STUDY IN UK

Chevening Scholarship: How to Write the Perfect Leadership Essay

Feb 10, 2026 | 8 min read

Chevening is the “King” of scholarships. Fully funded by the UK government, it covers everything. But here is the catch: Grades don’t matter as much as your ESSAYS. Specifically, the Leadership Essay. If you can’t prove you are a future leader in 500 words, you will be rejected.

The 4 Essays You Must Write

To apply for Chevening, you must write four essays of 500 words each:

Leadership & Influence (The most important one).
Networking Skills.
Study in the UK (Why these 3 universities?).
Career Plan (What will you do when you return home?).

Today, we focus on the hardest one: Leadership.

The Biggest Mistake Students Make

Most applicants write vague, general statements. They say things like “I am a born leader” or “I love helping people.” This is boring and unproven.

Chevening readers want EXAMPLES, not definitions. They want to know what YOU did.

❌ Bad Example:
“I have always been a leader. In university, I was the class monitor and I helped many students with their homework. Leadership is about serving others.”

✅ Good Example:
“As the Class Monitor in 2023, I noticed that 40% of students were failing Math. I organized a peer-tutoring group, recruited 3 top students to teach, and within 6 months, the class pass rate rose to 90%.”

Use the STAR Method

To write a winning essay, use the STAR formula for every paragraph.

S Situation

Describe the problem you faced. Keep it short. (e.g., “My community had no clean water.”)

T Task

What was your role? What did you need to achieve? (e.g., “I needed to raise funds to build a well.”)

A Action

This is the most important part (70% of the essay). What did YOU do? Use “I” not “We.” (e.g., “I negotiated with local elders, I organized a fundraising event, and I managed the budget.”)

R Result

What was the outcome? Use numbers! (e.g., “We raised $5,000 and 200 families now have clean water.”)

Final Tips for Success

Don’t be humble. This is the time to brag about your achievements.
Use “I” statements. Don’t say “The team did this.” Say “I led the team to do this.”
Focus on Impact. Chevening invests in people who will change their country. Show them you have already started.

Upgrade Your Digital Skills

Writing essays takes time. While you prepare, learn a skill that can earn you money online. Join Casaawe Tech on YouTube for free coding and design tutorials.

Visit Casaawe Tech