The British Council has officially opened applications for the sixth consecutive year of the Women in STEM Scholarship programme. This initiative provides over 90 fully funded scholarships globally, with a specific cohort of 25 scholarships dedicated to applicants from South Asia.

Participating Universities (South Asia Cohort) For the 2026-27 academic year, five prestigious UK universities are partnering to host scholars from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka:

University of Edinburgh: Data Science, AI, Health Sciences University of Glasgow: Engineering, Physics, Computing

University of Manchester: Environmental Tech, Biotechnology Queen Mary

University of London: Robotics, Mathematics, Electronic Engineering

Brunel University London: Sustainable Energy, Civil Engineering

Important Dates & Deadlines Deadlines vary by institution.

Applicants must apply to the university first or simultaneously as per the specific university’s instructions.

Application Window: Now Open General Deadlines: Most application portals close between late March and late April 2026.

Note: Candidates should verify individual course deadlines on the respective university portals immediately.

Scholarship Benefits (Value: £40,000+)

This is a fully funded award designed to remove all financial barriers:

Tuition Fees: 100% coverage for a one-year Master’s degree.

Stipend: Monthly living allowance to cover housing and food.

Travel & Visa: Includes return economy flights and UK visa fees.

Health: Coverage for the NHS Health Surcharge.

English Support: Financial support for English language testing (IELTS) if required.

Eligibility Checklist To be eligible, an applicant must:

1. Gender: Be a woman (as defined by UK legislation).
2. Residency: Be a permanent resident of an eligible country (e.g., Bangladesh).
3. Academics: Have completed an undergraduate degree by the time of enrollment.
4. Financial Need: Demonstrate a clear case for financial support.
5. Commitment: Agree to return to their home country for at least two years after the scholarship to contribute to local STEM advancement.
6. Experience: Preference is given to those without significant prior study or work experience in the UK.