- British Council has doubled the number of scholarships in its Global Women in STEM programme.
- A total of 29 scholarships from six UK universities, will support women from eight countries in East Asia.
- These specially designed scholarships will provide funding for tuition and living costs, as well as support for dependants, in a move designed to encourage more women with children to apply.
The British Council Scholarships for Women in STEM supportwomen wishing to pursue postgraduate study in science, technology, engineering or maths at a university in the UK.
The scholarships will give opportunities to women in eight countries in East Asia to obtain a Master’s degree or Early Academic Fellowship from a UK university, giving them the opportunity to further develop their careers in STEM subjects.
This year, there will be double the number of scholarships on offer in East Asia. A total of 29 scholarships from six UK universities are available for Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. The hosting UK universities are Brunel University, Teesside University, Liverpool John Moores University, Edinburgh Napier University, University of Glasgow and University of York.
Awardees will have access to economic support, including tuition fees, stipends, travel costs, visas, health coverage fees and special support for mothers.
Leighton Ernsberger, Director Education and English, British Council, said: ‘To meet the challenges of the 21st century, we need more women and girls studying and working in STEM fields. But often, social and economic opportunities limit women from advancing their professional ambitions.
‘The UK has a world-renowned higher education sector that is truly international. These scholarships will enable talented women to take up a life-changing opportunity to develop their careers in their chosen STEM fields, and then harness the experience to make a greater impact for good when they return home.’
The 29 scholarships include funding for 21 Master’s degrees and eight PhDs or fellowships. This year, a special FCDO ASEAN dialogue Master’s cohorts will include funding specifically for six scholars from Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia.
Last year, 15 scholars from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam travelled to the UK to start their master’s degrees in STEM subjects as part of the first Scholarships for Women in STEM cohort.
According to data from the UN Scientific Education and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), fewer than 30 percent of researchers worldwide are women and only 30 percent of female students select STEM-related fields in higher education[1]. As a typical STEM worker earns two thirds more than non-STEM workers[2], giving women equal opportunities to pursue STEM careers helps narrow the gender pay gap and would be a major contribution to the achievement of ‘Sustainable Development Goal 5: achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls[3]’.
For more information, including a full list of participating UK universities and available courses, please visit: www.britishcouncil.org/study-work-abroad/in-uk/scholarship-women-stem
Applications for the British Council Scholarships for Women in STEM are open until end of March 2022.
[1]
http://uis.unesco.org/sites/default/files/documents/fs55-women-in-scienc...
[2] https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2018/01/09/women-and-men-in-st...
[3] http://uis.unesco.org/en/blog/where-are-all-women-science-and-research
FAQs
What are the scholarships available for East Asia?
Master’s Southeast Asia cohorts
Eligible countries: Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam
- 15 scholarships
- Hosting UK universities:
- Brunel University
- Teesside University
- Liverpool John Moores University
Early Academic Fellowship SEA cohorts
- Eligible countries: Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam
- 8 scholarships
- Hosting UK universities:
- University of Glasgow
- University of York
FCDO ASEAN dialogue Master’s cohorts
- Eligible countries: Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia
- 6 scholars
- Hosting UK university: Edinburgh Napier University
What does the Scholarship scheme cover?
The British Council Scholarships for Women in STEM includes tuition fees, stipend, travel costs, visa and health coverage fees. The scholarship also has a special support for mothers.
When is the deadline to apply?
Deadline for application to chosen course and scholarship is 31 March 2022. Further information is available on the website.
Can women with children apply to the scholarship?
Yes, special support will be given to women travelling with dependant children.
Where can I find more information regarding the scholarship?
You can visit our British Council webpage that contains general information about the scholarship, as also the links to each participating university: www.britishcouncil.org/study-work-abroad/in-uk/scholarship-women-stem
Who can I contact regarding the scholarship?
Each university has a link and a named contact. All details are provided on the scholarship web page. If you wish to contact the British Council you can send an email to UK.Scholarships@britishcouncil.org
Which masters are included in the scheme?
Each university has published a list of masters that scholars can apply to. Please refer to the web page of the university for the full list of programmes available.
Is there an age limit to apply?
No, there is no age limit for this scholarship.
Which are the eligible countries?
You have to be a citizen of one of the following countries to apply:
For both Master’s Scholarships and Early Academic Fellowships: Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam
For FCDO ASEAN dialogue Master’s scholarships: Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia
How many scholarships are there?
There are over 100 scholarships available for courses starting in Autumn 2022.
If I did my undergrad degree in the UK, can I apply for the scholarship to do my master’s degree?
No, this scholarship is only available for women that have not previously studied in the UK.