South Asia Journalism Fellowship (SAJP)

The Chevening South Asia Journalism Fellowship (SAJP) is aimed at mid-career journalists from South Asian countries including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives.

The fellowship is hosted by the University of Westminster.

This fellowship is funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office.

Programme structure

Fellows will undertake a bespoke 8-week fellowship titled ‘Good Governance in a Changing World: the Media, Politics and Society’. The programme explores the different ways in which the media play a part in holding democratic processes to account, including government, the civil service and security, as well as the broader political system in both the South Asia region and the UK.

During this programme, fellows will explore the range of approaches taken by the UK and the South Asia region, and then use that knowledge to direct discussions that tackle the big issues challenging the field. Fellows will be challenged to discuss evidence-based context for key policy debates, understand international positions (including appreciation of UK approaches), supply practical experience, and encourage dialogue on key issues.

The curriculum focuses on the ways in which the media are held responsible, and the wider context within which political institutions operate. The ethics of reporting are at the heart of all debates.

The programme will run from May-June and during this time fellows will participate in lectures, visits, and discussions that introduce them to key UK academics, media, and political figures in the field. They will also meet peers in some of the UK’s top media organisations, as well as organise a symposium on a topic of their choice in the final week.

Benefits

Each fellowship includes:

• Full programme fees
• Living expenses for the duration of the fellowship
• Return economy airfare from your country of residence to the UK

Eligibility 

To be eligible for a Chevening South Asia Journalism Fellowship, you must:

• Be a citizen of Afghanistan (please see note below on additional eligibility criteria), Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, or the Maldives
• Return to your country of citizenship at the end of the period of the fellowship
• Have a postgraduate level qualification (or equivalent professional training or experience in a relevant area) at the time of application
• Have at least seven years’ work experience prior to applying
• Be a mid-career journalist working in the political or economic sectors in one of the above-mentioned countries
• Have a good working knowledge of English to be assessed in your application form and if you are invited to interview
• Not hold British or dual-British citizenship
• Agree to adhere to all relevant guidelines and expectations of the fellowship
• Not be an employee, a former employee, or relative* of an employee of His Majesty’s Government, or have been within the last two years from the opening of Chevening applications (including the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, all British Embassies/High Commissions, the Home Office, the Ministry of Defence, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, the Department for International Trade and the UKVI), the British Council, a sponsoring UK university, or a staff member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities.

Additional eligibility criteria for Afghanistan applicants

The UK government and Chevening are fully committed to the safety and security of Afghans residing in Afghanistan.

The FCDO has completed a full assessment of the viability of offering eligible Afghans the opportunity to apply for a 2024/2025 Chevening Scholarship.

We have concluded that prospective applicants currently residing in Afghanistan would likely face serious security risks, and financial and logistical implications, over which the UK Government has no control.

As a result, we are offering Afghans, resident outside of Afghanistan, the opportunity to apply for a Chevening Scholarship of Fellowship to study in the UK.

For the 2024/2025 academic year, we will only be able to accept applications from Afghans who are resident in an UK Overseas Development Aid eligible country, where we run Chevening, other than Afghanistan.

This decision will be kept under review for the 2025/2026 academic year.

If you choose to apply for a Chevening Scholarship or Fellowship you acknowledge the following:

1. Applicants for Afghan Chevening awards will be expected to provide proof they are legally resident in an ODA eligible country other than Afghanistan.
2. A Chevening Scholarship is not an offer of resettlement to the UK and participants will be expected to follow standard Chevening policy once they’ve completed their studies.

Please note this timeline is subject to change.

Meet SAJP fellows