Chevening vs GREAT Scholarships: Which One Should You Actually Apply For?

Chevening vs GREAT Scholarships: Which One Should You Actually Apply For?

If you’re an African student planning to do a Master’s in the UK, you’ve probably come across both Chevening and the GREAT Scholarships. They both help with funding, but they are completely different in what they offer and who they suit.

Here’s a clear, practical comparison to help you decide where to put your energy.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature	Chevening Scholarships	GREAT Scholarships
Funding	Fully funded	Partial (£10,000 off tuition)
What you actually get	Full tuition + monthly living stipend + flights + visa	Only £10,000 toward tuition fees
Degree	One-year taught Master’s	One-year taught Master’s
How competitive?	Extremely competitive	Moderately competitive
Work experience	Required (at least 2,800 hours / ~2 years)	Usually not required
How you apply	One central application + 4 essays + interview	Through individual universities
When to apply	August – October	Usually March – May (varies by university)
Must you return home?	Yes – minimum 2 years after your studies	No strict requirement
Living costs	Covered by the stipend	You pay yourself
Best suited for	People with strong leadership stories and experience	Students who need help reducing tuition costs

The Real Differences That Matter

Funding
Chevening is a true full scholarship. Once you’re selected, you don’t worry about tuition, rent, food, or flights. GREAT gives you £10,000 off your tuition. If your course costs £20,000, you still need to find the remaining £10,000 plus all your living expenses (which can easily be another £12,000–£15,000).

Who they want
Chevening looks for people who already show leadership and have clear plans to create impact when they return home. The two-year work experience rule is strict.
GREAT is more flexible. Strong academic results matter more than leadership experience, and it’s mainly targeted at students from countries like Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya.

Difficulty of getting in
Chevening is tough. You write four essays, go through a reading committee, and face an interview at the British Embassy or High Commission. Only a small percentage succeed.
GREAT is more accessible. You apply to the university after getting an offer, and the process is simpler and less intense.

Which One Should You Choose?

Here’s a simple way to decide:

• Choose Chevening if you have at least two years of work experience, solid leadership examples, and you need full financial support. The prestige and network are also much stronger.
• Choose GREAT if you have good grades but limited work experience, or if you can cover the remaining tuition and living costs yourself. It’s a realistic option that still makes a big difference.
• Many smart applicants apply for both. You can go for GREAT awards earlier in the year (March–May) and still submit a Chevening application later (August–October).

Final Advice

Don’t just chase the biggest scholarship. Choose the one that matches your current profile and financial reality. Chevening is life-changing if you can get it, but GREAT has helped many African students make their UK Master’s possible when full funding wasn’t realistic.

If you’re still unsure which path fits you better, tell me a bit about your work experience, grades, and financial situation and I can give you a more personal recommendation.