Chevening Scholar Swaleha J. Khowaja from Pakistan Shares Her Journey of Studying Global Mental Health at King's College London and LSHTM, UK

My name is Swaleha J. Khowaja, and I am from Karachi, Pakistan. I am currently pursuing the MSc in Global Mental Health, a joint programme between the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM).

I chose Global Mental Health because mental health care in Pakistan remains significantly under-resourced, and for many people, support is still treated as a luxury rather than an essential health service. While stigma is gradually shifting and awareness has increased, especially after COVID-19, access remains limited due to cost barriers and a shortage of specialists. These realities convinced me that the system needs rebuilding through scalable, equitable approaches. My interests lie in using technology to bridge gaps, expand access, and design mental health programmes that can reach people at scale.

Chevening Scholarship Details

I was awarded the Chevening Scholarship, funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). It is fully funded and covers tuition fees, living stipend, travel, and visa-related costs for my MSc at King’s College London and LSHTM.

Other Scholarships / Fellowships

I was also offered the Erasmus Mundus GlobalMINDS Scholarship to pursue an MSc delivered across SWPS University (Poland) and the University of Limerick (Ireland).

In addition, I was selected for a fully funded fellowship at Duke-NUS Medical School (Singapore) focused on Global Mental Health in Asia, with particular emphasis on understanding mental health systems across the region, which I just completed last month.

Educational Background

I completed my BSc in Psychology from the Institute of Professional Psychology, Bahria University (Karachi Campus) with a CGPA of 3.49/4.00. My preparation for this field also came through practical experience, working across DEI initiatives, contributing to psychosis research, and leading mental health programmes within Pakistan’s leading telemedicine company. I also worked on donor-funded projects ranging from MHPSS to integrating mental health into primary care through telemedicine, which helped shape my focus on accessible, system-level solutions.

How I Prepared to Apply to UK Institutions

My process moved quickly, but it was very intentional. I knew I wanted to apply for scholarships like Chevening and Erasmus Mundus, so I built my profile with those goals in mind, gaining relevant experience and strengthening my skillset. Alongside my current programme, I also received offers from institutions including QMUL, Edinburgh, Southampton, Glasgow, and SOAS, among others.

Standardized Tests

I took IELTS and achieved an overall band score of 8.0. I prepared independently by doing extensive practice and completing multiple mock tests.

What Made My Application Stand Out

I believe my application stood out because everything was aligned. My education, professional experience, and future goals are clearly connected to one focused direction. That consistency helped reviewers understand my purpose and the impact I want to create.

What I Would Do Differently

I would stay even more focused and approach the process with 100% commitment, because strong scholarship applications require deep reflection, strategy, and attention to detail.

Advice for Future Applicants

Be authentic, and don’t rush to apply before building real experience. Do the groundwork first, through work, research, volunteering, or community projects, so your story is backed by genuine impact. When you’ve done real work, your essays and interviews become much easier to own confidently.