Are you a mid-career journalist with a passion for governance, politics, and the role of media in South Asia? The Chevening South Asia Journalism Fellowship (SAJP) Program 2026 has opened its application. This is a fully funded fellowship in the UK, hosted at the prestigious University of Westminster, London, which offers South Asian journalists a once-in-a-lifetime chance to hone their skills, enhance their network, and understand the global perspective in media and governance.
This blog covers everything you need to know about the Chevening SAJP Fellowship 2026—including eligibility, benefits, application process, required documents, and deadline.
What is the Chevening SAJP Fellowship?
The Chevening South Asia Journalism Fellowship (SAJP) is an esteemed program sponsored by the UK Government’s global Chevening program. It is targeted at journalists in mid-career positions in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives.
The fellowship is a fully-funded program held over 8 weeks at the University of Westminster in London. Fellows will participate in workshops, seminars, study tours, and networking events. The program focuses on media ethics, governance, political reporting, and the significant challenges facing South Asia, and participants are sent back to their home countries to assume leadership roles in the media arena.
Host Country and University
Host Country: United Kingdom (UK)
Host University: University of Westminster, London
Location: University of Westminster, London
- Length of the Program: 8 weeks
Benefits of Chevening SAJP Fellowship 2026
Chevening is a fully funded program; the fellows do not need to be concerned about the financial aspect. The participants will be selected and receive:
- Complete cost of the 8-week program.
- Expenses on living expenses during the fellowship.
- Airfare back to the home country, the UK.
Opportunity to have access to world-class academic training and professional development.
- The chance to network with the top UK media practitioners.
- An opportunity to work with the journalists of South Asia.
This fellowship not only provides financial backing to the participants but also provides them with a chance to serve in an active international setup.
What Will Fellows Learn?
The Chevening SAJP Fellowship 2026 is carefully designed to enhance the leadership capacity of journalists while deepening their understanding of governance and politics in South Asia. Fellows will:
- Get an understanding of UK media practices and policies.
- Go to seminars on media ethics and governance.
- Learn about political coverage in South Asia.
- Pay a visit to an array of major media institutions in the UK to gain practical experience.
- Establish contact with policymakers, journalists, and scholars.
This exposure will help journalists fortify their influence in promoting good governance, transparency, and accountability through the media.
Eligibility Criteria for Chevening SAJP Fellowship 2026
Applicants must have the following eligibility requirements to be able to apply to the fellowship:
- Has to be a citizen of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, or the Maldives.
- They must be a mid-career journalist operating in either the economic or political arena.
- Should possess a postgraduate degree or any similar professional training/experience in journalism or a related area.
- It should possess at least 7 years of experience in the work field.
- They should be able to qualify under the general Chevening Fellowship eligibility requirements by the UK Government.
The target audience of this program is professionals already established in their careers in journalism and seeking to develop their leadership and professional abilities.
Required Documents
Before applying, the following documents will have to be prepared:
- Legal passport.
- Educational records and degree certificates.
Any other supporting documents (professional achievements and experience).
How to Apply for Chevening SAJP Fellowship 2026
Applying for the Chevening SAJP Fellowship is a straightforward process via the Chevening online application system. This is what you should do step by step:
- You must choose your country and award title via the official Chevening website.
- Sign up with your email address.
- Confirm your email by clicking on the link you will have received in your inbox.
- Complete the eligibility survey.
- After clearing the eligibility stage, you will be sent an email to confirm, and it will give you a link to go further.
- The access code becomes available, and the form should be filled in by indicating:
- Citizenship information and personal information
- Information on higher education
- History of work and experience
- Details of two referees
- Carefully answer all questions of supporting statements.
- Complete the equality opportunity questions.
- Check your application and press the button Save and complete.
Note: Supporting statements are very crucial and should be considerate and elaborate.
Deadline for Chevening SAJP Fellowship 2026
Chevening South Asia Journalism Fellowship 2026 deadline is:
7 October 2025
Always apply early enough so that there are no last-minute problems.
Why Apply for Chevening SAJP Fellowship 2026?
The Chevening SAJP fellowship is not only training but a career-changing one. In joining this fellowship, you will:
- Having international exposure in one of the significant media cities of the world- London.
- Study under the best scholars and journalists in the United Kingdom.
- Develop a long-term network with the South Asian journalists and UK specialists.
- Increase your capacity to report professionally on governance and politics.
Empower your leadership capacity to make a difference in your native country.
This fellowship is good news to you as a professional journalist interested in good governance, transparency, and development in South Asia.
Final Thoughts
The Chevening SAJP Fellowship 2026 in the UK is a golden opportunity for mid-career journalists from South Asia to expand their professional expertise, build international networks, and strengthen their leadership potential. It serves as a great launching pad for journalists seeking to drive change in the world, offering complete financial aid, top-notch training, governance, and media ethics.
Don’t miss this opportunity – submit your application by 7 October 2025 and take the next step in your journalism career!
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