Applications are open for the Chevening Europe Defence and Security Fellowship 2027, a six-week UK programme for eligible mid-career European security and defence professionals. Funding includes full programme fees, living expenses with accommodation and return economy airfare. Apply by September 27, 2026.
Applications are open for the Chevening Europe Defence and Security Fellowship 2027, a funded six-week professional programme designed for experienced European professionals working across security, defence, government, law enforcement, intelligence, resilience, academia and related sectors.
The fellowship is funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and delivered by Cranfield University at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom in Shrivenham.
Successful fellows receive full programme fees, living expenses for the duration of the fellowship including pre-arranged accommodation, and return economy airfare.
Applications are currently open and close on:
September 27, 2026 at 11:00 UTC.
The programme will run in two cohorts between January and April 2027.
Chevening Europe Defence and Security Fellowship 2027 at a Glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Fellowship | Chevening Europe Defence and Security Fellowship |
| Year | 2027 |
| Funding | UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office |
| Delivery Institution | Cranfield University |
| Venue | Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, Shrivenham |
| Duration | Six weeks |
| Cohort 1 | January 25 – March 5, 2027 |
| Cohort 2 | March 15 – April 23, 2027 |
| Target Group | Mid-career security and defence professionals |
| Minimum Experience | At least five years of relevant professional experience |
| Academic Requirement | Postgraduate qualification or equivalent professional training/experience in a relevant field |
| Geographic Eligibility | Citizens and residents of specified non-ODA eligible European countries |
| Programme Fees | Fully covered |
| Living Expenses | Covered |
| Accommodation | Pre-arranged accommodation included within living support |
| Airfare | Return economy airfare |
| Application Status | Open |
| Deadline | September 27, 2026 at 11:00 UTC |
What Is the Chevening Europe Defence and Security Fellowship?
The Chevening Europe Defence and Security Fellowship is a specialist professional development opportunity focused on the increasingly complex security and defence environment facing governments and institutions.
Unlike the better-known Chevening Master’s scholarship, this opportunity is a short professional fellowship, not a Master’s degree.
It is specifically designed for mid-career professionals from Europe who have demonstrated leadership potential in security and defence.
The programme seeks to develop leaders capable of operating effectively in rapidly changing security and defence environments.
Participants will examine strategic challenges affecting:
- Governments
- International organisations
- Public institutions
- Defence and security organisations
- Wider society
The fellowship combines interdisciplinary learning with practical professional development.
Who Funds the Fellowship?
The programme is funded by the:
UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
It is delivered by:
Cranfield University
at the:
Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, Shrivenham.
This institutional structure gives fellows access to a programme specifically oriented toward contemporary security, defence, leadership and strategic policy challenges.
How Long Is the Fellowship?
The fellowship lasts:
Six weeks.
There will be two cohorts in 2027.
Cohort 1
January 25 – March 5, 2027
Cohort 2
March 15 – April 23, 2027
Applicants should therefore be prepared to commit to the full six-week programme period if selected.
What Does the Fellowship Cover?
The funding package is one of the most important features of the programme.
Each fellowship includes:
- Full programme fees
- Living expenses for the duration of the fellowship
- Pre-arranged accommodation
- Return economy airfare
This removes several of the major costs normally associated with participating in an international professional programme in the United Kingdom.
Full Programme Fees
Successful applicants will not have to pay the fellowship’s programme fees because these are included in the award.
The official source explicitly lists:
Full programme fees
as part of the fellowship package.
Applicants should nevertheless avoid assuming that every incidental personal expense is covered unless Chevening specifically confirms it.
Living Expenses and Accommodation
The fellowship provides living expenses for the programme’s duration.
The official funding information also states that this includes:
Pre-arranged accommodation.
This is particularly valuable because participants will spend six weeks in the United Kingdom.
The supplied source does not specify the exact monetary value of the living allowance, so applicants should not rely on unofficial stipend figures.
Return Economy Airfare
The funding package also includes:
Return economy airfare.
