Outstanding Bermudians with leadership potential are being invited to apply for awards under the United Kingdom’s flagship scholarship programme.

Funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Chevening Scholarship provides financial support for a Master’s-level degree that begins September 2015 at one of the UK’s leading universities.

The deadline for applications is Saturday week.

The call for new applicants follows appointment of 87 scholars from Overseas Territories who won grants to study at UK universities between 1988 and 2013.

“I am very pleased that Chevening Scholarships are being made available for applicants in Bermuda to apply for postgraduate scholarships,” Governor George Fergusson said: “These scholarships, which have traditionally been aimed at students in foreign countries, are being made available to the Overseas Territories. I am very confident that Bermuda will be able to produce at least one successful candidate.

“This is a great opportunity. The scholarships are different from most other academic bursaries: they are open to people in any field, and they are aimed at candidates who have had a few years in the workplace already and want to expand their academic base.

“I strongly urge talented people, say, in the civil service, financial services or the hospitality sector — but they can be from any sector — to consider whether a reasonably funded, well-supported Master’s at a UK university could help them develop their career or wider education and to think about applying.”

To be eligible for a Chevening Scholarship, you must:

• Be a citizen of a Chevening-eligible country and intend to return there after your studies.

• Hold a degree that is equivalent to at least an upper second-class honours degree in the UK.

• Have completed at least two years’ work or equivalent experience before applying for a Chevening Scholarship.

• Be able to meet the Chevening-minimum English language requirement.

• Be able to obtain the correct visa and receive an unconditional offer from a UK university.

Successful Chevening scholars will receive a monthly stipend, travel to and from Bermuda, a thesis or dissertation grant and tuition fees.

Interested applicants should read the online guidance and be able to demonstrate how they meet the Chevening selection criteria before submitting an application. Further details of closing dates and priority subject areas are available at www.chevening.org/apply.