How an Egyptian Changemaker Earned the Fully Funded Chevening Scholarship to Study Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of Sussex

My name is Islam Ghazaly, and I come from a small rural town in Egypt, a place where the air carries the scent of spices, the buzz of motorbikes, and the weight of silent dreams. Growing up there, I was always fascinated by how systems shaped people's lives, especially when those systems failed them.

One story changed me forever. It was the story of Laila, a teenage girl I met six years ago while working on a USAID-funded program designed to shift perceptions of vocational education in Egypt. She was a TVET student, working at a small restaurant that served great food but dished out injustice on the side. Despite her dedication, she was paid far less than her male colleagues, simply because of her educational background. Her struggle was not just economic; it was existential. She was fighting for dignity, visibility, and a fair shot at life.

That story haunted me, not because it was unique, but because it wasn’t. I saw versions of Laila everywhere: young people with potential boxed in by outdated systems. That’s when I decided I didn’t want to be a bystander. I wanted to be an architect of change.

My passion for innovation and entrepreneurship became my way into the system. I led the Egypt innovation programmes for USAID for TVET, and eventually helped train 30,000 students, many of whom went on to launch businesses or significantly increase their income. But the more I worked in the field, the more I realized that technical solutions weren’t enough. We needed to address the underlying economic structures that perpetuated inequality.

That led me to pursue further education as a Chevening Scholar at the University of Sussex, studying Innovation and Entrepreneurship. I chose this path because I want to change the conditions that make stories like Laila’s possible. I believe in entrepreneurship not as a buzzword, but as a vehicle for justice.

Chevening Scholarship Details

When I received the Chevening Scholarship, I didn’t just see an email; I saw a gateway open to an entirely different world. I was standing in my small office in Cairo, buried in to-do lists and community initiatives, when I saw the subject line: “Congratulations: You have been selected…” My heart paused. For a second, it felt like all the long nights, rejections, rewrites, and rethinking had culminated in this single, beautiful moment.

The Chevening Scholarship, funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, is more than just financial support. It’s a declaration from the British government that they see you as a future leader. It covered my full tuition for the MSc in Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of Sussex, my flights to and from the UK, and a monthly stipend that allowed me to focus entirely on my studies, networks, and community-building.

For someone like me, coming from the development and social innovation sector in Egypt, this scholarship was transformative. It wasn’t just about getting a degree; it was about being immersed in a community of thinkers, doers, and dreamers from over 100 countries. In my cohort alone, I found peers working on gender equality in Kenya, climate tech in Brazil, and mental health advocacy in Nepal. And I got to add Egypt’s voice to that global conversation.

Chevening felt different. It wasn't just a transaction; it was a relationship. They believed in not only what I’d done but what I could become. And that trust became a powerful motivator for me to give back, not just to Egypt, but to the global network of communities I’m now proud to serve.

Chevening gave me a platform. I intend to build bridges from it

Educational Background

My academic background has been multidisciplinary, deliberately designed to blend technical knowledge with an understanding of innovation and economic systems. I hold a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from Egypt, where I graduated with a “Good” standing in 2017. While engineering may seem like a technical field unrelated to my current work, it laid a foundational mindset of structured problem-solving and systems thinking, skills that proved invaluable in my later transition into innovation and entrepreneurship.

My real academic transformation began with professional engagements that exposed me to development challenges, particularly those concerning underrepresented and vocationally trained youth. This direct engagement with systemic issues motivated me to pursue advanced education that would allow me to design impactful solutions grounded in research and economic theory.

Currently, I am pursuing a Master of Science in Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of Sussex as a Chevening Scholar. This program enables me to merge my practical expertise in innovation ecosystems with theoretical frameworks around entrepreneurial policy, innovation management, and sustainable economic development. Together, these degrees represent not only academic qualifications but also strategic milestones in a career built at the intersection of development, innovation, and systemic transformation.

My educational path, while unconventional, has been deliberately curated to equip me with the knowledge and tools needed to influence regional development through policy, research, and entrepreneurial ecosystems.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to the University of Sussex?

