How Liana Volach, an Israeli Scholar, Secured a Fully Funded Master’s in Democracy and Comparative Politics at University College London (UCL), United Kingdom Through the Chevening Scholarship

Hi, I'm Liana Volach – a Tel Aviv lawyer who took a detour through Israeli politics, a London classroom, and the health-tech world, and ended up doing what I do best: connecting people who should be talking to each other but aren't yet. I'm also a mother of two, which is the most demanding stakeholder-management role I've ever held.

Full disclosure: my London dream didn't start with Chevening. It started when I was a kid with a Harry Potter book in my hands. I'm still a devoted fan, and for years London was, to me, the city where ordinary people get extraordinary letters. So when my acceptance letter arrived, it felt like mine had finally found me - from UCL rather than a school for wizards.

When I applied, I was Chief of Staff to Tzipi Livni, then Leader of the Opposition in the Knesset and a former Foreign Minister. Imagine a job where coalitions are built and broken before lunch, and a foreign ambassador is waiting in the next room. I saw up close how fragile democratic institutions can be – and I wanted to understand why, beyond Israel's own story. Hence the MSc in Democracy and Comparative Politics at UCL: a year of studying how democracies around the world rise, adapt and wobble.

Chevening Scholarship Details

Institution: University College London (UCL), Department of Political Science, London, UK

Programme: MSc Democracy and Comparative Politics (2019–2020), graduated with Distinction

Chevening Scholarship Details

Chevening Scholarship – the UK Government's global scholarship and leadership programme, funded by the FCDO and partner organisations

Amount: Full scholarship – tuition, a monthly living stipend, flights, visa and additional allowances

Educational Background

LLB in Law and Government from Reichman University, summa cum laude, followed by admission to the Israel Bar in 2017. The double degree gave me two superpowers: a lawyer's obsession with the fine print, and a political scientist's curiosity about who actually holds the pen.

Then came the real-world training. As a legal intern in the Civil & Economic Division of the Attorney General's Office, I worked on Supreme Court opinions on issues such as the State Budget and the national gas framework – where law, economics and politics collide at full speed. In the Israeli Parliament, I moved from analysing politics to living it: briefing ambassadors, hosting foreign delegations and navigating coalition talks. By the time I applied, I didn't just want a degree – I had a list of very specific questions I needed answered.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to University College London (UCL)?

I started with the end in mind: what did I want to understand after the degree that I couldn't before? I shortlisted programmes known for serious comparative research and real links to policy practice. UCL won – a world-class department, and a campus a short tube ride from Westminster, think tanks and half the world's embassies. For someone who collects networks the way others collect stamps, London was the obvious choice.

Practical note: Chevening asks you to pick three eligible UK courses and to secure an unconditional offer by the summer deadline. I applied early and in parallel, and wrote a tailored statement for each – while holding down a very full-time political job.

How Did You Find Information About Chevening Scholarship and University College London (UCL)?

The official Chevening website and the British Embassy in Tel Aviv, which is very active in promoting the programme. But my best source was people: Israeli Chevening alumni, who were incredibly generous with their time, and university webinars where I could ask the questions no brochure answers.

Did You Take Any Standardized Tests? If So, How Did You Prepare for Them?

Yes – TOEFL iBT, 110 out of 120. I prepared on my own with online courses and practice tests, squeezed in around a full-time job. Tip: book the test early, so a retake doesn't collide with your university deadlines. (Chevening itself no longer requires a separate English test, but most universities still do – check each course.)

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the Chevening Scholarship?

I treated the four Chevening essays – leadership, networking, studying in the UK and career plan – as one story told from four angles. Every claim came with proof: a negotiation I helped move forward, a delegation I hosted, a moment I had to lead under pressure.

The networking essay practically wrote itself – in politics, relationships are the whole game. The trick was showing what my network had achieved, not just how big it was. For the career plan, I skipped the 'I will change the world' clichés and wrote concrete, realistic goals.

The interview took place at the British Embassy in Tel Aviv in March 2018. I rehearsed with a friend playing a tough panel, prepared my stories in STAR format, and read my own essays until I could defend every comma.

How is Your Experience at University College London (UCL)?

Studying democracy in London in 2019–2020 was like studying meteorology in the middle of a storm: a snap general election, the UK formally leaving the EU, and then COVID-19. Sadly, after two terms, the pandemic sent me home, and I finished the degree remotely from Israel – and while pregnant, just to keep things interesting.

But the real headline of that year was the people. Through UCL and Chevening I met some of the most brilliant – and gloriously unconventional – people on the planet: diplomats, founders, activists, civil servants and researchers, each tackling a different problem in a different country. Somewhere between seminars and late-night debates, I had my big realisation: real innovation almost never happens inside one sector. It happens where the private sector, the public sector and civil society meet. That idea has shaped everything I've done since.

How Do You Rate University College London (UCL) Academically?

UCL consistently ranks among the world's top universities, and its Political Science department pairs serious research with real-world relevance.

What made it exceptional for me was our programme director, Dr. Sherrill Stroschein. She ran small, intimate seminars with students from every corner of the world and turned our cultural differences into part of the syllabus – every debate on democracy became a live comparison between the systems we came from. It trained me to see the big picture and to bridge gaps between very different mindsets, not just in politics - but in every project I’ve been working on ever since.

How Does University College London (UCL) Support International Students?

UCL has one of the most international student bodies in the UK, with dedicated support for orientation, visas, housing, careers and academic writing. On top of that, Chevening scholars get their own ecosystem – events, trips and a global alumni network that keeps paying dividends long after graduation.

What Did You Pursue After the Chevening Scholarship?

After graduating with Distinction in 2020, I became a mother – and then took my three-sector insight from politics into tech. In 2021, I joined 8400 The Health Network, Israel's health-tech ecosystem organisation, as VP Business Development. I built bridges between startups, government, investors and philanthropists, and led The Helix Project – a flagship programme that brought top global health-tech executives and VCs to Israel.

Today I run my own strategic consulting practice, advising global companies and organisations on business development, market entry, partnerships and investor engagement in Israel – and helping Israeli ventures open doors abroad. My clients range from European engineering leaders to government-backed export agencies and fast-growing health and AI startups. If you're a global player looking for a way into the Israeli ecosystem – or an Israeli company looking for a way out into the world – that's exactly the conversation I love to have.

The common thread? Pretty much what I learned in London: the magic happens when you get the right people from different worlds into the same room. It turns out I'm quite good at that.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

Authenticity and specificity. I didn't try to sound like the 'perfect candidate' – I told my own story, with real examples from the Attorney General's Office and the Parliament. I had a sharp answer to 'why the UK, why this course, why now', and a concrete plan for bringing it all back home. Chevening looks for future leaders with a network and a purpose – I showed up with both, and with a lot of enthusiasm.

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

I'd go to even more events. Honestly, the people turned out to be the most valuable part of the whole experience, so I would say yes to everything – every Chevening gathering, every university and faculty event, every public lecture, every 'coffee after class?'. Each of those encounters is a door, and I'd walk through all of them.

I'd also start the university applications earlier. They take longer than the Chevening essays – especially next to a demanding job.

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

Know your 'why' before you write a single word. The panel reads thousands of essays; they remember real stories and clear goals.

Use your real experience. Chevening looks for leaders and connectors, not just top grades – show that you make things happen.

Talk to alumni. We're a friendly bunch, and one conversation can save you weeks.

Once you're in – say yes to everything and meet everyone. Your future partners, clients and friends are sitting in that room.

And don't talk yourself out of applying. The application is free, and the process itself is worth it, whatever the outcome. Your letter might be on its way, too.