THE British Council Scholarships for Women in STEM support women 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, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. The hosting UK universities are Brunel University, Teesside University, Liverpool John Moores University, Edinburgh Napier
University, University of Glasgow, and the 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 traveled 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. As a typical STEM worker earns two thirds more than non-STEM workers 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.’
For more information, including a full list of participating the UK universities and available courses, please visit:
www.britishcouncil.org/study-work-abroad/in-uk/scholarship-women-stem
