Chevening Scholar Sameen Nadeem from Pakistan Shares Her Journey of Securing a Fully Funded Master's at the University of Strathclyde, United Kingdom

My name is Sameen Nadeem, and I'm from Pakistan. I've spent the last 6+ years working in the startup and tech space, and one thing I kept noticing was that most of the frameworks and principles being used here were essentially imported, Silicon Valley thinking, applied wholesale to a very different context. Pakistan has its own economic realities, social dynamics, political constraints, and environmental pressures. We can't just copy-paste someone else's playbook and expect it to work. We need to build our own.

That realization is what pushed me to go deeper. I pursued a Master's in Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Technology at the University of Strathclyde because I wanted the theoretical grounding to match the practical instincts I'd built on the ground, and to seriously engage with the question of what innovation actually looks like in a context like ours.

Chevening Scholarship Details

I received the Chevening Award, which covers tuition and a monthly stipend.

Educational Background

I graduated from Pakistan's top university, the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), with a Bachelor's in Business Administration. My CGPA was 2.8, so if you're reading this feeling discouraged about applying to scholarships with a low GPA, this is your sign to go for it!

NUST gave me a lot of interdisciplinary exposure, and I was heavily involved in extracurriculars, both of which helped me tremendously in my career and in preparing for an advanced degree.

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

I’d always known about the Chevening Award and other scholarships due to my network, and used the Chevening website to learn more about universities in the UK.

I took the IELTS and, having a good grasp of English due to my previous education, did not need much formal preparation.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the Chevening Scholarship?

I’m very type-A, so I keep Google Sheets for everything! (seriously) For scholarships and university applications, these included detailed columns for all relevant information, and I used them to track deadlines, requirements, and progress throughout the application process.

How is Your Experience at the University of Strathclyde?

It was ideal! The course was very hands-on, and the classes were discussion-based, which really worked for me. Strathclyde has an incubator, so we regularly engage with entrepreneurs and startups. We were taught by a combination of academics and fellows who had their own businesses, so the learning was very balanced. Plus, Scotland and Glasgow are very progressive, and I felt that my professors were always open to different perspectives.

What Did You Pursue After the Chevening Scholarship?

I am working on going full-time on my own venture, something I worked on in my dissertation!

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

I had immense clarity of thought on my goals and what I wanted to achieve after completing my studies. Chevening is looking for leaders who will create real impact in their home countries, so knowing what you want and then showing evidence through your essays that you can achieve it is what made my application stand out.

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

I would have written my essays earlier; they take a few attempts to get right, and you can’t do that on a deadline.

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

First, assess your fit for each scholarship by going through their website and alumni. I don’t just mean looking at the criteria, but understanding the kind of people they are looking for. Some scholarships are purely academic, some focus on leadership skills, and others look at your industry or background. This will improve your chances of success.

Second, do a lot of self-reflection to understand your goals and ambitions, and you can build a strong story around it afterwards. If you’re unclear about what you want, it will show in your applications.

Third, don’t self-reject. Apply multiple times if you have to; it only needs to work out once!