The British Council Women in STEM Scholarship 2027 funds women from selected countries through a one-year master’s degree in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics at a UK university, with each award worth at least £40,000. It is one of the few major scholarships built only for women, and it works differently from Chevening or Commonwealth: you apply straight to the partner universities, not to the British Council, and both the universities and the eligible countries change every cycle. In this article, we have explained everything you need to know about the Women in STEM Scholarship, including its benefits, eligibility criteria, required documents, and a step-by-step application process to help you apply successfully.
One thing to know before you plan around it. The 2026–27 round has closed: university deadlines ran between February and April 2026, and shortlisting results went out in early June. The British Council advises applicants to check again in January 2027 for the 2027–28 round. That makes right now the preparation window, and preparation matters more here than for most scholarships, because you need a university application, proof of English, and a financial-need case ready before the short deadlines arrive.
The programme has run since 2020 under the British Council’s Going Global Partnerships, has worked with 43 UK universities, and has awarded around 500 scholarships. The most recent cycle offered up to 90 scholarships across 30 countries and territories.
Related Fully Funded Scholarships
- Chevening Scholarship
- Commonwealth Scholarship
- UK Scholarships for International Students
- Fully Funded Scholarships for International Students
British Council Women in STEM Scholarship Summary
- Level of Study: Master’s (one-year taught programmes)
- Institutions: Partner UK universities, selected each cycle. Recent cohorts included Durham, Bath, Cardiff, Brunel, Cranfield, and Stirling, each serving a specific region.
- Study Destination: United Kingdom
- Courses Offered: Selected STEM master’s programmes at each partner university. Not every STEM course at a partner university is included, so check the approved course list on the university’s scholarship page.
- Number of Scholarships: Up to 90 in the most recent cycle, split into regional quotas, for example 25 for South Asia across five universities and 20 for the Americas across four
- Program Period: One academic year
British Council Women in STEM Scholarship Deadline
The 2026–27 round is closed. Deadlines were set by each university and fell between February and April 2026, with results in early June. The British Council says candidates should check again in January 2027 for the 2027–28 academic year.
Two habits will serve you when the new round opens. Each university sets its own deadline, so one closing does not end the cycle, and some universities run a two-part process where the academic application closes weeks before the scholarship form. Durham, for example, wanted the academic application a full month before the scholarship application in the last round.
British Council Women in STEM Scholarship Coverage
Each scholarship is worth a minimum of £40,000 and covers the whole cost of the year:
- Full tuition fees for the master’s programme
- A stipend for living costs
- Travel to and from the UK
- Visa and health surcharge costs
- English language support where a scholar needs it
In earlier cycles, the programme has also provided extra support for scholars with children, which almost no other UK scholarship offers. Check the current cycle’s terms on the official page, since the exact package is confirmed per round.
Eligibility Criteria for the British Council Women in STEM Scholarship
To qualify, the candidate must fulfill the following requirements:
- Required Language: English, at the level your chosen university requires for the course
- Eligible Countries: Around 30 countries and territories per cycle, organised by region (South Asia, the Americas including Mexico and Brazil, Wider Europe, ASEAN, and others). The list changes every year, so check the current country list before doing anything else.
- Be a woman with a completed undergraduate degree in a relevant field, or in your final year with graduation before the master’s begins
- Hold a passport of, and be a permanent resident in, one of the eligible countries
- Demonstrate financial need. This is a need-based award. You must show you cannot fund UK study privately and hold no other funding that duplicates the scholarship. Private savings that top it up are allowed.
- Commit to returning home for at least two years after the scholarship ends
- Meet your chosen university’s entry requirements, including English
Two details most articles skip, and both change who should apply. First, preference goes to women without significant international experience: if you have studied abroad for a month or more, or taken a UK degree by distance learning, you sit lower in the queue. This scholarship deliberately looks for talented women the international system has not yet reached. Second, employees of the British Council or the UK government, and their close relatives, cannot apply.
How to Apply for the British Council Women in STEM Scholarship?
Please follow the instructions below:
- When the round opens (expect January 2027 for the next one), open the official scholarship page and confirm your country is on that cycle’s list. If it is not, nothing else matters this year.
- Find the partner universities serving your region and the approved STEM courses at each. The course lists are on the universities’ own scholarship pages.
- Apply for admission to your chosen course through the university’s normal postgraduate application, with transcripts, references, and English proof. Start this early, because at some universities the admission deadline comes well before the scholarship one.
- Complete the university’s Women in STEM scholarship application, where your financial-need case and your motivation carry the selection. Our statement of purpose guide covers how to write the story that committees respond to.
- You may apply to more than one partner university, with a separate application for each, and you state your preference if you do.
- Wait for the university to contact you. All communication after submission comes from the university, not the British Council. Shortlisted candidates may be interviewed, and our scholarship interview guide covers what to expect.
Documents Required for the British Council Women in STEM Scholarship
Exact lists come from each university, but expect to need:
- Undergraduate degree certificate and transcripts, translated where needed
- Passport (from an eligible country)
- Proof of English proficiency at your university’s required level
- References for the academic application
- A statement of purpose or motivation essay
- Evidence supporting your financial-need case
- An up-to-date academic CV
Website
To learn more about the British Council Women in STEM Scholarship, please visit the official website:
For general programme questions, the British Council’s contact address is womeninstem.scholarships@britishcouncil.org. Course questions go to the universities directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Women in STEM Scholarship open right now?
No. The 2026–27 round closed in spring 2026 and results went out in June. The British Council advises checking again in January 2027 for the 2027–28 round, and this preparation window is when strong applications get built.
Which countries are eligible?
Around 30 per cycle, grouped by region, and the list genuinely changes each year. A country eligible last round can be absent this round and back the next, so always work from the current official list rather than an old article.
Can I apply to more than one university?
Yes. Each university needs its own complete application, and you indicate which is your preference. Applying to two or three eligible universities in your region is a sensible way to use the rule.
Do I need IELTS?
You need to meet whatever English requirement your chosen university sets for the course, and each sets its own, including which alternatives it accepts. The scholarship itself adds English language support for scholars who need it after selection. Our scholarships without IELTS guide explains the alternatives universities commonly take.
I already studied abroad for a semester. Can I still apply?
You can, but the programme states a preference for women without significant international experience, defined as study abroad of a month or more. A short conference or study tour does not count against you. Be honest about it in your application, because the requirement exists to reach women the system has missed.
Does the scholarship support mothers?
The programme has provided additional support for scholars with children in earlier cycles, which is rare among UK scholarships. Confirm the current cycle’s provision on the official page before you budget around it.
