How Chevening changed my life

The Chevening Scholarship programme celebrated its 30th anniversary earlier this year. It’s a universally popular programme, offering scholarships for post-graduate study in the UK to outstanding individuals who have the capacity to be leaders in their chosen areas of work.

So it’s great news that the anniversary is being celebrated by an increase in the number of scholarships offered worldwide. For Sri Lanka and the Maldives, we’re also accessing for the first time the Chevening CRISP Fellowship at the University of Oxford, in partnership with Rolls Royce. With three weeks to go until Chevening applications close on 15 November – and only a week till the Rolls Royce deadline of 31 October – here are some thoughts from recent Chevening returnee Nadeeka Jayasundera to whet potential applicants’ appetites…

My mind still goes back to the wonderful time I had last year, as a post graduate student at one of the most prestigious universities in the UK. My year at Cambridge University was a turning point in my life as I lived and studied in a historically intellectual place. However between the unpredictable English weather and demanding course work, it would not have been possible for me to complete my studies successfully without the support of an excellent scholarship scheme.

The Chevening scholarship offered me a complete package to build my future career. What I mean by a “complete package” is that Chevening scholars do not only get the opportunity to broaden their horizon academically but also intellectually and socially. The scholarship provides the platform for the Chevening network which is an excellent forum for people of different cultures and back grounds to get to together and discuss ideas. I still remember quite a few friendly but passionate discussions with Cheveners about topical issues. Many of the Cheveners I was acquainted with are now employed in influential positions working towards a better future for their respective countries. Apart from learning from my colleagues, I also got the opportunity to meet world renowned figures and attend talks and seminars from leaders of my field of study.In addition, the scholarship was generous enough for me to travel around UK and enjoy the English countryside as well as bustling London. I travelled to several parts of the UK where I interact with the Chevening community outside my locality. However the UK has so much to offer its visitors. My single year of residence was hardly enough to truly experience its beauty.

Cambridge, where I lived during my scholarship year, is a vibrant place where education and social networking work hand in hand for the advancement of knowledge. The atmosphere of a small town makes interaction between cosmopolitan students less daunting. The highly qualified academics, facilities offered by the libraries, easy access to publications, seminars and talks were extremely useful to broaden my knowledge in my field of study. The Cambridge Union hosts talks from world renowned personalities every week. Some of the talks take a lighter note, such as the one by the magician David Blaine, as you can imagine it was more of a magic show than a talk which me and my friends thoroughly enjoyed.

As a post graduate student I also got to do things I wouldn’t have the time or opportunity to try out otherwise. Sports have always played a big role in my life. As an undergraduate student at the University of Moratuwa, I took part in two sports, swimming and rowing. In Cambridge, I was a member of Darwin College women’s rowing team. Racing in the river Cam for Lent Bumps was a very unique sporting experience. College traditions such as the formal dinners which felt like a step back in time are lasting memories of being part of a historical setting. In my last term I wanted to expand my linguistic skills. Therefore I took a class in Chinese. Life in Cambridge for me was not only about academic excellence, but also learning about new cultures and expanding my social network.

It has been a year since I have completed my studies in the UK. Being a Cambridge-Chevening alumni has opened many doors for me to build up my career. Currently I am working as a lecturer at the University of Moratuwa. My career goals are to design and implement effective environmental policies to protect the natural environment and mitigate climate change with a focus on the built environment. I believe my education at Cambridge and my Chevening network will help me to achieve my future goals. I am very grateful to the Chevening Secretariat not only for their financial support, but also for their efforts to make my stay in Cambridge as interesting and intellectually stimulating as possible.

Best of luck to all the applicants this year and looking forward to welcome you to the Chevening community next year.”

Nadeeka Jayaweera (Chevening scholar 2012/13)

For more stories from recent Sri Lankan and Maldivian Chevening scholars, see our videos. You can also find details on how to apply here.

Sri Lankan Chevening scholars video links:

Dr Mahim Mendis

Ms. Seshika Fernando

His Lordship Justice Dhilip Nawaz