Chevening interviews will soon begin around the world, and we wanted to give you some tips. Who better to ask than those who have been there, done that, and got the scholarship?
“Your career plan is a very important aspect of the application and interview. Make sure you provide specific details pertaining to your short-term, mid-term and long-term plans. Link those to the realities of your country and your course choice.
“It’s perfectly fine to be ambitious as long as you are realistic and can provide details as to how you aim to achieve your plans. Talk about scale, stakeholders, aim, and impact.”
Hossein Cheaito
MSc Development Economics, University of Sussex
“Know who you are and know your value. Think about the work you have done, your achievements and even the small projects that you were part of where you made a difference. Remember: if you have been invited to interview for Chevening, this means that you are an individual with a lot to offer, and the panel think that you have a high potential to succeed as a change-maker.”
Graziani Correa
Clinical Animal Behaviour at the University of Lincoln
“The interview stage is not scary as some may think. Do your best to convince them why investing in you and your ideas is worth it, and how the larger community stands to benefit, beyond yourself.”
Sunday Ubur, Nigeria
MSc Software Development, Coventry University
“Read the essays you submitted [earlier in the application process] before going to the interview! It sounds quite simple, but it will help. You will be asked questions you haven’t thought of, and my tip is to answer the first thing that comes to your mind. Be yourself, be nervous, but stay honest.”
Bojana Nikolić, Serbia
Birkbeck College, University of London
“Know your application well. Make sure to have your interview ‘in sync’ with what you’ve mentioned in your application, but build on your examples. Provide more details to the examples you’ve provided, particularly for leadership and networking. Talk about what you managed to achieve, what challenges you faced, how you tackled these challenges, and the impact you left on your community.”
Hossein Cheaito
MSc Development Economics, University of Sussex
“It’s really all about being yourself and demonstrating genuine passion for your subject. How does your academic plan align with your values? How do you intend to serve others after your degree? Demonstrate a genuine curiosity about the world and your subject of study, and you’re bound to have a winning interview.”
Yasmin El-Beih
MA Media Practice for Development and Social Change, University of Sussex
“Do mock interviews with friends or colleagues to prepare for the interview. This way you will alleviate the level of stress you feel during the actual interview and learn what you have to improve after the mock interview. Create a list of potential questions and answers to those questions. Good luck!”
Mukhbirakhon Kazimova, Tajikistan
International Development Management, University of Bradford
“Be authentic. Do not play a role. If you do this, whatever you say is going to sound robotic. Let that thing that you are passionate about lead the interview. Don’t aim for perfect, aim for human. A creative human, passionate to make a change.”
Nora Robledo, Mexico
UCL – MSc Social Policy and Social Research
“Dress smartly and speak confidently. It is time for you to show that you are a potential leader. Make sure to keep eye contact with the interviewers.”
Minh Dat Loc, Vietnam
Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of Edinburgh
“Time management is important as it helps to manage anxiety and nervousness. I arrived early to the interview venue and familiarised myself with the new environment before the interview.”
Sarah Natumanya, Uganda
MSc Gender and International Relations, University of Bristol
“Don’t forget to pray, meditate or whatever works for you to cultivate good energy and an attitude which says ‘I can do it’.”
Suzane Mollel, Tanzania
MA International Trade Law with Treaty Negotiation and Professional Skills, University of Aberdeen
“Don’t just think about your course or your career plan. Your interviewers might ask you about the places you’d like to visit in UK, so you need to think about what the UK has to offer you that you wouldn’t get anywhere else.
“Chevening is not just about studying; it’s about living the whole UK experience. If you get selected, you will need to balance your coursework with other activities. A year really flies by and it is good to plan where you want to go as well.”
Raquel Bautista, Dominican Republic
International Education Leadership and Policy, University of Leeds
“Make sure you are familiar with what the UK’s priorities are in your country, and make the connection with what you are seeking to study (and do post-study).”
Alexandra Grace
SOAS – MA Pacific Asian Studies
The global interview period will soon begin and many of you have been asking for tips on how to best present yourselves to the panel. Who better to give advice than those who have walked in your shoes? We asked current Chevening Scholars to give us their best interview tips—we hope they help you in […]