If you work in defence, security, intelligence, law enforcement or a related field anywhere in Europe, the Chevening Defence Fellowship 2027 might be the sharpest six weeks of your career. Funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and delivered by Cranfield University at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom in Shrivenham, it is a fully funded, short, residential leadership programme built specifically for mid-career professionals who deal with security challenges for a living. There is no tuition, no degree at the end — just six intense weeks of applied learning on leadership, cyber resilience, AI and governance, plus a professional network that stretches across Europe and the UK.
In short: The Chevening Europe Defence and Security Fellowship 2027 is a fully funded six-week programme for mid-career defence and security professionals from eligible European countries. It runs in two cohorts (January–March and March–April 2027) at the Defence Academy, Shrivenham. Applications for the 2027 intake closed on 27 September 2026, so this guide explains the programme and how to be ready for the next cycle.
Quick Overview
- Host Country: United Kingdom
- Host Institution: Cranfield University at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, Shrivenham
- Funded By: UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)
- Degree Level: Professional fellowship (non-degree, mid-career)
- Program Duration: 6 weeks — Cohort 1: 25 January – 5 March 2027; Cohort 2: 15 March – 23 April 2027
- Funding Type: Fully funded (fees, living expenses, accommodation, airfare)
- Deadline: 27 September 2026, 11:00 UTC (applications for the 2027 intake are now closed)
Benefits of the Chevening Defence and Security Fellowship
Everything the programme costs is covered, so you can focus entirely on the learning rather than the logistics:
- Full programme fees — the entire six-week course at Cranfield University's Defence Academy is paid for by the FCDO.
- Living expenses covered — accommodation near Oxford is pre-arranged for you, and your living costs for the duration of the fellowship are included.
- Return economy airfare — your flights to the UK and back home are paid for.
- World-class faculty and practitioners — teaching comes from Cranfield University academics alongside active practitioners, so you are learning from people who have actually run operations and advised governments.
- UK institutional visits — the programme includes visits to British institutions, giving you a first-hand look at how UK defence and security organisations work.
- A genuine research output — you will develop an individual research project on a policy, leadership, organisational or security challenge, with academic support, and present your findings to the FCDO in London at the end of the fellowship.
- A pan-European network — fellows come from across Europe, and the relationships you build over six weeks of residential learning tend to last.
Eligibility Criteria for the Chevening Defence and Security Fellowship
The bar here is professional, not academic. Chevening expects you to already be working at a serious level in your country's security landscape:
- Eligible nationality and residence — you must be a citizen of and resident in one of these countries at the point of application: Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Holy See, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, or Switzerland. If you live in a European overseas territory, you apply through the relevant Chevening award scheme for your European country of citizenship.
- Postgraduate qualification or equivalent — you need a postgraduate degree, or equivalent professional training or experience in a relevant field.
- At least five years of relevant professional experience — this is a mid-career fellowship, not an entry point.
- The right kind of job — you must be a mid-career professional with responsibilities for national or international security, employed within government, the public or private sector, academia, defence, security, law enforcement, intelligence, civil protection, resilience, or an international organisation.
- An influential role — you should be working in a position where you can genuinely influence organisational capability, policy, strategy or operational effectiveness in your organisation or country.
- A clear plan to give back — you must be able to show leadership potential and a real commitment to applying what you learn, and the networks you build, within your organisation or country after the fellowship.
- Standard Chevening eligibility — in addition to the above, you must meet Chevening's standard eligibility criteria, which you can check on the official Chevening website.
How to Apply for the Chevening Defence and Security Fellowship
Applications go through Chevening's official online application system. The process is straightforward but the questions demand serious, well-thought-out answers:
1. Check your country's eligibility. Confirm that your citizenship and residence are on the eligible European countries list above — this fellowship is not open worldwide. 2. Gather your evidence. You will need to demonstrate your professional experience, leadership potential, and how the fellowship connects to your current responsibilities in defence or security. 3. Create an account on the Chevening application portal. Register, verify your email, and select the Europe Defence and Security Fellowship as the award you are applying for. 4. Complete the eligibility questions and the application form. Fill in your education, employment history and achievements, and answer the application questions carefully — these are where your leadership narrative matters most. 5. Upload your documents. Degree certificates, proof of citizenship and any other required documents go up through the portal. 6. Review and submit. Double-check everything before submitting, because the system closes hard at the deadline — late applications are not accepted. 7. Selection. Eligible applications are reviewed by Chevening, and shortlisted candidates are invited to interview before final placement into one of the two cohorts.
