Introducing the New Class of GTF BIG Talent Scholars, with UK and International Expansion

Expanded scholarships are sending more top math and science talent to the world’s best universities.

UNITED KINGDOM, December 4, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The second cohort of 47 Global Talent Fund (GTF) BIG Talent Scholars have begun their studies at a growing roster of the world’s best universities. This is 57% larger than last year’s inaugural class, with even higher admissions standards.

GTF BIG Talent Scholars now provides more choices for students. Two top French universities have joined the GTF BIG Talent Scholars community – the first international expansion. Further expansion is also underway – GTF is already working with additional Cambridge partners (list below) to select the class that will start in September 2026.

The GTF BIG Talent Scholars come from 28 countries. They have demonstrated extraordinary achievement by winning medals at international maths and science Olympiads. These rigorous global high school competitions are the best known predictor of who will advance the knowledge frontier.

Global Talent Fund co-founders Ruchir Agarwal and Patrick Gaule said:

“The very best maths and science minds, and the world’s top universities, come together in GTF BIG Talent Scholars. These students are also writers, adventurers, and teachers in their own right. Above all, they are deeply curious problem-solvers who want to unleash their minds on humanity’s great challenges. We are excited to give them even more opportunities to study at the very best colleges and universities in the UK, and now France.”

Aino Aulanko, a GTF BIG Talent Scholar from Finland studying Maths, said:

“I set my sights on Ecole Normale because I was looking for challenges and ENS offers them – both difficult courses and studying in a new language. Earning a silver medal at the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) helped me get there, and the GTF BIG Talent Scholarship means I can afford it. ”

Vedant Sakre, a GTF BIG Talent Scholar from India and International Biology Olympiad gold medallist, said:

“I've been fascinated by biology since Grade 6. Now I get to study Natural Sciences at Trinity in Cambridge. It’s a dream come true since Trinity was home to a lot of great intellectuals I admire, like Newton, Byron, and Hodgkin. I also acted in several high school productions of Shakespeare, and want to act in and direct other plays at university as well.”

Mohamed Yassine Chebil, a GTF BIG Talent Scholar from Tunisia and IMO bronze medallist studying Maths and Computer Science at Oxford, said:

"I wasn't a 'prodigy' as a child, so getting into Oxford didn't feel real to me. Now, I can't wait to deepen my understanding of advanced mathematics and explore new topics like machine learning, learning from some of the best professors in the world. And back home in Tunisia, I aspire to change how students are taught – with a focus on teaching them how to think critically rather than just preparing for exams.”

Meet all the GTF BIG Talent Scholars: see bios, interviews, and photos at globtalent.org/gtf-big-talent-scholars/bios.

GTF BIG Talent Scholars was established thanks to a founding donation and strategic support from leading algorithmic trading firm XTX Markets, and operates in collaboration with our partner universities:

The University of Cambridge: Trinity College, Christ's College**, St John's College**, King's College**, and Trinity Hall**
The University of Oxford: St John’s College
École Polytechnique*
École Normale Supérieure*
The University of Bristol
The University of Edinburgh
Imperial College London
The University of Warwick

*New partner starting 2025
**New partner starting 2026

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About GTF: The Global Talent Fund helps top maths and science students realise their full potential. We aim to expand human ingenuity to solve the defining challenges of our time.

Key initiatives:

GTF BIG Talent Scholars provides undergraduate scholarships and holistic support for maths and science Olympiad medallists to attend top-tier global universities.

Global Talent Leaders programmes: GTF Olympiad Grants support organisations involved with national, regional and international maths and science Olympiads. GTF Coaches directly trains Olympiad coaches. We have also taught high school students directly. These programmes focus on lower-income countries.

The Global Talent Lab conducts research on the economics of talent and develops policies to identify and maximise the potential of people with maths and science talent.

Founded in 2023, GTF is registered in the US as the Global Talent & Innovation Fund, a 501(c)(3) organisation, and operates in the US, UK, and other locations.

Harry Kruglik
Global Talent Fund
press@globtalent.org
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