The story so far:
What is the U.K. government’s purpose?
The U.K. government has paused short-term fellowships offered for mid-career professionals under the prestigious Chevening programme for one year. The Chevening programmes function as an instrument of soft diplomacy for the U.K. By selecting high-potential international professionals to study in the U.K. on the FCDO’s fully funded programme, the U.K. government aims to cultivate influential global networks that advance British foreign policy interests. A statement made to the U.K.
The Chevening Research, Science and Innovation Leadership Fellowship (CRISP), the Chevening Cyber Security Fellowship, and the Chevening South Asia Journalism Programme (SAJP) have been paused for the year 2027-28. The Gurukul Fellowship, also hosted at the University of Oxford, is a 12-week programme targeting mid-career Indian professionals across sectors, including government, media, and civil society. Parliament in 2023. Parliament said that Chevening’s 60,000-strong alumni community includes 22 current or former heads of state or government, about 15% of alumni hold prominent positions in government, and 10 are currently serving as Ambassadors/High Commissioners in the U.K.
The fellowships have been paused for varying reasons, including capacity constraints and cost-cutting by the U.K. government, according to official sources. “We expect to provide an update on the Chevening Gurukul Fellowship (September-November 2027) cohort by early November 2026, and are currently exploring sponsorship opportunities for this programme too,” sources said. “Through corporate partner income and university partnerships, Chevening receives between £6-7 million annually, funding 22% of scholars,” the U.K.’s then Secretary of State for the FCDO stated in a policy paper presented in the U.K. “Many of Chevening’s alumni are in positions of influence, and they form a valuable network for furthering His Majesty’s Government’s objectives,” a policy paper on the programme states.