Required Documents
The official Chevening guidance asks for the following. Prepare them well before the deadline:
- Degree certificate(s) and any evidence of postgraduate or equivalent professional training
- Proof of citizenship and residence in an eligible country
- Employment evidence showing at least five years of relevant professional experience
- Any additional documents Chevening requests for your specific application
Chevening Defence and Security Fellowship Deadline
Applications for the 2027 intake closed on 27 September 2026 at 11:00 UTC. If you are reading this after that date, the window has shut for this cycle — the programme then moves into selection, with the two cohorts running from 25 January to 5 March 2027 and from 15 March to 23 April 2027.
Chevening fellowships run on an annual cycle, so a new call for applications is expected to open in the late summer of 2027 for the following intake. Keep an eye on the official Chevening fellowship page, and use the waiting time to strengthen your application: document your leadership achievements, sharpen your understanding of the fellowship's six themes (leadership, people and culture, cyber resilience, AI and emerging technology, decision-making, and resilience), and start shaping the research idea you would bring to Shrivenham.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Chevening Defence and Security Fellowship really fully funded?
Yes. The fellowship covers full programme fees, your living expenses for the six weeks, pre-arranged accommodation near Oxford, and a return economy airfare. You do not pay tuition or course costs; you simply need to show up ready to work.
Who is the Chevening Defence Fellowship for?
It is designed for mid-career professionals with at least five years of experience who work in defence, security, law enforcement, intelligence, government, civil protection, resilience, diplomacy or international organisations in Europe — essentially anyone with real responsibility for security and defence outcomes in their country.
Can I apply if I am not from Europe?
No. This fellowship is open only to citizens and residents of the listed European countries (non-ODA eligible European countries). If your country is not on the list, Chevening's standard master's scholarships may still be worth exploring.
Is this a degree programme?
No, it is a non-degree professional fellowship. You will not earn a degree, but you will produce an individual research project and present your findings to the FCDO in London, which carries real professional weight.
What happens during the six weeks?
The programme combines teaching, discussions, practical exercises, workshops, simulations, practitioner-led sessions, UK institutional visits, individual research and collaborative learning, organised around six themes: global leadership in complexity, people and organisations, cyber resilience and information threats, AI and emerging technology, strategic decision-making under pressure, and building resilience and future leadership.
How competitive is it?
Very. Chevening does not publish acceptance rates for individual fellowships, but these awards are prestigious, fully funded and open to some of Europe's most senior mid-career security professionals. A strong application shows concrete leadership achievements and a clear plan for applying what you learn back home.
Do I need a military background to apply?
No. The official guidance lists a wide range of relevant sectors: military and civilian defence staff, government officials and diplomats, police and intelligence professionals, cybersecurity specialists, policy advisers, journalists and academics working on security issues, local authority staff, and professionals in international organisations and civil society.
Can I apply for both cohorts?
The two cohorts are simply scheduling options for the same programme. You apply to the fellowship once, and successful candidates are placed into a cohort.
Can I reapply if I was rejected before?
Chevening generally allows reapplication in later cycles as long as you meet the current eligibility criteria. Each year's call is a fresh process, so strengthen your application and try again.
Where exactly does the fellowship take place?
At the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom in Shrivenham, delivered by Cranfield University, with accommodation near Oxford and UK institutional visits throughout the programme.
Final Words
Six weeks is short, but this fellowship is deliberately dense: research, simulations, practitioner sessions, UK site visits and a presentation to the FCDO at the end. If you are a European security or defence professional with five-plus years under your belt and a role where decisions actually matter, it is one of the most focused professional development experiences Chevening offers. The 2027 deadline has passed, but the next cycle will come — start preparing your leadership story now.
