Scholarship Types

British Council Women in STEM Scholarships 2027/28

The only genuinely fully funded British Council programme: about £40,000 per scholar for a one-year STEM master's in the UK. Here's who qualifies and how to apply.

ScholarshipUnion Editorial 3 min read Updated Oct 6, 2026

This One Is Actually Fully Funded

Unlike GREAT Scholarships, Women in STEM covers everything: full tuition, a living stipend, flights, visa fee and health surcharge — and a child allowance for eligible mothers. This is the British Council programme worth getting excited about.

£40K

Value per scholar

500+

Awarded to date

100%

Costs covered

STEM

Fields only

According to the British Council, the programme has engaged 43 UK universities and awarded over 500 scholarships to date. Applications for 2026/27 are closed, and as of October 2026 the British Council has not announced a 2027/28 round for students. Reports that it pays partner universities about £200,000 per cohort of five scholars (about £40,000 each) are unconfirmed, so treat the £40,000 figure as an estimate.

What's Covered

Full tuition fees — 100% of tuition at your partner university.
Monthly living stipend — for 12 months, to cover rent, food and transport.
Return flights — economy class to and from the UK.
Visa fee and health surcharge — both covered in full.
Child allowance — for scholars who are single, widowed or divorced mothers living with their children in the UK: a monthly allowance per child. Earlier rounds reportedly paid at least £465 a month for the first child and £114 for the second and third (under 16); confirm current amounts with your university.
Study costs — other study-related costs and English language support.

Who Can Apply

Gender: you must identify as a woman. This is strictly enforced.
Subject: a STEM subject (Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics). Medicine, health sciences and environmental science often qualify too.
Country: passport holder and permanent resident of that year's eligible countries. The list changes each year and is published when a round opens.
Background and need: you must show financial need. Coming from a disadvantaged or underrepresented context — economic hardship, first-generation student, disability, ethnic minority, or a region with limited access to higher education — is central to the programme.
Degree: all components of your undergraduate degree completed when you apply, and no previous degree-level study (or recent residence) in the UK.
Level: one-year master's programmes at designated partner universities in the UK.
Commitment: leadership potential, a plan to promote gender equality in STEM, and a return to your home country for at least two years after the award.

How to Apply

1
Check the partner university list
Not all UK universities take part. Check the British Council website for the current Women in STEM partner universities and eligible STEM programmes.
2
Apply for the master's programme
Submit your university application first. You need an offer (at QMUL in 2026, by 30 April) to be considered.
3
Jan – Apr 2027, if a round runs
Complete the Women in STEM scholarship form
A separate form on the university's scholarship portal. Include your personal background story, STEM motivation and gender equality commitment. In 2026 the window ran from 16 January to 14 April.
4
June 2027, if a round runs
Selection and interview (some universities)
Some universities interview shortlisted candidates. Selection is joint between the university and the British Council; in 2026, universities sent shortlisting results in the first week of June.

Frequently Asked Questions

Eligible countries change each year. The programme typically targets women from low- and middle-income countries, so check the latest list on the British Council website.

Broadly: low family income, first in your family to attend university, disability, living in a remote or rural area, ethnic or religious minority, refugee status, or any other significant barrier to education. You'll need to describe your specific circumstances and financial need in the application.

You can apply for both, but you typically can't hold both at the same university. Apply for Women in STEM as your primary target (it's fully funded) and GREAT as a backup.

It helps with childcare costs while you study, but UK nursery fees can be £1,000–1,500 a month in cities, so the allowance may not cover everything. It is aimed at single, widowed or divorced mothers accompanied by their children. Contact your university for exact amounts.

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