How a Fijian Mechanical Engineer Secured a Fully Funded Chevening Scholarship to Study Environmental Design of Buildings at Cardiff University

My name is Shivendra Reddy, and I am originally from Fiji, born and raised in the capital city of Suva. I always aspired to pursue my Master's studies abroad, and with 4 years of work experience after my Bachelor's studies, I felt this opportunity came at the right time. Having worked in the built environment sector as a building services mechanical engineer, I developed an awareness and appreciation for the importance of sustainable and low-carbon buildings. Furthermore, with a global and regional shift towards Net-Zero cities and infrastructure, it inspired me to pursue further studies in this area of sustainable building design, and I was fortunate to receive a scholarship to study an MSc in Environmental Design of Buildings at The Welsh School of Architecture in Cardiff University.

Chevening Scholarship Details

I was offered the Chevening Scholarship, a highly prestigious scholarship awarded by the UK Government and facilitated by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). The Scholarship allowed me to pursue a Master's at a UK university of my choice, and it covered full tuition fees, travel, and living expenses. In addition to this scholarship, I was one of the 10 Chevening scholars from around the world that was chosen for the TEA (Transforming Energy Access) mentorship scheme, which included having a dedicated mentor and access to networking events.

Educational Background

I completed my Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) from the University of the South Pacific in 2020 with an overall distinction grade. My degree was accredited internationally under the Washington Accord, and as a result, I was eligible to study MSc directly without any additional academic requirements. With a strong engineering core and a few years of experience as a building services engineer, I had developed a well-rounded background to pursue a Master's in this field at a highly ranked university in the UK. Coming from a small island nation like Fiji, it was important that I was best prepared to meet the standards of UK tertiary education and not overwhelmed by the curriculum.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to Cardiff University

Firstly, I did a lot of research into the Master's programs offered in UK universities, the accreditations involved, school rankings, and, of course, the eligibility requirements. English requirements were compulsory, and as my Bachelor's study was taught and assessed in English, this was sufficient. In addition, I had to write supporting statements for my applications, stating my inspirations for pursuing the program and how it linked to my future career plans. Some institutions had specific Maths and Physics pre-requisites, which were all covered as part of my Bachelor's program.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the Chevening Scholarship?

Whilst I had been applying for other scholarships for the past years, this was my first time applying for the Chevening scholarship. There were four supporting essays I had to write, which centered around how I could help in the infrastructural development in my country, how I would make the most of this scholarship, my leadership qualities, and networking influence. I utilized resources made available by past Chevening scholars online, which included guidance on writing essays. References were a requirement for my application, which included both professional and academic.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

One of the reasons I believe my application stood out was that I had laid out a clear and concise career plan, both short-term and long-term term on how this Master's would assist in my career trajectory. I highlighted the technical, professional, soft skills, and leadership attributes I would develop through this experience in the UK and stated my future career development plans, such as Engineering Chartership. This showed that I had aspirations after completion of my Master's and a direction for professional growth. In addition, I related my area of study to the infrastructural development of my country and illustrated my passion to make positive growth. As Fiji is experiencing the adverse effects of climate change, it was important that we incorporated sustainable design practices into the infrastructural development projects undertaken and managed our natural resources wisely.

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

I believe it is crucial to have confidence and trust your abilities. The whole application experience can be both intense and daunting, however, you must remain relaxed. It is important to translate technical information and your experiences in a way that the panel can understand and relate to, as the people judging your application and interview are from diverse professions and backgrounds. This is also crucial in the interview stage, where practice in carrying out mock interviews would help.

Furthermore, do not get disheartened by rejections. Scholarships such as the Chevening Awards are very competitive, with thousands of applications received worldwide. I would advise continuing your professional development with short courses, accreditations, and volunteering, which would assist in strengthening your portfolio whilst awaiting a chance to receive such a scholarship.

Thank you!