Chevening Guide

Chevening scholarships available for Indians to study in the UK in 2006 under the following two schemes:

Scheme A - Long-term (Open) Scholarships

These scholarships are applicable for a one-year postgraduate (Master's) study at any UK university (*with the exception of A04) and are fully funded by the FCO. For entry, the following programmes are available under this scheme:

A01 - Open Sustainable Development Scholarships

A02 - Open Economic Governance, Finance and Public administration Scholarships

A03 - Open Science and Innovation Scholarships

A04 - Indian Friends of London School of Economics Shared Scholarships

*candidates applying for A04 should seek admission at the London School of Economics only.

Scheme B - Short-term (Professional) Scholarships

These courses are tailor-made for the targeted professional groups such as journalists, lawyers, corporate managers etc in public, private and non-government sectors to attend short courses of up to three months at identified UK institutions. For entry, the following programmes are on offer:

B01 - Gurukul Senior Scholarships in Leadership and Excellence

B02 - Women in Leadership and Management Programme

B03 - Young Indian Print Journalists Programme

B04 - Young Indian Broadcast Journalists Programme

B05 - Environmental Management & Sustainable Development Programme

Quick Guide

Value

Chevening scholarships cover the tuition fee (up to a maximum of £12,000) and the living expenses for scholars going for one year masters programmes. International airfares are normally not covered.
(For courses with tuition fee of over £12,000, the excess amount should be borne by the candidate/his or her employer or sponsor.)

For short tailor made courses FCO contributes to all costs except international airfares.

General eligibility

Indian nationals of outstanding academic ability, between age group of 25-35 years as on November, can apply. For details, please read general eligibility given below.

Subjects

Candidates need to check subjects defined under each programme before applying.

Levels and duration of award

Master's such as MA, MSc, MPhil, LLM of up to 12 months duration.

Short Courses of up to 3 months duration.

Master's courses of more than 12 months duration, PhD and other research courses are NOT eligible.

Universities

The programmes under Scheme A (except A04) give wider choice to the candidates to apply to any UK university of their choice. Programmes under Scheme B offer scholarships for specific universities as listed against each programme.

Application

Information on 2006 programmes and application forms are available from early September 2006 at the British Council offices in Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai and New Delhi and at the British Libraries in Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Pune and Thiruvananthapuram. They can also be downloaded from the web site: www.britishcouncil.org.in/scholarships .
Applications should reach your nearest British Council office in Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai or New Delhi by the stipulated deadline for all programmes. Applicants for Scheme A are advised to apply to the universities before making their scholarship application and attach proof of application or correspondence between self and UK university (s).

For details, please read 'how to apply' rules given below.

Selection

Candidates for the Chevening programme are selected through a process of short listing from the applications received by the British Council offices in India, followed by personal interviews, which are generally held in New Delhi or in one of the regional offices in Chennai, Kolkata or Mumbai. Subsequent to the interviews the selection committee identifies the required number of candidates for the awards. The decision of the selection committee is final.

Post-selection

The British Council provides a comprehensive pre-departure package of services to the successful candidates in accordance with the British Council's 'Welcome to the UK' philosophy. These include gratis UK visas, advice on studying and living in the UK, travel, reception, payments and advice on accommodation as well as the welfare of the scholars in the UK. On return, the British Council encourages the alumni to join a chapter of the Association of British Scholars India (ABS India). ABS India is the national network of UK alumni in India supported by the British Council and the British High Commission. For details, visit the website: www.abs-india.org . Selected scholars can also avail Associate Membership free of cost prior to their departure which remains valid till the end of their study programme.

General Eligibility Criteria

Who is eligible?

You ARE eligible to apply for a British Chevening Scholarship under the India programme, if you are:

· an Indian national with a valid Indian passport.
· between 25-35 years of age as on 30 November for all scholarships except for B01 and B02 (please check age limits for each programme before applying)
· of outstanding academic ability with a good (a minimum of upper second class, preferably a first class) first degree (Bachelor's) or equivalent from a recognised Indian university
· interested in pursuing a course of not more than 12 months duration in the UK
· preference will be given to candidates having a minimum of 2-3 years of work experience in the relevant field. However please check the requirement against individual programme as well.

Note: Any master's courses of more than 12 months duration, PhD and other research courses are NOT eligible.

· fluent in spoken and written English.

Note: If English is neither your first language nor the medium of academic instruction, you will be required to provide evidence of your proficiency in the language e.g. a satisfactory score in IELTS or similar international English language proficiency test. A list of acceptable tests can be obtained directly from the UK institution(s) you are applying to.

All Chevening applicants, irrespective of the scheme and programme they are applying for, MUST meet the general eligibility criteria outlined above. In addition to the general eligibility criteria, applicants are strictly advised to check the additional eligibility criteria for the specific programme(s) before applying. Additional eligibility is mentioned under programme details given below.

Who is not eligible?