The source does not provide detailed booking rules, baggage entitlements or travel-routing conditions in the supplied material.
Successful candidates should therefore follow the official travel instructions issued by Chevening.
What Will Fellows Study?
The six-week programme combines several forms of learning.
According to Chevening, participants will engage in:
- Teaching
- Discussion
- Practical exercises
- Site visits
- Individual research
- Collaborative learning
The programme focuses on practical insight into leadership, organisational resilience, governance, strategic decision-making, cyber resilience, artificial intelligence and international collaboration.
Six Main Programme Themes
The fellowship is organised around six integrated themes.
1. Global Leadership in an Era of Complexity
Participants will examine leadership in environments shaped by uncertainty and increasingly complex international challenges.
2. Understanding People, Culture and Organisations
The programme explores the relationship between human behaviour, organisational culture and institutional performance.
3. Cyber Resilience and Information Threats
Fellows will consider cyber-related challenges and the ability of institutions to withstand and respond to information and digital threats.
4. Artificial Intelligence, Governance and Emerging Technology
Participants will examine opportunities and risks associated with artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.
5. Strategic Decision-Making Under Pressure
This theme focuses on making decisions in situations involving uncertainty, incomplete information and competing pressures.
6. Building Resilience and Future Leadership
The programme also examines organisational resilience and the leadership capabilities needed for future challenges.
These six themes are explicitly identified in the fellowship programme.
Skills Fellows Are Expected to Develop
Chevening says participants will be encouraged to critically evaluate contemporary strategic, organisational and leadership challenges.
They will examine how:
- Organisational culture
- Human behaviour
- Governance
can affect institutional effectiveness, resilience and vulnerability.
Participants will also assess the risks and opportunities associated with:
- Cybersecurity
- Artificial intelligence
- Emerging technologies
Another major area involves applying strategic decision-making approaches when leaders face incomplete information, uncertainty and competing pressures.
International Collaboration
Cross-border cooperation is an important element of the fellowship.
Participants will be expected to collaborate across:
- Cultural boundaries
- Professional backgrounds
- National boundaries
The objective is to develop informed responses to complex organisational and societal challenges.
This is particularly relevant for security professionals because many contemporary security challenges extend beyond individual national borders.
Lectures, Workshops and Simulations
The programme is not limited to conventional classroom lectures.
Chevening states that fellows will benefit from:
- Lectures
- Workshops
- Simulations
- Practitioner speakers
- Research activity
- UK institutional visits
- International professional networking
This structure provides a mixture of academic, practical and professional learning.
Research Project
Each fellow will also undertake a research project.
The project should address a relevant challenge connected to areas such as:
- Policy
- Leadership
- Organisations
- Security
Participants receive academic support while developing their research.
At the end of the fellowship, participants will present their findings to the FCDO in London.
This gives the programme a practical research component rather than relying solely on lectures and professional discussions.
Who Can Apply?
The fellowship has a targeted eligibility framework.
In addition to satisfying Chevening’s standard fellowship eligibility criteria, applicants must meet programme-specific requirements.
One of the most important is nationality and residence.
Applicants must be both a citizen and resident, at the point of application, of one of the eligible countries.
Eligible Countries
The fellowship lists the following eligible countries:
- Andorra
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Gibraltar
- Greece
- Holy See
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Monaco
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- San Marino
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
Applicants must satisfy both the citizenship and residence requirement at the point of application.
What About European Overseas Territories?
Chevening provides a specific rule for applicants living in a European overseas territory.
Such applicants may apply through the relevant Chevening award scheme for the European country of which they are citizens.
Applicants in this situation should therefore check the relevant country’s Chevening arrangements.
Is the Fellowship Open to African Applicants?
Not generally under this particular fellowship.
The Chevening Europe Defence and Security Fellowship is restricted to the specified eligible European countries.
For example, the eligibility list supplied for this fellowship does not include:
- South Africa
- Zimbabwe
- Kenya
- Nigeria
- Ghana
- Uganda
- Zambia
That does not mean citizens of those countries cannot apply for other Chevening awards. It means they are not included in the nationality list for this specific Europe Defence and Security Fellowship.
