A Pakistani Student Wins the Chevening Scholarship to Study her Master's in the United Kingdom

My name is Marvi, I was born and raised in Karachi, Pakistan. I began my career in the health sector as a licensed physician, progressing into public health with a primary focus on communicable diseases. I had nearly five years of work experience under my belt when I was accepted into a post-graduate program at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). At LSHTM, I completed an MSc in Tropical Medicine and International Health. The program aimed to train physicians in the field of tropical medicine, with a concentration on communicable diseases that are prevalent in these regions, while also equipping students with key skills that allow them to view health challenges through an intersectional lens. As a physician and public health specialist working in this field during the COVID-19 pandemic, this program seemed even more relevant and vital to me to pursue.

Chevening Scholarship Details

My post-graduate program was funded through a Chevening Award; this scholarship is funded by the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and partner organizations. It is a highly prestigious and competitive scholarship that is granted annually to a select number of individuals from most countries. I was very fortunate to have won the Asma Jehangir Scholarship under the Chevening Award – this is awarded to the highest-ranking female applicant in Pakistan during the application process. Chevening awards are fully funded scholarships; all costs are covered by the award, including flights, accommodation, and tuition fees with the scholars receiving a monthly stipend as well.

Educational Background

For secondary education, I received a full scholarship to complete GCE A Levels; I finished with 1A* and 2As. I studied medicine as an undergraduate student and graduated with a GPA of 3.73. Other than LSHTM, I received admission offers from Imperial College London and the University of Glasgow. My work experience and portfolio were the key contributing factors for acceptance into post-graduate programs at these universities. While a strong educational background is helpful, admission committees for post-graduate programs tend to focus more on the work experience and practical skills of applicants.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the Chevening Scholarships and LSHTM?

I did extensive research on post-graduate programs that appealed to me - including their structures, faculty, and modules offered. I narrowed it down to a handful of programs I wanted to apply to based on these factors and then explored my funding options. Most universities have detailed information on their websites on funding resources, including in-house scholarships available to potential applicants. During the application process, I researched tips for writing a strong statement of purpose and scholarship essays; I incorporated these into my initial drafts and worked on them over time to finalize them prior to submission.

I took the IELTS exam to complete the admission requirements and obtained a band score of 8.5. My preparation for this exam consisted of completing practice tests and reviewing the scoring sheets to determine how I could improve my score.

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

The one thing I would do differently is trust my own skills a lot more than I did. This entire process is stressful enough on its own, lacking confidence in yourself and your abilities only serves by adding undue stress.

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

All anyone can do is give it their best shot – my advice to all potential applicants would be to not be so disheartened by a negative outcome. While these scholarships are granted on merit, there are also other factors involved that are beyond one’s control. Receiving a negative outcome in no way means that you lack talent or are underserving of a scholarship. Use what you have learnt from your experience and try again – you never know what might happen. My first application for a Chevening Award also did not result in a positive outcome; but in my second attempt I had a lot more confidence since I had been through the process before – and here I am now, several years later, having completed my Chevening journey.