The Santander & British Council English Online Course Scholarships fund 10,000 places on a fully online English language course delivered by the British Council and offered through Banco Santander's Santander Open Academy platform. The award is open to adults aged 18 or over who live in one of 8 eligible countries — Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, the United States and Uruguay — and no university degree and no Santander account are required to take part. The course is structured in two phases: Phase 1 runs for 8 weeks of self-guided interactive modules and webinars, after which the top 2,000 learners progress to Phase 2, a 20-week stage of personalised online classes and additional learning resources. Levels are covered from A1 (beginner) through to C1 (advanced), a placement test sets each learner's starting point, and completers receive a British Council certificate to add to a CV. The scholarship has a cash value of €0 to the learner because the course is 100 percent free, and it is fully online and accessible on mobile, tablet or desktop. Course phases, the number of Phase 2 places and the closing date change each cycle, so confirm the exact 2026 details and deadline on the official Santander Open Academy page before you register.
Applications are made on the Santander Open Academy platform by searching for the course and registering before the deadline.
No university degree and no Santander bank account are required. The course is 100 percent online and free; a placement test determines each learner's starting level.
Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, United States, Uruguay
All eligible applicants who register and complete the placement test can join Phase 1. Progression to Phase 2 is performance-based: the top 2,000 learners from Phase 1 are selected for the 20-week personalised stage with additional resources.
Banco Santander runs Santander Open Academy (formerly Santander Scholarships), a platform offering free and funded courses, scholarships and grants to learners worldwide. For this programme it partners with the British Council, the UK's international organisation for cultural relations and English-language education.
Answers below are best-effort estimates from the most recent application cycle. Values marked ~ or (est.) may shift year-to-year — confirm specifics on the official scholarship page.
Banco Santander, through its Santander Open Academy platform, in partnership with the British Council, which delivers the English course.
Nothing. It is 100% free, with a value of ~€0 to the learner, and no Santander account is required.
No. No university degree and no Santander bank account are required to take part.
In two phases: Phase 1 is 8 weeks of self-guided modules and webinars; Phase 2 is 20 weeks of personalised classes for the top 2,000 learners.
Levels from A1 (beginner) to C1 (advanced); a placement test sets your starting point.
Residents of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, the United States and Uruguay.
You must be at least 18 years old to apply.
Yes. Completers receive a British Council Certificate of Completion to add to a CV.
Register on the Santander Open Academy platform, search for the English Online course, complete your application and take the placement test before the deadline.
Progression is performance-based: the top 2,000 learners from Phase 1 advance to the 20-week personalised Phase 2.
Yes. The course is fully online and accessible on mobile, tablet or desktop, anywhere and at any time.
The deadline is expected around 21 April 2026. Always confirm the exact date on the official Santander Open Academy page.