You are NOT eligible to apply for a British Chevening Scholarship under the India Programme, if you:

· have already started a course of study in the UK at the time of application
· have received funding for a study programme from the UK government in the past

How to apply:

1. Read thoroughly the 'Chevening (India) Scholarships' information.

2. Identify a suitable scholarship programme for which you are eligible to apply. Before applying, please ensure that you meet both the general as well as the additional eligibility criteria specified for the relevant programme.

Note: If you wish to apply for more than one scholarship programme, you will need to make a separate scholarship application for each programme. YOU CAN APPLY FOR A MAXIMUM OF THREE (3) CHEVENING SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMMES IN A GIVEN

YEAR, provided you meet the eligibility criteria specified for each programme and the subjects you are applying for are relevant to your chosen field of study.

3. Identify a suitable course in the UK that you wish to apply for, if not already done.

Notes:

(a) Scheme A applicants who wish to apply for postgraduate studies in the UK may visit the web site: http://www.educationuk-in.org and/or visit the EducationUK centres at your nearest British Council office or British Library for information and guidance on postgraduate courses or check web site: www.rae.ac.uk for university research ratings.

(b) Scheme B applicants who wish to apply for short-term Chevening programmes should refer to the relevant information given below. Please note that Chevening short courses are tailor-made for India and are not necessarily offered by the UK institutions on a regular basis.

4. Apply directly to the UK institution(s) before applying for a Chevening scholarship (Scheme 'A' applicants only).

Notes:

(a) Scheme 'A' applicants MUST apply to UK institution(s) of their choice before applying for the Chevening scholarships. An evidence of application to a maximum of 3 UK institutions or some correspondence to this effect must be attached at the time of scholarship application by 30 November. The scholarship offer will be subject to obtaining a confirmed offer of admission from one of the three chosen UK institutions by no later than 31 May. Candidates who have deferred admissions may attach copies of such offer letters.
(b) Scheme B applicants DO NOT need to apply to the UK institution(s) directly.

5. Complete the Chevening (India) Scholarships application form.

Notes:

(a) There is a single Chevening application form for all schemes for entry which can be downloaded from our website : www.britishcouncil.org.in/scholarships (both pdf and word format) or can be obtained from your nearest British Council office in Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata or New Delhi, or from your nearest British Library in Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Pune or Thiruvananthapuram. The contact details of the British Council offices and British Library locations in India are given on the website. Should you need more copies, you may photocopy the form which will be acceptable.
(b) You should use block capitals & BLACK ink to complete the form, or type your response.
(c) You must mention the code and the title of the scholarship programme that you are applying for, in section 1 of the application form.
(d) You must ensure that your application form includes your current contact address, email, telephone/mobile and fax numbers.
(e) You must complete all the sections on the application form. INCOMPLETE APPLICATION FORMS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. If some sections in the form are not relevant to the programme you are applying for, you must mention N.A. (not applicable) as your response instead of leaving it blank.
(f) You must also attach all the necessary documents and attachments including 2 passport size photographs as mentioned in the checklist in section 11 of the Chevening scholarship application form.
(g) You must sign the declaration (section 12) on the application form. Please note that Scheme B applicants, excluding free lancers and entrepreneurs, must have the support of their employers to attend the programme in the UK and the employer should also sign the declaration, as mentioned in section 12 of the application form.

6.
a. Enclose your application in an envelope and superscribe the envelope in the following manner: 'Chevening Scholarships ', followed by the code and the title of the programme (in block capitals), e.g. if you are applying for the Open Sustainable Development Scholarships, you should mention the following on the cover of the envelope:

"CHEVENING SCHOLARSHIP : A01 - OPEN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT"

b. If you are enclosing more than one application in one envelope, please clearly indicate that on the envelope too.

7. Courier or hand-deliver your application to reach your nearest British Council office in Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai or New Delhi. Applicants from the north of India should send applications to New Delhi, from south to Chennai, from east to Kolkata and from west to Mumbai. The applications should reach the British Council by no later than the last date specified for all programmes i.e. 30 November.

Additional Notes:

1. The British Council will acknowledge receipt of applications through the email id's provided on the application form(s). For this purpose, applicants are requested to provide their latest email ids. However, the Council will not be responsible for failure of on-line delivery.
2. The British Council will further contact only the short listed candidates inviting them for interviews. Applicants are requested not to contact the British Council office directly.
3. Short listed candidates will be interviewed in New Delhi for most of the programmes. Interviews will be held between February and April in New Delhi or in one of the regional offices. Candidates will be expected to make their own travel arrangements and accommodation bookings. The British Council will not reimburse any costs incurred in this respect.
4. The results will be announced within a week after the interview. The decision of the selection committee will be final.
5. The successful candidates for Scheme B programmes will be expected to stay on for one day following the interview and selection to attend the briefing jointly delivered by the University faculty and the British Council in New Delhi. This will enable the scholars to learn more about the programme and allow the course directors to shape the content of the final programme to meet individual needs. This session will also be used to identify topics for individual study programmes or projects and suitable organisations for the attachment visits.
6. Pre-departure briefings, visa formalities and travel arrangements for the selected candidates will be co-ordinated by the British Council.
7. Most of the programmes will commence in the UK in the academic year beginning September/October.

