Chevening LSE Fellowship 2027 in the United Kingdom | Fully Funded — UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, London School of Economics and Political Science

Three or six months at LSE, full program fees covered, and a rule that only applies to one country in the entire world: China. The Chevening LSE Fellowship exists to give mid-career Chinese professionals a defined research window at one of the world’s leading social science universities, then send them home to use it.

Funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the fellowship is hosted directly within an LSE department, institute, or centre matched to the fellow’s research interests.

About the Scholarship

Fellows spend three or six months at LSE working on a specific research topic, with public diplomacy, public policy and administration, international relations, social and economic policy, environmental policy, and development studies all receiving particular attention, though all social science fields are welcome. Applicants are not required to secure an academic adviser before applying, though having someone in mind is genuinely helpful; once selected, fellows identify and confirm an adviser and get placed within an LSE department, institute, or centre matching their research focus.

Because the fellowship is restricted entirely to Chinese citizens who intend to return to China afterward, it functions as a targeted bilateral program rather than an open international competition. Researchers weighing similarly structured short-term policy research residencies sometimes also compare it to the Harvard Visiting Research Scholarship Program, a six-week US research residency that requires an existing faculty collaborator, unlike Chevening LSE’s open adviser-matching process.

Scholarship Benefits

• Full program fees covered
• Living expenses for the entire duration of the fellowship
• Return economy airfare from China to the UK
• An allowance package for research-related activities
• Access to a program of cultural events and activities organized by the Chevening Secretariat and FCDO
• Participation in seminars, discussion groups, and relevant lectures at LSE
• The opportunity to present a completed research paper at LSE by the end of the fellowship

Eligibility Criteria

• Must be a citizen of China, currently residing there, and intend to return to China at the end of the fellowship
• Must hold a postgraduate qualification, or comparable professional training or experience in a relevant field, at the time of application
• Must have five or more years of work experience, or be a PhD student whose doctorate is not from a UK, EU, or US university
• Must not hold dual nationality that includes British citizenship, unless specifically exempted under Chevening guidance
• Must not currently work for, have worked for, or be a close relative of an employee of His Majesty’s Government, the British Council, or a sponsoring UK university, within the two years before the application period opened
• Should have an excellent academic record and demonstrated interest in the chosen research area through professional experience or publications
• Should be genuinely enthusiastic about engaging with LSE’s academic community and contributing to the host department’s activities

Fields of Study Covered

• Public diplomacy
• Public policy and administration
• International relations
• Social, economic, and environmental policy
• Development studies
• Other social science disciplines, which remain eligible even without receiving the same special attention as the areas above

Required Documents

• A research proposal identifying the specific topic to be pursued at LSE
• Evidence of postgraduate qualification or equivalent professional experience
• Documentation of at least five years of work experience, or PhD student status
• Standard Chevening application materials confirming citizenship, residency, and intent to return to China

How to Apply (Step-by-Step)

1. Visit the official Chevening application portal and select China as your home country.
2. Choose the LSE fellowship from the list of available Chevening programs for your country.
3. Review the fellowship-specific eligibility criteria before proceeding.
4. Complete the online application form in full, including your research proposal.
5. Upload any supporting documents requested during the process.
6. Review your full application carefully before submission.
7. Submit before 6 October 2026.

Selection Process

Selection weighs academic record, professional experience relevant to the proposed research topic, and genuine enthusiasm for engaging with LSE’s academic community, rather than credentials alone. Because fellows are matched to a specific department or centre based on research interests after selection, the strength and specificity of the research proposal plays a real role in how smoothly that placement process unfolds once an applicant is chosen.

Tips to Improve Your Chances

• Write a research proposal specific enough to signal a genuine LSE department or centre fit, even without formally securing an adviser in advance
• Use professional experience and any prior publications to demonstrate sustained interest in your chosen research area, not just current relevance
• Be explicit about your intent to return to China and how the research would apply to your work there, since this connects directly to the fellowship’s purpose
• Applicants comparing this against other short, prestigious UK research placements might also look at the Wilson Center Fellowship Program, a longer, paid US policy fellowship open globally rather than restricted to one country
• Prepare to discuss how you would contribute to LSE’s academic community, not just what you hope to gain from the residency

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this fellowship open to citizens of other countries?

No. It is restricted entirely to citizens of China who are currently living there and intend to return after the fellowship.

Do I need to secure an academic adviser before applying?

No. Applicants are not required to secure an adviser in advance, though having someone in mind can help. Fellows identify and confirm an adviser after being selected.

How long does the fellowship last?

Fellows spend either three or six months at LSE, depending on the specific research project and arrangement.

Can PhD students apply?

Yes, provided the PhD is not from a UK, EU, or US university, since applicants must otherwise show five or more years of professional work experience.

What happens at the end of the fellowship?

Fellows are expected to complete a research paper on their chosen topic, which is then presented at LSE before the fellowship concludes.

Is there a cost to apply?

No. There is no application fee, though the fellowship itself is highly selective and requires strong supporting documentation.