Scholarship Questions

Question

I have been awarded a scholarship for this year but because of professional or personal pressures at home that I couldn’t foresee, I will not be able to go to the UK in September as I originally planned. Can I defer my scholarship until the next academic year?

Answer

This sometimes happens for completely unavoidable reasons but we cannot give any guarantee. Given the hugely competitive nature of the Chevening scholarship scheme, you will need to submit new application papers with a note saying you had been successful this year. Your application will be assessed on merit against the other candidates.

Do make sure that you keep in very close contact with the British Council office or British Embassy or High Commission in your home country throughout the process and keep them informed if it looks like you might not be able to take up your scholarship as planned.

Question

Do I have to pay tax on my Chevening award?

Answer

No, Chevening scholarships are not subject to tax either in the UK or in your home country.

Question

Now that I am here in the UK, I realise that I really need a computer to assist me with my studies. How do I go about obtaining an advance for a computer?

Answer

You can receive an advance on your stipend of up to around £900 provided that this request is made early in your award. This is then collected from your stipend at £100 per month. If you would like to organise this, a request has to be put to your award administrator at the British Council in Manchester, who can then make arrangements to process your request and pay the money into your account.

Question

I want to do another course after my scholarship finishes. How can I go about looking for extra funding?

Answer

It is extremely unlikely that you will receive another Chevening scholarship and so you will need to investigate what other funding is open to you.

As a starting point, contact the admissions office at your University who will have a list of all the Scholarships available. The British Council back home in your home country should also have a list of scholarships for which you may be eligible.

The British Council information line may have additional ideas of who to contact, their number is +44(0)161 957 7755. The UK Council for International Student Affairs (http://www.ukcosa.org.uk) has information on agencies to whom you can apply and your institution’s library should have a copy of the Directory of Grant Making Trusts which lists a variety of sources of potential funding.

Speak to your supervisor who will be aware of sources of funding specific to your research area e.g. the Research Councils etc. and try the search engines on the internet using your research area as a keyword.

Remember, you signed an undertaking when you accepted the Chevening scholarship to return to your home country on completion of your studies and therefore you need the permission of the British Embassy or High Commission in your home country to apply to extend your stay in the UK.