ISLAMABAD: The British High Commissioner Jane Marriott has called on mid-career Pakistanis to apply for a life-changing Chevening scholarship to study in the UK.

Chevening is the UK’s global scholarship programme, enabling outstanding emerging leaders to pursue one-year master’s degrees in any subject and at any UK university. Pakistan has several notable Chevening alumni, including Justice Athar Minnalah of the Supreme Court, actor and caretaker Federal Minister Jamal Shah, and Sonia Shamroz, the first ever woman to be appointed as the police chief of a district in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Chevening Awards; Since 1983, over 2,000 Pakistanis have been awarded Chevening scholarships and fellowships.

The scholarships are fully funded, including fees, flights, visas, accommodation, and some spending money. Applications for Chevening scholarships to study in the UK are open between September 12 and November 7, 2023.

The British High Commissioner to Pakistan, Jane Marriott, said, “Home to some of the world’s best universities, the UK is a top destination for hundreds of thousands of students each year. Chevening scholarships not only allow some of Pakistan’s brightest scholars to benefit from a UK education but also to truly experience the UK and build important networks.

“Chevening scholarships have already had a profound impact on thousands of Pakistani professionals. I would encourage anyone thinking about taking the next step in their career to apply.”

This year, there are also two new partnerships. Swindon Town Football Club is offering sports professionals the opportunity to study for a master’s programme in coaching and sports sciences. Essex University is offering two places on climate change and the environment, as well as heritage and museum studies.

In addition to the one-year master’s programme, there is the South Asia Journalism Programme hosted by the University of Westminster. It is aimed at mid-career journalists from South Asian countries, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. Seven journalists from Pakistan will be selected for the ‘Good Governance in a Changing World: the Media, Politics, and Society’ fellowship.

Published in Dawn, September 13th, 2023