Academic Requirement
Applicants must:
Hold a postgraduate qualification or have equivalent professional training or experience in a relevant field.
This is an important distinction.
A conventional postgraduate degree is not presented as the only route. Relevant equivalent professional training or experience can also satisfy this programme-specific requirement.
Applicants should accurately explain their professional background if relying on equivalent experience or training.
Professional Experience Requirement
Candidates need at least:
Five years of relevant professional experience.
This means the fellowship is not designed as an entry-level opportunity for recent graduates with little or no professional experience.
It is specifically aimed at established mid-career professionals.
What Types of Professionals Are Eligible?
Applicants should have responsibilities connected to national or international security.
Chevening specifically identifies professionals employed within:
- Government
- Public sector
- Private sector
- Academia
- Defence
- Security
- Law enforcement
- Intelligence
- Civil protection
- Resilience
- International organisations
The list demonstrates that applicants do not necessarily need to work directly for a military or defence ministry.
Professionals in other sectors can potentially qualify if their work has the required security relevance.
Applicants Must Have Influence Potential
Chevening also expects applicants to work in roles that provide the potential to influence:
- Organisational capability
- Policy
- Strategy
- Operational effectiveness
This influence may be within the applicant’s organisation, country or both.
Applicants should therefore be prepared to explain the relationship between their current responsibilities and wider institutional outcomes.
Leadership Potential
Leadership is central to the fellowship.
Applicants need to demonstrate:
Leadership potential
and a commitment to using the knowledge and professional networks gained during the fellowship when they return to their organisation or country.
This means the selection process is likely to look beyond academic qualifications alone.
Candidates should be able to demonstrate how they have influenced people, policy, organisations, projects or professional outcomes.
Who Should Apply?
This fellowship is particularly relevant for mid-career professionals working in areas such as:
- National security
- Defence policy
- Cybersecurity
- Intelligence
- Law enforcement
- Civil protection
- Emergency resilience
- Government policy
- Strategic planning
- Security research
- International security
- Emerging technology policy
- Artificial intelligence governance
- Organisational resilience
- Public administration
- International organisations
The key issue is not simply the applicant’s job title. Their responsibilities need to align with the fellowship’s security, defence, leadership and strategic objectives.
Who Should Not Apply?
This particular opportunity may not be appropriate for:
- Applicants from countries outside the stated eligibility list
- Applicants with less than five years of relevant experience
- Early-career candidates without the required professional background
- Applicants whose work has no meaningful connection to security or defence
- Candidates unable to demonstrate leadership potential
- Applicants unable to participate in the full six-week programme
Candidates must also satisfy Chevening’s standard fellowship eligibility rules in addition to these programme-specific requirements.
How Competitive Is the Fellowship?
The supplied source does not state:
- Number of fellowships available
- Acceptance rate
- Number of applications expected
- Number of fellows in each cohort
Therefore, no precise competitiveness figure can be given.
However, the specialised eligibility criteria indicate that selection is targeted toward experienced professionals with a clear record of leadership and security-related responsibility.
Applicants should focus on demonstrating fit rather than simply meeting the minimum requirements.
How to Build a Strong Application
A strong application should clearly connect three areas:
Past experience → current influence → future impact.
Show Relevant Experience
Explain your professional experience in defence, security, governance, cyber policy, law enforcement, intelligence, resilience or another relevant field.
Demonstrate Leadership
Use specific examples where you influenced:
- Teams
- Policy
- Strategy
- Operations
- Institutional change
- Partnerships
Explain Your Current Responsibilities
Show how your role affects organisational capability, national policy, security strategy or operational effectiveness.
Connect Your Goals to the Programme
Applicants should demonstrate why the six programme themes are relevant to their work.
Explain What Happens After the Fellowship
Chevening specifically expects fellows to apply the knowledge and networks gained through the programme after completion.
