UK Announces Canadian Scholarship Winners

• The British High Commission in Ottawa announces the 2024 winners of the prestigious Chevening Scholarship, from Canada. This year's recipients include Canada's first-ever Indigenous Chevening Scholar.

• Chevening Scholarships are the UK Government's global scholarship programme. The Scholarships support study in the UK for individuals who demonstrable potential to become future leaders, decision-makers, and opinion formers.  

• The Chevening program is now accepting applications for the 2025-26 academic year. The application window will close on 5 November, 2024.

The British High Commission in Ottawa is proud to announce today the three Canadian recipients of the prestigious Chevening Scholarship for 2024.

Among the distinguished group of scholars who have earned a fully-funded ride to a one-year master's programme in the UK, this year's cohort includes Canada's first-ever Indigenous Chevening Scholar, marking a significant milestone in the programme's history.

The UK Government's esteemed global scholarship programme aims to support individuals with the potential to become future leaders, decision-makers, and opinion formers. These scholarships provide full financial assistance for scholars to pursue eligible master's degrees at any UK university, while also granting access to exclusive academic, professional, and cultural experiences. This year, one of Canada's three Chevening scholarships is funded by Calgary-based energy company ATCO.

Canada's 2024 Chevening cohort includes Victoria McMahon, a member of Deninu Kųę́ First Nation in the Northwest Territories, who was born and raised in Barrie, Ont. Victoria recently graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor of Kinesiology and will study Creative Health at University College London. Joining her is Mark Iyengar, a lawyer from Vancouver, B.C. who will attend the Master of Laws program at the University of Cambridge, and Conor Finan, a Halifax-based Royal Canadian Navy Reserve officer who will also attend the University of Cambridge to pursue a Master's of Philosophy in Criminology. (The scholars' full biographies can be read below.)

David Prodger, Deputy British High Commissioner to Canada

This year I am proud to celebrate three exceptional Canadian winners of the globally prestigious Chevening Scholarships. Mark, Conor, and Victoria are excellent examples of the diversity, passion, positivity, and leadership Canadians bring to the global stage. Victoria's success also marks a milestone for our Chevening programme in Canada, where she will be our first Indigenous scholar and an inspiration for others. We are delighted to honour these three exceptional students and welcome them to our Chevening family.

Nancy Southern, Chair & Chief Executive Officer of ATCO Ltd.

Solving society's most pressing issues requires the determination of visionary and energetic people as well as support from partners and collaborators. That is why ATCO is a proud supporter of the Chevening Scholarships and so pleased to announce the first-ever Indigenous scholar, Victoria McMahon. On behalf of everyone at ATCO, we applaud Victoria's educational journey and passion to become an Indigenous Family Physician, helping make a tangible difference on the health and wellness of many families and communities for years to come.

The British High Commission will bid this year's scholars good-bye and good luck with a farewell reception at Crichton Lodge, the High Commissioner's official residence in Ottawa, on 28 August. The Chevening Scholarships are awarded to individuals from diverse backgrounds who demonstrate the commitment and skills necessary to drive positive change in their respective fields. Since its establishment in 1983, the Chevening program has empowered over 57,000 professionals to develop their expertise in the UK. Notably, the program's alumni include 20 current or former heads of state or government officials.

In Canada, distinguished alumni such as Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly and Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee, Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy, have benefited from this transformative opportunity. Aspiring scholars interested in the 2025 Chevening Scholarships can now submit their applications through chevening.org/apply. The application window will remain open until 5 November, 2024. Detailed information regarding eligibility criteria and scholarship specifications can be found at chevening.org/scholarships.

Scholar Biographies

Victoria McMahon 

Victoria McMahon is a member of Deninu Kųę́ First Nation in the Northwest Territories. She was born and raised in Barrie, Ontario. Victoria recently graduated with a Bachelor of Kinesiology at the University of British Columbia. In 2023, she completed a UBC Go Global Exchange at Loughborough University which inspired her to apply for the Chevening Scholarship to continue her studies in the UK. Victoria will study Creative Health MASc at University College London (UCL).

