Chevening-Briggs Scholarship supports Canada's future leaders
Chevening-Briggs Scholarship will support aspiring leaders and innovators from Canada to study in the UK.
Chevening scholars in front of a phone box. Photo credit: chevening.org
- strong preference given to high-quality candidates from Indigenous communities
- scholarship offers full financial support for a student to study any eligible master’s degree at a UK university
- scholarship funded by Vancouver-based British entrepreneur and philanthropist David Briggs
The UK High Commission in Ottawa and Canada-based British entrepreneur and philanthropist David Briggs have announced that they have joined forces to create the Chevening-Briggs Scholarship, which will offer the opportunity for a Canadian student to study a Master’s degree at any UK university, with strong preference given to high-quality candidates from indigenous communities.
Applications for the Chevening-Briggs Scholarships will open in mid-September 2023 and should be submitted on the Chevening website.
The UK government’s global Chevening Scholarships programme (under which the Chevening-Briggs Scholarship will operate) is awarded to individuals from all backgrounds who can demonstrate that they have the commitment and skills required to create positive change and can show how a UK master’s degree will help them do that.
The scholarship offers full financial support for scholars to study for any eligible master’s degree at any UK university whilst also gaining access to a wide range of exclusive academic, professional, and cultural experiences.
Since the programme was created in 1983, over 55,000 professionals have had the opportunity to develop in the UK through Chevening. There are more than 1,400 scholarships on offer globally for the academic year 2023 to 2024.
The programme’s alumni include 20 current or former heads of state or government officials. In Canada, notable alumni include Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, and Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee, Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy.
David Briggs recognises the importance of supporting candidates, particularly from Métis, Inuit, and First Nation communities, through his scholarship. His preference to award his scholarship to a student from these communities comes from his drive to learn from indigenous groups and promote a more inclusive and equitable society for all.
British High Commissioner to Canada, Susannah Goshko CMG, said:
Each year, I am blown away by the quality of the Canadian Chevening scholars. Regrettably, however, we have yet to award a scholarship to an Indigenous person from Canada. I am delighted that this new partnership has given us a further incentive to address this deficit. I hope that David Briggs’ preference to support an Indigenous person from Canada will help to further the diversity of voices that already enrich the Chevening programme. My sincere thanks to David for his encouragement and support.
David Briggs, Director and Co-founder of GeoComply, said:
I believe strongly in the transformative power of education. Through this partnership, and with a strong emphasis on reconciliation and learning from Indigenous communities, I know we will be able to identify exceptional individuals and create opportunities that empower and uplift them. Programmes which bring together leaders and innovators from across the world, such as Chevening, will be essential to addressing the global challenges we face. I am delighted that a new and ambitious voice from Canada will be a part of that conversation through the Chevening-Briggs Scholarship.
More information
The Chevening-Briggs Scholarship will give strong preference to high-quality candidates from Métis, Inuit and First Nation communities. Visit the Chevening website for detailed information on the eligibility criteria and scholarship specifications.
In 2023, Chevening scholarships were awarded to 2 Canadians who will be studying for master’s degrees at the University of Oxford and University College London.
Chevening Scholarships are the UK Government’s global scholarship programme, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), partner organisations, and partner universities. The scholarships support study at UK universities (mostly for one-year taught master’s degrees) for individuals with demonstrable potential to become future leaders, decision-makers, and opinion formers.
Chevening began in 1983 and has developed into a prestigious international awards scheme. Chevening Scholars come from over 160 countries and territories worldwide, and over the past five years, we have awarded almost 10,000 scholarships. There are over 55,000 Chevening Alumni around the world who comprise an influential and highly regarded global network.
The name ‘Chevening’ comes from Chevening House in Sevenoaks, Kent – currently the joint official residence of the UK’s Foreign Secretary.
More information is on the Chevening website.
David Briggs is a Director and Co-founder of GeoComply, a market leader in fraud prevention and cybersecurity solutions. His education took place in the UK, where he attended Crossley Heath Grammar School in Yorkshire and graduated from the University of Warwick in 1993. Today, he remains deeply connected to his roots, providing scholarships to students from his former high school, enabling them to pursue internships to advance social mobility.
About the British High Commission
The British High Commission in Ottawa is the UK government’s main diplomatic mission in Canada. Along with Consulates-General in Montreal, Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver, we work closely with the Canadian government and partners across the country to develop and maintain a wide range of substantive partnerships of real value to both countries. These partnerships cover business, defence, climate change, science and innovation, education, and culture.