Candidates should therefore have a realistic plan for translating the fellowship experience into professional or institutional impact.
Application Deadline
Applications close on:
September 27, 2026 at 11:00 UTC.
Applicants should pay particular attention to the 11:00 UTC closing time.
This is not a midnight deadline.
Candidates should therefore avoid waiting until September 27 to complete their applications.
How to Apply
The official fellowship page confirms that applications are currently open and provides access to Chevening’s application system.
Applicants should:
- Confirm that their citizenship and residence meet the country requirements.
- Review Chevening’s standard fellowship eligibility criteria.
- Confirm that they have at least five years of relevant professional experience.
- Assess whether their current role has sufficient security or defence relevance.
- Prepare evidence demonstrating leadership potential.
- Explain how the fellowship relates to their professional responsibilities.
- Complete the official Chevening application.
- Submit before September 27, 2026 at 11:00 UTC.
Application Mistakes to Avoid
Applying From an Ineligible Country
This fellowship is specifically restricted to the listed eligible European countries.
Ignoring the Residence Requirement
Applicants must meet both the citizenship and residence condition at the point of application.
Treating It as an Entry-Level Fellowship
At least five years of relevant professional experience is required.
Focusing Only on Academic Qualifications
Professional influence and leadership potential are central to eligibility.
Missing the Exact Closing Time
The deadline is 11:00 UTC on September 27, 2026, not the end of the day.
Treating It as a Master’s Scholarship
This is a six-week professional fellowship.
Inventing a Cash Stipend
Living expenses are covered, but the supplied source does not state a specific allowance amount.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are applications open for the Chevening Europe Defence and Security Fellowship 2027?
Yes. Applications are currently open.
What is the deadline?
Applications close on September 27, 2026 at 11:00 UTC.
How long is the fellowship?
Six weeks.
When will it take place?
There are two cohorts:
- January 25 – March 5, 2027
- March 15 – April 23, 2027
Where is the fellowship delivered?
It is delivered by Cranfield University at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom in Shrivenham.
Does the fellowship cover programme fees?
Yes. Full programme fees are included.
Is accommodation covered?
Yes. Living expenses include pre-arranged accommodation according to the official funding information.
Are flights covered?
Yes. The fellowship includes return economy airfare.
How much professional experience is required?
At least five years of relevant professional experience.
Do I need a postgraduate degree?
Applicants must hold a postgraduate qualification or equivalent professional training or experience in a relevant field.
Is the fellowship only for military professionals?
No. Eligible sectors include government, public and private sectors, academia, defence, security, law enforcement, intelligence, civil protection, resilience and international organisations.
Can applicants from Africa apply?
The nationality list for this particular fellowship consists of specified European countries. Applicants from African countries are not included in the supplied eligibility list for this award.
Does the programme cover artificial intelligence?
Yes. Artificial Intelligence, Governance and Emerging Technology is one of its six integrated themes.
Is cybersecurity included?
Yes. Cyber Resilience and Information Threats is another core programme theme.
Will fellows complete research?
Yes. Participants undertake a research project and present their findings to the FCDO in London at the end of the programme.
Final Thoughts
The Chevening Europe Defence and Security Fellowship 2027 is a highly targeted professional development opportunity for experienced European professionals working at the intersection of security, defence, leadership, governance and emerging technology.
Over six weeks, participants will explore issues including cyber resilience, artificial intelligence, strategic decision-making, organisational culture, leadership and institutional resilience, while participating in lectures, workshops, simulations, research and UK institutional visits.
The financial package is substantial. Successful fellows receive full programme fees, living expenses including pre-arranged accommodation, and return economy airfare.
However, this is not a general international fellowship. Applicants must meet specific citizenship and residence requirements, possess a postgraduate qualification or relevant equivalent professional preparation, have at least five years of relevant experience, and demonstrate both security-related professional responsibilities and leadership potential.
Eligible professionals interested in the opportunity should complete their applications well before the official closing time of 11:00 UTC on September 27, 2026.
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