The Chevening Clore Leadership Fellowship closed applications on October 7, 2025. It’s a fully funded UK fellowship for mid-career cultural professionals, combining leadership training, mentorship, and a 4-6 week placement inside a UK cultural organisation — but eligibility was restricted to just eight countries, and South Africa was the only African country among them. Throughout the fellowship, participants engage in activities tailored to their professional goals, including leadership profiling, personalised learning plans, mentorship, and access to sector-specific training and events. They also complete a provocation paper, exploring a key idea or challenge in cultural leadership. This post covers what the fellowship actually involved, who qualified, and what to check before a future cycle.
The Chevening Clore Leadership Fellowship, offered jointly by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and Clore Leadership, gives mid-career cultural professionals from Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Jordan, Lebanon, Mexico, and South Africa the opportunity to transform their leadership journey, fully funded in the UK. Fellows take part in a personalised programme with leadership training, workshops, and a placement in a UK cultural organisation. Throughout the fellowship, participants engage in activities tailored to their professional goals, including leadership profiling, personalised learning plans, mentorship, and access to sector-specific training and events. They also complete a provocation paper, exploring a key idea or challenge in cultural leadership.
Chevening Clore Leadership Fellowship Summary
| Scholarship Name ⇒ | Chevening Clore Leadership Fellowship |
| Host Country ⇒ | United Kingdom (UK) |
| Study Level ⇒ | Fellowships |
| Benefits ⇒ | Fully Funded — flights, accommodation, living expenses, a learning budget, and a UK work placement |
| Funded By ⇒ | UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and Clore Leadership |
| Eligible Countries ⇒ | Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Jordan, Lebanon, Mexico, and South Africa only |
| Application Deadline ⇒ | October 7, 2025. This is closed |
Eligibility Criteria for the Fellowship in the UK
To be considered, applicants must:
- Be a citizen and resident of Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Jordan, Lebanon, Mexico, or South Africa.
- Have at least five years of work experience in the cultural sector.
- Hold a degree equivalent to a UK bachelor’s (minimum 2:2) or have significant professional experience.
- Be proficient in English.
- Commit to returning to your home country after the fellowship.
- Not hold British or dual citizenship.
- Not have received UK Government funding in the last five years (unless you can show significant career progression since).
- Not be an employee, former employee, or close relative of an employee of the UK Government in the past two years.
2026 Chevening Clore Leadership Fellowship Benefits
Fellows will receive:
- Full programme funding covering all fellowship activities and training.
- Return economy flights to and from the UK.
- Accommodation and living expenses for the duration of the fellowship.
- Tailored learning budget to cover courses, conferences, and study visits aligned with your professional goals.
- Work placement for approximately 4-6 weeks at a UK cultural organisation to gain practical leadership experience
- Mentorship and coaching from experienced cultural leaders.
- Access to an international network of Chevening and Clore alumni.
Required Documents for the Chevening Clore Leadership Fellowship
Applicants will need to provide:
- Updated CV showing relevant experience and achievements.
- Academic transcripts and degree certificate (or proof of equivalent experience).
- Two references from professional or academic contacts.
- Personal statement responses explaining your leadership journey and goals.
- Proof of English proficiency (if required).
How to Apply for the Chevening Clore Leadership Fellowship
Interested and qualified applicants should:
- Apply online through the Chevening application portal, selecting the Apply option below.
- Complete all sections of the form, including personal details, work experience, and personal statement questions.
- Upload all required documents before submitting.
- Submit your application before 7 October 2025
Application Deadline
Applications closed October 7, 2025. Chevening runs its fellowship programmes on an annual cycle, so a similarly structured call for a future year is a reasonable expectation, though exact dates and eligible countries can shift between cycles — confirm both directly with Chevening once a new call is announced, rather than assuming this exact country list carries over.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still apply for this fellowship cycle?
No. Applications closed October 7, 2025, and the process described doesn’t include a late submission option.
Is this fellowship open to Nigerian applicants?
No. Eligibility was restricted to citizens and residents of Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Jordan, Lebanon, Mexico, and South Africa specifically. South Africa was the only African country included, so Nigerian professionals weren’t eligible for this particular fellowship regardless of their experience or field.
Do I need a formal degree to qualify?
Not strictly. A degree equivalent to a UK bachelor’s, minimum 2:2, was one path to eligibility, but significant professional experience in the cultural sector could substitute for it.
What is a “provocation paper,” and is it mandatory?
It’s a piece of writing where fellows explore a genuine idea or challenge within cultural leadership, and it’s a required part of the fellowship experience, not an optional add-on.
Could someone who previously received UK Government funding still apply?
Only in specific circumstances. Applicants who’d received UK Government funding within the past five years were excluded, unless they could demonstrate significant career progression since that funding.
Disclaimer: All fellowship details, deadlines, award values, and eligibility criteria in this post were verified from official sources as of August 2026. Information is subject to change without notice. Always confirm the latest details directly on the official Chevening website before submitting your application. ScholarWaka is not affiliated with the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office or Clore Leadership.
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