Written by Christian Chinonso
Founder, LearnViaHub | Academic Credential & International Student Research
✓ Last checked: 21 October 2026
Quick answer
Yes, Chevening funds a UK MBA, but it pays only part of the tuition. Chevening caps its MBA contribution at £22,000, and you must cover any cost above that. Chevening pays fees in full for every other eligible course. The MBA must be full-time, last nine to 12 months and start in the autumn term.
We could confirm the cap, the course rules and what Chevening says about university contributions. Chevening does not explain how the 20% university contribution works with the cap for an MBA, so this page shows two readings. On the Bath MBA’s published 2026/27 fee of £38,950, the gap comes to between £9,160 and £16,950, depending on the reading.
Ask each business school what fee it will charge a Chevening scholar before you choose your courses. Chevening’s own pages are the final word, and the terms change each cycle.
What Chevening says about MBA fees
Each row comes from the Chevening page linked in its first cell.
| Item | What Chevening says |
|---|---|
| MBA fee cap | The cap requires you to cover any additional cost over £22,000. Chevening covers fees in full for any other eligible course |
| University contribution to the cap | Universities may contribute up to 20% towards the cap of £22,000, and you must cover any additional fee cost |
| The 20% discount | Most UK universities contribute 20% towards tuition fees for Chevening scholars. If a university does not provide it, Chevening may ask you to attend an alternative course, or you may pay the difference |
| Proof of funds | You may need to show that you can cover the difference |
| Tuition deposits | Chevening does not pay them. Some universities may postpone or waive a deposit while Chevening confirms your award, at their discretion and at your own risk |
| Everything else | The MBA cap does not change the stipend, flights, visa cost or allowances. Our Chevening guide lists them |
How big is the gap?
Chevening’s wording allows two readings, and its pages do not say which applies to an MBA. The table shows both. The calculations are ours.
| Full-time MBA fee | Reading A: the £22,000 cap is Chevening’s whole contribution, including any university share | Reading B: the university takes 20% off the fee first, then the cap applies |
|---|---|---|
| £30,000 (illustrative) | £8,000 | £2,000 |
| £38,950 (Bath, 2026/27) | £16,950 | £9,160 |
| £50,000 (illustrative) | £28,000 | £18,000 |
Reading A is the fee minus £22,000. Reading B is 80% of the fee minus £22,000. For Bath, that is £38,950 × 0.8 = £31,160, less £22,000, which leaves £9,160. The Bath figure is the fee on Bath’s own full-time MBA page for 2026/27 entry. Bath had not published a 2027/28 fee on the page we read, so the cost of your intake may differ.
Because the gap is the fee minus the cap, three MBAs with very different fees give you three very different bills. Ask each school two questions in writing: what fee will you charge a Chevening scholar, and what do you expect the scholar to pay beyond the £22,000?
MBA course rules
These rules come from Chevening’s course guidance, and the right-hand column shows what each means for an MBA.
| Chevening rule | What it means for an MBA applicant |
|---|---|
| Full-time, taught, leading to a master’s degree | Part-time, executive and distance-learning MBAs are out. Research-focused programmes are out |
| Not less than nine or more than 12 months | An MBA longer than 12 months is out. One-year MBAs fit |
| Autumn-term start, usually September or October | MBAs that start in other terms are out |
| UK-based, no more than one month of study abroad | Check overseas modules or study tours in the programme |
| Three courses; backups at three different universities are suggested | You can list three MBAs at three universities. Chevening cannot consider duplicate entries at the same university |
| Unconditional offer by 8 July 2027, 17:00 BST | The only condition you may hold is financial, such as a deposit. You must meet every other requirement by then |
| London campuses | You may attend a London campus only if the university does not offer the exact course at its main campus |
| Pre-sessional courses | Chevening does not permit them, and taking one costs you the scholarship for that course |
Business school requirements: the Bath example
Business schools set their own entry rules on top of Chevening’s. This table compares Chevening’s rules with those on the University of Bath’s full-time MBA page. Other schools differ, so check yours.
