Chevening alumni have described the decision to exclude Afghans from the UK scholarship as “devastating” and are calling on the government to reopen applications.
Afghan students are struggling to reach campuses abroad where they have been invited to study due to security concerns and limited options for travel out of Afghanistan, according to a US-based network defending scholars' rights.
Afghan Chevening scholars fear family members still in the country are at risk from Taliban reprisals, while Afghan alumni say their messages are ignored.