Antigua and Barbuda’s lone 2025 Chevening Scholar Dr. David Francis is sharing his experience as his first semester in the UK recently concluded.

According to Dr. Francis he is enjoying his experience having adjusted quickly to life across the pond.

“Well, I can tell you, from the colder side, it’s been quite a lovely experience. Getting here, getting matriculated, I go to the University College London, and their entire process for the international students was very accessible. There were tours around campus. The platform that they use, Moodle, as well as having their own app, it allowed me to easily navigate getting to classes.

“There are a multitude of ways to figure out how to get around, so I wasn’t necessarily lost for very long. It took me about a week to acclimatize. As of classes, well, the program itself was a little top-heavy in the first term, so classes every day, going full steam ahead, just getting everybody up to pace, and I had a good time. I’ve been having a good time,” Dr. Francis said.

Francis served as a House Officer in the Subspecialties Department of Internal Medicine at the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre, where he specializes in Nephrology, Neurology, and Oncology.

He also chaired the Infectious Disease Committee of the hospital’s dialysis unit, where he has developed expertise in infection prevention and control protocols for high-risk patients.

He is pursuing a Master of Science degree in Applied Infectious Disease Epidemiology at University College London.

Dr. Francis despite being the lone recipient for the 2025 Chevening cohort joins a long list of Antiguan and Barbudans who have been selected.

The Chevening Scholarship program, funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, provides full funding for outstanding professionals and academics to complete one-year master’s degrees at leading British universities. Recipients are selected based on their leadership potential and commitment to creating positive change in their home countries.

Chevening Scholar Dr. David Francis is adjusting nicely to his studies (screenshot of state media)

Dr. Francis spoke highly of the program and its recipients.

An induction event was held previously with the 2025 group.

“It was a marvelous event. Coming together like that, speaking to the people who have put this whole thing together and really seeing just how much the Chevening program is helping people across the world. Regionally, it’s a big thing. Yes, worldwide, it’s a big thing.

“It’s given so many people opportunities. Interacting with those people, seeing or hearing their backgrounds, where they’re coming from. Yeah, there are the doctors, there are engineers, there are people who are in policy, trade, a lot of lawyers. It allows for a level of networking that’s really just top-notch,” Dr. Francis added.