What happens after my application?

Application and shortlisting timeline

• 1 September 2025 - Applications open for all countries
• 16 October 2025 - Applications close at 17.00 (BST) for all countries
• October - November 2025 - Shortlisting of applications
• December 2025 to March 2026 - Announcement of finalists in national level awards (in selected countries – see full list in entry rules)
• December 2025 to May 2026 - Study UK Alumni Awards National ceremonies (in selected countries – see entry rules)
• July - August 2026 - Global Alumni Awards finalists announced
• August 2026 - Global Alumni Awards winners announced

Shortlisting process

The top 40 applications in each region will be shortlisted from all eligible applicants through several stages of judging, including internal and external judging panels involving British Council Regional Directors, Universities UK International, Chevening and Commonwealth, and UK universities, all of whom will review anonymised applications to select the 28 shortlisted global finalists.

The global finalists will then be shortlisted by our global judging panel to select the four global winners, one for each of the award categories (Business and Innovation Award, Culture, Creativity and Sport Award, Science and Sustainability Award, Social Action Award).

In addition, a small number of selected countries hosting national level events will conduct their own shortlisting panels, including senior staff from the British Council and the British Embassy/High Commission, to select their national level finalists and winners. All national awards are independent to the global awards.