Frequently Asked Questions
Am I eligible?
To be eligible you need to be a girl going to school in Bulgaria aged between 15 and 19 at the time of application.
Previous winners and family members of British Embassy staff are not eligible to apply.
How much does it cost?
Do I need to speak English?
It’s free. We will pay for transport, accommodation and meals for you and your accompanying adult.
No!
Do I need previous relevant experience?
No previous relevant experience is required. We encourage applications from girls across all of Bulgaria and of all backgrounds.
If I win, can I bring my parents?
Is there a word limit for the essay?
Of course. You are encouraged to bring an adult with you who can accompany you during your time in Sofia. However, we will only fund the expenses for one accompanying adult.
1600 characters, or around 250 words.
When will it take place?
You should be free on Wednesday 8th of March and Thursday 9th of March 2023.
The dates will be confirmed after the winners have been announced.
Will you provide me with an absence note for the days I'll be away from school?
Of course.
What will I do during the programme?
The programme is still being finalised, but you will shadow the British Ambassador for a day and spend some time with the Vice President of Bulgaria. We also plan to provide some training for the winners.
How are the winners decided?
A jury consisting of British Embassy staff, representatives of NGOs and others will read the anonymised essays and mark each of them. The three top marked applicants will be the winners.
When will I hear back?
We will announce the winners in early February.
I have another question.
Email us at: BritishEmbassySofia@fcdo.gov.uk