From Pakistan to WBS with a Chevening Scholarship

MSc Business with Consulting student Manoj fills us in on his experiences of studying at Warwick Business School as the recipient of a Chevening Scholarship.

Tell us your name and a bit about your background before deciding to apply to an MSc

I am from Karachi, Pakistan. I did my undergraduate in Business Administration from the Institute of Business Administration back in 2013. After that, I worked in private sector organisations, namely Unilever and Shell, as a business consultant for three years. My most recent engagement has been with the Central Bank of Pakistan, where I worked on policies related to financial markets at national level.

Which MSc are you studying for? Why did you decide to apply for an MSc?

I am doing the MSc Business with Consulting from Warwick Business School. I applied for business consulting for three main reasons. First, it was a right fit for me as I could leverage my prior experience of multiple sectors at a broader level. Second, this programme allows me to learn and practically apply skills to real-world consultancy projects which prepares you directly for your future roles. Third, the programme shapes your learning and experience in such a way that you are ready to take on broader challenges affecting business across the world.

What is a Chevening Scholarship?

The Chevening Scholarship is the Foreign and Commonwealth Office fully-funded scholarship scheme, which selects young leaders who have significant potential to positively contribute in the development of their communities both professionally and personally, to pursue a master’s degree of their choice at any UK university.

The aim of Chevening is to give scholars the opportunity to experience and share with British culture and reflect on the learnings in their respective communities. Since 1983, Chevening has brought exceptional individuals from around the world to study in the UK. This unique opportunity has helped to elevate careers, transform communities, shift and deepen perspectives, and build intercontinental bridges.

When did you decide to apply for a Chevening Scholarship? When did you find out you’d been successful in applying?

I met a Chevening alumni in 2019 in a training course while I was working in at Central Bank and got inspired from his truly immersive Chevening experience. My Chevening journey started in September 2020 when I applied for this prestigious scholarship. After the application deadline, all the applications were then carefully reviewed and the shortlisted applicants, including myself, were invited for interview in February 2021. I was then interviewed in April 2021 by a highly esteemed Chevening Panel in my home country and was notified of my successful outcome in July 2021. The overall process takes around 8 months and it requires a lot of patience as your heartbeats increase after every successful stage!

How did the Chevening Scholarship help you?

It is only because of Chevening that I am fulfilling my dream of pursuing a master’s from a leading university in UK. Chevening not only covers tuition fees but also provides for air travel, insurance, accommodation, monthly living, and miscellaneous expenses. It also provides networking experiences with fellow Chevening scholars from all around the world, and the connections and friendships that I have made have inspired me at a very personal level. Through Chevening, I have met and established life-long relationships with people from different cultures and backgrounds which would never have been possible if I was not part of the community.

Is there a Chevening community? Have you engaged with the community, and if so, what benefits has this had?

Chevening brings together leaders from 160+ countries and territories, creating networks, friendships, and shared memories and missions that span the world. Chevening’s over 50,000-strong alumni network includes 18 current or former heads of state or government. Cheveners across the world are committed to using the knowledge, skills and networks they gain in the UK to positively impact people's lives.

I have had the pleasure of interacting with Chevening Scholars both at Warwick and at other universities in UK. This has helped me understand their culture, appreciate the diversity, and learn from visionary people around the world. We have arranged social gatherings, UK tours and networking events that has helped us to build a bond that inspires and motivates us to give 100% as we progress through our journeys.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

I would also like to thank University of Warwick for allowing us the best international experience to mingle and reflect deeply from multi-cultural experience. The academic and social learnings while at Warwick and in UK will shape me as a better person and professional. I look forward to interacting further with amazing people here in UK to create life long memories and experiences.  

Applicants to both our MSc and Full-time MBA programmes are able to apply for a Chevening Scholarship. Further information on the Chevening Scholarship can be found here.