Deadline: 28-Oct-22
UK higher education and research institutions that wish to participate as host institutions for the British Council Scholarships for Women in STEM are invited to submit an expression of interest.
The British Council Scholarships for Women in STEM support women from eligible countries to develop their academic skills in the UK.
This is an excellent of opportunity for UK institutions to attract talented female students from around the world and narrow the gender gap in STEM fields.
In particular, the British Council Scholarship for Women in STEM and Academic Fellowship Programme will:
- Significantly increase the number of opportunities for women from the eligible countries able to complete a UK Master’s degree in 2023/24 academic year.
- Increase research partnership opportunities for women in South Asia and East Asia with the UK.
- Ensure scholar selection will be based on an individual’s academic potential and demonstrated case for financial support. They will be particularly encouraging of women whose identities include multiple intersecting factors, including race, class, and religion, and women who are mothers.
- Provide the selected scholars with a foundation to launch their careers in higher education and research in their home country.
- Enable individuals to promote and enhance science and innovation in their home country through their exposure to the expertise in the UK’s renowned STEM research sector.
- Ensure scholars create strong and lasting connections with the UK through active engagement in the alumni network, directly contributing towards/supporting the success of this programme in future iterations of the Scholarship.
- Provide a platform for the countries included in this call and the UK to work together to address the significant challenge of the gender gap in STEM.
Types
Two types of opportunity are available:
- Funding for Master’s degree scholarships
- Funding for Early Academic Fellowship opportunities (S. Asia and E. Asia only)
Funding Information
- Each cohort has a value of £180,000 each which the British Council will pay as a grant to the HEI or Research Institution selected for that cohort in November 2022.
- For each cohort, the Institution and British Council will select applicants to be recipients of full scholarships (with an average value of £36,000 per Master scholar) to study in the UK.
Eligibility Criteria
- For Masters scholarships
- All participating institutions must be listed on the UK Home Office Register of Student Route Sponsors (approved Education Providers) and QAA/OfS/SFC/HEFCW/DfE inspected and approved
- UK institutions should propose 1-year Master’s programmes fit within each eligible subject area, and which meet the spirit of ODA funding, and will therefore be included in the scheme
- UK Universities should demonstrate how they will connect scholars with industry partners and provide opportunities for internships, placements or networking for the students – including support for the scholar to stay in the UK via the Graduate Route, if desired.
- UK Universities should demonstrate how they will support welfare of applicants and the “student experience”
- Desirable: special consideration will be given to UK Universities that can contribute with cash or in-kind to the overall Scholarship programme (beyond making up any projected shortfall) potentially increasing the number of scholarships available in their cohort, and/or that can demonstrate added value to the overall student study and welfare experience.
- For Early Academic Fellowships
- All participating institutions must be UK Higher Education Institutions, or other UK institutions eligible to receive UKRI funding.
- UK institutions should propose 6 to 12-month research fellowship opportunities, which meet the spirit of ODA funding.
- If a fellowship lasts longer than one year, funding will be capped for the first year only. The costs of any subsequent years must be guaranteed and covered in full by the UK institution and to the same level as in year 1 with reasonable allowances for cost-of-living increases.
- Institutions should demonstrate how they will support welfare and career development of scholars.
- Desirable: special consideration will be given to UK institutions that can contribute with cash or in-kind to the overall Fellowship programme (beyond making up any projected shortfall) potentially increasing the number of fellowships available in their cohort, and/or that can demonstrate added value to career development.
- Scholars must:
- Be a woman
- Be a passport holder and permanent resident of one of the eligible countries.
- For Masters: Meet the entry requirement of the UK HEI for the course they apply for, including academic equivalents and English language
- For the Early Academic Fellowship: have received your PhD in the last 12 months and have a letter of acceptance from the hosting lab or department.
- Demonstrate case for financial support / socio-economic need
- Not be in receipt of financial support or funding towards their study programme in the UK from any other source
- Have not previously studied at degree level or higher in the UK or lived recently in the UK
- Indicate their preference for course and institution in the case of applying to multiple institutions.
- Meet the English language requirement of the UK HEI
- Be motivated and academically able to follow and benefit from a UK postgraduate taught course.
- Be active in the field with work experience or with a proven interest in the proposed subject area.
- Be willing to demonstrate future contribution to capacity-building and socio-economic advancement through the benefits achieved after graduating from UK higher education.
- Agree to maintain contact with the British Council and act as an ambassador for the UK and engage with activities as part of a Scholarships for Women in STEM alumnus during and after their studies in the UK.
- Demonstrate a plan and a passion to engage other women and girls in STEM from their home country.
- Agree to their personal data being shared with the British Council as a condition of applying for the scholarship.
For more information, visit https://bit.ly/3Mpo8cl