Chevening Gurukul Fellowship for Leadership and Excellence 2026-2027
- Omran Aburayya
- Aug 10
- 3 min read
lIf you're a driven mid-career professional from India, the Chevening Gurukul Fellowship for Leadership and Excellence 2026-2027 is now open for applications! Hosted by the University of Oxford, this fully-funded 12-week leadership fellowship aims to sharpen your leadership acumen, global policy understanding, and capacity for impactful change.
🎓 Fellowship Summary
Location: United Kingdom (University of Oxford, Department of Politics and International Relations)
Host Institution: University of Oxford, DPIR
Type: Professional development fellowship (mid-career / post-graduate level)
Target Group: Indian citizens residing in India; mid-career professionals across government, private sector, media, civil society with leadership potential
Fields of Focus: Leadership, global governance, economics, science & technology, migration, inequality, social challenges, policy, personal leadership development
Value & Coverage: Full programme fees; living expenses for 12 weeks; return economy airfare from India to the UK
Duration: 12-week intensive residential programme, running approximately mid-September to November 2026
Application Deadline: 7 October 2025
Start Date (Expected): Mid-September 2026
Eligible To: Indian citizens currently residing in India; with a postgraduate degree or equivalent professional training; minimum 10 years’ work experience; mid-career professionals; proficient in English; not British or dual citizens; not recent/current employees or relatives of UK Government/British Council staff
🌍 Fellowship Overview
The Chevening Gurukul Fellowship is a flagship initiative by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, hosted by Oxford’s Department of Politics and International Relations . It comprises three interlocking pillars over 12 weeks:
Academic Understanding: Deep dives into pressing global themes—economics of global integration, science & tech (including climate change, cyber-security), international governance (UN, WTO, EU, Brexit), social challenges (migration, inequality), and the evolving politics of nationalism vs. internationalism .
Policy Relevance: Participants research, develop, and present a public policy plan tailored to India’s leadership challenges .
Personal Leadership Development: Workshops on leadership skills, self-awareness, public speaking, and networking.
The fellowship also features site visits across the UK, rich cultural integration activities, and access to Oxford’s academic and professional networks .
🎁 Benefits
Tuition & Fees Covered — Full programme cost covered.
Living Stipend — Monthly expenses for the 12-week duration.
Return Airfare — Economy flight from India to the UK.
Exposure — Immersion in UK governance frameworks, networks, and academic environments.
Professional Network — Join a cohort of high-impact Indian professionals with lifelong peer connections.
Leadership Toolkit — Gain frameworks for policy design and personal leadership transformation.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the 2026-2027 cohort, applicants must:
Be citizens of India currently residing in India.
Commit to returning to India after the fellowship.
Hold a postgraduate-level qualification or equivalent professional experience.
Have at least 10 years’ work experience.
Be mid-career professionals with clear leadership potential.
Possess strong English proficiency (assessed in application/interview).
Not hold British or dual citizenship.
Not be an employee or relative (parent, sibling, child, spouse, civil partner, or long-term partner) of any UK Government departments, British Council, or sponsoring UK university within two years prior to application opening.
📝 Application Procedure
Application Portal: Submit your application via the official Chevening website when applications open.
Documentation Required: Educational certificates, proof of work experience, two references, personal statements/essays reflecting leadership vision and intended impact, English proficiency proof (if required).
Submission Deadline: 7 October 2025, by 12:00 UTC.
Review & Shortlisting: From October 2025 through January 2026.
Interviews: Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed between February and April 2026. References must be submitted by mid-February 2026.
Offer Timeline: Results announced from mid-June 2026; UK university offers due by 9 July 2026.
Fellowship Commences: Around mid-September 2026, concluding by November/December 2026.
✨ Why This Fellowship Matters
This fellowship is more than just academic—it's a strategic leadership launchpad. For India’s mid-career changemakers, it offers:
An immersive leadership journey at the helm of global discourse.
A platform to shape policy with real-world significance.
Lifelong networks with both UK institutions and fellow professionals.
The opportunity to return equipped to effect meaningful change in India’s institutions and communities.
🔗 OFFICIAL CALL LINK
