Here’s everything you need to know about the four alumni awards and who is eligible.
Dubai: Thousands of UAE residents and Emiratis have studied at universities across the UK, and some could now have the opportunity to return to Britain through the Study UK Alumni Awards 2027.
The British Embassy in Abu Dhabi has announced that applications are open for the awards, organised by the British Council. The programme recognises UK alumni living in the UAE who are making a positive impact through leadership, innovation and community engagement.
In a video shared by the mission, British Ambassador to the UAE Geraldine McCafferty highlighted the programme’s role in connecting UK graduates across the country.
“Last year’s programme brought together a network of 855 UK alumni across all seven emirates, creating opportunities for networking, collaboration and professional growth,” she said.
“If you’re a UK alumnus living in the UAE, I strongly encourage you to apply, and who knows, you could be on your way back to the UK,” the ambassador added.
Four award categories
Now in their 13th year, the Study UK Alumni Awards recognise leaders, innovators and changemakers whose UK higher education experience has played a role in shaping their careers and achievements.
Applicants can enter one of four categories.
The Business and Innovation Award recognises alumni who have developed or contributed to innovative ideas, solutions or business opportunities with the potential for growth. This includes achievements across entrepreneurship, business, technology and finance.
The Culture, Creativity and Sport Award celebrates alumni who have built careers in the arts, culture or sport and demonstrated creativity, influence and artistic innovation. Eligible fields include design, humanities, traditional media, music, video, television and sport, as well as digital content creation such as blogging, vlogging, YouTube and social media.
The Science and Sustainability Award recognises alumni who have made a significant contribution to science or sustainability and can demonstrate the impact and scale of their work. Areas include climate action, clean energy, medicine, sustainable cities and communities, engineering, industry and construction.
The Social Action Award honours alumni who have made an exceptional contribution to positive social change and improving the lives of others. This can include work in education, peace and justice, reducing inequality, tackling poverty and hunger, and wider humanitarian initiatives.
What winners get
Successful applicants will be recognised at a country-level awards ceremony, providing an opportunity to celebrate their achievements and connect with fellow UK alumni, university partners and other key stakeholders.
Country-level winners will automatically progress to the global Study UK Alumni Awards, where they will compete with outstanding UK alumni from around the world.
Global winners will be invited to the UK to take part in a programme featuring networking opportunities, professional development activities and celebration events.
UK alumni currently living in the UAE can submit their applications through the British Council UAE website.
Application deadline: October 23, 2026
