Five British Council scholarships in science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) for master's degree female students from India and other South Asian nations have been announced by the University of Manchester. The fully-funded scholarships will cover full tuition costs as well as most expenditure connected with studying abroad, such as flights, visas, and a monthly stipend, with allowances made for accompanying children.
It was highlighted by the university as part of collaboration between the British Council and India's Department of Science and Technology (DST) on the Gender Advancement through Transforming Institutions, or GATI, initiative, which aims to advance women in STEM in India.
Professor of Environmental Geochemistry and Associate Dean for Internationalisation at the Faculty of Science and Engineering at the University of Manchester, Dr David Polya, said, "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.”
He added, “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.”
Applicants for the new scholarships must show that they are financially needy and engaged in their field of study, either through job experience or a demonstrated interest in the subject area they are enrolling for. They must also show that they have plans to contribute to capacity-building and socioeconomic growth in the future, as well as a plan and motivation to involve more women and girls in STEM.
Barbara Wickham, Country Director of the British Council in India, stated, "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.”
She added, “The British Council is committed to girls’ education and addressing gender imbalance in science, technology and innovation, including in academia.” According to the British Council, approximately 180 Indian women have been allowed to pursue a master's degree in STEM topics in the UK since 2018.
Wickham said, “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.”
According to data from the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), women account for less than 30% of researchers globally, and only 30% of female students choose STEM-related professions in higher education. Female enrollment in computer and communications technology (3%) is relatively low globally, as is enrollment in natural science, mathematics, and statistics (5%), and engineering, manufacturing, and construction (8%). Prospective students with a Manchester University offer are encouraged to apply before the April 10.
Current Issue
