- UK universities partner to empower female STEM graduates globally, bridging gender gaps and fostering innovation
British Council, the UK’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations in partnership with UK universities, has announced the launch of the British Council Scholarships for Women in STEM programme. This scholarship is designed for female STEM graduates wanting to pursue their masters in the UK.
Women’s representation in STEM fields promotes diversity, innovation and addresses gender disparities. The World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2023 shows that women make up 27 per cent of India’s STEM workforce, despite making up nearly 43 per cent of STEM graduates. This diversity enriches the workforce with unique skills.
25 scholarships are reserved for women STEM scholars from India and other South Asian countries. These are across five UK higher education institutions – Queen Mary University of London, Anglia Ruskin University, Greenwich University, The University of Southampton and Coventry University.
The scholarships will empower the beneficiaries to advance their careers in STEM and facilitate their ability to drive research and innovation in their home country by immersing them in the expertise of the UK’s esteemed STEM fields. The UK is currently ranked third in the world for citable research, with 55.2 per cent of all UK publications the product of international research collaborations.
The scholarship will cover tuition fees, stipend, travel costs, visa, health coverage fees and English language support. The scholars can pursue courses like Data Science, Computer Science, Pharmaceutical Science, Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Management, Civil Engineering Management, Intelligent Healthcare, Actuarial Science, among others.
Rittika Chanda Parruck MBE, Director Education India, British Council, said, “Almost half of the world’s population is female and represents half the potential brain power of researchers and innovators. Global challenges require science and research and only half of the population is working towards solutions. Gender equity is crucial for mankind’s progress and programmes like Women in STEM Scholarships aim to provide financial assistance for women to pursue education and reach their full potential in STEM fields, driving transformative change and contributing to sustainable development goals.”
Since 2020, the programme has awarded over 300 scholarships. In the 2023-24 global cohorts, 92 scholars were enrolled in their selected courses. So far, 52 Indian women have been awarded the scholarships and pursued their one-year postgraduate studies in the UK.
The scholarship aims to inspire young women to remain in STEM fields by supporting their progression towards leadership roles and fostering networking opportunities with peers both in their region and in the UK. The scholarship also welcomes applications from women with dependents, offering additional support. The application deadlines vary depending on the university, typically between March and April 2024.
