British Council Women in STEM Scholarships 2026-2027

Applications for Women in STEM Scholarships for the 2026-27 academic year are now open. The scholarship programme is entering its sixth consecutive year. To date, the programme has engaged 43 leading UK universities and awarded around 500 scholarships.

The British Council's Women in STEM scholarship programme addresses this by providing funding for one-year master's degree programmes at top ranking universities and research institutions within the UK, for women from socioeconomically and disadvantaged contexts.  

• Table of Content
• About British Council
• British Council Women in STEM Scholarships
• Aim and Benefits of British Council Women in STEM Scholarships
• Requirements for British Council Women in STEM Scholarships Qualification
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About British Council

The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We create friendly knowledge and understanding between the people of the UK and other countries. We do this by making a positive contribution to the UK and the countries we work with – changing lives by creating opportunities, building connections and engendering trust. We work with over 100 countries across the world in the fields of arts and culture, English language, education and civil society. Last year we reached over 80 million people directly and 791 million p... continue reading

British Council Women in STEM Scholarships

Aim and Benefits of British Council Women in STEM Scholarships

The programme provides:

• Full scholarships – this includes monetary support, tuition fees, living stipends, travel and visa costs, health coverage fees and English language support. Each scholarship is worth a minimum of £40,000.
• Access to world-leading science and research universities – UK universities are globally recognised for science and research excellence. The UK is ranked second in the world for science and research.  
• Career opportunities – the scholarships help enhance women’s careers in STEM and enable them to promote research and innovation in their home country through their exposure to expertise in the UK’s renowned STEM fields.  
• Alumni networks – the scholarships provide a long-lasting platform to connect with UK alumni. 

Requirements for British Council Women in STEM Scholarships Qualification

The eligibility criteria for those applying for a Women in STEM scholarship are set out below. They have been approved by the British Council and all participating partners and universities for the 2026-27 British Council Scholarships for Women in STEM.

1. Be a woman, as defined under UK legislation. [1]
2. Be a permanent resident of, and hold a valid passport or recognised international travel document from, one of the eligible countries listed, and be able to obtain a UK visa using the documentation they hold. [2] Applicants must agree to return to their country of citizenship or residence for a minimum of two years after the scholarship ends, except in very exceptional circumstances where return would be impossible or unsafe.
3. Meet the entry requirement of the UK higher education institution for the course they apply for, including academic equivalent qualifications and English language proficiency.
4. Have completed all components of an undergraduate degree at the time of submitting the application for the scholarship. Students in the final year of their undergraduate degree may be considered if they will have completed their degree in time for enrolment to the master’s course in the UK and meet all matriculation requirements.
5. Demonstrate a case for financial support. Applicants must not be able to privately fund their UK studies and must not be in receipt of financial support from any other source [3] that duplicates the core benefits of the scholarship. Private savings that can top up the scholarship is permitted.
6. Preference will be given to candidates who have not had any significant international exposure or previously studied in the UK. This includes distance learning at UK universities or study at UK branch campuses abroad. We define significant experience as a period of study over one month, or enrolment on or completion of an international degree course. Short term visits such as study tours or conferences are permitted.
7. Indicate their preference for course and institution if applying to multiple institutions.
8. Be motivated and academically able to follow and benefit from a UK postgraduate taught course.
9. Be active in the STEM field with work experience or with a proven interest in the proposed subject area.
10. Be willing to contribute to capacity-building and socio-economic advancement in their home country after graduating from the master’s course in the UK.
11. Agree to maintain contact with the British Council and act as an ambassador for the UK, and engage with Alumni UK activities during and after their master’s course in the UK.
12. Demonstrate a plan and a passion to engage other women and girls in STEM from their home country.
13. Agree to their personal data being shared with the British Council for assessment and purposes of promotional activity, as a condition of applying for the scholarship.

Eligible countries/territories

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Application Deadline

How to Apply

• A list of participating universities and eligible countries/territories is provided for you 
• You can apply to more than one university, but you will need to apply to each university separately. Please ensure you read the information on eligibility criteria and the university application process carefully, as these may be different for each university. Deadlines for applications may also vary. 
• After submitting an application, you will next hear directly from the university about the status of your application. For questions relating to your course(s) of interest, please contact the university in question. 
• If you have any broader questions about the scholarships, please contact the British Council by emailing [email protected]. Should you be unable to locate the university's contact information, you may also email us. 

For more Information, visit British Council Scholarship webpage