How a Pakistani National Secured the Fully Funded Chevening Scholarship for an MA in Gender Studies at SOAS, University of London

I am Haris Amir from Karachi, Pakistan. As a Gender Rights Advocate with 4 years of experience, I have worked with several International NGOs including the Asian Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women (ARROW), BridgingTheGap, HER Foundation, and United People Global. My recommendations on "Equality and Inclusion" & and "Mental Health and Well-Being" were published in the YOUNGA Communique Report 2020. I represented Pakistan and highlighted issues of sexual and gender minorities at the Women Deliver Conference 2023 in Kigali, Rwanda.

While I was working for the inclusion of sexual and gender minorities, I realized two key issues that impacted my advocacy and activism campaign. Firstly, my advocacy and activism was labelled as “Western Agenda” which resulted in misperception fueling stigma and discrimination hindering progress towards Pakistani queer communities. Secondly, there were limited or, you can say, no open spaces for dialogue and discourse around gender and sexuality topics. MA in Gender Studies at SOAS, University of London offered a unique understanding of gender dynamics in diverse contexts and also valuable skills like critical analysis and research expertise, which would enable me to challenge queerphobia and foster an inclusive environment in Pakistan.

Chevening Scholarship Details

Out of 67K applications globally from over 160+ countries and territories, only 5000 applicants reached the interview stage, with just a 2-3% acceptance rate, I was selected for the prestigious Chevening Scholarship for the academic year 2024-2025 to study Master of Arts in Gender Studies at the SOAS, University of London.

Chevening Scholarship is administered by the Chevening Secretariat on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and offered to young and visionary leaders to pursue one-year master’s degrees in the UK. It is a fully funded scholarship covering full academic fees (apart from Chevening, the University contribute in fees by waiving some amount from full academic fees), monthly stipend (scholars based in London get higher stipend as compared to other locations outside of London), arrival allowance, travel costs to and from the United Kingdom, travel Top-up Allowance.

Educational Background

I graduated from the University of Karachi with a First Division in Master of Science in Health, Physical Education, & Sports Sciences in 2022. During my bachelor's, I studied courses such as Sports Sociology, Behavioral Sciences, and the Role of Media in Sports, which not only equipped me with a diverse skill set but also sparked my curiosity and interest in the intersectionality of gender within various contexts. In the course “Sports Sociology,” I delved into the social and cultural aspects of sports, including gender, race, class, and sexuality, which helped me develop the ability to analyze how social institutions reinforce gender norms in sports critically. I expanded my knowledge and understanding of human behavior, cognition, and social relationships through “Behavioral Sciences.” It gave me insights into the factors and variables influencing gender-related attitudes and behaviors. In the “Role of Media in Sports” course, I researched how Nike advertisements lead to gendered stereotypes, marginalizing women and individuals who do not fit into gender binaries. These skills, knowledge, and research experience solidified my interest in gender studies.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for SOAS, University of London and Other Institutions?

In the first step, I did my in-depth research about the 3 universities where I wanted to pursue a Gender Studies degree. In terms of research, I checked what facilities and resources are available that would benefit my academic journey, like workshops, speaker series, networking opportunities, and community engagements. I also explored what academic faculty members' research expertise/areas are, so I can find whose research aligns with my own area of interest. This research area element helped me to make my university application more tangible and evidence-based.

In the second step, I did a gap analysis for each university to which I was applying. For each university, I outlined a significant gap contextualizing it within Pakistan’s gender and sexuality framework, showcasing how each university offers a solution to the gap that I highlighted in each university’s application.

For my IELTS exams, I prepare from the following YouTube Channels to get my desired score:

• IELTS Advantage by Christopher Pell
• Fastrack IELTS by Asiya
• E2 IELTS

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the Chevening Scholarship?

The main elements of preparation for the Chevening Scholarship were research, writing, feedback, and then again writing. For the research part, I thoroughly read, examined, and took notes from the Chevening website, went through different articles for Chevening essay tips, explored YouTube channels of Chevening Alumni, and learned how they succeeded in their application. For the writing part, I made several drafts for each essay and compared them to see which would be more impactful and tangible for the committee. After deciding on this, I reached out to Chevening Scholars on LinkedIn to get their feedback on my essays. After getting detailed feedback and comments, I rewrote my essays, keeping the feedback and comments in mind.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

I think each scholarship has its own pattern and structure for scholarship applications. In the case of Chevening, I had to follow a structure to communicate and convince the committee why I deserve this scholarship. Following the Chevening application structure, I used my creativity and applied different approaches to make it stand out. In my essays, through examples of my work experiences in the domain of gender and sexuality, I demonstrated how my work made an impact using the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, and Result) approach. In one of my essays, I applied the Reverse Chronology structure to organize my essay, which I believe made it unique. Apart from essays, we have to stand out in the interview stage too. For the interview, I had mock interviews with Chevening Scholars, which gave me a taste of what the actual interview would look like. These mockup interviews made me confident to answer all questions, even if it was unexpected, and I think practicing multiple times for the interview helped me to speak clearly and structure my answers with examples and evidence during the actual interview.

What Would You Have Done Differently if You Were Going Through the Process Again?

I think I would have started my application for a scholarship a bit earlier to have more time for writing. Also, I think I would have reached out to more Chevening Scholars for feedback and comments, as I believe personally that feedback is very critical when drafting Chevening essays.

What Advice Would You Give to Those Looking to Apply for a Similar Scholarship?

I would advise conducting in-depth research regarding the field, university, and scholarship you are applying to. Always reach out and get help from those who are already recipients of that scholarship you are applying as they will give you the right direction. As human beings, we all have diverse skills, knowledge, and work experiences, so rather than trying to become “someone else,” believe in your unique self and let the world know how you can contribute to the world with your diverse skills, knowledge, and work experiences.