Celebrating the achievements of alumni in Bulgaria

When outstanding individuals receive a world-class education in the UK, the effects can last a lifetime. The Alumni Awards pay tribute to the impact that alumni of UK higher education institutions have had in their chosen field, and how this was sparked by their studies in the UK.

There are three award categories: Professional Achievement, Entrepreneurial and Social Impact

  • Professional Achievement Award recognising UK alumni who have distinguished themselves through exemplary leadership and achievements in their professional industry, and who can demonstrate the impact and scale of their achievements in their profession, and beyond.
  • Entrepreneurial Award recognising UK alumni who are active in initiating or contributing to innovative or creative new ideas, solutions or business opportunities that have the potential for strong growth.
  • Social Impact Award recognising UK alumni who have made an exceptional contribution and commitment to creating positive social change and improving the lives of others.

If you are an alumnus of a UK university and you want the world to know how your work is making a difference, you can apply for next year’s awards. 

Applications deadline is 30 October 2020.  We look forward to hearing your story.

Why enter?

All selected award finalists benefit from increased PR and press opportunities that raise their profile and share their success with international audiences. Winners of the global awards will be celebrated on a global scale and invited to the UK for a networking and professional development opportunity. 

Who is eligible?

Country of entry

The Alumni Awards are open to alumni living outside of the UK only.

UK study

Alumni must have studied at degree level or above:

  • within the last 15 years (i.e. 2005 or later)
  • enrolled at an officially recognised (178 institutions) or listed (679 institutions) UK higher education institution
  • at degree level* or above
  • either in the UK, for a minimum of one term or semester, OR awarded a full UK degree level qualification (or higher), by a recognised or listed UK HEI, in their home country.

*Degree level is defined as band 9 and above on the UK NARIC band framework. 

Professional short courses: alumni are only eligible if the course they studied was at degree level (or above), offered by a recognised UK institution in the UK (and they fulfil the rest of the criteria). Post-doc researchers are ineligible.

All applicants, except award winners, from the Alumni Awards in previous years may re-apply if they meet this year’s eligibility criteria. Winners from previous national level awards will be considered for global awards only. 

Applicants must not be currently employed by the British Council or Gradcore or be an immediate family member of a British Council or Gradcore employee. (In this case immediate family member is defined as one's spouse, parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren, siblings and immediate in-laws (mother-in-law, father-in-law, brother-in-law and sister-in-law). Adopted children and stepchildren are also counted as immediate family members.

Judging criteria

Judging criteria

All eligible applications will be assessed on the extent to which they meet the following five criteria:

  1. IMPACT: evidence of tangible impact, and scale of impact, of your work (inspired by your UK education) in your profession/community/society.
  2. UK INFLUENCE: evidence of how your UK education has played a key influence in your success and impact.
  3. MEDIA TRACTION: Extent to which your success story is likely to resonate with local/regional/national media in your country of entry, or beyond (global media).
  4. POTENTIAL TO INFLUENCE AND INSPIRE: Extent to which (including capacity and willingness) you and your story are likely to influence and inspire the next generation of prospective internationally mobile students in your country of entry to choose the UK as their study destination.
  5. QUALITY OF APPLICATION

Shortlisting process

Shortlisting process

The top 30 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 21 shortlisted global finalists. The global finalists will then be shortlisted by our global judging panel  to select the three global winners, one for each of the award categories (Professional Achievement, Entrepreneurial and Social Impact). 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.

2 September 2020
Applications open for all countries

2 September 2020
Aplications open for all countries

30 October 2020
Applications close at 16.00 (BST) for all countries

October & November 2020
Shortlisting of applications

December 2020/January 2021
Announcement of finalists in national level awards (in selected countries – see full list in Terms and Conditions)

January to March 2021
National Alumni Award ceremonies (in selected countries – see Terms and Conditions)

September 2021
Global Alumni Awards winners announced

Partners in Bulgaria

External links

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