Applications for the Chevening Scholarship 2026 are now open, with several important changes.

The UK government officially began accepting applications for the Chevening Scholarship from August 5th to October 7th, 2025, with a series of adjustments to the application requirements to increase alignment with global priorities.

Previous Chevening scholarship recipients - Photo: CV

From August 5th to October 7th, 2025, applications for the UK Government 's Chevening Scholarship program for the 2026-2027 academic year will officially be accepted.

This year, the application requirements have undergone significant changes, with a particular emphasis on connections to global priority areas.

Chevening is a fully funded scholarship program of the UK Government, providing funding for outstanding individuals from around the world to study any master's degree at over 150 UK universities for one year.

Since 1993, approximately 550 Vietnamese students have received this scholarship, many of whom are now making a positive impact in their respective fields in Vietnam.

In 2026, the UK government plans to award around 20 Chevening scholarships to Vietnam, further demonstrating its commitment to fostering the development of future leaders in partner countries.

One of the major changes is the mandatory work experience requirement, at least two years or 2,800 hours, which will only be counted after the applicant graduates from university. Work experience gained during university will not be accepted.

Furthermore, while the main content of the essays remains the same, the format has changed: new questions include subheadings, encouraging applicants to provide practical examples and make clear connections between their field of study and priority areas in the UK.

At the same time, the maximum word count for each essay has been limited to 300 words, instead of 500 words as before. This aims to restrict the use of artificial intelligence in writing and increase the personalization of responses.

Applicants are also required to choose a course with a clear connection to one of four areas: growth and prosperity, climate, security and stability, or inclusive development. These are global priorities that Chevening is focusing on for the 2026-2027 academic year.

Another change is that applicants from countries receiving ODA assistance, including Vietnam, are required to be residing in that country. However, the country of residence does not necessarily have to be the applicant's nationality.

The Chevening Scholarship not only covers tuition fees, airfare, and living expenses, but also provides applicants with the opportunity to join a global network of scholars and access academic and cultural events in the UK.

According to the British Ambassador to Vietnam, Iain Frew, "After completing the course and returning, you will be fully equipped with the knowledge, skills, and experience to begin contributing to Vietnam's development."

The Chevening scholarship selection process will consist of four stages: application submission from August to October 2025; interviews from March to April 2026; announcement of results in June 2026; and departure to the UK in September 2026.

Applicants can access the official website www.chevening.org/apply to submit their applications and find out the detailed criteria. Updates are also regularly posted on the British Embassy in Vietnam's social media channels and the Chevening Vietnam community blog www.mindthegap.vn.

TRONG NHAN

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/hoc-bong-chevening-2026-mo-don-them-nhieu-thay-doi-quan-important-20250806155804134.htm