The Chevening programme is seeking experienced, UK-based assessors to be part of reading committees for its 2025–26 scholarship and fellowship applications.

The reading committees will conduct scholarship and fellowship application assessments between 18 November 2024 and 5 January 2025.

About Chevening

Chevening is the UK government’s global scholarship programme, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and partner organisations. 

Offered in over 160 countries and territories globally, the programme grants awards to outstanding scholars and fellows with demonstrable leadership potential and a commitment to creating positive change in their home country or territory.

Chevening offers two types of awards:

• Scholarships - a one-year taught master’s degree in any subject and at any UK higher education institution.
• Fellowships - either a bespoke short course or a research project based in the UK for between two to 12 months. Fellowship awards are only available in certain regions.

Find out more at www.chevening.org

About the roles

Reading Committees form a crucial part in the selection of Chevening Scholars and Fellows to ensure independently assessed excellence.

Each committee comprises two members: a Regional Assessor and an Academic Assessor, who will be asked to assess applications from a particular country and/or territory, or countries and/or territories from a particular region (see Terms of Reference document below).

Regional Assessors

We are seeking a number of Regional Assessors with substantial international experience across a range of countries and/or a region (see Terms of Reference document below).

Academic Assessors

We are seeking a number of Academic Assessors with experience in assessing academic applications from a wide range of subject areas. In addition to reading and scoring applications according to the Chevening assessment criteria, Academic Assessors are responsible for notifying the Chevening Secretariat if an applicant is unlikely to gain admission to their chosen course or if the applicant's preferred courses do not align with their stated long-term goals.

Expectations

Each reading committee member will be tasked to assess the quality of each application against Chevening global selection criteria, and to submit their scores via an online application platform.

Assessments will take place between 18 November 2024 and 5 January 2025.

However, for quality assurance purposes, all assessors must assess an initial 20 applications between 18 and 25 November 2024.

All committee members (including those who have worked as an assessor in previous years) are required to complete compulsory online training in October/November 2024.

All assessors must reside in the UK and be able to provide proof of residency for the entire duration of the contract period (1 October 2024 to 31 March 2025).

Eligibility and criteria

• Must not be currently employed or have been employed since 9 September 2022 by the Chevening Secretariat, ACU, British Council, FCDO, British embassies/high commissions overseas, former Foreign and Commonwealth Office, or Department for International Development.
• Must not be a current Chevening Scholar or Fellow.
• Must not be a Chevening Alumnus.
• Must hold a UK bank account registered in their own name.
• Provide proof of a UK residency address and reside in the UK from 1 October 2024 to 31 March 2025.

Commitments

• Complete the assessment of 20 initial applications from 18 November to 25 November 2024 for quality assurance purposes.
• Assess all remaining applications from 25 November 2024 to 5 January 2025, with scores submitted by 23:59 GMT on 5 January 2025.
• Assess a minimum of 400 to 600 applications, unless otherwise agreed, using Chevening Secretariat’s criteria.
• Complete compulsory online training by 8 November 2024.
• Protect and ensure the confidentiality of information, deleting or returning all data upon task completion.

Skills and experience

• Technical Skills: Proficiency in using application management systems and digital tools.
• Academic Experience: Experience in academia, particularly in roles involving student selection, evaluation, or mentoring.
• Scholarship Programme Experience: Experience working with scholarship programmes at national or international levels.
• Intercultural Knowledge: Demonstrable international experience and/or intercultural knowledge from working or living overseas or with international stakeholders.
• Professional Background: Experience in education administration, non-profit sector, and/or international organisations.
• Analytical Skills: Strong analytical abilities to assess academic records, personal statements, and essays.
• Consistency and Fairness: Ability to apply assessment criteria consistently and fairly.
• Organisational Skills: High levels of self-organisation, attention to detail, accuracy, prioritisation, and the ability to manage a substantial workload within tight deadlines.

Communication and ethical standards

• Communication Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication skills for providing constructive feedback and articulating evaluations clearly and succinctly.
• Cultural Sensitivity: Understanding of diverse cultural, social, and economic backgrounds, with sensitivity to issues of equity and inclusion in educational opportunities.
• Ethical Standards: Commitment to confidentiality, impartiality, fairness, transparency, and adherence to strong ethical standards.
• Programme Awareness: Familiarity with the Chevening Programme’s target demographics and intended impact, along with an awareness of global education trends and challenges.

Honorariums

Reading committee members will receive an honorarium for their time and valued contributions. The total amount received will be dependent on the number of applications assessed, based on approximately £1.80 per application. It is anticipated that each committee member will assess a minimum of 400 to 600 applications, unless agreed otherwise agreed.