The British Embassy in Cairo hosted a farewell ceremony yesterday evening at the ambassador’s residence to celebrate the departure of Egyptian scholars awarded the Chevening Scholarship for 2025/2026.

The event brought together new scholars, Chevening alumni, representatives from the British Council, and BP Egypt, one of the program’s sponsors.

29 Egyptian Scholars Awarded the Scholarship

This year, 29 Egyptian scholars received fully funded Chevening Scholarships to pursue a one-year master’s degree at leading UK universities. The group represents a diverse range of academic disciplines and geographic backgrounds, with scholars coming from Mansoura, Alexandria, Fayoum, Beheira, Menoufia, Sohag, Cairo, and Giza. Fields of study include Thermal Energy and Fluid Engineering, International Political Economy, Environmental Law, Peacebuilding and Diplomacy, Entrepreneurship, and Emerging Economies and International Development.

The event also welcomed new Chevening scholars from Gaza and Sudan currently residing in Egypt, reflecting the program’s regional reach and inclusive spirit.

In his opening remarks, British Ambassador Mark Bryson-Richardson congratulated the scholars and praised the strong educational partnerships between the UK and Egypt.

He also expressed appreciation for the contributions of BP Egypt, which continues to annually sponsor a full Chevening Scholarship in the energy and environment sector.

The ceremony featured a keynote speech by Dr. Shahira Abdel-Shehid, a distinguished Chevening alumna and financial expert, who shared her academic experience in the UK and its impact on her career.

Dr. Shahira holds a master’s degree in finance from the University of Strathclyde and a PhD from Aston Business School. She was previously selected by the Chevening Secretariat as one of the leading women globally from Africa and the Middle East.

Notable Chevening Alumni

Among the prominent Chevening alumni in Egypt are influential figures who have made significant contributions in their fields, including Dr. Ahmed Kojak, Minister of Finance; Dr. Amani Abou Zeid, Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy at the African Union Commission; Dr. Mohamed Farid Saleh, Chairman of the Financial Regulatory Authority; Sherif Kamel, Dean of the School of Business Administration at the American University in Cairo; and Karim El Shenawy, an award-winning director and producer.

Applications for the Chevening Scholarship for the next academic year are now open and will close on October 7, 2025. The scholarship is available to all Egyptian citizens with a university degree and at least two years of work experience.

About the Chevening Program

Chevening is the UK government’s international scholarship program, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and partner organizations. It has over 60,000 alumni worldwide, including more than 1,500 in Egypt.

The Chevening program continues to support future leaders committed to driving positive change in their communities and beyond.