The British Council announced the thirteenth year of its Study UK Alumni Awards, recognising the outstanding achievements of international UK alumni worldwide. These awards honour leaders who have leveraged their UK education to make significant contributions to their communities, industries, and countries.

This year’s categories include Business and Innovation, Culture, Creativity and Sport, Science and Sustainability, and Social Action. Applications open on 1 September 2026 and close on 15 October 2026. Eligible applicants will be considered for both national Alumni Awards in participating countries and the global Alumni Awards.

Uzbekistan is emerging as a significant market for UK higher education, supported by the government’s strong commitment to the internationalisation of higher education and growing demand for international study opportunities. In 2024–25, 1,295 students from Uzbekistan studied in the UK. The UK alumni community in Uzbekistan is also growing. It includes around 300 Chevening alumni, 11 Hornby Scholarship alumni and six British Council Women in STEM Scholarship alumni, alongside thousands of graduates of UK transnational education (TNE) programmes. UK TNE provision in Uzbekistan has expanded substantially in recent years, with more than a dozen UK providers now established in the country. This growth has established Uzbekistan as an increasingly important destination for UK transnational education in Asia. In 2024–25, 10,740 students in Uzbekistan were studying on UK TNE programmes, making the country the 10th largest host of UK TNE provision in Asia. The Awards have become a flagship event for the UK alumni community in the country.

From an International Degree to a Professional Journey

The decision to pursue a UK education often begins with practical questions: what opportunities a degree will provide, its likely relevance in the future labour market, and whether the degree can help enable an international career or launch an independent project. However, the impact of education can rarely be measured immediately after graduation.

A university education provides more than academic knowledge. It can also help graduates develop their ability to analyse information, work with people from different cultural backgrounds, find solutions independently, build networks and continue learning throughout their careers.

It is this stage — life after graduation — that the Study UK Alumni Awards seek to highlight. The programme is now in its thirteenth year and is open to graduates of UK universities and holders of recognised UK qualifications who live and work outside the UK.

Any international alumni who studied at degree level or above between 2011 and 2026 are eligible to apply for the Study UK Alumni Awards 2027. This includes not only those who studied in the UK but also graduates who obtained a full UK qualification through a recognised institution in their home country as part of a transnational education or distance-learning programme.

The application period runs from 1 September to 15 October 2026. The 2027 awards feature four categories:

• Business and Innovation
• Culture, Creativity and Sport
• Science and Sustainability
• Social Action

The awards cover a broad range of professional pathways. A key consideration is the contribution made by alumni to their fields, communities or wider society, and how their UK education helped them make that contribution. In Uzbekistan, previous applicants and winners have represented sectors ranging from technology and international trade to culture and education.

In 2025, one of the national winners was Sirojiddin Olimov, a University of Edinburgh alumnus and CEO of the Mutolaa platform. His work brings together technology and culture in an effort to widen access to literature. Reflecting on his experience of participating in the Study UK Alumni Awards, he noted that the value of the programme continued beyond receiving the award:

“When I applied for the Study UK Alumni Awards, I genuinely did not know whether I would win. Receiving the award was an unforgettable moment, but the support did not end with the ceremony. The programme continues to champion lifelong learning by investing in the education and personal development of its alumni. Thanks to this support, I had the opportunity to complete another short course, which was fully funded. I am deeply grateful for the recognition, the learning opportunity, and the community that comes with this award.”

As new technologies and professions emerge and employers’ requirements change, professionals will increasingly need to refine and update their skills. Access to further learning, professional communities and international connections has therefore become part of the long-term value of education.

30 Years of the British Council in Uzbekistan

A significant milestone in 2026 is the 30th anniversary of the British Council’s work in Uzbekistan.

Michael Houlgate, British Council Country Director for Uzbekistan, said: “As we celebrate 30 years of the British Council in Uzbekistan, the Study UK Alumni Awards provide a powerful opportunity to recognise graduates who are shaping their professions, communities, and countries. These awards highlight the lasting value of a UK education and the strength of the people-to-people connections that have grown over three decades of partnership. At a time of rapid change, the contribution of internationally minded leaders and innovators is more important than ever.”

The agreement that launched the organisation’s activities in the country was signed in October 1996. Since then, the British Council has collaborated not only with individual students and teachers but also with universities, government institutions, cultural organisations and other partners. Today in Uzbekistan, the organisation’s work spans education development, English language teaching, engagement with Uzbekistan’s arts and creative industries, and efforts to deepen international connections.

The British Council’s engagement is not limited to those planning to study in the UK. The organisation also works with higher education institutions to support their internationalisation and teaching and research quality, whilst enabling them to grow their international partnerships. The British Council also works with teachers and students to strengthen English language teaching and learning across different age groups and levels of ability.

Taken together, these activities have contributed to the progressive development of a broader network of connections in which international education is not simply an individual student experience but also an enabler of broader professional and institutional development.

Three decades of the British Council’s activities in Uzbekistan demonstrate how academic and cultural links can evolve across generations of students. The stories of Study UK Alumni Awards participants show that the benefits of education often become visible years later, whether in business ventures, research, further academic study, creative work or social initiatives. A university degree is not a final destination but a foundation on which graduates build their professional lives.

As the British Council celebrates its 30th anniversary in Uzbekistan, applications are now open for the Study UK Alumni Awards 2027, recognising UK alumni who are using their education and experience to make a positive impact in their professions, communities and wider society. UK higher education programmes are expanding in Uzbekistan, and international alumni are playing a growing role in the country’s professional, business and social life.