excellent personal statement.

Why, then, is Shakespeare relevant to today? What specific examples could you use of an author from the 16th century to demonstrate its relevance to the modern age? Similarly, proclaiming a love for night sky wonders is all well and good, but why did it make you want to study astronomy?

Impose a limit on how many adjectives or descriptive sentences you use in your writing. It is important to remember that a personal statement in a relatively short number of words has to accomplish a lot. If you over-use words such as ‘ambitious,’ ‘astonishing,’ and ‘awe-inspiring,’ you’ll end up repeating yourself.

Structure of a personal statement

Structuring your statement is important to ensure it reads well. Write your personal statement as an ongoing prose piece, just like an essay. You might want to follow this structure:

Introduction

Your introduction should be brief, explaining why you’re excited about applying for the scholarship. The strongest introductions often have an academic focus, so think about the reading of the background that you did.

Avoid such phrases as ‘I always have’ or ‘from a young age’ or anything like that. Focus on one particular thing about the offered field that interests you. If you have a hardship, leave your introduction to the end. Once the main body of your personal statement has been written, it will be clear what your strongest motivations for applying are. Then you can integrate that into your introduction.

The main body of your personal statement should include examples that show your preparedness.

Start by choosing between three or four examples. For an idea of what examples you could include here, refer back to step one. Try to have at least one example related to your course which focuses on academic reading. Just avoid listing skills or qualities, and explain in detail your skills and experiences. Make sure you show when writing about skills or qualities that they are relevant to your future studies.

Try to think academically, as well. Imagine you are an admissions tutor when choosing your examples: are you demonstrating your knowledge of the subject through detailed examples? Are you showcasing the skills you need to apply the scholarship successfully?

Your conclusion should summarize your statement’s key points and remind the granting committee of your strengths. This is a good opportunity to write about your future plans, too. How does the scholarship that you apply for fit into your larger picture?

Examples of personal statement for scholarship

Whether it’s a scholarship essay about yourself, a creative writing scholarship, or an essay on why you deserve the scholarship, the personal statement for scholarship examples below can help you better understand what may result from following a good format.

Personal statement for scholarship: Example #1

As a child of immigrant parents, I learned to take responsibilities for my family and myself at a very young age. Although my parents spoke English, they constantly worked in order to financially support my little brother and me. Meanwhile, my grandparents barely knew English so I became their translator for medical appointments and in every single interaction with English speakers. Even until now, I still translate for them and I teach my grandparents conversational English. The more involved I became with my family, the more I knew what I wanted to be in the future.

Since I was five, my parents pushed me to value education because they were born in Vietnam and had limited education. Because of this disadvantage, I learned to take everything I do seriously and to put in all of my effort to complete tasks such as becoming the founder of my school’s Badminton Club in my sophomore year and Red Cross Club this year. Before creating these clubs, I created a vision for these clubs so I can organize my responsibilities better as a leader. The more involved I became, the more I learned as a leader and as a person. As a leader, I carried the same behavior I portrayed towards my younger cousins and sibling. My family members stressed the importance of being a good influence; as I adapted this behavior, I utilized this in my leadership positions. I learned to become a good role model by teaching my younger family members proper manners and guiding them in their academics so that they can do well. In school, I guide my peers in organizing team uniform designs and in networking with a nonprofit organization for service events.

Asides from my values, I’m truly passionate in the medical field. I always wanted to be a pediatrician since I was fourteen. My strong interest in the medical field allowed me to open up my shell in certain situations: when I became sociable to patients in the hospital as a volunteer, when I became friendly and approachable to children in my job at Kumon Math and Reading Center, and when I portrayed compassion and empathy towards my teammates in the badminton team. However, when I participated in the 2017 Kaiser Summer Volunteer Program at Richmond Medical Center, I realized that I didn’t only want to be a pediatrician. This program opened my eye to numerous opportunities in different fields of medicine and in different approaches in working in the medicine industry. While I may have a strong love for the medical field, my interest in business immensely grew as I soon discovered that I didn’t only have to take the practical approach in the medical field. With this interest, I plan to also become a part of a medical facility management team.

