Applications are open for the Chevening Europe Defence and Security Fellowship 2027, a fully funded professional development programme for experienced mid-career professionals working across Europe in defence, security, government, intelligence, law enforcement, resilience and related fields.
Hosted by Cranfield University at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, the six-week fellowship brings together professionals whose work contributes to national and international security. The programme combines leadership development with learning around defence, cyber resilience, governance, artificial intelligence, strategic decision-making and international cooperation.
Applications for the 2027 fellowship close on 27 September 2026 at 11:00 UTC.
Chevening Europe Defence and Security Fellowship 2027
The Europe Defence and Security Fellowship forms part of the UK’s Chevening programme and is designed specifically for mid-career professionals with substantial experience in security and defence-related fields.
Rather than being a traditional academic degree, the fellowship is an intensive six-week professional programme.
Participants will have opportunities to strengthen their leadership abilities, examine emerging security challenges and develop professional relationships with counterparts from Europe and the United Kingdom.
Fellowship at a Glance
Programme: Chevening Europe Defence and Security Fellowship
Year: 2027
Host: Cranfield University
Location: Defence Academy of the United Kingdom
Duration: Six weeks
Funding: Fully funded
Career Level: Mid-career professionals
Application Deadline: 27 September 2026
Closing Time: 11:00 UTC
Who Is the Fellowship Designed For?
The programme targets established professionals whose current work involves national or international security.
Applicants should be working within areas such as:
- Government
- Defence
- Security
- Law enforcement
- Intelligence
- Civil protection
- Resilience
- International organisations
The fellowship is therefore particularly relevant to professionals who have progressed beyond entry-level positions and are now capable of influencing decisions, policies, strategies or organisational capabilities.
Professional Experience Requirements
Applicants must have at least five years of relevant professional experience.
This requirement reflects the leadership-oriented nature of the programme. Participants are expected to bring professional knowledge and practical experience that can contribute to discussions and collaborative learning during the fellowship.
Applicants should also be working in positions that provide the potential to influence:
- Organisational capability
- Public or institutional policy
- Strategy
- Operational effectiveness
This means the programme is particularly suitable for professionals who are developing or implementing security-related policies, programmes, strategies or operational responses within their organisations.
Academic and Professional Qualifications
Candidates are expected to hold a postgraduate qualification.
However, relevant equivalent professional training or experience may also satisfy this requirement.
This provides a pathway for experienced security and defence professionals whose career development may have involved substantial specialist professional training rather than a conventional postgraduate academic qualification.
What Will Fellows Study?
The six-week programme addresses several issues shaping contemporary defence and security.
Leadership
Leadership development is a major component of the fellowship.
Participants will explore approaches that can strengthen their ability to lead organisations and contribute to strategic decision-making.
Security and Defence
The programme provides opportunities to examine current and emerging security and defence challenges while learning alongside professionals from different European backgrounds.
Cyber Resilience
With governments and organisations increasingly dependent on digital infrastructure, cyber resilience has become an important component of national and international security.
The fellowship incorporates this area into its wider security curriculum.
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence is another subject included in the programme.
Its inclusion allows fellows to consider AI alongside broader questions surrounding security, governance, defence and strategic decision-making.
Governance
Participants will also examine governance in the context of security and defence.
Understanding how institutions, policies and decision-making structures interact is particularly important for professionals working in government and public-sector security environments.
Strategic Decision-Making
The programme seeks to strengthen participants’ ability to make and contribute to strategic decisions.
This is especially relevant to applicants whose professional positions allow them to influence organisational or national security strategies.
International Cooperation
International cooperation is another central element.
Security challenges frequently extend beyond national borders, making cooperation between institutions, governments and professionals increasingly important.
What Does the Fellowship Include?
The programme is not limited to classroom-based teaching.
According to the programme information, participants benefit from a combination of:
- Teaching
- Practical exercises
- Research activities
- Site visits
- Professional networking opportunities
This combination gives fellows opportunities to connect theoretical discussions with practical professional development.
The fellowship also provides a platform for building lasting networks between professionals across Europe and the United Kingdom.
Leadership Potential Is Important
Professional experience alone is not enough.
Applicants should be able to demonstrate leadership potential and explain how participating in the fellowship could strengthen their contribution to their organisation or country.
Candidates should therefore think carefully about examples demonstrating leadership in their professional careers.
These could include situations where they have helped improve institutional capabilities, contributed to policy or strategy, managed teams or programmes, introduced new approaches, or supported improvements in operational effectiveness.
Applying What You Learn After the Fellowship
Another important eligibility requirement is a commitment to using the knowledge and professional networks developed through the programme.
Applicants should demonstrate that they intend to apply what they learn within their organisation and/or country after completing the fellowship.
A strong application should therefore go beyond explaining why the fellowship would benefit the individual applicant.
Candidates should also explain how participation could create wider professional or institutional benefits.
Why Professional Networking Matters
One of the programme’s significant features is the opportunity to establish relationships with other professionals working across defence and security.
Participants come from professional environments that may include government, defence, intelligence, law enforcement, civil protection and international organisations.
These relationships can encourage greater professional exchange and international cooperation beyond the six-week programme itself.
The wider Chevening model also focuses strongly on leadership development, international networks and lasting professional links with the United Kingdom.
Who Should Consider Applying?
The fellowship may be particularly relevant if you:
- Are a mid-career professional
- Have at least five years of relevant professional experience
- Work in defence, security, government or another eligible field
- Hold a postgraduate qualification or equivalent professional training or experience
- Have responsibilities connected to national or international security
- Can influence policy, strategy, organisational capability or operational effectiveness
- Have demonstrated leadership potential
- Want to strengthen international professional networks
- Intend to apply the knowledge gained through the fellowship in your organisation or country
Applicants should carefully review the complete eligibility conditions before submitting an application.
How to Strengthen Your Application
Candidates should focus on demonstrating impact, leadership and professional relevance.
Instead of simply listing responsibilities, applicants should provide clear examples showing how their work has contributed to meaningful outcomes.
For example, an applicant could demonstrate how they helped develop a strategy, strengthened organisational resilience, managed a security-related initiative, or contributed to an important institutional decision.
Candidates should also clearly explain how the fellowship relates to their future professional goals.
The strongest case is likely to show a connection between:
Past professional experience → Current responsibilities → Fellowship learning → Future organisational or national impact.
Application Deadline
Applications for the Chevening Europe Defence and Security Fellowship 2027 close on:
27 September 2026 at 11:00 UTC
Prospective applicants should prepare and submit their applications well before the deadline rather than waiting until the final day.
Information Session
For prospective applicants in Gibraltar, the Office of the Governor is hosting a drop-in information session at the Convent on 14 September 2026 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
The session provides an opportunity to learn more about the programme and application process.
Final Thoughts
The Chevening Europe Defence and Security Fellowship 2027 offers an opportunity for experienced professionals to spend six weeks developing their leadership and strategic capabilities within a specialised UK-based programme.
Hosted by Cranfield University at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, the fully funded fellowship covers major areas including leadership, defence, security, cyber resilience, governance, artificial intelligence, strategic decision-making and international cooperation.
Professionals with at least five years of relevant experience who work in government, defence, security, intelligence, law enforcement, civil protection, resilience or qualifying international organisations should review the eligibility requirements carefully.
With applications closing on 27 September 2026 at 11:00 UTC, interested professionals should begin preparing their applications as early as possible.
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