The University of Strathclyde has been awarded six British Council Scholarships for Women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) for candidates from South Asia in the field of ‘Energy Transition’.
Worth a combined £210,000, under the British Council’s new scholarship programme, six successful candidates from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and from either Afghanistan, Nepal or Sri Lanka, will be awarded a scholarship package worth up to £35,000 for the 21/22 academic year.
This will cover all costs related to study for a one year Masters degree in Engineering on the selected Strathclyde programmes, including tuition fees, a monthly stipend, visa fees and study materials.
Energy expertise
Strathclyde is an expert in the field of Energy Transition and the eligible Faculty of Engineering courses available within this field include Advanced Chemical Engineering, Advanced Mechanical Engineering, Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Energy Systems Innovation, Offshore Wind Energy, Sustainable Engineering: Renewable Energy Systems and the Environment, Subsea & Pipeline Engineering and Wind Energy Systems.
The scholarship programme aims to increase opportunities in STEM for girls and women. According to data from the UN Scientific Education and Cultural Organization, fewer than 30 percent of researchers worldwide are women and only 30 percent of female students select STEM-related fields in higher education.
Gender barriers
The scholarships also focus on supporting women and helping them overcome some of the gender specific barriers they may face when considering studying overseas, such as providing additional funding for mothers to bring their dependents with them.
The Executive Dean of Engineering at Strathclyde, Professor Atilla Incecik, said: “The Faculty of Engineering is delighted to have been awarded six British Council Scholarships for Women in STEM to carry out their MSc studies in subjects related to Energy Transition, including Chemical Engineering, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Smart Grids, Subsea and Pipeline Engineering, and Wind Energy Systems, to name a few.
The launch of this new scholarship programme by the British Council aligns with our own goal at Strathclyde to encourage more females to consider STEM related careers, and to help strengthen the gender balance in many engineering degree courses in the UK.
This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for candidates from the eligible countries to join us in the largest Faculty of Engineering in Scotland to complete their fully funded MSc studies.
We hope for the six chosen candidates it will just be the start of an exciting and successful career ahead.”
The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. They have set up programmes to support Women and Girls in STEM around the world, designed with a lifecycle approach in mind, from inspiring young girls to stay in STEM to supporting women working in these fields reach positions of leadership and network with their peers in their region and the UK.
Applications should be made direct to the University and applicants must have an undergraduate degree that will enable them to gain access onto one of the pre-selected postgraduate courses and be able to demonstrate a need for financial support.