Applications are invited for Chevening India Cyber Security Fellowship 2025-26. The last date of application is October 10.

About the Fellowship

The Chevening India Cyber Security Fellowship is aimed at mid-career professionals with demonstrable leadership potential in the field of cyber security or cyber policy in India. The fellowship is funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office.

The fellowship is hosted by Cranfield University, at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom (Shrivenham Campus).

Eligibility

To be eligible for a Chevening Cyber Security Fellowship, you must:

  • Be a citizen of India and currently live in the country.
  • Return to your country of citizenship at the end of the period of the fellowship.
  • Not hold British or dual-British citizenship.
  • Have at least seven years’ relevant work experience prior to applying.
  • Have a postgraduate level qualification and an excellent academic background in science, engineering, or technology, or equivalent professional training, or experience in a relevant area at the time of application.
  • Have significant relevant work experience in cyber security or cyber policy issues. Relevant experience could come from policy organisations, academia, corporate law, law enforcement, or journalism.
  • Have an excellent academic background in science, engineering or technology, or considerable experience of working in such fields.
  • Have a good working knowledge of English to be assessed in your application form and if you are invited to interview.
  • Have a demonstrable record of leadership and/or innovation.
  • Agree to adhere to all relevant guidelines and expectations of the fellowship
  • Not be an employee, a former employee, or relative of an employee of His Majesty’s Government, or have been within the last two years from the opening of Chevening applications (including the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, all British Embassies/High Commissions, the Home Office, the Ministry of Defence, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, the Department for International Trade and the UKVI), the British Council, a sponsoring UK university, or a staff member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities.

Programme Structure

This ten-week fellowship provides fellows with an understanding of policy and legislative approaches in cyber security and its implications for national security, commercial opportunity, crime prevention, and the right to privacy.

Throughout the programme, fellows will work on an individual research paper which will be presented at the end of the course. The fellowship runs from mid March through end of May.

The fellowship will focus on:

  • Cyber threats, including: the threat landscape, threat and risk assessment, the implications for national security, and the relevance of internet governance structures; and the protection of critical national infrastructure.
  • The economics of online business, cyber-security consumer awareness and consumer protection, technology adoption challenges, the relevance of open source, and effective technology adoption by consumers.
  • Cyber-crime and internet law, including the economic impact of cyber-crime, domestic and international approaches to countering cyber-crime, internet law, law enforcement concerns, privacy concerns, the use and abuse of social media, and accountability in cyberspace.
  • Relevant issues and challenges particular to the UK and India.

Alumni from this fellowship include individuals working in cyber security, law enforcement, policy organisations, corporate lawyers and practicing advocates, and technology journalists.

How to Apply?

Interested candidates can apply online via this page.

Benefits

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

Important dates

Applications open at 12:00 BST6 August 2024
Applications close at 12:00 GMT10 October 2024
Applications are sifted against eligibility criteriaFrom 6 November 2024
Reading Committee assessmentsIndependent reading committees assess all eligible applications. Their scores and rankings are then passed back to local British embassies/high commissions.October to November 2024
Applicants shortlisted for interviewsOnce the embassy/high commission has reviewed the applications, they produce a shortlist of those who they will invite to interview. Notifications will then follow.November 2024
References and education documents deadline26 November 2024
Interviews take placeCandidates from all over the world are interviewed by panels at British embassies and high commissions.December 2024
Results announcedDecember 2024
2025/26 Chevening India Cyber Security Fellowship runs.March – May 2025

FAQs

Can I apply for the Graduate route visa and stay in the UK at the end of my course?

No, Chevening Scholars cannot apply for a Graduate route visa. When you accept a Chevening Award, you agree to return home for two years at the end of your scholarship.

What support for wellbeing is available from the Secretariat?

If you need wellbeing support, you should contact your university’s student support services as they have staff available to help you locally and a large number of welfare services. Your Programme Officer or the Chevening welfare and immigration team is available to you Monday – Friday during office hours (09:00-17:00 BST) by email or telephone […]

What should I pack before arriving in the UK?

When preparing to travel to the UK, awardees should ensure that they pack the following essentials along with their belongings: Important documents – passport with visa, Final Award Letter, travel itinerary, travel insurance Warm clothing – the UK can be quite cold and rainy, particularly during the winter months. 

Can I defer my fellowship?

Deferrals are only granted in specific and exceptional circumstances. For more information please review the fellowship terms and conditions.

Click here for the official notification of Chevening India Cyber Security Fellowship 2025.