Chevening Gurukul Fellowship for Leadership and Excellence, UK 2026-27
Scholarship Amount
About This Scholarship
The Chevening Gurukul Fellowship for Leadership and Excellence, UK 2026-27, is a prestigious program hosted by the University of Oxford's Department of Politics and International Relations. This fellowship is generously funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office, aiming to nurture exceptional young professionals and mid-career individuals from diverse backgrounds within India.
The program is meticulously designed to identify and support candidates who demonstrate strong, proven leadership potential. It offers a unique opportunity for Indian leaders to enhance their skills and expand their global networks within an internationally renowned academic environment.
Selected fellows will benefit significantly from comprehensive financial support, which includes full program fees, living expenses for the entire duration of the fellowship, and return economy airfare from India to the UK. This ensures that participants can focus entirely on their learning and development without financial burdens.
The application deadline for this esteemed fellowship is 7th October 2025.
Eligibility Criteria
To be considered for the Chevening Gurukul Fellowship for Leadership and Excellence, applicants must meet the following criteria:
• Be a citizen of India and currently reside in the country.
• Commit to returning to the country of citizenship at the end of the fellowship period.
• Possess a postgraduate-level qualification or equivalent professional training or work experience in a relevant area at the time of application.
• Have a minimum of 10 years of work experience prior to applying.
• Be a mid-career professional with strong leadership potential in sectors such as state or central government, the private sector, media, or civil society.
• Demonstrate a good working knowledge of English, which will be assessed in the application form and, if shortlisted, during the interview process.
• Not hold British or dual British citizenship.
• Agree to adhere to all relevant guidelines, requirements, and expectations of the program.
• Not be an employee, former employee, or relative of an employee of His Majesty’s Government, or have been so within the last two years from the opening of Chevening applications. This includes individuals associated with 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, UKVI, the British Council, a sponsoring UK university, or the Association of Commonwealth Universities staff.
Note: Relatives are defined as parents or step-parents, siblings or step-siblings, children or step-children, spouse, civil partner, or unmarried partner (where the couple have been in a relationship akin to marriage or civil partnership for at least two years).
Required Documents
Applicants are required to submit the following documents as part of their application:
• Passport of the residence country.
• Academic transcripts detailing educational qualifications.
• A comprehensive statement explaining the applicant's motivation for applying, their career goals, and how the fellowship aligns with their professional aspirations.
• A detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV) highlighting their education, work experience, and significant achievements.
• Two professional references from individuals who can effectively attest to the applicant's abilities, potential, and leadership qualities.
• Scores from TOEFL, IELTS, or equivalent English language tests (unless the applicant is exempt based on specific criteria).
Additional Documents (May Be Required):
• Unconditional offers from UK universities for the applicant's selected course, if applicable.
• Evidence of financial support, if any part of the program is not covered by the fellowship.
• Medical certificates, depending on the specific requirements of the program or university.
How to Apply
Eligible applicants can apply for the Chevening Gurukul Fellowship for Leadership and Excellence by following these detailed steps:
1. Click on the 'Apply Now' button on the official website to access the fellowship details and application portal.
2. If you are a new user, click on the 'Register' button and meticulously fill in all the required personal and contact details. If you have previously registered, simply log in using your Gmail, mobile number, or registered email ID.
3. Navigate to the 'Apply Today' button within the application portal to begin the application process.
4. Click on the 'Register Here' button specific to the fellowship and then 'Accept' the terms and policies presented.
5. Proceed to fill in all the required details in the application form. Ensure you tick the relevant checkbox to confirm agreement with the terms, and then click on the 'Submit' button.
6. Finally, log in using your valid credentials to the application dashboard. Here, you will be prompted to fill in any remaining required details, upload all relevant supporting documents, and then officially submit your complete application.