British Council Expands Fully Funded UK Opportunities for Women

The British Council is offering fully funded scholarships in the United Kingdom for Bangladeshi female students interested in pursuing higher education in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). For the sixth consecutive time, the organization has launched the ‘Women in STEM’ scholarship program. This year, a total of 90 scholarships will be awarded globally, with students from 30 countries eligible to apply. Under an allocation of 25 scholarships for South Asia, students from the region will have the opportunity to study at five universities in the United Kingdom.

As part of the British Council’s ‘Going Global Partnerships’ initiative, the program enables female students to pursue one-year postgraduate degrees in STEM-related fields at top universities and research institutions in the UK. Interested applicants can find detailed information on the British Council’s global and Bangladesh websites.

So far, 43 leading universities in the United Kingdom have joined the program, and approximately 500 students have received this prestigious scholarship. Applications for the ‘British Council Scholarship for Women in STEM’ will remain open until April 30.

According to sources at British Council Dhaka, for the 2026–27 academic year, the minimum financial value of each scholarship is £40,000. The fully funded package includes tuition fees, living allowances, travel and visa costs, healthcare fees, and English language support. Selected students will have the opportunity to study at world-class research universities in the UK, build connections with STEM sector experts, and become part of the UK’s global alumni network.

Dr. Jane Bardsley, Global Head of Enabling Research and Science at the British Council, said, “This initiative is helping to remove barriers faced by women in building careers in STEM and is fostering more inclusive and diverse voices in science.”

Taufiq Hasan, Head of Education at British Council Bangladesh, said, “By connecting emerging women leaders with the UK’s world-class research and innovation ecosystem, we are committed to building an inclusive and future-ready STEM environment in Bangladesh.”

Bangladeshi STEM scholar Sadia Zaman said, “My experience as a ‘Women in STEM’ scholar of the British Council has been life-changing. It has strengthened both my research skills and my engagement in feminist practice.”

DBTech/MRR/EK/OR