The British Council has launched the Study UK Alumni Awards for its thirteenth edition, opening applications for international graduates across Saudi Arabia. The programme accepts submissions from 1 September 2026 until 15 October 2026, targeting individuals who completed higher education studies in the United Kingdom.
Award Categories and Application Timeline
Applicants can submit entries across four distinct sectors, including Business and Innovation, Culture, Creativity and Sport, Science and Sustainability, and Social Action. In addition, the Business and Innovation category covers fintech, entrepreneurship, and general commerce. Meanwhile, the Science and Sustainability track accepts work related to clean energy, medicine, and engineering infrastructure.
Furthermore, the Culture, Creativity and Sport category includes traditional broadcasting, digital content production on social media platforms, and visual arts. Consequently, the Social Action award focuses on contributions toward humanitarian projects, education access, and inequality reduction across local communities.
Structure of the Study UK Alumni Awards
Qualified candidates will participate simultaneously in national and global evaluation tracks under the Study UK Alumni Awards framework. Finalists for the global awards will be announced during 2027 through an international digital campaign. Moreover, global recipients will receive an official invitation to visit academic institutions in the United Kingdom, engage with current GREAT scholars, and connect with other international award recipients.
“This award is also a celebration of the transformative power of UK education and the growing empowerment of Saudi leadership and management.”
Prof. Abdulrahman Al Lily, Vice President for Graduate Studies and Scientific Research at King Faisal University
Riyadh Ceremony and Global Recognition
Saudi Arabia will host the national ceremony for the Study UK Alumni Awards, with shortlisted finalists scheduled for announcement between December 2026 and January 2027. His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will host the official gathering in Riyadh, bringing together diplomatic representatives and invited guests.
Academic Impact and Future Outlook
The initiative operates as part of the broader Study UK campaign, which is delivered by the British Council alongside the GREAT Britain and Northern Ireland Campaign. Specifically, the British Council operates across more than 100 countries, reaching 600 million individuals during the 2024-2025 period through international educational and cultural initiatives.