Preparing to apply for academic institutions, especially internationally, was one of the most demanding yet transformative processes I’ve undertaken. Coming from a background that combines engineering, development, and innovation, I had to be extremely strategic in identifying universities that aligned with my multidisciplinary interests and career trajectory.

The first step was research. I didn’t just search for the best-ranked universities, I searched for programs whose content, research culture, and faculty expertise aligned with the intersection of innovation policy, entrepreneurship, and economic development. I read dozens of course handbooks, studied module descriptions, and compared program structures. I focused on institutions that offered both theoretical depth and practical orientation, particularly those with strong links to innovation ecosystems. That’s how I identified the University of Sussex for its MSc in Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

Once I had a shortlist, I prepared a clear academic narrative that connected my previous qualifications and field experience with my future academic and career objectives. Each university application required a tailored personal statement. I approached these statements with academic precision and emotional sincerity, making sure they weren’t generic essays but personalized documents that told a coherent and credible story.

Language proficiency was another component. I took the IELTS and scored well above the required threshold, focusing particularly on academic writing and listening skills. I followed a structured study plan using Cambridge IELTS preparation material, supplemented with online resources and mock interviews.

Additionally, I engaged with past scholars through forums like LinkedIn to understand nuances about specific institutions and application strategies. I also consulted with faculty members and colleagues from previous programs for feedback on my statements.

Ultimately, my preparation was rigorous, introspective, and methodical. It wasn’t simply about meeting requirements; it was about making a compelling case for why I belonged at these institutions, and how I intended to use the experience to contribute meaningfully to my country and the wider region.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the Chevening Scholarship?

Applying for the Chevening Scholarship was one of the most meticulous and self-reflective processes I have ever undertaken. I knew from the outset that this opportunity was not only highly competitive, selecting just 2% of over 80,000 global applicants, but also uniquely demanding in the depth of its personal and professional expectations. It required far more than a strong CV; it demanded a coherent vision, a record of impact, and the ability to communicate both with authenticity and clarity.

The first step I took was to familiarise myself with the core pillars of the Chevening selection criteria: leadership and influence, networking, career planning, and studying in the UK. I thoroughly analysed each criterion and began drafting essay responses that were both narrative and evidence-based. I avoided clichés or generic success stories and instead focused on grounded examples from my work in innovation, entrepreneurship, and public development programs. I wrote about the Entrepreneurship for TVET initiative, where I led programs that reached over 30,000 students across Egypt’s 25 governorates, contributing directly to wage growth and startup creation.

Each of the four required essays underwent numerous revisions. I sought feedback from Chevening alumni, mentors in my professional network, and colleagues with strong writing backgrounds. Their input helped sharpen the clarity of my message and align my tone with Chevening’s values, even read my essays aloud to ensure fluency and tone. I used tools like Grammarly. However, I didn’t use any AI to write my story.

I also prepared early. I began structuring my application five months before the deadline, allocating dedicated time each week to refine each section. My references were selected with care, and both recommenders had witnessed my leadership and professional growth over multiple years.

What made the preparation truly meaningful was that it forced me to pause and reflect on the “why” behind all the work I’d been doing. The process itself became an exercise in vision setting. I wasn’t just applying for funding, I was preparing to articulate who I am, what drives me, and how I plan to use this opportunity to foster systemic change across Egypt and the wider Arab region.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

If I had to distill it into one word, I believe the defining strength of my Chevening application was authenticity.

Throughout the process, I never tried to present myself as someone I’m not. I did not exaggerate titles or inflate my accomplishments. Instead, I focused on sharing real stories, ones that reflected both the challenges I’ve faced and the impact I’ve been fortunate to create through my work. I believe what made my application stand out was my ability to articulate a consistent narrative: I am someone who deeply understands the barriers that young people and underserved communities face because I have worked with them, listened to them, and committed myself to changing their circumstances through innovation and economic empowerment.

