UK Government Pauses Chevening Scholarships for Afghan Students

The United Kingdom government's Chevening Scholarships for 2025 opened on August 6, 2024, but not for Afghan students. The government appears to have paused this prestigious scholarship for students from Afghanistan for an indefinite period of time.

Application for the next cohort, 2025/26 is open for other countries, but the portal where Afghan students can apply remains closed, Erudera.com reports.

“Applications for the 2025/2026 academic year are currently closed. Eligibility for this year’s programme is still under review. Please monitor this page for updates,” the official Chevening website reads.

Former British international development secretary Rory Stewart told the online news outlet Hyphen that this scholarship has been of huge importance for generations of Afghan students as it offers unique educational opportunities to talented students from this country.

“It is particularly important now in Taliban Afghanistan and it would be a great tragedy if it were cut,” Stewart told the newspaper.

The same source reports that more than 50 Afghan alumni sent a letter to FCDO, asking for an explanation of why the scholarship is frozen. The office replied by saying they are waiting for an official statement from the ministers.

As reported, students are especially stressed due to the Taliban regime. Last year, Chevening scholars reported anxiety and fear of having to return to their home country after graduation or after their visas expire.

In 2021, students from Afghanistan who received this type of scholarship were granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK. British media recently reported that 19 female medical students who were banned from pursuing university studies in Afghanistan were accepted to complete their degrees in Scotland.

These students were banned from studying medicine after the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021, two decades after being removed from the capital Kabul by US troops.

Chevening scholarship is a program funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). Students wishing to study in the UK have until November 5, 2024 to apply. Under this program which started in 1983, students can pursue a master’s degree at one of the UK universities for one year.

“At the end of your scholarship, you’ll join our diverse community of over 60,000 global alumni. You’ll return home equipped with the knowledge and networks to bring your ideas to life and thrive in your career,” the Chevening in Afghanistan website reads.

Recipients of this scholarship have fully funded tuition fees, many networking opportunities, and attend world-class universities.