In the future, I hope to pursue my dream of becoming a doctor by attaining an MD, and to double major in Managerial Economics. I intend to study at UC Davis as a Biological Sciences major, where I anticipate to become extremely involved with the student community. After graduation, I plan to develop a strong network relationship with Kaiser Permanente as I’ve started last year in my internship. By developing a network with them, I hope to work in one of their facilities someday. Based on my values, interests, and planned future, I’m applying for the NCS Foundation scholarship because not only will it financially help me, but it can give motivation for me to academically push myself. I hope to use this scholarship in applying for a study abroad program, where I can learn about other cultures’ customs while conducting research there.

Personal statement for scholarship: Example #2

Nothing is more important to me than ending racial inequality and discrimination in America, as I do not want my younger siblings to face the discrimination Black people continue to face in our present society. After winning our fight to freedom and provoking the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, why do Black teens face higher poverty rates than Whites and are still four times more likely to be incarcerated? “That was such a long time ago. You really need to get over it,” my White peers say when referring to racial inequalities. But, why then, in 7th grade, after winning Nazareth Academy’s Spelling Bee competition, did my fellow White classmate state with a heavy dose of surprise, “You know…when I first saw you, I didn’t think you were going to be smart?”

I hope to contribute to ending racial discrimination by utilizing our present interconnectivity and running a social media campaign titled #It’sNotOver. #It’sNotOver aims to oppose the widespread misconception that, because racial inequality was legally outlawed, de facto racial inequality does not still persist in our society. Our recent presidential election may have brought life to a ‘Divided America’, but it also exposed how influential social media is. By raising awareness of racial disparities that occur everywhere, I might encourage a new wave of change in our country like that of the present Time’s Up movement. Furthermore, if I can access the influence of celebrities in my #It’sNotOver campaign, like that of Time’s Up, I might similarly capture the attention of millions of people and inspire action against this issue across the globe.

I know that social media can only do so much in addressing these issues as not everyone can afford the luxury of having internet access. However, I hope that my campaign can inspire all those who do have access to take it upon themselves to be the change by being inspired by the fact that we are globally united in this issue. Although I expect negativity and criticism from people who either do not believe that this issue exists or do not believe in our cause, I am willing to encounter it if it means our society as a whole irrevocably can grow to accept each other’s differences.

Top 8 Free Final Grading Calculators for Students

Army rotc scholarship chances and requirements.

Scholarship As A Conversation: Meanings, Examples, And Tips

Scholarship As A Conversation: Meanings, Examples, And Tips

The Scholarship Collective I Can Do Anything

The Scholarship Collective I Can Do Anything

How to Keep Your Concentration During Writing Tests

How to Keep Your Concentration During Writing Tests

Sorry, this content is protected by copyright.

chevening scholarship personal statement sample

Chevening logo (back to homepage)

Everything you need to know about references before you submit your Chevening application.

In this section

As part of your Chevening application, you’ll need to submit two references to demonstrate your suitability for a Chevening Scholarship and master’s degree in the UK. 

As part of your Chevening application form you will only be required to submit the names and contact details of your referees. You will then need to upload your reference letters to the application system if you are invited for a Chevening interview.

Click on the expanding arrows below to reveal our answers to common questions about references. 

A referee should be someone who knows you in a professional or personal capacity , but not a friend or relative. Ask them early to ensure they have enough time to write a strong reference letter.

You must provide the names of two referees in your application. They can be two professional referees, two academic referees, or one of each.   

Initially, you’ll provide the names and contact details of your two referees in your application.  

If you advance to the next stage of the application process, you’ll need to upload their reference letters by the references and education documents deadline stated on t he application timeline . Remember, Chevening won’t contact your referees for you – you must collect and upload the references yourself. However, the British embassy or high commission may later contact them for verification.  

Upload your reference letters as two separate files to the online application system. If the reference is in another language, include the original and a notarised English translation in one file. You may be asked to bring the original copies to your interview if you are invited.

