(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