How a Burmese Student Secured the Fully Funded Chevening Scholarship for an MSc in Marketing Management at the University of Leeds

My name is Nang May Thant Kyi, people in my class call me Mary. I’m from Myanmar, a small country in Southeast Asia. I have a Bachelor’s degree in English language from Mandalay University of Foreign Languages and a postgraduate diploma in English Language Teaching from Mandalay University. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, I aspired to become a teacher. However, when my mother tragically passed away due to COVID-19, I became the breadwinner of my small family and took over our traditional fabric and textile business. To better manage the business, I decided to pursue an MBA from Meiktila University of Economics.

Scholarship Details

I received the prestigious Chevening Scholarship, fully funded by the UK government through the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. This scholarship offers me the chance to study for one year in the UK. I chose to study at the University of Leeds, where I am pursuing a Master’s in Marketing Management with Advertising.

Educational Background

I graduated with a CGPA of 4.15 out of 5 for my MBA and 3.92 out of 5 for my B.A.(English). My academic background, especially in English, provided a strong foundation for my scholarship application too. It has also helped me communicate effectively, express myself and my future goals clearly. Rather than academic excellence, I believe my story, my career goals and what I am currently doing made me stand out in the application process.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the University of Leeds?

To apply for the University of Leeds, I had to write a personal statement and submit two recommendation letters, along with my IELTS score. I worked hard to ensure my application was strong and that it reflected my passion for marketing and business management.

How Did You Prepare for the IELTS Exam?

Although I only had a month to prepare, I focused on writing by practising one Task 1 essay and two Task 2 essays daily for eight consecutive days. For speaking, I practised with AI tools, and for reading and listening, I used past papers. I achieved an overall band score of 7.0, with scores of 7 for listening, writing, speaking, and 7.5 for reading.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the Chevening Scholarship?

I prepared for the Chevening scholarship application by writing four essays on leadership, networking, why I wanted to study in the UK, and my career goals. I gathered information from the Chevening website, former scholars, and YouTube videos. I made sure my essays were error-free by asking my friends and teachers to proofread them. For the interview, I anticipated possible questions, wrote simple answers based on my experiences, and practised through role-play with a friend.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

I think my story stood out because of the unique challenges I’ve faced, such as the loss of my mother and my transition from teaching to leading a family business. I also highlighted how my business empowers underprivileged women in rural areas through the traditional fabrics they weave, and how I aim to contribute to the community.

What Would You Have Done Differently?

If I were to go through the process again, I would focus even more on preparing for the interview. Although I practised, I would have tried to anticipate a wider range of questions to feel even more confident during the interview.

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

My advice is not to be intimidated by the prestige of the Chevening Scholarship. I had known about it for over 10 years but thought it was too competitive. Only when the situation became tough did I decide to apply. And, remarkably, I was selected on my first attempt. The key is to have courage, confidence, and apply without fear of failure. If you don’t try, you’ll never know what you can achieve.