British Council in Japan awards IELTS Dream Big Fund to special needs IELTS test taker

TOKYO, Sept. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- In September 2017, British Council launched the IELTS Dream Big Fund, which aims to provide financial support to special needs candidates who wish to pursue their dreams of obtaining higher education. The fund supports four special needs students in Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and Taiwan who plan to start their undergraduate or postgraduate studies in 2018 at a local or overseas higher education institution. Entries are judged on the merit of a personal statement, submitted by candidates as part of their application.    

Committed to changing lives by creating opportunities and building connections, equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of British Council's cultural relations mission. In the past two decades, over 500 special needs candidates in East Asia have realised their dreams by taking IELTS. The Singapore awardee, Ziru, commented that the IELTS Dream Big Fund is a true testament to British Council's goal to build more inclusive and open societies, thereby increasing opportunities for the youth.

The IELTS Dream Big Fund awardee in Japan, Riku Skiguchi said, "I am honoured to receive the Dream Big Fund to further my studies abroad at the University of Nottingham. This award has increased my confidence in applying to universities despite my learning difficulties. As a candidate who struggles with English, this award has inspired me to improve my language ability in order to pursue my degree. I will be studying Electrical Engineering which enables me to deepen my knowledge of Mathematics and Physics. The fund will tremendously help my study life and experience in the UK. I really look forward to making the most of my time at the University of Nottingham."

Steve Adams, Director Examinations, East Asia explains, "Through funding special needs candidates to pursue higher education and realise their study dreams, British Council is staying true to our mission as the UK's international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. With the IELTS Dream Big Fund, candidates with special needs are encouraged and supported to go the extra mile to chase after their dreams, which may, in turn, provide them with life-changing opportunities and lead to greater things."

In 2017, more than three million IELTS tests were taken globally. At British Council, personalised test arrangements are provided to IELTS test takers with a range of special needs, including visual, hearing, speech or mobility impairment, writing difficulties, spinal, neurological and mental illnesses, and several other disabilities which require special accommodations.

IELTS Dream Big Fund: http://dream-big.ieltsasia.org/en/

For more information, contact Yasuda on scholarshipielts@britishcouncil.or.jp or +81 (0)3 3235 8031

Notes to Editors:

International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

IELTS is the International English Language Testing System, the world's most popular English language proficiency test for higher education and global migration with over 3 million tests taken in the last year. Over 10,000 organisations trust and accept IELTS as a secure, valid and reliable indicator of true to life ability to communicate in English for education, immigration and professional accreditation. IELTS is jointly owned by British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge Assessment English.

The British Council is the United Kingdom's international organisation for cultural relations and education, and provides IELTS testing in more than 800 locations in over 100 countries.

About the test

Test takers are measured in listening, reading, writing and speaking. All tests are scored on a banded system from 1 (non-user) through to 9 (expert user).

IELTS offers a choice of two tests, to serve both academic and non-academic purposes. IELTS Academic measures English language proficiency needed for an academic, higher learning environment. The tasks and texts are accessible to all test takers, irrespective of their subject focus. IELTS General Training measures English language proficiency in a practical, everyday context. The tasks and texts reflect both workplace and social situations. IELTS General Training is suitable for immigration purposes to Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom and Ireland.

About the British Council

The British Council is the UK's international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities and provides IELTS testing in more than 800 locations in over 100 countries.

Founded in 1934 we are a UK charity governed by Royal Charter and a UK public body. We receive 15 per cent core funding grant from the UK government. britishcouncil.org