Five application tips from a Chevening scholar at the University of Bristol

My name is Nora – I’m a Chevening Scholar from Cambodia, currently pursuing a master’s degree in Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of Bristol for 2024/25.

One thing that the Chevening Scholarship and the University of Bristol have in common is that they actively seek to identify some of the most promising leaders and changemakers, providing them with world-class education and opportunities to set them up for success. They look for individuals who can contribute, challenge, and change the game.

In this blog, I’m excited to share five key tips that guided me through the application process – and that might help you too!

Tip #1: Write like a leader, not a student

Great applicants write about their future more than their past. Focus on where you’re going and how Chevening and Bristol, or wherever you would like to study, fit into your bigger vision. Think about the legacy you want to build and the impact you wish to make over the next 10, 50, or 100 years. You can use the ‘three horizons’ approach to describe your immediate, medium-term, and long-term contributions.

Tip #2: Tailor for the university factor

In your personal statement, go beyond rankings – highlight what makes your chosen university your first choice. In my case, I emphasised the University of Bristol’s business innovation programme’s real-world projects, the city’s growing tech ecosystem, and the university’s strong teaching team.

Tip #3: Chevening is a boardroom interview

Communicate how much further and faster you could go if you were awarded the Chevening Scholarship. It can be powerful to approach this exercise like a CEO pitching investors.

Chevening invests in leaders – so it can be wise to demonstrate a potential return on investment.

Tip #4: Choose referees who know you well

Your referee should be someone who could answer without hesitation – just pure conviction that, no matter how competitive the pool is, you deserve a seat at the table.

It can be tempting to go for the most senior person you know – someone with an impressive title. But this is only valuable if the high ranking referee in question knows you well and is able to make a particularly convincing case for why you are an excellent candidate.

Tip #5: Build a ‘global board of advisors’

The strongest applications aren’t written in isolation. Surround yourself with a personal advisory board – mentors, former Chevening scholars, professors, and even people from industries you admire.

I recommend seeking three kinds of feedback:

• Visionary feedback (Is my ambition big enough?)
• Practical feedback (Is this realistic and well-structured?)
• Language feedback (Does this sound sharp and persuasive?)

I hope you find these insights helpful. More than anything, remember that Chevening aren’t just selecting candidates; they’re investing in future leaders. Make it impossible for them to say no!