Now Reading: UK pauses Chevening fellowships in science, cyber security, journalism
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UK pauses Chevening fellowships in science, cyber security, journalism
UK pauses Chevening fellowships in science, cyber security, journalism
The UK government has paused three short-term Chevening fellowships for the 2027-28 cycle: the Chevening Research, Science and Innovation Leadership Fellowship (CRISP), the Chevening Cyber Security Fellowship, and the Chevening South Asia…
The UK government has paused three short-term Chevening fellowships for the 2027-28 cycle: the Chevening Research, Science and Innovation Leadership Fellowship (CRISP), the Chevening Cyber Security Fellowship, and the Chevening South Asia Journalism Programme (SAJP). The SAJP, hosted at the University of Westminster, is paused due to capacity constraints and is expected to resume in 2028. The other two programmes are paused for one year while the UK reviews and strengthens the fellowship portfolio.
A British High Commission spokesperson confirmed the pause is part of a review to assess impact and value. Chevening India is exploring industry sponsorship for CRISP and the Cyber Security Fellowship, and for the Chevening Gurukul Fellowship for Leadership and Excellence. The UK allocated GBP 59.4 million to Chevening in 2025-26, with 97% classified as development spending. The number of Chevening Scholarships awarded has fallen from 1,650 in 2017-18 to 1,401 in 2024-25.
Indian Opinion Analysis
This is not a new trend: in 2010, UK budget cuts slashed GBP 10 million from the scholarship budget, cancelling several cycles. The three paused fellowships serve mid-career professionals from India and South Asia, a region where Chevening has deep ties. The real question is whether corporate sponsorship can fill the gap, especially for CRISP, which specifically targeted Indian and Sri Lankan applicants. A decision on the Gurukul fellowship for 2027 is expected by early November 2026.
Until then, Indian professionals eyeing these programmes have no application cycle to plan for.
Source: deccanherald.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
