BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, APRIL 10TH 2014 (CUOPM) – More nationals of St. Kitts and Nevis will soon be able to study in the United Kingdom with the announcement that the UK Budget announced on 19 March included a tripling of Chevening places in developing countries for the 2015-16 academic year.
The British High Commission in Barbados said Chevening Scholarships are the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s flagship global scholarship programme aimed at future leaders, influencers and decision-makers.
“Chevening Scholarships are an important element in supporting Britain’s work overseas. The increase in Chevening Scholarships for 2015-16 will boost the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s reach and efforts to engage in developing countries and emerging powers. It will increase the number of outstanding young professionals, who have already displayed exceptional leadership talents, studying in the UK,” a Foreign Office spokesman said.
Chevening Scholars are carefully selected from thousands of applicants to study at universities across the UK. Scholars are exposed to British values, culture and diversity through the duration of a one-year Master’s course which helps them gain an understanding and appreciation of what it is like to live and study in Britain.
The additional funding will bring over 1,000 more potential future leaders to the UK to study at UK universities. This means in the 2015-16 academic year, the UK will have more than 1,500 Chevening Scholars in total.
All countries on the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Development Assistance Committee (OECD-DAC) list of Official Development Assistance (ODA) recipients will be eligible for additional scholarship places. These include Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines. The distribution of these places will be decided in the coming months and will be determined in line with the UK’s security and prosperity priorities in developing countries and emerging powers.
Applications for Chevening Scholarships must be submitted online at www.chevening.org. Applicants should read the online guidance and be able to demonstrate how they meet the Chevening selection criteria before submitting an application. Further details of closing dates and priority subject areas will be available on the country pages of www.chevening.org.