The British Council has launched an exciting new programme, the British Council Scholarship for Women in STEM.
This new scheme is aimed at supporting women in strong need of financial support who wish to pursue their master’s degrees in UK universities in areas related to Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM).
The scholarship programme will allow over 100 women from countries in the Americas, South Asia, and East Asia to obtain their advanced degree from a UK university, permitting them to further develop their careers in science.
According to data from the UN Scientific Education and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), fewer than 30% of researchers worldwide are women and only 30% of female students select STEM-related fields in higher education.
Globally, female students’ enrolment is particularly low in Information and Communications Technology (3%), natural science, mathematics and statistics (5%), and engineering, manufacturing and construction (8%).
This ambitious scholarship scheme includes tuition fees, monthly stipend, travel costs, visa and health coverage fees. The scholarship is also open to women with dependents to apply and contains provision for scholars that might need a short pre-sessional English course to achieve the language level needed to undergo their studies.
All potential candidates from Malaysia must apply directly to the following universities of their interest: University of Glasgow, Liverpool John Moores University, or University of Stirling.
The British Council has set up a webpage with further information regarding the scholarship, including details of the courses available and contact information of participating universities: www.britishcouncil.org/study-work-abroad/in-uk/scholarship-women-stem
Applications for the British Council Scholarships for Women in STEM are open until March 2021.
Here are some of the frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding The British Council Scholarships for Women in STEM:
#1 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. If needed, students can apply for a pre-sessional English course to improve their language level.
#2 When is the deadline to apply?
Most deadlines to apply to the scholarship and master’s degree are in March 2021. You can find more specific information regarding this in the webpage of each university participating in the scheme.
#3 Can women with children apply to the scholarship?
Yes, special support will be given to women travelling with dependant children.
#4 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:
#5 Who can I contact regarding the scholarship?
Each university has a link and a person in charge of this scholarship. You can find more information in our Webpage. If you wish to contact the British Council you can send an email to UK.Scholarships@britishcouncil.org
#6 Which master’s are included in the scheme?
Each university has published a list of master’s that scholars can apply to. Please refer to the web page of the university for the full list of programmes available.
#7 Is there an age limit to apply?
No, there is no age limit for this scholarship.
#8 Which are the eligible countries?
You have to be a citizen of one of the following countries in East Asia to apply: Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand & Vietnam.
#9 How many scholarships are there?
There are over 100 scholarships available. There are 15 scholarships available in East Asia.
#10 If I am not successful this year, can I apply next year?
At the moment there is no guarantee British Council will be opening this scholarship next year, therefore we strongly encourage you to apply this year.
#11 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.
This is an amazing opportunity, guys! Good luck!
By: Aishah Akashah Ahadiat