For instance, I didn’t just write about managing a USAID-funded national TVET entrepreneurship program; I shared what it felt like to witness a girl from a rural governorate pitch her first business idea after being told all her life she wasn’t “cut out” for success. I wrote about the transformative power of seeing students’ wages increase by 170–250%, not as a statistic, but as a reflection of policy working in practice. These stories weren’t filtered; they were honest, grounded, and reflective of my leadership ethos: to co-create solutions with communities, not for them.

Moreover, I was very clear about my vision. I did not claim to “change the world.” Instead, I showed exactly how I planned to impact Egypt’s innovation and policy space by leveraging education, entrepreneurship, and public-private collaboration. I presented my next steps with specificity and humility, whether through designing evidence-based incubation policies, launching a regional think tank, or aligning innovation frameworks with sustainable development goals.

Ultimately, I believe that the Chevening selection panel saw not just credentials but clarity, purpose, and an applicant who was unapologetically grounded in his identity and values. I wasn’t trying to fit into a mold; I was simply being Islam Ghazaly.

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

Looking back on the Chevening application journey, I am proud of the result and the sincerity I brought into the process. However, if given the chance to go through it again, there are a few strategic and personal improvements I would make, lessons drawn not from regret, but from experience.

First and foremost, I would start much earlier. Although I began working on my essays months ahead of the deadline, I underestimated the amount of time required for deep self-reflection, structured storytelling, and collecting strong recommendations. There were moments when I was editing essays close to submission day, not because I was unsure of the content, but because I had not given myself enough space to step away, reflect, and return with a fresh perspective. A longer timeline would have allowed me to polish my application with less stress and more clarity.

Secondly, I would have engaged more proactively with the Chevening alumni community prior to submitting. While I did consult a few successful applicants, I now realise how valuable early mentorship from alumni can be, not just in editing content, but in thinking strategically about program choices, career goals, and aligning every part of the application into a coherent vision. Their insights could have helped me anticipate what to avoid and what to amplify.

Another change would be to document my impact more systematically. During the writing process, I found myself searching for concrete figures and testimonials to quantify the results of my work, whether it was the number of startups launched through TVET programs or the percentage increase in female participants’ income. If I had maintained an impact portfolio from the start of my career, complete with data, visuals, and quotes, I could have supported my narrative more robustly.

Finally, I would have been gentler with myself. The application process can be intense, especially when you care deeply about the cause. At times, I was too critical, doubting whether I belonged. In hindsight, confidence grounded in preparation, not perfection, is what truly matters.

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

If I could sit across the table from every aspiring Chevening applicant, or anyone applying to a prestigious scholarship, and offer one piece of advice, it would be this: Be yourself, not anyone else.

It sounds simple, even cliché, but in the midst of a competitive process with thousands of outstanding applicants from all over the world, it’s easy to feel pressure to “sound impressive,” “look polished,” or write like someone you think the selection panel wants to see. Resist that temptation. The panel isn’t looking for perfect people; they’re looking for purpose-driven individuals with conviction, clarity, and commitment. They want to see you, your authentic journey, your real values, your lived experiences.

In my own application, I chose honesty over embellishment. I didn’t claim to have solved national problems on my own, nor did I try to mimic the tone of diplomats or corporate executives. Instead, I wrote about a girl named Laila in a rural restaurant and how her story challenged everything I thought I knew about opportunity. I spoke from the heart about my work with vocational students, not just quoting statistics but reflecting on what those numbers meant in the context of dignity, access, and justice. And when I spoke about the future, I didn’t use vague ambition, I mapped it clearly: innovation policy, economic empowerment, and sustainable growth for underserved communities in Egypt.

For those applying, I also recommend being deliberate. Choose your recommenders wisely. Research your program thoroughly. Write drafts, get feedback, revise again. But above all, anchor everything in who you truly are. Your unique path, not your perfection, is what will resonate.

The scholarship application is not just a gateway; it’s a mirror. Let it reflect your truest self. That’s your strongest asset. In a sea of sameness, authenticity makes you unforgettable.