Scheme A - Programmes

Long term (Open) Scholarships

1. These scholarships are named as 'Open' scholarships, which suggest that this scheme is not tied to any UK institution and is open for courses tenable at any UK institution (s).

2. This scheme is designed for candidates who have already applied for a one-year postgraduate (master's) study at UK institution(s) of their choice for entry.

3. There are three Openprogrammes and one specific to the London School of Economics (LSE) for 2006 entry under Scheme 'A' category. These programmes are classified on the basis of the field of study. Each programme is designed to cover a broad range of subjects under a specific field of study such as Sustainable Development, Economic Governance, Finance and Public Administration, Science and Innovation etc. Applicants, who wish to apply for a postgraduate course at a UK institution of their choice, can apply under the relevant programme which covers their chosen field of study.

Imp: Please note the subjects specified under each programme before applying.

4. The scholarships under this scheme are funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) of the UK government. Each scholarship covers the following:

ü Tuition fee up to a maximum of £12,000. For courses with tuition fee of over £12,000, the excess amount is to be borne by the scholar or his/her employer or sponsor
ü Living expenses for the duration of the scholarship for a maximum period of 12 months. (International airfare NOT covered)
ü Multiple entry gratis visa

Note: International airfares are NOT covered and are to be borne by the scholar or his/her employer or sponsor

5. How to apply for Scheme A scholarships?

All Scheme 'A' applicants MUST apply to UK institution(s) of their choice before applying for the Chevening scholarships. An evidence of application or some proof of correspondence between candidate and the identified UK university(s), to a maximum of 3 UK institutions, must be attached along with the Chevening scholarship application. The scholarship offer will finally be subject to obtaining a confirmed offer of admission from one of the three chosen UK institutions, failing which the scholarship will be withdrawn. Please read the information on 'How to apply' given above.

6. Selection will be through a process of short listing from the applications received, followed by personal interviews.

8. The interviews for these scholarships will be held in the British Council in New Delhi or in one of the regional offices in Chennai, Kolkata or Mumbai between February and April.

9. The academic session will commence in the UK in September/October .

Scheme A Programmes available

A01 - Open Sustainable Development Scholarships

A02 - Open Economic Governance, Finance and Public administration Scholarships

A03 - Open Science and Innovation Scholarships

A04 - Indian Friends of London School of Economics Shared Scholarships

Scheme B - Programmes

short term (Professional) Scholarships
1. This scheme is designed for working professionals and practitioners who have substantial experience in their professional fields and are interested in participating in a short-term training programme to expand, integrate and consolidate their experience, knowledge and skills. These programmes provide an invaluable opportunity to Indian professionals to share British experience and expertise and to establish networks of contacts in the UK of direct value in work and career development in India.

2. There are five programmes for entry under Scheme B. These programmes are classified on the basis of specific professional groups. Each programme is tailor-made to cater to the specific requirements of the identified professional groups. The programmes for 2006 invite participation from print journalists, broadcast journalists, corporate managers, environmental managers and women managers. In addition, the Gurukul Scholarships in Leadership and Excellence are targeted at leaders from every field of Indian national life including Government, Industry, Finance, Law, Civil Service, Academia, Research, Science & Technology, Media and NGOs.

3. The scholarships under this scheme are funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) of the UK government with contributions from the participating UK institution in some cases. Each scholarship covers the following

ü Full fees for the programme.

ü Living expenses for the duration of the scholarship for a maximum period of 12 weeks.

ü Multiple entry gratis visa for UK

Note: International airfares are NOT covered and are to be borne by the scholar or his/her employer or sponsor.

4. How to apply for Scheme B scholarships?

Scheme B applicants are NOT required to apply directly to the UK institution(s). They only need to make a Chevening

application. Please see the information on 'How to apply' for guidance on application.

5. Last date for applications for all programmes under Scheme B is 30 November.
6. The interviews for these scholarships will normally be held in the British Council in New Delhi or in one of the

regional offices in Chennai, Kolkata or Mumbai between February and April.
7. The programmes will commence in the UK from May 2006 onwards. Please check specific course dates for different programmes.

8. Important Note:
B01 Gurukul Scholarships in Leadership and Excellence, and
B02 Women in Leadership and Management Programme

Both are management programmes, but with different focus:

B01: this focuses on issues related to globalisation and their implications for leadership in India.
B02: this focuses on leadership and management with a subsidiary focus on gender in management and how gender issues impact in personal and public life.

Women applicants are advised to decide which, between B01 and B02, is most appropriate for them, and should NOT apply for both programmes.

Programmes available are:

B01 - Gurukul Senior Scholarships in Leadership and Excellence

B02 - Women in Leadership and Management Programme

B03 - Young Indian Print Journalists Programme

B04 - Young Indian Broadcast Journalists Programme

B05 - Environmental Management & Sustainable Development Programme