British Council award brings opportunities for recipients

Dr Muralitharan Munisamy counts being the recipient of the Social Impact Award of the Study UK Alumni Awards 2024 as one of the pivotal moments in his life as it allowed him the opportunity to pursue his dream course in one of his dream universities.

“The Alumni Award is a distinct and personal honour, since for me it acts as a barometer validating how I have actually put the learning I obtained in the UK to good use in service to my people and my nation. Till this day, the experience and learning from my time there continues to define my values, thinking, and actions.

“The Alumni Award is like coming full circle in a way; the country where I went to study honouring the service that I have provided to the country I came from, all only due from the foundational empowerment obtained from my education there,” he shared.

Another recipient, Sr Vicky How, the national winner of the Business and Innovation Award in 2024, shared that her UK education opened doors, sparked ideas, and gave her the tools to grow. 

“Winning the Alumni Award celebrates that journey and inspires me to keep paying it forward,’ said the University of The West of England, Bristol alumna.

British Council Malaysia country director, Jazreel Goh said the Study UK Alumni Awards celebrates Malaysian graduates who have used their UK education to create meaningful impact in their communities and industries.

“The British Council is proud to have been part of the journey. I hope our alumni continue to lead with purpose and strengthen the ties between Malaysia and the UK through their work and stories,” she said.

Recognising alumni impact worldwide

Applications for the Study UK Alumni Awards 2026 will be open until 16 October 2025. The award, which opens once every two years, recognises the outstanding achievements of UK alumni worldwide 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. Eligible applicants will be considered for both national Alumni Awards in participating countries and the global Alumni Awards. For the global awards, the finalists and winners will be announced in 2026 and invited to the UK to reconnect with their universities, meet current GREAT scholars, and network with fellow winners. This special visit will help raise their international profiles, support their career growth, and build strong connections within the academic community.

In addition to the global awards, Malaysia will host a national level ceremony on 27 January 2026 in Kuala Lumpur. Finalists of the national awards will be announced during the ceremony to be attended by the British High Commissioner to Malaysia along with special guests and UK alumni.

For full details on the eligibility criteria and participating countries, please refer to https://study-uk.britishcouncil.org/alumni-awards