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Summary

• Programme: Chevening Europe Defence and Security Fellowship 2027
• Host: Cranfield University at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom
• Location: Shrivenham, United Kingdom
• Duration: Six weeks
• Cohort 1: 25 January – 5 March 2027
• Cohort 2: 15 March – 23 April 2027
• Funding: Fully funded
• Target applicants: Mid-career European professionals
• Experience: At least five years of relevant professional experience
• Academic requirement: Postgraduate qualification or equivalent professional training/experience
• Fields: Defence, security, government, intelligence, law enforcement, resilience and related areas
• Deadline: 27 September 2026 at 11:00 UTC

About the Chevening Europe Defence and Security Fellowship

The Chevening Europe Defence and Security Fellowship is a specialised professional development programme within the Chevening fellowship portfolio. It is designed for mid-career professionals from across Europe who have demonstrated leadership potential in security and defence.

The programme is funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and delivered by Cranfield University at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom. The official Chevening programme directory describes its purpose as developing leaders who can operate effectively in complex and rapidly changing security and defence environments.

Unlike a conventional university degree or Master’s scholarship, this is a six-week professional fellowship. Fellows participate in an intensive programme designed around defence and security challenges, leadership development, strategic thinking and professional collaboration.

The 2027 programme has two cohorts. The first runs from 25 January to 5 March 2027, while the second runs from 15 March to 23 April 2027.

Fellowship Benefits

The fellowship is fully funded. The published programme information states that the award covers:

• Full programme fees
• Living expenses
• Pre-arranged accommodation
• Return economy airfare

The programme also provides fellows with an opportunity to strengthen their professional knowledge, develop leadership capabilities and build networks with other security and defence professionals from Europe and the UK.

The fellowship is delivered through a combination of academic and practical activities, giving participants exposure to strategic security issues and the professional environment surrounding UK and European defence and security policy.

Who Can Apply?

The fellowship is specifically intended for mid-career professionals from eligible European countries.

Applicants should meet the specialised fellowship requirements, including:

• Be a citizen of and currently resident in an eligible European country.
• Hold a postgraduate-level qualification, or have equivalent professional training or experience in a relevant area.
• Have at least five years of relevant professional experience.
• Be working in an area connected with government, defence, security, law enforcement, intelligence, civil protection, resilience or an international organisation with responsibilities related to national or international security.
• Demonstrate leadership potential and the ability to influence policy, strategy, organisational capability or operational effectiveness.

The fellowship is therefore aimed at established professionals rather than recent graduates or applicants seeking their first professional experience.

Important: This specific fellowship is a Europe-focused award. Applicants from countries outside the programme’s eligible European-country list should not apply under this fellowship.

Step-by-Step Application Process

Step 1: Confirm your country eligibility.
Check that your citizenship and current residence meet the Europe Defence and Security Fellowship requirements.

Step 2: Review the professional requirements.
Ensure that you have the required postgraduate-level qualification or equivalent professional preparation and at least five years of relevant experience.

Step 3: Prepare your Chevening application.
Applicants should prepare evidence of their professional background, leadership potential, career achievements and relevance to defence and security.

Step 4: Register through the Chevening application system.
Create or access your Chevening account and select the Europe Defence and Security Fellowship when completing the application.

Step 5: Complete and review the application.
Provide accurate information about your education, employment, leadership experience and professional objectives. Make sure all required sections are completed.

Step 6: Submit before the deadline.
Applications must be submitted through the official Chevening system before the published closing time.

Step 7: Selection and interviews.
Eligible applications go through Chevening’s selection process. Shortlisted candidates are subsequently invited to interviews, with successful candidates placed into the relevant fellowship cohort.

Important Deadline

The official deadline for the Chevening Europe Defence and Security Fellowship 2027 is:

27 September 2026 at 11:00 UTC.

The two 2027 fellowship cohorts are:

• Cohort 1: 25 January – 5 March 2027
• Cohort 2: 15 March – 23 April 2027

Applicants should submit well before the deadline because the online application system closes at the stated time.

Related Opportunities

For readers interested in international leadership, security and professional-development opportunities, AK Travels LTD has previously covered:

1. Chevening Scholarship 2027 – fully funded postgraduate study in the UK.
2. UNIDIR Graduate Professional Programme – professional experience with the UN Institute for Disarmament Research in Geneva.
3. World Bank Young Professionals Program 2027 – an international leadership and professional development programme with the World Bank Group.

Official Application Link

Final Note from AK Travels LTD

The Chevening Europe Defence and Security Fellowship 2027 is a specialised professional fellowship, not a conventional university scholarship. It is designed for experienced professionals who are already working in areas connected with defence, security, government, intelligence, law enforcement, resilience or related international-security fields.

The programme is fully funded, lasts six weeks and is delivered by Cranfield University at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom.

Prospective applicants should pay particular attention to the European nationality/residence requirement, five-year professional experience requirement and postgraduate-level qualification or equivalent professional preparation before applying. The application deadline is 27 September 2026 at 11:00 UTC.

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