You must upload your reference letters to the application system by the references deadline listed in the application timeline . If you fail to upload any required documents or need to change those already uploaded, you can bring them to your interview if invited.

References must be in English. If a reference is in another language, upload it with a notarised English translation in one file. References without a notarised translation won’t be accepted.   

If the embassy or high commission in your country/territory has suspended operations, please address your reference letter to ‘Chevening Officer [name of your country or territory].’  

Instructions for referees

Your reference letter must:  

  • Be written in English. If not, the applicant must submit the original reference along with a notarised English translation.  
  • Be addressed to the British embassy/high commission in the applicant’s country or territory.  
  • Include your contact details (address, email, phone number), the length of time you’ve known the applicant, the capacity in which you know them, and when you last had regular contact.  

The letter should provide a brief endorsement of the applicant, covering their leadership and networking skills, personal, and interpersonal qualities, and their ability to complete a demanding academic programme in the UK.    

Once you have completed your reference letter, please return it to the applicant, who will then upload it to Chevening’s online application system .   

Find out more about the Chevening application process by visiting the Preparing your Chevening application page and reading our guidance to the online application system .

Further guidance

Using the online application system, common application errors, application criteria, eligibility criteria, preparing for your chevening interview, preparing your chevening application, apply for an award.

Applications for Chevening Scholarships are now open. Apply today.

IMAGES

  1. Scholarship Personal Statement

    chevening scholarship personal statement sample

  2. personal statement for scholarship samples

    chevening scholarship personal statement sample

  3. Scholarship Personal Statement

    chevening scholarship personal statement sample

  4. 013 Scholarship Example Essays Sample Of Essay For Examples Personal

    chevening scholarship personal statement sample

  5. FREE 9+ Personal Statement Samples in MS Word

    chevening scholarship personal statement sample

  6. Scholarship Personal Statement

    chevening scholarship personal statement sample

VIDEO

  1. Chevening essay : How to write the "Studying in the UK" essay

  2. Chevening scholarship (Application Criteria/Four Essays) #studyabroad #scholarship #usvisa #uk

  3. 4 Tips to Chevening Scholarship Applications

  4. Chevening Scholarship: Career Plan Essay

  5. Government of Ireland

  6. How to Write a Personal Statement for a UK University Master's Application. #studyabroad

COMMENTS

  1. Sample of Personal Statement for Chevening Scholarship

    Here is an example of a personal statement for a Chevening Scholarship: I am extremely passionate about international affairs and the opportunities that travel provides for understanding different cultures. I have traveled extensively throughout Africa and Asia, and I hope to continue exploring new parts of the world through scholarship ...

  2. How To Write Personal Statement For Chevening Scholarship

    Pre-writing Steps. Research the Chevening Program and Its Values: To write a statement that resonates with the selection committee, you need a deep understanding of the Chevening program, its mission, values, and goals. Conduct thorough research to gather this essential information.

  3. Writing Chevening Essay: Breakdown Those 4 Questions

    State this briefly and do the same for the next 4 questions. One of the Chevening events specifically for scholars: Leadership skill workshop with business pitching and social entrepreneurship as the theme. Networking. I would say that the networking question was a bit difficult for me to elaborate.

  4. Crafting A Winning Chevening Personal Statement For Your Scholarship

    A strong personal statement for the Chevening Scholarship is more than just an essay; it's a testament to your journey, aspirations, and potential as a future leader. By highlighting your leadership skills, aligning your career aspirations with the scholarship's aims, and showcasing your potential to influence, you create a compelling ...

  5. How to Write Chevening Essay (Tips From Alumni)

    There are some main point from leadership essay : A. "Chevening is looking for individuals that will be future leaders or influencers in their home countries ". B. Explain how you meet this requirement. C. Using clear examples of your own leadership and influencing skills to support your answer.

  6. Part 2: Applying for the Chevening Scholarship (Essay Tips)

    Disclaimer: Note that the advice given here below is my own personal opinion and not that of the Chevening Secretariat or the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office. When applying for the Chevening Scholarship, you will be required to submit four written essays, each a minimum of 100 words and a maximum of 500 words.

