Prior qualification requirements usually appear as explicit eligibility conditions, with the rule identifying either the degree an applicant must hold or the stage of study that counts as eligible. The wording may also connect the qualification to further requirements, as Chevening does by requiring an undergraduate degree that qualifies the holder for a UK master’s programme.
How the requirements are worded
These examples show two common ways a prior-qualification rule can appear:
| Programme source | How the requirement appears | Eligibility wording |
|---|---|---|
| Chevening | A condition within the eligibility criteria | “Hold an undergraduate degree that qualifies you for a UK master’s programme.” |
| Erasmus+ | A requirement based on the applicant’s degree or current study stage | The applicant must “have a bachelor’s degree (first degree), or be in your last year of bachelor studies.” |
The Chevening wording does more than request any undergraduate degree: it makes eligibility dependent on whether that degree qualifies the holder for a UK master’s programme. The Erasmus+ wording presents two stated routes—a completed bachelor’s degree or being in the last year of bachelor studies.
What applicants must still confirm
Applicants should check the complete official eligibility section for the specific opportunity rather than relying on a summary. In particular, they need to confirm:
- whether the stated qualification is treated as a first degree or bachelor’s degree;
- whether a degree held by the applicant satisfies the programme’s exact academic wording;
- whether the final-year alternative applies to the relevant Erasmus+ opportunity; and
- whether the eligibility section contains any additional conditions.
Neither example establishes a universal rule for every scholarship. Each applicant should therefore use the wording published for the specific programme and verify every condition directly.