British Council Offers Fully Funded STEM Scholarships for Women

• The British Council is now accepting applications for scholarships for women
• This scheme falls under the umbrella of the Going Global Partnerships program
• The program intends to increase the number of women educated in STEM fields

It is the sixth successive year that the British Council is sponsoring fully-funded scholarships for women interested in pursuing STEM education at universities in the UK, says a press release.

The Women in STEM scholarship scheme is part of the British Council’s Going Global Partnerships project.

The scholarship scheme helps women study STEM subjects through master’s degree courses at reputable UK universities and institutions. Its goal is to increase women's involvement in STEM fields and promote diversity in the fields of science and innovation.

Since its inception, the scheme has seen participation from 43 universities in the UK and has granted nearly 500 scholarships. Each scholarship for the 2026-27 academic years will be worth a minimum of £40,000, which will cover tuition, living costs, travel expenses, health insurance, and English language training if needed.

Among 30 countries eligible for the scholarship program, a total of 90 scholarships are available to candidates. Of these 90 scholarships, 25 are set aside for South Asian candidates who apply for one of the 5 UK universities.

According to Toufiq Hasan, head of education at the British Council Bangladesh, the scholarship program will help to close the gender gap in STEM careers by providing access, supporting talent development, and providing leadership opportunities to women in the scientific community.

As stated by Jen Bardsley, global head of enabling research & science at the British Council, this program is intended to help eliminate barriers to women entering STEM careers and to help promote diversity in science as a whole.

Sadia Zaman, a previous recipient of a scholarship to study in Bangladesh, stated that she gained research skills and confidence through the scholarship program to participate in conversations related to STEM careers.