The University of Manchester is offering five fully-funded British Council scholarships for women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) master’s degree students from India and other countries in South Asia.
The scholarship aims to increase opportunities for women and girls studying in those fields and will cover full tuition fees and most expenses associated with study overseas including flights, visas and a monthly stipend, with provisions also made for accompanying children.
According to data from the UN Scientific Education and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), fewer than 30% of researchers worldwide are women and only 30% of female students select STEM-related fields in higher education.
Globally, female students’ enrolment is particularly low in information and communications technology (3%), natural science, mathematics and statistics (5%), and engineering, manufacturing and construction (8%).
“As the world’s top university in the Times Higher Education (THE) 2021 impact rankings for action on sustainable development goals (SDGs), The University of Manchester is one of the world’s leading research institutes. This scholarship is symbolic of our core social responsibility goals. With the new scholarship offering, we hope we can help to further address the gender imbalance seen within STEM subjects alongside giving a passport to a successful career and a lifetime of achievement. We are also particularly proud of our further involvement, led by Dr Laura Richards, partnering with the British Council and India’s Department of Science and Technology (DST) on the GATI (Gender Advancement through Transforming Institutions) project advancing women in STEM in India.”
said David Polya, Faculty of Science and Engineering Associate Dean for Internationalisation and Professor of Environmental Geochemistry.
The University of Manchester, led by President and Vice-Chancellor, Dame Nancy Rothwell, has a proud history of innovation in STEM. Manchester was the birthplace of the nuclear age, when Ernest Rutherford’s pioneering research led to the splitting of the atom.
The computer revolution started here in June 1948 when a machine built by Tom Kilburn and Sir Freddie Williams, known affectionately as ‘The Baby’, ran its first stored program. More recently, it is known as the University that isolated graphene, the material of the future, and for its leading role in informing climate change and energy policy, notably through the Head of the School of Engineering, Professor Alice Larkin.
“Based on the overwhelmingly positive experience and feedback from earlier scholarships, we are excited to offer this fourth round of scholarships for women in STEM. With the UK widely recognised as home to some of the world’s top-ranked universities offering quality programmes in STEM, we hope to enable women from across India to access a master’s degree or an academic fellowship at leading UK universities. The British Council is committed to girls’ education and addressing gender imbalance in science, technology and innovation, including in academia. Since 2018, over 180 Indian women have been able to pursue a master’s in STEM subjects in the UK and these new scholarships will support even more women in making transformational changes in their lives and then go on to make a mark in the world and inspire future generations.”
said Barbara Wickham, Country Director British Council India
Potential students are encouraged to apply ahead of the deadline on April 10, 2022, and applicants must be in receipt of a University of Manchester offer. Applicants must demonstrate a case for financial support and that they are active in the field of study with work experience or with a proven interest in the course area they are applying for.
In addition, they must demonstrate plans for future contribution to capacity-building and9 socio-economic advancement, and a plan and passion to engage other women and girls in STEM.
For more information and to apply visit: https://www.britishcouncil.org/study-workabroad/in-uk/scholarship-women-stem
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