After completing her master's she plans to start medical school in September 2025. Her goal is to become an Indigenous Family Physician. Victoria is passionate about creating culturally safe and trauma-informed spaces in medicine for Indigenous patients. She advocates for Indigenous rights and strives to support Indigenous communities through medicine. Victoria receives her scholarship thanks to the Chevening-ATCO scholarship.

Mark Iyengar 

Mark Iyengar is a lawyer in Vancouver, BC. He has argued cases on criminal law and constitutional rights at the Supreme Court of Canada, the Federal Court of Appeal, and all levels of court in BC.    Mark graduated summa cum laude from York University and from the University of British Columbia's Peter A. Allard School of Law as a Wesbrook Scholar. He clerked at the Supreme Court of Canada and the Court of Appeal for British Columbia, then practiced at BC's leading criminal defence firm. Mark has contributed to the community through leadership positions with organizations including the Federation of Asian-Canadian Lawyers - British Columbia and the Vancouver Tenants Union. For the past three terms, he has taught at UBC as an adjunct professor.    This fall, Mark will attend the Master of Laws program at the University of Cambridge, where he will further develop his knowledge of public law. Upon his return to Canada, he will continue practicing law. 

Conor Finan 

Conor is a currently serving officer in the Royal Canadian Navy Reserve. Swearing into service as a Maritime Surface Officer at 18 years of age, Conor began his military career alongside his post-secondary education.

He studied at the University of Toronto, where earned an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Sociolegal Studies, and Celtic Studies. While at U of T, Conor had the opportunity to nurture his broad interests in the law, the liberal arts, and political violence. Following his graduation, Conor spent five years working in the Canadian Pacific Fleet. He has since qualified as a Maritime Tactical Operator with the Naval Tactical Operations Group (NTOG), realizing a major career milestone. Conor's most recent position was as the NTOG East Coast Detachment Commander, based in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

This Fall, Conor will be reading for his MPhil in Criminology at the University of Cambridge. Through his studies, Conor hopes to develop a better understanding of the mechanisms which drive effective counterterrorism policy. Conor intends to apply these lessons in Canada, through continued military service. 

About Chevening Scholarships

Chevening Scholarships, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), partner organizations, and partner universities, constitute the UK Government's global scholarship program. These scholarships primarily support individuals pursuing one-year taught master's degrees at UK universities, with a focus on nurturing future leaders, decision-makers, and opinion formers.

Since its inception in 1983, Chevening has evolved into a prestigious international awards scheme, attracting scholars from over 160 countries and territories worldwide. Over the past five years alone, nearly 10,000 scholarships have been awarded, contributing to a network of over 55,000 influential Chevening Alumni across the globe.The name "Chevening" derives from Chevening House in Sevenoaks, Kent, which currently serves as the joint official residence of the UK's Foreign Secretary.

The Chevening-ATCO Scholarship is open to scholars wishing to study a Master's course which can be clearly linked to: the advancement of the energy transition and sustainability; the development of prosperous communities, Indigenous relations and equitable partnerships; or, affordable housing and community spaces.

The Chevening-Briggs Scholarship is open for applications and will give strong preference to high-quality candidates from Métis, Inuit and First Nation communities.

Visit chevening.org/scholarships for more detailed information on the wider eligibility criteria and scholarship specifications.

About the British High Commission: 

The British High Commission in Ottawa, is the UK government's main diplomatic mission in Canada. Along with Consulates-General in Montreal, Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver, we work closely with the Canadian government and partners across the country to develop and maintain a wide range of substantive partnerships of real value to both countries. These partnerships cover business, defence, climate change, science and innovation, education, and culture.

Contact

For further inquiries, please contact: Hebe Hewitt, Head of Communications at the British High Commission [email protected]