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Arts and Culture

Arts Council England covers combined arts, dance, literature, music, theatre, and visual arts.

The baseline is outstanding work, performed, presented, distributed, or exhibited internationally, with regular professional engagement over the last 5 years.

• A CV and three dated letters: two from established arts organisations you’ve worked with (one UK-based), and a third from another organisation or an individual with recognised standing in your field
• Exceptional talent: a substantial track record across at least two countries, backed by two qualifying pieces of evidence, significant media recognition, an international award, or internationally significant exhibitions, sales, or appearances
• Exceptional promise: an early-career applicant with a developing track record in one or more countries, still needing two forms of evidence

Architecture

RIBA handles architecture endorsements on behalf of the Arts Council England.

The bar is the same shape as arts and culture, outstandingly presented, published, or internationally exhibited work, with 5 years of regular engagement in the field.

• A CV and three letters: two from established architecture organisations (one UK-based), a third from another organisation or a recognised individual
• Exceptional talent: a track record spanning two countries
• Exceptional promise: a track record in one country
• Either route needs two qualifying pieces of evidence, an award, media recognition, or internationally significant publications or exhibitions

Design Industry

A new field was added to Appendix Global Talent in 2026, endorsed by the Design Business Association (DBA) on behalf of Arts Council England. It covers product, graphic, UX, service, industrial, and spatial design, among other design disciplines.

You must be professionally engaged in producing outstanding applied, published, distributed, or internationally exhibited work, with regular professional design work over the last 5 years.

• A CV and 3 dated letters of recommendation, 2 from well-established design organisations you have worked with (at least one UK-based) and a third from another organisation or individual with recognised experience in design
• Exceptional talent: a substantial track record in at least 2 countries, evidenced by significant media recognition, an international design award, or internationally significant professional appearances, publications, exhibitions, or sales
• Exceptional promise: an early-career applicant with a developing track record in one or more countries, evidenced by recent media recognition, an award nomination or shortlisting, or recognised appearances, publications, or exhibitions

Fashion Design Industry

The British Fashion Council assesses this field. You need a leading design role in a fashion business, plus 5 years of regular industry engagement.

• A CV and 3 dated letters of recommendation, 2 from well-established fashion organisations (at least one UK-based) and a third from another organisation or individual with recognised expertise
• Exceptional talent: outstanding work sold or exhibited internationally through catwalk or other shows, with a substantial track record in at least 2 countries
• Exceptional promise: a developing track record in at least 1 country, which can be evidenced through support from schemes such as British Fashion Council initiatives, Fashion East, or The Sarabande Foundation, or through orders from a luxury retailer

Film and Television

Pact assesses this field for Arts Council England, and only for exceptional talent; there’s no exceptional promise route here.

• A Main Award win at any point (Academy Award, an eligible BAFTA, Golden Globe, or Emmy)
• A nomination for, or significant contribution to, a Main Award in the last 10 years
• At least two Main Award nominations across the last 15 years
• Notable industry recognition across at least two productions, backed by distribution sales, media coverage, and the right mix of awards from Pact’s Notable Industry Recognition Awards List
• A CV and three letters are still required, two from established film and television organisations (one UK-based)

Digital Technology

Endorsed by Tech Nation. What counts as “exceptional” varies by applicant type: technical applicants need proven expertise in building or deploying technology stacks and infrastructure; business applicants need commercial, investment, or product expertise in leading digital businesses.

• A CV containing career and publication history
• Three dated recommendation letters from different established digital technology experts who have known the applicant’s work for at least 12 months
• Up to 10 documents showing that the applicant meets the evidential criteria
• Evidence of their connection to a digital technology business if they have been a founder or senior executive during the last 5 years
• Exceptional talent: applicants must provide at least two pieces of evidence across two qualifying criteria. These criteria cover innovation, recognition beyond the applicant’s occupation, significant technical, commercial or entrepreneurial contributions, and academic contributions through expert-endorsed or published research
• Exceptional promise: applicants must be at an early stage of their career and provide at least two pieces of evidence across two qualifying criteria. Their evidence can show innovation, recognition beyond their occupation, contributions as a founder or employee of a product-led digital technology company, or academic contributions through research endorsed by an expert

Science, Engineering, Humanities, Social Science and Medicine

The Royal Society, the Royal Academy of Engineering, the British Academy, and UKRI split this territory among themselves by discipline.

Whichever body assesses you, you’ll need to already be an active researcher, academic, industry professional, or government employee.

• Fast track: applicants must hold, or have held in the last 5 years, an eligible peer-reviewed fellowship or award; hold an eligible academic or research appointment at an approved UK institution; or be hosted by a UKRI-approved organisation on a substantial research grant
• Academic appointments specifically must require a PhD or equivalent research experience, with research or innovation leadership built into the role
• Full peer review: a PhD or equivalent, active research work, and, for exceptional promise applicants, still early in career
• Full peer-review applicants need a CV and a letter from an eminent UK-based figure; exceptional talent applicants need a second letter from a senior figure at a recognised research or innovation organisation

Every field comes back to the same principle: your evidence has to map onto that field’s specific criteria, not just your career achievements in general.