British Council Scholarships for Women in STEM 2026

Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, in partnership with the British Council, is delighted to be able to be able to offer five scholarships as part of the Women in STEM scholarship programme providing funding for women from eligible countries to complete a one-year, full-time master’s degree in the UK.

LSTM is committed to closing the gender pay gap and increasing opportunities for women in the fields of science, technology, engineering and medicine (STEM) and these scholarships will address the financial barriers for women, encouraging leadership opportunities and a more diverse and gender-representative sector.

Eligible Countries for Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine programmes

  • Indonesia
  • Malaysia
  • Myanmar
  • The Philippines
  • Thailand
  • Vietnam

Eligible Programmes at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine

Scholarship Value

Through this project, the British Council will fund five scholarships which will cover the costs associated with studying full-time, on-campus at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine in Liverpool, UK, including:

  • Full tuition fees
  • A monthly maintenance award for accommodation and living costs (for up to 12 months)
  • Return economy class travel to the UK from your home country
  • Visa, insurance/NHS surcharge and other related ad hoc costs

Eligibility Criteria

  • Be a woman as defined under UK legislation
  • Be a passport holder and permanent resident of the eligible countries listed above
  • Have an undergraduate degree to gain entry onto a postgraduate programme at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine by the time you submit your application
  • Demonstrate academic motivation and future contribution to capacity strengthening
  • Not be in receipt of financial support or funding towards study in the UK from any other source
  • Meet the English language requirement of your chosen postgraduate programme at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
  • Hold a conditional offer at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine for your chosen course from the list of eligible courses
  • Return to your country of citizenship for a minimum of two years after your scholarship award has ended
  • Agree that your personal data be shared with the British Council as a condition of applying for the bursary
  • Agree to maintain contact with the British Council and act as an ambassador for the UK, engaging with activities as part of a British Council Scholarships for Women in STEM alumnus during and after your study. Any involvement in these activities during your study in the UK will take up no more than five hours per term

You are NOT eligible for a British Council Scholarship if you:

  • Hold dual British citizenship
  • Have previously studied in the UK with funding from a UK government-funded scholarship or a UK institutional scholarship/financial bursary
  • Are an employee, a former employee, or a relative of an employee of Her Majesty’s Government (including British Embassies/High Commissions; the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy; Department for International Trade; the Ministry of Defence; and the Home Office)
  • Are an employee, a former employee, or a relative of an employee of the British Council Scholarships for Women in STEM

For more details, visit the British Council’s webpage: Women in STEM Scholarships

Application Process

  • Applicants should apply for their chosen Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine programme (see list of eligible programmes above) via our MyLSTM online application portal
  • You must have a conditional offer for an eligible programme at LSTM to apply for this scholarship
  • Applicants must submit a completed scholarship application form to be considered for this award
  • If you have already received an offer, you will be sent a link to the scholarship application form via email
  • If you are still to apply and receive your offer, then you will find the link to the scholarship form in your Conditional Offer letter
  • The deadline to submit your application is 9am on Thursday 30 April 2026

In the Your Statement section of the scholarship application form you must demonstrate the following in a maximum of 700 words:

  • Demonstrate why you would be a suitable recipient of a scholarship
  • Demonstrate in your application that you have work experience or a proven interest in the programme you are applying for
  • Demonstrate future contribution to capacity-building and socio-economic advancement through the benefits achieved after graduating from UK higher education and returning your home country
  • Demonstrate a plan and passion to engage other women and girls in STEM from your home country

Find out more about how to complete your scholarship application form: Applying for Scholarships.

Deadline

9am on Thursday 30 April 2026. Late applications cannot be accepted.

Woman in a white lab coat and clear safety glasses leans over lab work, focused, with a blurred laboratory background.

[00:00:00] STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

It is a field where a lot of innovation happens, but unfortunately there is still not enough representation of girls and women. These subjects are important for development, yet female representation remains low.

STEM subjects are typically ones where women are underrepresented. For me, choosing a career in STEM means making a small difference in the way academia works.

I was interested in science from primary school. I was lucky to go to a school that gave me lots of opportunities, and I wanted to pursue a career in STEM and make a difference.

I wasn’t confident about going into STEM when I was a child, partly because I lacked guidance and there weren’t many girls and women in these subjects. But I always saw STEM as a field that opens up lots of opportunities, and one where you can help drive progress in society through innovation.

[00:01:00] So I think that really inspired me to join STEM.

I grew up in different communities, and I saw inequalities first-hand. Where you live, and what you can access, shape the opportunities people get, especially women.

Another inspiration of mine was my grandfathers. They wanted to pursue careers in STEM subjects, but they couldn’t because they didn’t have access to the right opportunities.

Ever since school, I’ve been interested in health and disease in humans and animals. Choosing a science subject felt like a good way to learn more about that, and to contribute to what we know.

[00:02:00]