Eligibility Criteria

Tech Nation assesses candidates applying for endorsement in the field of digital technology and accepts applications from both business and technical applicants.

You must demonstrate one of the following:

1. You have proven technical expertise with the latest technologies in building, using, deploying or exploiting a technology stack and building technical infrastructure (if you are a technical applicant); or
2. You have proven commercial investment or product expertise in building digital products or leading investments in significant digital product businesses (if you are a business applicant).

In addition you will need to provide:

• a CV with career and publication history included; and
• three dated letters of recommendation from three different well-established individuals acknowledged as experts in the digital technology field, with detailed knowledge of your work over a period of 12 months or more supporting your Global Talent application, which include all of the following:
  • how the author knows you
  • your achievements in your field
  • how the author considers that you show exceptional talent or promise; and the contribution you would make to the UK digital economy

You must also demonstrate that you meet the Mandatory Criteria and any two Optional Criteria.

The Arts Council assesses candidates applying for endorsement whose discipline is within literature, dance, music, theatre, visual arts and combined arts.

It is also the Endorsing Body for fashion, architecture and film and television applicants.

Over the following responses, we have broken down the eligibility criteria for each discipline.

You must demonstrate all of the following:

1. That you have been professionally engaged in producing work of outstanding quality that has been published (other than exclusively in newspapers  or magazines), performed, presented, distributed or exhibited internationally;
2. Recent (within the last five years) and regular activity of being engaged professionally as a practitioner in your field; and
3. A substantial track record in at least two countries (if applying under Exceptional Talent criteria) or a developing track record in one or more countries (if applying under Exceptional Promise criteria).

You must also provide three letters of recommendation of which:

• Two must be from well-established arts and culture organisations that you have worked with, who are acknowledged as experts in your field, and at least one of the organisations must be based in the UK
• The third must be from another well-established arts and culture organisation, or an individual that you have worked with who has recognised expertise in your field

In addition you must also meet at least two of the following three criteria:

Applications from those in the fashion industry will be reviewed by the British Fashion Council.

An applicant for endorsement in the field of fashion design must:

• Have a leading design role in the fashion business; and
• Show regular professional engagement in the fashion design industry in the last 5 years; and
• If evidencing exceptional talent, show professional engagement in producing outstanding work that has been sold or exhibited internationally through catwalk or other exhibitions and a substantial track record in at least 2 countries; and
• If evidencing exceptional promise, show a developing track record in at least 1 country and professional engagement in producing outstanding work that has been recognised by leading industry players.

You must provide three letters of recommendation from established organisations with nationally or internationally recognised expertise in fashion and at least one letter must be from an organisation based in the UK (if applying under Exceptional Talent criteria).

In addition you must also meet at least two of the following four criteria:

Applications from those in the architecture industry will be reviewed by the Royal Institute of British Architects.

An applicant for endorsement in the field of Architecture must:

• Be professionally engaged in producing outstanding presented, published or internationally exhibited work
• Show regular professional engagement in their field in the last 5 years
• Show either a substantial track record in at least 2 countries if evidencing exceptional talent or show a developing track record in at least 1 country if evidencing exceptional promise

You must meet at least two of the following three criteria:

Applications from those in the film and television industry will be reviewed by the Producers Alliance for Cinema and Television (PACT).

Please note that PACT will only endorse for Exceptional Talent and not Exceptional Promise.

An applicant must provide three letters of recommendation of which:

• two must be from well-established organisations acknowledged as experts in the film and television industry, at least one of these must be from an organisation based in the UK; and
• one must be from another well-established organisation or from an individual with recognised expertise in the film or television industry.

In addition you must meet one of the following four criteria:

Exceptional Talent

1. The applicant has won, or within the last 10 years, has received a nomination for at least one of the following awards:
   • an Academy Award;
   • a British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) award (Film, Television, Television Crafts, Cymru, Scotland and Games only);
   • a Golden Globe; or
   • an Emmy Award.
2. The applicant has, within the last 10 years, made a significant and direct contribution to winning or being nominated for one of the awards mentioned in criteria 1 above.
3. The applicant has, within the last 15 years achieved a minimum of two nominations for one of the awards mentioned in criteria 1 above.
4. The applicant has demonstrated notable industry recognition by providing evidence of both of the following:
   • international distribution sales and recognition, and
   • having achieved one of the following combination of awards named on the PACT notable industry recognition awards list:

• • • won a minimum of two;
    • won one, and, within the last six years before the date of application, have been nominated for one other for at least two different productions;
    • within the last six years before the date of application have been nominated for at least two different productions; or
    • within the last three years before the date of application, made a significant and direct contribution to winning or being nominated for three of the awards listed in the Notable Industry Recognition Awards for at least two different productions.

Applications from those in the science, engineering, humanities and medicine industries will be reviewed by The British Academy, The Royal Society or The Royal Academy of Engineering depending on your specialism.  Please contact us to discuss which Endorsing Body you should apply to.

You must be an active researcher in an academic, industry or research institution to be able to make an application for endorsement in one of these fields.

If you are applying for endorsement on the fast track, you must provide evidence of one of the following:

1. That you hold, or have held in the 5 years before the date of application, a peer reviewed research fellowship or award named on the list published by your Endorsing Body.
2. That you have been appointed to an academic or research position at an approved UK Higher Education Institution or research institute named on the list published by your Endorsing body.
3. That you are working on a research grant issued by an endorsed funder approved by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

There are various evidential requirements which must be satisfied, dependent upon which fast track criteria you are applying under. Please contact us to discuss what evidential requirements you will have to satisfy as part of your application.

If you are applying for a full peer review consideration you must meet each of the following criteria below:

If you are applying for a full peer review consideration you must meet each of the following criteria below:

• a CV outlining your career and publication history; and
• a letter of recommendation written in support of your application from an eminent person resident in the UK which includes the following:
  • how the author knows you; and
  • your achievements in the relevant field; and
  • how the author considers that you show exceptional talent or promise;
  • how you would benefit from living in the UK; and
  • the contribution you would make to UK research excellence and wider society

For exceptional talent, evidence in relation to at least one of the qualifying eligibility criteria listed above.