Attention international graduates! Your achievements deserve recognition
Have you used your Newcastle University education to make a difference in your profession, community or country? The British Council Study UK Alumni Awards are now open for nominations.
1 September 2026
The 2027 British Council Study UK Alumni Awards celebrate international graduates who are creating positive change around the world. If you've achieved something you're proud of, now is the time to put yourself forward.
Open to those who have graduated from a UK institution in the past 15 years (2011-2026), nominations for this year’s Study UK Alumni Awards are now open and will close on Thursday 15 October 2026.
Read on to find out more about the application process and meet Newcastle graduates celebrated in the Study UK Alumni Awards in recent years.
Science and Sustainability Award
The Science and Sustainability Award recognises alumni who have distinguished themselves through their career and achievements in the world of science and sustainability, and who can demonstrate the impact and scale of their achievements in their profession, and beyond. This could include climate action and clean energy, medicine, sustainable cities and communities, engineering and construction.
Culture, Creativity and Sport Award
The Culture, Creativity and Sport Award celebrates alumni who have carved a career for themselves in arts, culture and sport. We are looking for individuals who can demonstrate their artistic ingenuity, influence and creativity. Areas of work could include, but are not limited to: Arts and design, traditional media, humanities, video and TV, sports and online content, blogging and music.
Please note: You can only apply for one of the four award categories.
Eligibility and judging criteria
The Study UK Alumni Awards are open to alumni from UK higher education institutions who studied between 2011 and 2026 and are now living outside of the UK.
Applications will be judged on the tangible impact made in your profession, community or society; evidence of how your UK education influenced your success; and the potential to influence and inspire the next generation of international students in UK universities.
The benefits of applying for the awards
Finalists and winners of the Study UK Alumni Awards are celebrated nationally and globally for the significant impact they've made in their professions, societies and countries where they live.
Those shortlisted will be invited to celebrate at in-person events, where you can network with other inspirational alumni based in your country. Your story will be shared by the British Council on the Study UK website and social media channels, and four global winners will be invited to visit the UK in 2027 to reconnect with their former UK universities and further build their professional networks.
Dr Marco Zaki (PhD Oncology and Cancer Biology, 2019)
Having previously been shortlisted in 2022, Dr Zaki took home the Science and Sustainability award in the Egypt region, before being named a global finalist in the same category.
Marco is a Lecturer in Biochemistry and Cell Biology at Minia University in Egypt. He was inspired to begin his scientific career by the high incidence of chronic diseases in Egypt. His PhD at Newcastle was funded by the prestigious Newton Foundation where his research focused on chronic liver diseases.
Professor Kevin Tai (BA Hons English Language and Literature, 2017)
At the Hong Kong awards ceremony in April 2026, Class of 2017 graduate Professor Tai won the Social Action award in recognition of his research on creating translanguaging spaces to advance social justice and knowledge creation.
Kevin is an Assistant Professor of Language and Literacy Education and Co-Director of the Centre for Advancement in Inclusive and Special Education at the Faculty of Education, The University of Hong Kong (HKU), as well as an Editor for multiple academic journals. Currently, Kevin is exploring how AI, integrated with translanguaging, can promote students' critical language awareness.
Professor Ahmad AlAdeem (MSc Applied Chemistry, 2005)
Dr Ahmad AlAdeem is a Saudi scientist and entrepreneur specialising in catalysis, nanomaterials, and clean energy technologies. He was a finalist in the Business and Innovation category at the national Saudi Arabia awards this year, having later studied at other UK institutions following his time at Newcastle.
Dr AlAdeem is a research advisor at King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) and founder of ZeroCarbon. His work focuses on translating advanced research into industrial solutions, with over 50 publications and 17 patents supporting innovation and sustainability in Saudi Arabia.
