Celebrating the achievements of UK alumni in the Americas

Have you studied in the UK and gone on to achieve exceptional success? Applications for the Study UK Alumni Awards open on 1 September 2026.

The Study UK Alumni Awards celebrate the achievements of international UK alumni who are making a positive impact around the world. Delivered by the British Council and now in their thirteenth year, the awards recognise leaders, innovators and changemakers whose UK higher education has helped shape their success in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Why apply?

The Study UK Alumni Awards provide an opportunity to raise your professional profile and become part of a distinguished global network of UK alumni making a difference around the world. All eligible applicants are considered for the Study UK Global Alumni Awards, with global winners invited to the UK to take part in a programme of networking, professional development and celebration events.

  • Business and Innovation — recognising alumni initiating and contributing to innovative or creative ideas, solutions or business opportunities with potential for growth.
  • Culture, Creativity and Sport — recognising alumni who have built careers in arts, culture and sport, demonstrating artistic ingenuity, influence and creativity.
  • Science and Sustainability — recognising alumni distinguished by their achievements in science and sustainability.
  • Social Action — recognising alumni who have made an exceptional contribution to positive social change.

The Alumni Awards 2027 are open to international UK alumni currently resident in any country outside of the UK. Applicants must have studied:

  • within the last 15 years (2011–2026)
  • while enrolled at an officially recognised body, or having received a recognised award from a UK higher education institution
  • at degree level or above (band 9 and above on the UK ENIC band framework)
  • either at a UK university in the UK for a minimum of one term or semester, OR been awarded a full UK degree-level qualification (or higher) by a recognised HEI in their home country (Transnational Education / long-distance learning)

Alumni who studied professional short courses are only eligible if the course was at degree level (or above) and offered by a recognised UK institution in the UK. Applicants from previous years, except global award winners, may re-apply if they meet this year's criteria. Post-doc researchers are not eligible.

What happens next

  • Brazil and the USA host a national-level award, with their own process, timeline and awards ceremony. Applicants from these countries should visit their country-specific page for full details.

Visit the Brazil Alumni Awards Page

Visit the USA Alumni Awards Page

  • All other countries in the Americas (without a national-level award): eligible applicants are entered directly into the Global Alumni Awards, where a regional judging panel selects finalists and a global panel selects the four global winners.

Timeline

Date Activity
1 September 2026 Applications open 
15 October 2026, 17:00 BST Applications close 
October - December 206 Shortlisting of applications
December 2026 - March 2027 National - level winners announced (Brazil and USA)
July - August 2027  Global finalists announced and celebrated
August 2027  Global Alumni Awards winners announced 

How to apply webinars

Join our webinars on 22 September and 7 October to learn about the application process and hear useful tips.

Register here
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