The gender gap in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions is well documented. Not only do women make up a small fraction of the workforce and research teams in STEM, they are also published less, paid less and are less likely to reach positions of leadership than their male counterparts, despite being proven to be on average eight per cent more productive.
About Women in STEM scholarships
We want to increase opportunities for women in STEM, strengthen female leadership in science and innovation, and promote a more diverse and gender-representative sector.
Access to education is a leading factor that contributes to the underrepresentation of women in STEM – the British Council's Women in STEM scholarship programme addresses this by providing funding for one-year master's degree programmes at top ranking universities and research institutions within the UK, for women from socioeconomically and disadvantaged contexts.
The programme provides:
- Full scholarships – this includes monetary support, tuition fees, living stipends, travel and visa costs, health coverage fees and English language support. Each scholarship is worth a minimum of £40,000.
- Access to world-leading science and research universities – UK universities are globally recognised for science and research excellence. The UK is ranked second in the world for science and research.
- Career opportunities – the scholarships help enhance women’s careers in STEM and enable them to promote research and innovation in their home country through their exposure to expertise in the UK’s renowned STEM fields.
- Alumni networks – the scholarships provide a long-lasting platform to connect with UK alumni.
The scholarship programme is entering its sixth consecutive year. To date, the programme has engaged 43 leading UK universities and awarded 493 scholarships.