The British Council, renowned for fostering educational opportunities and cultural exchanges worldwide, has collaborated with UK universities to introduce scholarships aimed at Women in STEM.
This esteemed scholarship initiative targets female STEM graduates aspiring to pursue master’s degrees in the UK, recognizing the pivotal role women play in diversifying STEM fields and driving innovation.
Highlighting the importance of gender diversity in STEM, the British Council emphasized how women’s participation enriches the workforce with unique perspectives, ultimately propelling scientific and technological advancements to benefit society at large.
Despite the significance of women in STEM, the World Bank’s Bangladesh Country Gender Assessment 2021 revealed that only 14% of STEM professionals in Bangladesh are women.
To address this gap, the British Council has allocated twenty-five scholarships specifically for women STEM scholars from Bangladesh and other South Asian countries, distributed across esteemed UK higher education institutions including Queen Mary University of London, Anglia Ruskin University, Greenwich University, The University of Southampton, and Coventry University.
These scholarships encompass various fields such as Data Science, Computer Science, Pharmaceutical Science, Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Management, Civil Engineering Management, Intelligent Healthcare, and Actuarial Science.
Toufiq Hasan, head of education Bangladesh at the British Council, emphasized the significance of gender equity in driving scientific progress and innovation, underscoring the scholarship’s role in unlocking women’s potential in STEM and fostering transformative contributions to sustainable development goals.
Covering tuition fees, stipends, travel costs, visa expenses, health coverage, and English language support, the scholarship aims to remove financial barriers hindering women’s advancement in STEM fields.
Since its inception in 2020, the program has awarded over 300 scholarships, with 92 scholars enrolled in selected courses in the 2023-24 global cohorts.
By providing opportunities for women to excel in STEM on a global scale, the British Council remains steadfast in its commitment to empowering women and promoting gender equality in STEM, nurturing future leaders and fostering international collaboration and networking opportunities. Application deadlines vary depending on the university, typically falling between March and April 2024.
