Manila, Philippines – Filipino women in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics are invited to apply for the second round of the British Council scholarships for Women in STEM (WiS).
Women from Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam can obtain support to pursue a master’s degree or Early Academic Fellowship from a UK university.
Twenty-nine scholarships from six UK universities are available with: Brunel University, Teesside University, Liverpool John Moores University, Edinburgh Napier University, University of Glasgow and University of York. The scholarships include funding for 21 Master’s degrees and eight PhDs or fellowships.
Courses on offer include those in the fields of climate change, healthcare management, automation and water engineering, among others.
Scholars will have access to financial 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.’
Last year, 15 scholars from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam travelled 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 UNESCO,fewer than 30 per cent of researchers worldwide are women and only 30 per cent 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: achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls’.
In the Philippines, Evident reports that ‘just two in seven engineering students are female, only 41 per cent of students taking IT-related courses are women, and women make up only 43 per cent of STEM enrolments—and mostly in non-engineering or non-IT fields, according to statistics from the Commission on Higher Education.’
The country ranks 10th in the world in terms of the gender gap and first in the whole of Asia according to a Pew Research Center survey.
Applications should be made directly to the participating universities and should meet the specific requirements. For more information, please visit: www.britishcouncil.org/study-work-abroad/in-uk/scholarship-women-stem and your chosen university’s website.
The British Council Scholarships for Women in STEM applications are open until the end of March 2022.
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FAQs
What are the scholarships available for East Asia?
Master’s Southeast Asia cohorts
- Eligible countries: Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam
- 15 scholarships
- Hosting UK universities:
- Brunel University
- Teesside University
- Liverpool John Moores University
Early Academic Fellowship SEA cohorts
- Eligible countries: Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam
- 8 scholarships
- Hosting UK universities:
- University of Glasgow
- University of York
FCDO ASEAN dialogue Master’s cohorts
- Eligible countries: Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia
- 6 scholars
- Hosting UK university: Edinburgh Napier University
What does the Scholarship scheme cover?
The British Council Scholarships for Women in STEM includes tuition fees, stipends, travel costs, visa and health coverage fees. The scholarship also has special support for mothers.
When is the deadline to apply?
The deadline for application to chosen course and scholarship is 31 March 2022. Further information is available on the website.
Can women with children apply for the scholarship?
Yes, special support will be given to women travelling with dependant children.
Where can I find more information regarding the scholarship?
You can visit our British Council webpage that contains general information about the scholarship, as also the links to each participating university: www.britishcouncil.org/study-work-abroad/in-uk/scholarship-women-stem
Who can I contact regarding the scholarship?
Each university has a link and a named contact. All details are provided on the scholarship web page. If you wish to contact the British Council you can send an email to UK.Scholarships@britishcouncil.org
Which master's are included in the scheme?
Each university has published a list of masters that scholars can apply to. Please refer to the web page of the university for the full list of programmes available.
Is there an age limit to apply?
No, there is no age limit for this scholarship.
Which are the eligible countries?
You have to be a citizen of one of the following countries to apply:
- For both Master’s Scholarships and Early Academic Fellowships: Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam
- For FCDO ASEAN dialogue Master’s scholarships: Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia
How many scholarships are there?
There are over 100 scholarships available for courses starting in Autumn 2022.
If I did my undergrad degree in the UK, can I apply for the scholarship to do my master’s degree?
No, this scholarship is only available for women that have not previously studied in the UK.