About us
This section introduces you to the British Council, including who we are, what we do and how we are run. You can also learn about the history of the organisation and see our current job vacancies.Making a world of difference
- English lesson for Chinese students, Allied Centre, Liverpool
Making a difference for nearly 75 years
The British Council was founded in 1934. Today we are a major international organisation employing 7,900 staff. In 2009 we will celebrate our 75th anniversary.
- Female students in India
Where you will find us
We operate in 110 countries and territories around the world, building trust and engagement for the UK. In 2007-08 we reached over 112 million people.
- Two young people in a classroom in Madrid
Creating educational opportunities the world over
In 2007-08 we administered 1.7 million examinations to 1.3 million students. Our Connecting Classrooms programme enabled over 1 million young people in 900 schools in the UK and around the world to learn together.
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A broad spectrum of work
As well as providing educational programmes and teaching the English language, our areas of work include the arts, science and technology, sport, governance and human rights.
- Man smiles at the camera
What we stand for and the goals we set
The British Council builds engagement and trust for the UK through the exchange of knowledge and ideas between people worldwide. Our work focuses on the major challenges of our age:
- building understanding between cultures and promoting positive social change
- developing the skills and creativity people need to prosper in the knowledge economy
- building and sustaining an international consensus for action on climate change.
About us
Brazilian students
Who we are
The British Council has been creating ties between people in the UK and those in other countries for almost 75 years.
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What we do
We run programmes in education, English language, the arts, science and technology, sport and governance.
Opportunities
Woman at a computer
Working for us
If you're dedicated to cross-cultural development and looking for challenging opportunities, we have a range of jobs across the globe.
A meeting
Partnership opportunities
As the world's largest international cultural relations organisation, we can offer unparalleled opportunities for businesses to engage with a wide variety of audiences, through a wealth of projects and activities.
