In a bid to foster gender diversity and promoting excellence in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), the British Council, in collaboration with UK universities, has unveiled the prestigious British Council Scholarships for Women in STEM programme.
This initiative aims to provide opportunities for female STEM graduates from India and other South Asian countries to pursue their Masters’ degrees in the UK.
A total of 25 scholarships have been earmarked for women STEM scholars from India and other South Asian nations.
These scholarships will be distributed across five esteemed UK higher education institutions, namely Queen Mary University of London, Anglia Ruskin University, Greenwich University, The University of Southampton, and Coventry University.
The initiative aims to empower scholars to advance their careers in STEM and contribute to research and innovation in their home countries by immersing them in the expertise of the UK’s renowned STEM fields.
The scholarships will cover various expenses, including tuition fees, stipends, travel costs, visa fees, health coverage, and English language support.
The selected scholars will have the opportunity to pursue a diverse range of courses such as Data Science, Computer Science, Pharmaceutical Science, Engineering Management, Intelligent Healthcare, and more.
Rittika Chanda Parruck MBE, Director Education India at British Council, highlighted the importance of gender equity in driving scientific progress.
“The global challenges facing the world can only be addressed through science and research, and we cannot solve these problems with one hand tied behind our backs,” she said.
Recognizing the pivotal role of women in STEM, the programme seeks to address gender disparities while enriching the workforce with diverse perspectives and skills crucial for driving innovation and scientific progress.
According to the Global Gender Gap Report 2023 by the World Economic Forum, despite women constituting nearly 43% of STEM graduates in India, they represent only 27% of the country’s STEM workforce.
Since its inception in 2020, the programme has awarded over 300 scholarships, with 92 scholars enrolled in the 2023-24 global cohorts.
Notably, 52 Indian women have been recipients of these scholarships, pursuing their one-year postgraduate studies in the UK.
Application deadlines for the scholarships vary depending on the university, typically falling between March and April 2024.
For more information on eligibility criteria, participating UK universities, available courses, and university-specific deadlines, interested candidates can visit the official website – https://www.britishcouncil.in/study-uk/scholarships/womeninstem-scholarships.
