How a Chevening Scholarship helped Laura Elisa champion sustainable change in Brazil
Laura Elisa’s Chevening journey at UCL empowered her to embrace her voice and use it to drive sustainable, inclusive change in Brazil and beyond.
More than a degree: What a Chevening Scholarship made possible
For Laura Elisa, pursuing a master’s degree at UCL wasn’t just about academic growth, it was about finding the tools, community, and confidence to act on a deep sense of purpose.
Originally from Brazil, Laura is a Chevening Scholar currently studying for an MSc in Prosperity, People and Planet at UCL’s Institute for Global Prosperity. She was drawn to the course at a time when she felt overwhelmed by the state of the world, but not yet equipped to make strategic change.
I fell in love with the course from the very first click. I’ve always believed in bottom-up strategies, and this master’s has brilliantly equipped me with the research and implementation tools to imagine and shape the future we want, both locally and globally.
Before coming to UCL, Laura faced barriers that many international students can relate to. In Brazil, pursuing a master’s degree can be incredibly difficult. Private institutions are often prohibitively expensive, while public universities, though more accessible, offer little financial support, making it nearly impossible to focus on research without also working full-time.
Receiving a Chevening scholarship, a prestigious UK government programme that supports future leaders from across the globe, changed everything for Laura.
With Chevening’s support, I’ve been able to dedicate myself fully to research that will benefit my hometown’s socio-environmental landscape. Just as importantly, I’ve connected with people who share the same purpose: returning to their countries equipped to build a better world.
Laura first discovered the scholarship through a LinkedIn post by a fellow Brazilian celebrating her dissertation. That post led to a life-changing connection and an entire support network of Black Chevening alumni who offered mentorship, encouragement, and guidance throughout the application process.
To anyone considering applying for a scholarship - do it. Insecurity and comparison can hold us back, but if you surround yourself with people who believe in you and support you emotionally and practically, the process becomes possible.
Adapting to life as a full-time student in a new country wasn’t without its challenges.
The reading workload is heavy, and doing it in my second language while adjusting to a new culture was overwhelming at first, but the scholarship brought me a sense of community and connection with others going through the same.
One of Laura’s most powerful experiences at UCL came not from a textbook, but from a voice in the classroom, Dr Mara Torres Piñedo, the only Latin American lecturer Laura has ever had.
Hearing Mara teach with such confidence, and in her beautiful Mexican accent, changed everything for me. It helped me let go of the shame I’d felt around my own accent. It reminded me that our knowledge from Latin America, academic or not, is incredibly rich. Her presence helped me reclaim pride in my identity and gave me the confidence to stand by my convictions.
Throughout her time at UCL, Laura took full advantage of career events and 1-to-1 guidance, helping her clarify her goals. Now, she’s focused on applying participatory research and development methodologies to create policy change rooted in respect and community insight.
Looking ahead, she hopes more students from underrepresented backgrounds feel empowered to pursue global opportunities like this one.
Scholarships like Chevening don’t just fund degrees. They foster diverse, inclusive academic environments. They bring together people with different lived experiences, enabling research that reflects the real world. That diversity is essential if we want to build a more prosperous, equitable future.
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