Chevening Scholarships
IELTS Requirement & Application Guide
Use this listing to plan your research, not as confirmation of eligibility. Requirements, funding and deadlines can change. Confirm your course and current application cycle with the official provider. An unknown requirement is not a waiver.
- IELTS
- 6.5
- Components
- L 5.5 / R 5.5 / W 5.5 / S 5.5
- Study level
- Postgraduate
- Deadline
- August 5 to October 7 (for 2026 cycle)
Last verified: 2026-03
About Chevening Scholarships
Chevening Scholarships are the UK government's flagship global scholarship programme, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. They enable outstanding emerging leaders from around the world to pursue one-year master's degrees at any UK university. Recipients typically have at least two years of work experience and demonstrate leadership potential.
Listed IELTS requirement
| Overall | L | R | W | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.5 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.5 |
Accepts: Academic ✓ / General ✗
Also accepted: TOEFL iBT 79, PTE Academic 54
Tips for Meeting the Requirement
- 1Chevening requires IELTS 6.5 overall with no band below 5.5. Focus on raising your weakest skill above 5.5 first, then work toward the 6.5 overall.
- 2You can submit a lower score initially and retake IELTS before the deadline — Chevening allows score updates during the application cycle.
- 3Practice Academic IELTS specifically, as General Training is not accepted. Focus on essay structure for Writing Task 2, which many Chevening applicants find challenging.
Frequently Asked Questions
What IELTS score do I need for Chevening scholarship?
Can I apply to Chevening with IELTS 6.0?
Does Chevening accept IELTS General Training?
Prepare for your English requirement
A practice Writing estimate can help identify what to work on. It does not establish scholarship eligibility.
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