Chevening South Asia Journalism Programme

Chevening South Asia Journalism Programme 2012 is now closed

The Chevening South Asia Journalism Programme is an exclusive new scholarships programme for high-flying, mid-career journalists. In the pilot year, we invite applications from India and Pakistan.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office present this remarkable leadership course for future media leaders and opinion formers from India and Pakistan. Entitled ‘Good governance in a changing world: challenges to the media, politics and accountability’. The course is organized by the prestigious Department of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Westminster, and will take place in London over eight weeks in April and May 2012

The programme will enable fourteen exceptional candidates - seven each from India and Pakistan - to be a part of an intensive learning experience that will sharpen thinking and leadership skills.

Each scholarship covers the following:

Full programme fees
Living expenses for the duration of the scholarship
Return airfare
UK visa

Overall programme goals

Improve mutual understanding and promote wider dialogue and better links between eminent journalists from South Asia and the UK.
Expose future leaders from South Asia to the UK’s top opinion formers and decision-makers within government, politics, industry and civil society.
Prepare future leaders and opinion formers in South Asia for high responsibilities in their media organizations and relationship building in the region, by developing their analytical insights, strategic outlook and knowledge of key issues facing the South Asian media.

Good governance in a changing world: challenges to the media, politics and accountability

Programme content

The aim of the programme is to offer a unique learning experience that will sharpen critical thinking and leadership skills for high-flying media professionals. The scholars will engage with senior British and international academics, journalists and public servants on a wide range of themes relevant to today’s fast-changing environment. These include: the exercise of power; models and quality of democratic governance; the role of media in society and political life; strategic security challenges and the role of the media in conflict resolution; the impact of technological change; and ethics, institutions and regulatory frameworks. As part of the course, the scholars will also undergo a two-week internship with leading British media organisations.

Course structure

The eight-week course will be comprised of three interrelated elements:

Project-based work - both individual and collaborative;
A six week module comprising lectures, seminars, guest speakers and visits;
Two-week placements with top UK print and broadcast media organisations.

The University

The University of Westminster is one of the largest, most international and highly rated ‘post 1992’ universities in the UK. Within the school, the Chevening South Asia Journalism Programme will be based in the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication. The department is well known for the courses it offers in Journalism, Media Management, Public Relations, Communication, Communication Policy and Global Media. The department has researchers with world leading international profiles in the areas of media and communications policy, audience research and media history. It was rated number one in the UK in the most recent national Research Assessment Exercise. More on CAMRI.

Eligibility criteria

The ideal candidate should be a mid-career journalist from India or Pakistan covering political and economic sectors.
Candidates will be expected to have had at least seven years professional experience working at a leading media group.
Excellent academic record

General eligibility criteria

an Indian or Pakistani national with a valid Indian / Pakistani passport
fluent in written and spoken English

You are not eligible if you:

have in the past received a British government funded scholarship
Work for the British government (including the British Council, DFID and PAG's). Ex-employees cannot apply until 2 years after leaving

Please follow the instructions below to apply

1. Application process

ONLY online applications will be accepted. Click here to apply.
No late applications will be accepted.
Applicants SHOULD NOT apply directly to the UK programme providers. Simply complete the Chevening application form.

2. References

The online application requires mention of contact details of referees. The two referees should be professional and/or academic.
Please do not ask the referees to send the references directly to us. Kindly collect the references from your referees and ensure that both the references are sent together in the prescribed format to the British Council address: Scholarships, British Council, 17 K G Marg, New Delhi 110001
To help you meet the deadline, a scanned copy of the references can also be emailed to chevening.chevening@in.britishcouncil.org. However, the references in hardcopy should follow and reach us at the earliest.

Download the reference forms here:

Please note that the deadline for receiving references is also 10 February 2012

3. Other documents to be enclosed with the references are:

Self-attested copies of your academic qualifications (graduation and above) along with your references.
Selected articles (or the TV equivalent), in hard copy / CD / web links from your portfolio evidencing your competence and experience.
No Objection Certificate from your Organization

4. We will contact only short listed candidates and invite them for interviews. Please do not contact the British Council to enquire about the progress of your application.

5. Interviews will be conducted in New Delhi and Islamabad in February 2012. Short-listed candidates invited for the interviews will be expected to make their own travel arrangements and accommodation. We are unable to reimburse any costs incurred in attending the interview.

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