How a Jamaican Changemaker Earned the Fully Funded Chevening Scholarship to Study International Development and Education at Newcastle University

My name is Sonya Murray, and I’m from Jamaica. I’m currently pursuing an MA in International Development and Education at Newcastle University in the UK.

After completing my undergraduate degree, I spent over four years working in customer service and logistics management. My roles ranged from interning at a financial institution, managing services and delivery at an IT solutions company, to coordinating recruitment schedules in the HR department of an accounting firm. While these experiences gave me valuable exposure to different industries, I wasn’t passionate about any of them.

However, after finishing my undergrad, I volunteered with an educational project in my community during the summer. I helped tutor English and assisted with basic accounting. I remember genuinely enjoying that time and feeling a strong sense of purpose. I initially thought it might be the teaching aspect I was drawn to, so I applied for the JET Programme. It was an opportunity to explore both teaching and a completely new culture. I didn’t know much about Japan or speak Japanese, but I was open to learning and embracing the experience.

I ended up spending five years as an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) at a high school in Nagasaki Prefecture. While teaching itself was rewarding, it didn’t excite me at first. It wasn’t until my third year that a colleague allowed me full autonomy over his class. That’s when things changed. I began facilitating conversational English classes based on our textbooks, but with a twist. I encouraged students to read lessons beforehand, prepare summaries, ask thought-provoking questions, and even research the countries mentioned in the texts. I met each student at their level, offering tips to improve their articulation without constant correction.

Over time, our students became curious about countries like Ukraine and India. My colleague and I worked together to connect them virtually with international students, despite several hurdles. We eventually built a small global community called Borderless Learners. For students in rural Japan, having the chance to use English naturally and connect with the wider world was transformative, and their test scores improved as a result.

That experience ignited a passion in me for education beyond traditional classrooms. I realised I wanted to learn how to design similar community-based, skills-focused projects back home in Jamaica—ones that can transform not only individuals but entire communities. That curiosity and new sense of purpose is what led me to pursue further education in this field.

Chevening Scholarship Details

I knew about the Chevening Scholarship in the UK because my brother received it many years ago. As the younger sibling, I often followed in his footsteps — we went to the same high school, attended the same university, and even pursued the same undergraduate degree. I always said I’d love to get the same scholarship one day, but I wanted to find my own unique path to it.

Choosing Chevening was easy for me. While others recommended scholarships like Fulbright and Erasmus, the thing with me is — once I set my mind to something, I’m locked in. So, Chevening was actually the only scholarship I applied to.

It’s a full scholarship that covers tuition fees, travel to and from the UK, and a monthly stipend (the amount can vary slightly depending on your location within the UK).

Educational Background

I also hold an Associate’s degree in Business Administration, which I earned after completing seven years at my high school. After that, I pursued a BSc in Management Studies (Marketing) at the University of the West Indies, Mona, in Jamaica.

That degree was a great foundation for me because it covered a broad range of subjects, including financial accounting, microeconomics, integrated marketing communication, and business law. I even took an elective in cognitive and physiological psychology, which gave me a different perspective on how people think and behave — something that’s come in handy in both work and education settings.

I graduated with a GPA of 2.35, which falls under the category of Lower Second Class Honours. While that may not seem impressive on paper, the versatility of the degree meant I gained transferable skills that allowed me to work across different industries, from finance to HR to IT.

For the JET Programme, the main educational requirement was simply having a first degree, so I was well-qualified. As for Chevening, they don’t require a First Class Honours degree — what mattered most was passion, leadership, and the ability to demonstrate a clear vision for the future.

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

I used the Chevening website as my main source of information when searching for schools and programs. Their “Find a Course” page was especially helpful, it allowed me to explore different degree options that aligned with Chevening’s criteria. From there, I visited the individual university websites to get more detailed information about the programs I was interested in.

I also attended a few virtual sessions hosted by different universities to get a better feel for the programs, their teaching styles, and student support services.

Fortunately, I didn’t need to take any standardised tests like the IELTS or GRE for my chosen program, so that made the process a bit more straightforward.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the Chevening Scholarship? What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

I was living in Japan at the time I applied, so the internet became my best friend. The Chevening website was incredibly comprehensive — I honestly don’t think there’s a page on that site that I haven’t read! I also found past scholars on social media platforms like Instagram and YouTube who shared helpful tips on how to structure the application essays. In addition, I attended an online session where Chevening alumni from various Caribbean countries shared advice and answered questions about the application process.

Beyond researching the scholarship itself, I knew I needed to demonstrate leadership potential. I wanted to have a tangible leadership role I could speak about in my application, so I applied to become the ALT Prefectural Advisor for Nagasaki JETs. That position gave me access to a strong recommendation from the Board of Education, and it also gave me hands-on experience leading teams, organising professional development events, and managing critical and sensitive information, all of which, to me, are key markers of leadership.

I think what made my application stand out was the fact that I wasn’t applying from my home country, but I had still taken the initiative to lead in a completely different environment and culture. More importantly, I was able to clearly connect those international experiences to the kind of impact I hoped to make back home in Jamaica. That, along with co-founding the Borderless Learners group, really helped to strengthen my case.

And when it came time for the interview, I didn’t ask for an online option — I took time off, flew back to Jamaica, and did it in person. I think that also demonstrated my dedication and determination to earn the scholarship.

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

My personal journey has given me incredible opportunities and life-changing experiences, so I honestly wouldn’t change anything about that.

However, if I’m being honest about the application process itself, I would definitely start earlier and submit well before the deadline. That would’ve saved me a lot of last-minute stress.

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

Make full use of the scholarship website and take time to understand the core values behind the program; this will help you align your essays with what they’re actually looking for. Personally, exploring the Chevening website in its entirety before seeking external advice really helped me. Once you start watching videos or joining webinars, you’ll hear a lot of different suggestions on how to write your essays. If I hadn’t done my own thorough research beforehand, I could’ve easily been swayed or confused by all the differing opinions.

It’s really important to reflect on your own voice in your writing. Even if you use AI tools to edit or get feedback from others, make sure you are telling your story in your own words. After I completed my essays, I reached out to alumni for feedback. I took a few of their suggestions on board, but kept most of the content as it was, because some edits didn’t quite match my tone or way of writing. In the end, I believe I was successful because I stayed true to myself.

So my advice is: do your research, take your time, and most importantly, stay authentic.