Program: English and School Education Scholarships Scheme
Organization: British Council
Study Format: Online and part-time
Qualification: TESOL master’s degree
Target Countries: Ghana, Kenya, Türkiye, Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka
Application Deadline: 30 April 2026
The British Council has launched a fully funded scholarship scheme with the University of Portsmouth and the University of Stirling for experienced teachers and teacher educators. The programme supports online TESOL master’s study from home countries and includes a funded two-week academic visit to the UK.
Program Overview
A total of 40 scholarships will be awarded under this scheme. The initiative is aimed at strengthening English language teaching in government school systems and helping educators build expertise in teacher development, education leadership, and classroom practice while benefiting from UK academic input and international professional connections. Scholars begin their studies in September 2026.
Applicants from Ghana, Kenya, and Türkiye are linked to the University of Portsmouth’s MA TESOL (Distance Learning), while applicants from Bangladesh, India, and Sri Lanka are linked to the University of Stirling’s MSc TESOL (Online). The page states that each university programme offers 20 scholarships, generally distributed across the eligible countries based on the quality of applications. After graduation, scholars become part of the British Council’s global alumni network.
Benefits / What Is Included
✓ Full tuition for the online master’s programme
✓ Return travel to the UK
✓ On-campus accommodation during the two-week academic visit
✓ Breakfast and living support for daily costs during the visit
✓ Reimbursement of the visa application fee
✓ Reimbursement of one English language test fee
✓ Access to university faculty, specialist resources, and mentoring
✓ A funded two-week UK study visit for immersive learning, professional exchange, and academic engagement
Eligibility
• Applicants must be experienced teachers or teacher educators working in, or directly with, the government education sector
• Applicants must be passport holders and permanent residents of an eligible country
• Applicants must be active English language teachers or teacher educators
• Applicants must satisfy the academic entry requirements of the selected master’s course
• Applicants must demonstrate commitment to improving national ELT systems
• Applicants must take part in British Council monitoring and alumni activities
Ineligible Applicants
• Teachers from the private sector who are not affiliated with the government
• Dual British citizens
• British Council employees or UK government employees, including close relatives
• People who studied in the UK during the past five years
• People already receiving UK funding for other study
• Applicants who are not living in the eligible country
Study Format and Duration
The courses are delivered entirely online so that scholars can stay in their home countries while studying. Both are part-time programmes. Stirling runs for up to 30 months, and Portsmouth runs for up to 26 months. Weekly materials are released online and may include asynchronous study, occasional live or virtual sessions, one-to-one tutor support, and online dissertation supervision. The UK visit is typically scheduled for June 2027 at Stirling and summer 2027 at Portsmouth.
English Language Requirements
The official page says applicants do not need to submit an English test before applying. The test is required only after an applicant has been shortlisted and offered the scholarship. Accepted examples include IELTS, TOEFL, Pearson, and Cambridge English exams, and the scholarship funds one accepted test attempt. The deadline for results is end of July for Stirling and mid-August for Portsmouth.
Application Process
Applicants must first apply to the relevant master’s programme at either the University of Stirling or the University of Portsmouth. Once they receive a conditional or unconditional offer, they may submit the scholarship application. The scholarship application cannot be submitted before securing a place on the master’s course. The page also makes clear that receiving a master’s offer without receiving the scholarship does not create any obligation to take the course.
Required Documents
• Degree certificates and transcripts
• CV
• Personal statement
• References, usually one academic and/or professional
• English test score if already available, though it is not required at the application stage
• Clear scans or photos are accepted for initial review
Key Dates
• Applications close: 30 April 2026
• Online study begins: September 2026
• Scholarship decision: End of June
• English test and document submission: Late June to August
• UK study visit: Summer 2027
