Before You Apply: Eligibility Rules Made Simple

(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