In a significant move to promote higher education and empower women, the Karnataka government has signed an MoU with the UK’s Chevening Scholarships Programme to provide fully funded scholarships for women graduates from the state. The agreement, signed during the Winter Session of the Assembly in Belagavi on Monday, December 16, aims to enable women to pursue Master’s degrees at prestigious universities in the United Kingdom.
The newly launched scholarship programme will fully fund five women graduates annually for three consecutive years, enabling a total of 15 women scholars to pursue Master’s degrees at UK universities across any stream or discipline. The first batch of five women graduates will commence their studies in the UK in September 2025.
The MoU signing ceremony was attended by Karnataka’s Higher Education Minister Dr. M.C. Sudhakar and British Deputy High Commissioner to Karnataka & Kerala, Chandru Iyer, along with officials from both the Karnataka government and the UK government.
The Chevening Scholarships Programme, launched in 1983, is the UK government’s flagship international awards scheme designed to nurture future global leaders. India’s Chevening initiative is the largest in the world, annually offering up to 45 fully funded scholarships and an equal number of fellowships. Currently, there are over 3,900 Chevening alumni in India, many of whom have made significant contributions to society.
Speaking at the event, Chandru Iyer remarked, “I am delighted that the Chevening scholarship has entered a partnership with Karnataka. Empowering women and girls in the UK and around the world is a priority for us and an integral part of our partnership with India on everything from technology to climate resilience.”
Highlighting Karnataka’s leadership in South India, he further added, “I am glad to note that Karnataka is the first state in South India to take up the Chevening offer. The Chevening scholarship has helped scholars and fellows from across India, including many first-generation learners from tier-2 and tier-3 towns. Many have gone on to make remarkable contributions towards India’s prosperity.”
Karnataka Higher Education Minister M.C. Sudhakar described the initiative as a landmark step towards promoting academic excellence and gender equality. He stated, “This partnership with Chevening opens doors for Karnataka’s women graduates to access world-class education and develop into future leaders. The scholarships will empower young women from diverse backgrounds to make impactful contributions to society.”