Disclaimer: This is NOT an official document.

It's not from the

Chevening. It is a compilation from Malaysian scholars and
applicants. We just want to help :)
HI!
We know writing for Chevening essays can
be tough but hey, don't worry!
It can be done.

Although this ebook is a beta version and

was compiled in a rush, we still think it
can help you to start and complete your
essays.

So gear up, and start now!

HOW TO
READ THIS
EBOOK?
We have grouped the tips into 8 main
categories, in which you will find some
info and advices.

Truly, it's just some bubbles of

thoughts! LOL

You may read it before you craft your

first draft or even after you finish your
essays. It will bring some lights and
help you to see which gap(s) you may
have.
 ARE YOU
READY?
1
LET'S
2
GO!
 1.MISSING
CONNECTION
Think of your essays like a continuous Act I,
Act II, Act III, and Finale of your story.

Act I (Leadership) - Introduce the

conflict and motivation of the hero (you
as a Leader).
Act II (Networking) - Introduce the
characters and believers who followed
your hero's journey.
Act III (Studying in the UK) - Explain
the hero's journey.
Finale (Career) - Show the action plan
to resolve the earlier said conflict.

This will make it simpler for you to explain

your latest and greatest achievements in
your journey, while at the same time avoid
being repetitive.

(Tian Yan, Chevening Scholar 2019/2020)

"You need to write your 4 essays as
if they are a story. Make a storyline
or storyboard. Flow it from the
leadership, connect it with the
networking part, then make sure it
ties with your aspiration (what
course/uni) and what you want to do
in the future.
A lot of
candidates write
their essays in silo
and forget to
show the
connection."
(Salwa, Chevening
Scholar 2020/21)
TIP 2:
DO NOT SPEND TIME
EXPLAINING THE
UNIVERSITY RANK
AND THE COURSE
OUTLINES.
IT'S A
WELL
KNOWN
FACT
Let us just acknowlegde that the UK
has the top universities. Everyone
knows that fact so leave that for
now.

Some write the third essay as if

they copy and paste it right from
the web! Teeeeeeeet

That's not the way you want to

show how badly you want to apply
for the desired course and uni.
(Salwa, Chevening Scholar
2020/21)
3. MORE
EXAMPLES
There are 2 methods that I used.

STARL and SMART

STARL stands for situation, task, action,

result and lesson learnt. I used STARL
method for leadership and networking
essays.

SMART stands for simple, measurable,

achievable, realistic and time frame.
SMART method can be used for study
plan and career plan.

For each essay, try to make a direct intro

and conclusion. Try to put 2 examples or
if possible, 3 examples.

(Zufayri, Chevening Applicant 2020/21)

 80

60

40

20

0
Item 1 Item 2 Item 3 Item 4

Be precise. Show evidence.

Tell them what you have done for
leadership and networking essays.
Place the figures in numbers if possible.

Let them know you ARE THE ONLY

CANDIDATE who is the best suit for the
course in your third essay.

(Salwa, Chevening Scholar 2020/21)

TIP 4:
DON'T BE
NORMAL!
 WHY YOU??

If you write your fourth essay just to be

the average Joe and Jane,
it's not going to work.
Show them your desire.
Burn them with your fire!
Why Malaysia and UK need you?
How badly do they need you? Why now?
Put all of that in your fourth essay.
(Salwa, Chevening Scholar 2020/21)

Again, be the best version of you.

Your story should be unique to stand out.
Hence our advice is try not to be too
prescriptive. But of course, make sure the
Queen will not flinch at the spelling and
grammar.
(Tian Yan, Chevening Scholar 2019/2020)
5. BE
GENUINE

Don't fake it.

Don't use fancy

words or jargons.

Just be the plain but

EXTRAORDINARY
you.
(Salwa, Chevening
Scholar 2020/21)
6. PROOFREAD

It's alright to ask alumni that

you know to look through
your essays.

They can read your essays

with fresh eyes and share
some useful feedback from
their perspective.

(Tian Yan, Chevening

Scholar 2019/2020)
PROFESSIONAL
PROOFREADER

When you want to send your essays

to a professional proofreader, make
sure that person knows your
aspiration. Do not use jargons, and
send them 600-650 words/essay.

It's their job to cut and summarise

it to make it 500. Why 600-650?
load them with facts!

They will know how to make it

connected and flow like a
masterpiece!

(Salwa, Chevening Scholar

2020/21)
7. RESEARCH ABOUT
YOUR COURSE

"I actually have been in

touch with some
lecturers from the
university and course I
am targeting to apply.

It has given me a lot of

insights."

Amalina Annuar - Chevening

applicant 2021/2022
First, it's important that you understand
the course from the course leader (if you
have access to them) especially if they
have a stringent enrolment process. If
you got awarded the Chevening
scholarship, but DID NOT secure the
university placement due to
competition, you would have to
withdraw from the Chevening award if
all 3 university courses have not offered
you (ask me how I know...). You can get
an understanding of how competitive a
course can be by googling "freedom of
information act" + [university] +
[course] + [intake year].

Second, it helps if you are clear why you

chose a specific course over the other
during the interview. I.e. University of
Essex has an established research group
for natural language processing which I
would like to be part of, etc.
(Tian Yan, Chevening Scholar 2019/2020)
 8. ENGLISH
TEST
Don't spend time and money for IELTS/
etc before you are selected in the
interview stage, if you are on a tight
budget. But if you have some extra
money to spare, and wanted to secure
your university placement before the
interview, please proceed.

Fulfilling the English requirement for

university application may give you an
advantage of having a 'clear mind',
but it is not an advantage in the
chevening interview or application
process.
(Salwa, Chevening Scholar 2020/21)
THAT'S ALL FOR
NOW...
We hope it helps!
If you want to send the ebook to other
applicants who may benefit from this,
please ask them to download it from:

http://bit.ly/cheveningessays
SPECIAL THANKS

We would like to thank you to all

contributors for this first edition.
Hopefully we will be able to come up with
a better ebook next time!

Contributors: As mentioned on every page

Initial Idea: Salwa
Compiled by: Eunice Tan
Design by: Salwa
 WE WISH YOU

ALL THE BEST!