| Requirement | Chevening | Bath full-time MBA |
|---|---|---|
| Work experience | At least 2,800 hours after your undergraduate degree, over two years or more (Chevening) | At least three years of full-time, post-graduation work experience with evidence of career progression |
| Degree | A degree that qualifies you for a UK master’s (Chevening) | A 2:1 or above undergraduate degree |
| English | No test score required | International applicants may need to pass an English language test |
| Length | Nine to 12 months | One year |
| Fee | MBA contribution capped at £22,000 | £38,950 for 2026/27 entry |
The rows show why meeting Chevening’s minimum does not make you eligible for a given MBA: Bath asks for more experience than Chevening does.
The calendars can clash too. Chevening’s offer deadline for the 2027/28 round is 8 July 2027 (timeline), while the Bath page we read gave an overseas application deadline of 31 July for 2026 entry. If your school’s final deadline falls after Chevening’s, you must apply earlier than it asks to hold an unconditional offer in time.
Bringing family
Chevening’s terms make no provision for dependants, advise scholars not to bring them and say Chevening will not endorse a dependant’s visa application (terms). Separately, UK rules for courses starting on or after 1 January 2024 stop most international students bringing a partner or children. They make an exception for students on a government-funded scholarship for a full-time course of at least six months (University of Edinburgh). Queen Mary University of London adds that the award must come directly from a national government department (Queen Mary). Ask Chevening and your university’s international office whether your award qualifies before you plan around it, and read our UK student visa guide.
What we left out
| Item | Why it is not here |
|---|---|
| Fees for other business schools | Third-party sites give very different figures for the same MBA, and we could not confirm them on the schools’ own pages. We confirmed only Bath’s fee |
| Schools that offer a Chevening-specific top-up | Chevening does not list them, so we cannot name any. Ask each school |
| How the 20% interacts with the cap | Chevening’s pages do not explain it, so we show both readings |
| MBA-specific essay and interview advice | Chevening assesses MBA applicants against the same four areas as everyone else, and it publishes no MBA-specific guidance. Our application guide covers the form |
| Stipend amount | Chevening’s terms give no figure |
Related guides:
Frequently asked questions
Does Chevening cover an MBA?
Yes, if it is a full-time, taught course of nine to 12 months starting in the autumn term. Chevening pays up to £22,000 of the tuition, and you cover any additional cost over that.
What if my MBA costs more than £22,000?
You pay the extra. Chevening says universities may contribute up to 20% towards the cap, and Chevening may ask you to show you can cover the difference.
Can I list three MBAs on my application?
Yes. Chevening suggests three similar courses at three different universities as backups. Chevening cannot consider duplicate entries at the same university.
Does Chevening require the GMAT?
Chevening’s eligibility criteria list no test score. Your business school may ask for one, so check its admissions page.
Can I use Chevening for an Executive or part-time MBA?
No. Chevening does not fund part-time or distance-learning courses, and courses must last nine to 12 months.
Can I bring my family on a Chevening MBA?
Chevening makes no provision for dependants and advises scholars not to bring them. Ask Chevening and your university about the visa rules before you decide.
How we researched this
Last checked: 21 October 2026. We read Chevening’s course guidance, eligibility and work experience pages, application timeline and August 2026 terms and conditions, the University of Bath’s full-time MBA page, and UK university international office pages on student dependants.
Limits: Chevening does not say how the university contribution works with the MBA cap, so the gap table gives two readings and the arithmetic is ours. The Bath figures are for 2026 entry. We confirmed no other school’s fee. The gov.uk page we could open does not state the dependants exception. It comes from UK university international offices that describe the Home Office rules. Rules change each cycle, so check the sources before you act.
This page is for general information and is not legal, tax or immigration advice. LearnViaHub is not affiliated with any government agency or institution mentioned. Check official sources before acting.
Christian Chinonso is the founder of LearnViaHub, with 6+ years of research experience in international education — including GPA systems, scholarships, student financing, and study-abroad guidance — for students worldwide.