Chevening Gurukul Fellowship for Leadership and Excellence (Fully Funded)

Applications are now open for the Chevening Gurukul Fellowship for Leadership and Excellence, a prestigious 12-week program hosted by the University of Oxford. Designed for mid-career professionals from India with strong leadership potential, this fellowship focuses on global integration, leadership skills, and policy development across fields like government, private sector, media, and civil society.

The program is fully funded, covering program fees, living expenses, and return airfare from India to the UK. Eligible Indian citizens with at least 10 years of work experience and a postgraduate qualification can apply by the deadline of 7 October 2025, 12:00 (UTC). There is no application fee, making this an accessible opportunity for qualified professionals to study at Oxford and build global networks. You can also check BS, MS and PhD positions

Key Details

• Program: Chevening Gurukul Fellowship for Leadership and Excellence.
• Host: University of Oxford, Department of Politics and International Relations.
• Duration: 12 weeks, fully residential.
• Application Deadline: 7 October 2025, 12:00 (UTC).
• Funding: Fully funded (program fees, living expenses, return economy airfare).
• Eligibility: Indian citizens, 10+ years of work experience, postgraduate qualification, strong leadership potential.
• Fields: Government, private sector, media, civil society.
• Focus Areas: Global integration, leadership skills, policy development.
• Application Fee: None.
• Language Requirement: Good working knowledge of English (assessed in application/interview).

What is the Fellowship About?

This fellowship is designed for high-achieving professionals from diverse sectors, including government, private industry, media, and civil society. It focuses on the implications of globalisation for Indian leaders and addresses key global issues through three core components:

• Academic Understanding: Exploring global integration and leadership challenges.
• Policy Relevance: Developing practical policy solutions.
• Personal Development: Building leadership skills and professional networks.

Fellows participate in an intensive residential course at Oxford, engage in site visits across the UK, and enjoy a rich cultural program to immerse themselves in the university’s academic and social life.

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Key Themes Covered

The program dives into critical topics shaping global leadership, including:

• Economics of Global Integration: Growth, trade, regulation, and deregulation.
• Science and Technology: Climate change, internet, cybersecurity, and technological interconnectedness.
• International Governance: The UN, WTO, trade agreements, the EU, and Brexit.
• Social Challenges: Migration, refugees, inequality, and intolerance.
• Politics of Global Integration: Nationalism, internationalism, security, and conflict.
• Leadership Skills: Personal and professional development to lead effectively.

Fellows also work on a public policy plan, conducting research and presenting their findings while expanding their professional networks.

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Benefits

The fellowship covers:

• Full program fees.
• Living expenses for the duration of the fellowship.
• Return economy airfare from India to the UK.

Eligibility Criteria

To apply, you must:

• Be a citizen of India and currently reside in India.
• Plan to return to India after the fellowship.
• Hold a postgraduate-level qualification or equivalent professional training/experience.
• Have at least 10 years of work experience.
• Be a mid-career professional with strong leadership potential in sectors like government, private sector, media, or civil society.
• Demonstrate a good working knowledge of English (assessed during application and interview).
• Not hold British or dual-British citizenship.
• Agree to follow all program guidelines and expectations.
• Not be an employee, former employee, or relative of an employee (within the last two years) of His Majesty’s Government, the British Council, or a sponsoring UK university.
  Relatives include parents, step-parents, siblings, step-siblings, children, step-children, spouse, civil partner, or unmarried partner (in a relationship akin to marriage for at least two years).

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How to Apply

Submit your application by 7 October 2025, 12:00 (UTC) on the online application portal (link below)