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Introduction
Chevening Fellowships are financed and awarded by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office in order to support UK International Priorities.  A menu of short Fellowship courses support UK planned priorities and allow UK overseas Missions to help advance the policy context in a country or region through fresh ideas and perspectives, capacity-building or exposure to knowledge. 
 
Chevening Fellowships will assist to provide an informed and evidence-based context to key policy debates, mutual understanding of international positions supply practical experience relevant to the Fellowship subject and encourage dialogue to assist with identification of an optimum strategic direction in the subject of the Fellowship.
 
Chevening Fellowships will aim to provide Fellows with a positive, customer-focused experience of the UK and a relevant professional development chance through a 3-month subject-immersion course in the UK with a challenging programme of academic, practical, policy and political exposure.  These Fellowships are an opportunity to gather information and to use that information in considered and directed discussion, by asking the big questions and exploring the range of approaches taken by different countries.
Chevening Fellowships will help the UK build a influential network of professional subject-based international colleagues and could generate a strong ‘think-tank’ to engage informally with UK overseas Missions in-country or regionally on specific issues.  In this way, Fellowships will be expected to have immediate and ongoing impact on specific policy objectives at Post.


Chevening Fellows
The FCO has introduced a new Fellowships initiative as part of the Chevening Programme. Fellows are mid-career professionals identified by overseas Posts. They come to the UK for tailor-made courses in subjects relevant to the UK’s strategic international policy priorities. Chevening Fellows are supported fully during their 12 week course (with accommodation, living allowances, insurance etc) and hold return tickets. Chevening Fellows are advised by the FCO and British Council to apply for 6 month visas on code 2 conditions as sandwich course students. It is important that Chevening Fellows are granted these conditions as the timing allows them to have a month’s holiday and time to network before returning home. The course also involves a two week work placement. ECOs should note that the Chevening Fellowship Certificate can be regarded as a nationally recognised qualification for the purpose of complying with the sandwich course requirements. These applications should be processed as a high priority and should receive gratis entry clearance.

What is Sandwich Course/Internship?

Sandwich Courses
A sandwich course is a course that includes a clearly defined work placement, which is approved by the institution providing the course. Students, subject to conditions restricting employment, will be permitted to follow a sandwich course provided that:

  •     The course leads to a degree or to a qualification awarded by a nationally recognised examining body
  •   The work placement does not extend beyond the end of the course.


The requirements for leave to enter for a sandwich course are not restricted to degree level courses and there are a number of vocational courses that meet the sandwich course criteria. There is no minimum or maximum amount of time specified for the study or work placement. For example, there are a number of courses that are acceptable under the Immigration Rules where the student will undertake classroom study for one month followed by a five month work placement.

Students on sandwich courses may work for longer than 20 hours per week during the work placement only.

Students enrolled on sandwich courses outside the UK are not entitled to do their work experience in the UK and should be advised to apply under the Training and Work Experience Scheme (TWES).

A sandwich course student may meet some of the costs of his course and accommodation and maintenance through earnings from employment. The institution must provide a letter confirming that a work placement will be available to the student and how much the student will earn.

When assessing applications for entry clearance ECOs should ensure that the course leads to the award of a recognised qualification, that the work placement has been approved by the institution and that the applicant is able and intends to follow the course. ECOs should also assess intention to leave unless the course leads to a degree level qualification.

Chevening Fellows should be considered as sandwich course students (see Paragraph 12.1 for more details).

Internships
An internship is a short period of paid work, which an employer may offer a potential employee. The internship may be offered to a student on a first or higher degree course in the UK, even if the potential permanent employment is outside the UK. A student subject to conditions restricting employment will be allowed to undertake an internship provided that:

The student has not previously undertaken an internship with the same employer;
The internship is for not longer than three months;
It is an established part of the employer’s recruitment procedure;
It offers pay and conditions of employment comparable to those for a ‘resident worker’ doing the same work; and
It is completed within the current period of leave as a student.

Fellow Profile

  • A successful mid-career and/or senior professional
  • In a position of leadership/authority and influence or in line for such a position
  • Active in the field or with work experience or having demonstrated interest in the subject area of the Fellowship
  • Identified by FCO diplomatic staff overseas
  • Good operational command of English, including oral expression
  • Motivated and academically able to follow and benefit from a UK post-graduate course
  • With the ability and talent to represent the high standards of the Chevening brand
  • Interested in international policy dialogue
  • Able and willing to attend the full 12-week Fellowship course in the UK
  • No age restriction
  • No limitation in respect of previous awards
  • Willing to maximize opportunities under the Chevening Fellowship to:
           – acquire and increase knowledge in subject area
           – network with peers, UK staff and professional contacts/experts
           – share relevant experience, ideas and perspectives
           – become familiar with UK culture, business and people and
           – understand the UK policy position/approach in the subject area of the Fellowship
  • Intends to return home after completing the Chevening Fellowship

On Return:

  • Willing to maintain contact with UK Embassy/High Commission
  • Open to maintaining a dialogue or participating in a mini-network on the Fellowship subject or a particular aspect of it
  • As an alumnus of the Chevening Programme, willing to speak to potential candidates about his or her own experience of a UK Chevening Fellowship.

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By admin