Chevening scholarship applications for the academic year 2010/11 are now open. All interested applicants should apply through the Chevening On-line Application system. The deadline for completing your application is 7 January 2010.

The Chevening scholarships (for males and females) and the Dame Violet Dickson award (for females only) are funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and administered by the British Council. It is a prestigious award, which enables overseas students to study in the United Kingdom alongside scholars from other countries and to become a significant member of the knowledge-culture-sharing-learning global network.

The scheme is offered in over 150 countries and enables talented graduates and young professionals to become familiar with the UK and gain skills which will benefit themselves and their countries. The Chevening Programme currently provides around 2,300 new scholarships world-wide each year for postgraduate studies or research at institutions of higher education in the UK.

To become a chevening scholar, candidates need to already have a bachelor's degree, leadership skills/potential and an advanced level of English. Jonathan Layfield, the officer responsible for the Chevening Scholarship scheme at the British Embassy, encouraged the youth of Kuwait to apply for 2010-11 by saying, "becoming a Chevening scholar gives you the opportunity to contribute to your country's socio-economic development by acquiring new skills and knowledge during your stay in the UK."

The official chevening website offers more information about the programme. For further enquiries or assistance, please e-mail Mariam D'souza at the British Council, or you can call her on 9793 4849.