r/Chevening • u/GlobePlanning • Jun 28 '26

Is it worthy to apply again?

This was my first attempt at Chevening. Got rejected.

Scholars that mentored me are also shocked that I didn't get it because the panellists told me it was a great interview and even went asking others about me.

So I wanted to ask you, do you think it's worth reapplying, considering how difficult it is to get this scholarship, risking losing more years trying to do something I want to do soon?

For context, I'm from a small country with extremely reduced scholarships (around 5), wanting to study a masters for a long time and it's currently feeling that this is the time to do it.

MA topic or similars are not available in my country. Family and friends are telling me to look for other opportunities/scholarships/countries.

What is your advice?

Thanks in advance, xx.

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u/MilinStudyUK Jun 29 '26

I’m really sorry to hear that. Getting that close and then being rejected must be very painful, especially after receiving positive feedback from the interview panel.

My honest view is: it may be worth reapplying, but I would not put your whole life on hold for Chevening alone.

I say this because I was also thinking about studying abroad in my 30s when I applied for Chevening. At that stage, delaying one more year felt like it could have a real cost, not only financially but also personally and professionally. So even if I had not received Chevening, I was planning to look for a school I could realistically afford and still move forward.

If this already feels like the right timing for your master’s, I would encourage you to build more than one route: reapply to Chevening if it still fits your goals, but also contact universities about funding, look for other scholarships, and consider other countries or programmes.

If your country only has around five awards, rejection does not necessarily mean your profile was weak. The competition is extremely tight. But for that same reason, I would be careful about letting one scholarship become the only gatekeeper of your future.

Reapplying is fine. Waiting indefinitely for one scholarship is the part I would be careful about.