  7. 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!

  8. Preparing your Chevening application

    Follow these steps between now and applications opening on 2 August 2022, and you'll be ready to ace the Chevening application process. 1. Think back to your proudest achievement in your life so far. This could be a time where you've had to persevere in order to overcome a challenge, or a time that you had to forge new relationships in ...

  9. Crafting an Outstanding Chevening Scholarship Personal Statement

    Unlock the secrets to crafting a winning Chevening Scholarship personal statement with our comprehensive guide for university students. Navigate the competitive landscape, optimize your study program application, and gain insights into the selection process. Elevate your narrative and increase your chances of becoming a global leader through this invaluable resource.

  10. How to prepare your Chevening Scholarship application

    Step-by-step guide. Click on the arrows to reveal what to do at each step in the Chevening application process. Step 1 Check your eligibility. Commit to returning to your home country for at least two years after your scholarship ends. Have at least two years of work experience (2,800 hours). Hold an undergraduate degree that qualifies you for ...

  11. (DOC) Chevening Scholarship Essays

    View PDF. Essay 1: 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.".

  12. 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.

  13. My Application for Chevening Scholarship

    My Application for Chevening Scholarship. To start my Chevening Scholarship essay, I want to provide samples of my recent experiences. I worked as a program officer on HIV/AIDS program in Nyanza region in 2013. This made me realize that many orphaned children lacked information on sex and sexuality that made them more vulnerable to early sex in ...

  14. How To Write Chevening Essays

    Use the tips provided below to write successful Chevening Essays. Utilize the SMART and STAR approaches when writing essays. Make sure you have addressed all points thoroughly, highlighted the most significant ones, and followed all instructions provided. Your Chevening essays should be truthful, concise, well-written, and thoroughly researched.

  15. How to Write Personal Statement / Mission Statement for UK ...

    Hello! Welcome to your Channel helping you learn the tips and tricks for winning the Chevening Scholarship Program. How to write mission statement, personal ...

  16. Tips for writing a winning Chevening Scholarship essay!

    Here are a few pointers on how to make your application stand out: Less is More: Writing a Chevening scholarship essay requires a lot of deep self- reflection. For the essays on leadership and networking, think back on your time in school or university or work (whichever is relevant to you) and try to recollect as many experiences as you can ...

  17. How to Write a Personal Statement for a Scholarship + Examples

    That said, it is of the utmost importance that you find a focus. First, think about both your goals and your values. Types of goals include: Career goals. Goals for personal growth. The type of friend you want to be. The change you want to make in the world. Values could include: Authenticity.

  18. Application advice

    For your application to be deemed outstanding, make sure you clearly link your chosen course of study to your previous experiences and future vision. All Chevening Applicants need to demonstrate leadership, influencing, and relationship-building skills. You'll also need to have a clear understanding of how studying with a UK university will ...

  19. How to Write a Winning (Chevening) Scholarship Application

    6. Take every aspect of the scholarship seriously: Some candidates focus heavily on the essays and overlook or underrate other aspects of the application such as personal details, work experience ...

  20. My Motivation to Attend The Chevening Scholarship

    So I am really enthusiastic to attend the Chevening Scholarship so that I may have a great contribution to the society, to my university and especially to my country since our country begins to transfer manual system to computerize. I constantly strive for excellence and I am committed to making my time as productive and beneficial as possible.

  21. Personal Statement for Scholarship: How to Write and Examples

    Personal statement for scholarship: Example #1. As a child of immigrant parents, I learned to take responsibilities for my family and myself at a very young age. Although my parents spoke English, they constantly worked in order to financially support my little brother and me.

  22. References

    As part of your Chevening application, you'll need to submit two references to demonstrate your suitability for a Chevening Scholarship and master's degree in the UK. As part of your Chevening application form you will only be required to submit the names and contact details of your referees. You will then need to upload your reference ...