Frequently Asked Questions

The British Council has developed this prize to help more people access international education experience and networks. This is for people planning to attend an undergraduate or postgraduate programme.

This prize is currently available in: Bangladesh, Colombia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

The award is up to GBP 5,000 awarded to winners each in the mentioned countries.

Please note:Applications will only be considered if the chosen college and/or university require IELTS as part of their admission process.

Eligibility

Who is eligible for the IELTS Prize?

Essential eligibility criteria are that applicants must:

  • be 18 years or above.
  • be a resident in one of the above countries.
  • begin undergraduate or postgraduate study from January 2023 to March 2024.
  • attend a higher educational institution that accepts IELTS as part of its admission requirements.
  • register for an IELTS test with the British Council between 1 April 2022 and 31 August 2023 and be able to produce a valid IELTS score in the application.
  • have a minimum overall band score of 5.5 or higher.
  • be able to provide an acceptance letter from the attending institution by latest October 2023.
I am going to start my undergraduate course in September 2023. Can I apply for the IELTS Prize?

Yes. The IELTS Prize is for students who will begin their undergraduate or postgraduate studies from January 2023 to March 2024.

I am currently in my second year of an undergraduate degree course. Can I apply for the IELTS Prize?

No. The IELTS Prize is for students who will begin their undergraduate or postgraduate studies from January 2023 to March 2024.

Can I apply for the IELTS Prize if I have registered for an IELTS test and have not yet taken it or if I am currently waiting for my IELTS test results?

To qualify for the IELTS Prize, you need to register for an IELTS test with the British Council between 1 April 2022 and 31 August 2023 and be able to produce a valid IELTS score by the time you submit your application.

Can I apply if I am waiting for an acceptance letter from my university?

Yes. Only winners need to provide an acceptance letter from the university they will attend by latest 31 October 2023*. This university must use IELTS scores to satisfy their English language requirements for admission.

*Except for Colombia – deadline is 30 November 2023.

I took an IELTS test before April 2022. Can I still use that score to apply for the IELTS Prize?

To be eligible for the IELTS Prize, you must register for an IELTS test with the British Council between 1 April 2022 and 31 August 2023.

Am I eligible for the IELTS Prize if I have obtained partial funding through another scholarship or loan scheme?

Yes, you are still eligible. However, it would be better to check with the other scholarship authority on whether they will allow you to receive the IELTS Prize at the same time.

I already have a full tuition scholarship. Am I still eligible to apply?

No, you are not eligible. If you are awarded a full tuition scholarship for 2023 after you have applied for the British Council IELTS Prize, please inform us and we will no longer consider your application.

I have a special requirement. Can I still apply?

Yes, of course. We will shortlist all applicants with special requirements provided they meet the essential eligibility criteria. This includes specific learning difficulties, hearing difficulties and visual difficulties or medical conditions.

Application process and timeline

What is the application process?

The IELTS Prize 2023 application has two phases:

Application phase one – You’ll start your IELTS Prize application by filling out a detailed form, and submitting it together with uploaded copies of your:

1. British Council IELTS Test Report Form
2. Recent photograph
3. Passport or identification document proving your residency in one of the eligible countries
4. Special requirements certificate (if applicable).
Forwarding these documents by email to your country’s office is possible too.

Application phase two – Twenty-five people from each participating country will be selected by our panel of judges and invited to submit a one-minute video presentation.

Your video should explore the topic:

“How will taking IELTS and studying abroad help you make an impact on your community in the future.”

Once you’ve made your video you should upload it to one of our official social media platforms mentioned before.

What is the final date for applications to be received by the British Council?

Phase one – Completed online applications should be submitted by 15 September 2023 – 11:59 pm BST.*
*Except for Colombia – Completed online applications should be submitted by 31 October 2023 – 11:59 pm GMT.

Phase two – 15 October 2023*. We will send further details about this phase and how to create a quality social media video to applicants who are able to pass phase one.

*Except for Colombia – phase two deadline is 15 November 2023.

Shortlisting and final selection

What is the selection process?

Selection criteria – Phase One

Our team of IELTS Prize judges will score and evaluate applicants on the following criteria:

  • Inspiration: How well do your answers inspire and engage the reader?
  • Impact: Do your answers show you want to make a positive impact on your community?
  • Aspirations: Have you sufficiently expressed what you hope to achieve in the future and why?
    Logic and organisation: Do your answers convey your ideas in a clear and easy-to-understand way?

Answers are weighted equally. Scores are based on a 10-point classification system and averaged to give a percentage. The top 25 applications in each country will be shortlisted and proceed to phase two.

Selection criteria – Phase Two

Your video should explore the topic:

“How will taking IELTS and studying abroad help you make an impact on your community in the future.”

and should meet the following technical requirements:

  • 1 minute maximum
  • Audible/good sound quality
  • 1080p image resolution (HD)
  • Filmed in any format (landscape, square and portrait)
  • Use English language
  • Account and post should be public.

When creating your video be sure to consider the following key elements:

  • Engaging introduction: does your video catch the viewer’s attention in the first 3 seconds?
  • Presentation style: Does your video show your personality and do you appear confident on camera
  • Relevant topic: Have you explained how taking IELTS and/or studying abroad will help your community in the future?
  • Creativity: How creative or interesting is your video?

Award details

How will the IELTS Prize be awarded and when?

The IELTS Prize will be paid directly to you until the end of December 2023* after the British Council has officially confirmed your status with the institution you are planning to attend and received proof of your valid study visa or online study.

*Except for Colombia – payment will be paid until end of January 2024.

Enquiries

How do I contact the British Council with more questions regarding the IELTS Prize?

Please contact us on one of the following e-mail addresses for further enquiries:

Start your application

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