--- title: "Before You Apply: Eligibility Rules Made Simple" description: "Many questions we receive are not about motivation — they are about **eligibility**.\n\nThis article explains the **four rules that matter most**, in clear language, so you can know **before you apply** whether this programme is right for you." image: https://angolabrilliantminds.com/hubfs/20260113_1152_Online%20Application_simple_compose_01kevcapqrfa9v2vvfh1g1ne7q.png --- [Skip to content](https://angolabrilliantminds.com/blog/before-you-apply-eligibility-rules-made-simple#main-content) [![Angola Brilliant Minds](https://angolabrilliantminds.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Angola%20Brilliant%20Minds%20logo-1.png?width=1365&height=576&name=Angola%20Brilliant%20Minds%20logo-1.png)Homepage](https://angolabrilliantminds.com/?hsLang=en) - [Events](https://angolabrilliantminds.com/events?hsLang=en) - [Scholarship](https://angolabrilliantminds.com/scholarship?hsLang=en) - [Press](https://angolabrilliantminds.com/press-media?hsLang=en) - [Blog](https://angolabrilliantminds.com/blog) - [Contact](https://angolabrilliantminds.com/pt/contact?hsLang=en) English Select a language ✕ - [Português](https://angolabrilliantminds.com/pt/before-you-apply-eligibility-rules-made-simple) - [English](https://angolabrilliantminds.com/blog/before-you-apply-eligibility-rules-made-simple) - [Events](https://angolabrilliantminds.com/events?hsLang=en) - [Scholarship](https://angolabrilliantminds.com/scholarship?hsLang=en) - [Press](https://angolabrilliantminds.com/press-media?hsLang=en) - [Blog](https://angolabrilliantminds.com/blog) - [Contact](https://angolabrilliantminds.com/pt/contact?hsLang=en) English Select a language - [Português](https://angolabrilliantminds.com/pt/before-you-apply-eligibility-rules-made-simple) - [English](https://angolabrilliantminds.com/blog/before-you-apply-eligibility-rules-made-simple) ![](https://angolabrilliantminds.com/hs-fs/hubfs/20260113_1152_Online%20Application_simple_compose_01kevcapqrfa9v2vvfh1g1ne7q.png?width=1536&height=1024&name=20260113_1152_Online%20Application_simple_compose_01kevcapqrfa9v2vvfh1g1ne7q.png) # Before You Apply: Eligibility Rules Made Simple ![Angola Brilliant Minds](https://7528315.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/7528315/hubfs/raw_assets/public/mV0_d-cms-elevate-theme_hubspot/elevate/images/avatar-placeholder.jpg?width=48&height=48&name=avatar-placeholder.jpg) Angola Brilliant Minds January 13, 2026 *(Age, Grades, English, STEM)* Many questions we receive are not about motivation — they are about **eligibility**. This article explains the **four rules that matter most**, in clear language, so you can know **before you apply** whether this programme is right for you. --- ## 🎂 Age Eligibility: The One Date That Matters To be eligible for the **Angola Brilliant Minds Scholarship**, you must: - Be **between 14 and 16 years old at the time of application** - Be **not older than 17 years of age on 1 September 2026** That date is **fixed**. It is defined by the British **A-Level education system** and **cannot be changed**. ### Examples: - ✔ Born in **2009** → eligible - ✔ Born in **2010** → eligible - ❌ Born in **2008** or earlier → not eligible - ❌ Born in **2011** or later → not eligible There are **no exceptions**, even for strong grades or high motivation. --- ## 📚 Grades: What 15/20 Really Means You will often see **15/20** mentioned — this causes a lot of unnecessary fear. Here is what it actually means: - **15/20 is the expected academic level**, not an automatic rejection rule - Grades alone **do not decide selection** - Evaluation is **holistic**, meaning it considers: - School performance - Exams - Motivation letter - Academic potential If your average is **slightly below 15**, you can still apply. Strong exam performance and clear motivation **do matter**. That said, this is a **highly competitive programme**, with **only up to two places per year**. --- ## 🌍 English Requirement: “Sufficient” Does Not Mean Perfect Fluent English is **not required** at the time of application. What is required is: - **Sufficient English to understand the tests** - Ability to follow instructions and basic academic content Important clarifications: - ✔ The motivation letter **can be written in Portuguese** - ✔ You do **not** need perfect grammar - ❌ This is **not** an English training programme - ❌ Students with **very limited English** will struggle English develops during the academic journey, but a **basic working level is essential**. --- ## 🔬 STEM Only: What Is Eligible (and What Is Not) The Angola Brilliant Minds Scholarship supports **STEM fields only**. ### ✅ Eligible areas include: - Mathematics - Physics - Chemistry - Biology - Engineering - Technology - Computer Science - **Medicine and scientific life sciences** ### ❌ Not eligible: - Accounting - Finance - Economics - Communication - Journalism - Law - Nursing - Social sciences If a field is **not scientific or technical**, it is **not eligible** under this programme. --- ## 💡 Final Check Before You Apply Before submitting your application, ask yourself: - ✔ Am I within the correct **age range**? - ✔ Do I have **strong academic potential**, even if not perfect grades? - ✔ Can I **understand tests in English**? - ✔ Am I genuinely interested in **STEM**? If the answer is yes, you are encouraged to apply. If not, it is better to wait for other opportunities that better match your profile. 👉 [**Apply Now**](https://angolabrilliantminds.com/scholarship-application-form-angola-brilliant-minds?hsLang=en) ## Share this post [mailto:https%3A%2F%2Fangolabrilliantminds.com%2Fblog%2Fbefore-you-apply-eligibility-rules-made-simple](mailto:https%3A%2F%2Fangolabrilliantminds.com%2Fblog%2Fbefore-you-apply-eligibility-rules-made-simple) ## Keep reading ### [![](https://angolabrilliantminds.com/hs-fs/hubfs/WhatsApp%20Image%202026-04-07%20at%204.59.00%20PM%20(1).jpeg?width=1600&height=1066&name=WhatsApp%20Image%202026-04-07%20at%204.59.00%20PM%20(1).jpeg) From 2,564 Applications to 17 Finalists](https://angolabrilliantminds.com/blog/from-2564-applications-to-17-finalists?hsLang=en) ### [![](https://angolabrilliantminds.com/hs-fs/hubfs/WhatsApp%20Image%202026-03-31%20at%206.17.13%20PM.jpeg?width=1462&height=911&name=WhatsApp%20Image%202026-03-31%20at%206.17.13%20PM.jpeg) Across the Country: The Provincial Evaluation Phase Has Been Completed](https://angolabrilliantminds.com/blog/across-the-country-the-provincial-evaluation-phase-has-been-completed?hsLang=en) [![Angola Brilliant Minds logo-2](https://angolabrilliantminds.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Angola%20Brilliant%20Minds%20logo-2.png?width=200&height=84&name=Angola%20Brilliant%20Minds%20logo-2.png "Angola Brilliant Minds logo-2")](https://angolabrilliantminds.com/?hsLang=en) - [Events](https://angolabrilliantminds.com/events?hsLang=en) - [Scholarship](https://angolabrilliantminds.com/scholarship?hsLang=en) - [Press](https://angolabrilliantminds.com/press-media?hsLang=en) - [Blog](https://angolabrilliantminds.com/blog) - [Contact](https://angolabrilliantminds.com/pt/contact?hsLang=en) --- [Privacy](https://angolabrilliantminds.com/privacy?hsLang=en)· [Terms](https://angolabrilliantminds.com/en/terms?hsLang=en) · © 2025 Angola Brilliant Minds. 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