Tips for UK Chevening Scholarship Interview: How are the Questions?

General Interview Questions and Those About Chevening Scholarship

1. Tell us about yourself and how you are an ideal candidate for this award.

Tips for answering: Tell us about yourself; it “s a conversation. It is meant to give you confidence and don’t over-interpret it. So, you could mention your name, your highest or relevant education, your position, and your role; if you partnered with any UK-Aid-funded organization, say it. Also, mention any volunteering activities and what you do in your free time. Mention your hobbies as well. Any awards and any other exciting things about you. It’s not about Chevening or school all the time. Do so in a few minutes, about 1 -2 minutes.]

1. Why should we give you the scholarship? How will it help you?
2. Why did you select Chevening? Why Chevening, not another scholarship?
3. Why do you consider yourself a suitable candidate for Chevening?
4. How do you plan to distinguish yourself from the rest of the Chevening scholars?
5. What’s your most outstanding achievement?
6. Where do you see yourself in 5/10 years?
7. What is your goal or dream?
8. What is your plan after getting Chevening?
9. What are your expectations for the coming year?
10. Tell us something interesting about yourself?

Questions on Courses:

Course, Subject, University:

 ^{I want to indicate one thing before I answer that question. I have changed my choice from Course A at University A to Course B at University B because of reasons A, B hanged and C. If that is okay with you, I would instead like to talk about this University as it is now my preferred choice.}

1. Why did you choose this specific course?
2. Why do you want to do the courses you have listed?
3. How do your chosen courses align with your future career plans?
4. Did you apply for your chosen courses?
5. Have you got admission yet?
6. You can also work in those sectors now with a degree; why do you need a /another masters?
7. What hands-on experience do you have with your subject?
8. How extensive is your knowledge of your subject?
9. What assurance can you give us that your passion for your subject is sufficient to sustain your career path?
10. Why did you choose all three courses, and how would you lead in those courses?
11. Why did you choose your courses in that particular order?
12. What’s your master’s subject? Explain more (area of interest)
13. Why choose all three universities listed?
14. How can Bangladesh contribute to the world of international politics?
15. Tell me about your past, current, and future projects.
16. What do you think is the most challenging thing regarding your field in your country?
17. How will you know if a specific university is suitable for you or not? Do you have any criteria?
18. What are your highest weaknesses and strengths?
19. Why did you choose the topic/particular area?
20. But you can also work in those sectors with a BSc; why do you need a master’s degree?
21. Can you complete a masters in the UK? Why?

Questions on Courses Studying in the UK:

1. Why do you want to study in the UK and not any other country?
2. Why study in UK, not USA or Canada?
3. Why any specific city?
4. What are your expectations about the UK? / What are you looking forward to most about sitting in the UK?
5. Did you travel to the UK before? What challenges do you think you may have while studying in the UK?
6. How will you deal with these challenges?
7. What do you plan to do apart from studies in the UK?
8. What are the problems in your country? How do you hope to benefit your country after returning from the UK?
9. Tell me three cultural values of the UK you admire/ What do you want to get from the UK – British values you wish to gain? / How would you benefit from being in the UK? (British Values)
10. How will the UK benefit from selecting you as an awardee?
11. What do you think is the main difference between the culture of the UK and your country?
12. What do you want to get from the UK?

Questions on Leadership:

1. How do you personally define leadership? / What would you say good leadership comprises? Can you demonstrate how you embody these? / What values and qualities make a good leader? What qualities of a leader do you possess?
2. Can you share an experience where you failed as a leader? What have you learned from it?
3. Do you have leadership potential? Why do you think you can be a future leader? Explain a point in time where you put your leadership skills to use. / Take us through your leadership experience.
4. Talk about your leadership skills and how did you gain them? / Do you consider yourself a leader, and why? /What makes you a leader?
5. Name a leader you admire and explain why?
6. Leaders are defined as people who take the initiative. How do you fit this definition?
7. Give us an example of an internationally recognized leader and another who is close to you and the potential that made him succeed.
8. Tell us about a difficult decision you have ever had to make as a leader? What was the impact?

Questions on Networking:

1. Why did you choose this specific course?
2. Why do you want to do the courses you have listed?
3. How do your chosen courses align with your future career plans?
4. Did you apply for your chosen courses?
5. Have you got admission yet?
6. You can also work in those sectors now with a degree; why do you need a /another master’s?
7. What hands-on experience do you have with your subject?
8. How extensive is your knowledge of your subject?
9. What assurance can you give us that your passion for your subject is sufficient to sustain your career path?
10. Why did you choose all three courses, and how would you lead in those courses?
11. Why did you choose your courses in that particular order?
12. What’s your master’s subject? Explain more (area of interest)
13. Why choose all three universities listed?
14. How can Bangladesh contribute to the world of international politics?
15. Tell me about your past, current, and future projects.
16. What do you think is the most challenging thing regarding your field in your country?
17. How will you know if a specific university is suitable for you or not? Do you have any criteria?
18. What are your highest weaknesses and strengths?
19. Why did you choose the topic/particular area?
20. But you can also work in those sectors with a BSc; why do you need a master’s degree?
21. Can you complete a masters in the UK? Why?

Questions about Your Career Plan:

* Tips: USE PPTN Techniques: PPTN – People* (names and titles), *Places* (organizations and geographical areas),

*Timelines* (dates, periods, years), *Numbers* (sizes of teams, amounts of resources generated/saved etc.).

1. How will your program of study contribute to your career plan? / If you are awarded as a Chevener, how will your country benefit from this? (Short-term, long-term, professionally, and academically)
2. What do you expect to do immediately as you return home after your studies? / How do you plan to use expertise acquired after your studies in the UK to help with development in your country?

Questions Chevening Alumni Asked Candidates:

1. Alternatives plans if what you planned didn’t go through?
2. Do you have any questions?

Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman

Doctoral Researcher, Food Security for Equitable Future Research Group, Department of Sociology, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK