British Council Scholarships for Women in STEM 2026

The Women in STEM Scholarship Programme offers funding for women from eligible countries to pursue a one-year master’s degree in the UK.

Cardiff University, in partnership with the British Council, is proud to join the Women in STEM Scholarship initiative by offering five fully funded scholarships for female students from Mexico. We are looking for women with a background in STEM who can demonstrate their need for financial support and who wish to inspire future generations of women to pursue careers in STEM.

Since 2020, the British Council, in partnership with selected UK universities and research institutions, has awarded over 300 scholarships through this initiative.

Empowering women through education

According to UNESCO data, less than 30% of the world’s researchers are women, and only 30% of female students choose STEM-related fields in higher education.

Female enrolment globally is especially low in:

• Information and Communications Technology (3%)
• Natural Science, Mathematics, and Statistics (5%)
• Engineering, Manufacturing, and Construction (8%)

Increasing the number of women in STEM benefits both science and industry. It promotes workforce diversity, brings new perspectives, and provides organisations with a competitive edge.

Eligible programmes

The scholarship is available to eligible students studying in selected postgraduate taught degree programmes:

Eligible countries for Cardiff University

• Mexico

Scholarship value

The scholarship covers the full costs associated with study at Cardiff University, including:

• Full tuition fees
• Up to 12-months monthly stipend at the rate of £20,780 each year/annually
• IELTS exam fees
• Return economy class travel to the UK from your home country
• Visa, insurance and other related and ad hoc costs

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible for the British Council Scholarships for Women in STEM, you must:

• Be a woman, as defined under UK legislation ¹.
• Be a permanent resident of, and hold a valid passport or recognised international travel document from, one of the eligible countries listed, and be able to obtain a UK visa using the documentation they hold ². Applicants must agree to return to their country of citizenship or residence for a minimum of two years after the scholarship ends, except in very exceptional circumstances where return would be impossible or unsafe.
• Meet the entry requirements of the UK Higher Education Institution for the course they apply for, including academic equivalent qualifications and English language proficiency.
• Have completed all components of an undergraduate degree at the time of applying for the scholarship. Students in the final year of their undergraduate degree may be considered if they will have completed their degree in time for enrolment to the Master’s course in the UK and meet all matriculation requirements.
• Demonstrate a case for financial support. Applicants must not be able to fund their UK studies privately and must not receive financial support from any other source ³ that duplicates the core benefits of the scholarship. Private savings that can top up the scholarship is permitted.
• Preference will be given to candidates who have not had any significant international exposure or previously studied in the UK. This includes distance learning at UK universities or studying at UK branch campuses abroad. We define significant experience as a period of study lasting one month or more, or enrollment in or completion of an international degree course. Short-term visits such as study tours or conferences are permitted.
• Indicate their preference for the course and institution if applying to multiple institutions.
• Be motivated and academically able to follow and benefit from a UK postgraduate taught course.
• Be active in the STEM field with work experience or with a proven interest in the proposed subject area.
• Be willing to contribute to capacity-building and socio-economic advancement in their home country after graduating from the Master’s course in the UK.
• Agree to maintain contact with the British Council and act as an ambassador for the UK, and engage with Alumni UK activities during and after their Master’s course in the UK.
• Demonstrate a plan and a passion to engage other women and girls in STEM from their home country.
• Agree to their personal data being shared with the British Council for assessment and purposes of promotional purposes, as a condition of applying for the scholarship.

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.

¹Applicants must be able to confirm their legal sex as female, evidenced by a passport or other official documentation, when requested by their institution. This will be a condition of acceptance.
²This includes applicants who have refugee or stateless status, provided you meet the UK visa requirements under current immigration rules. Applicants must be able to demonstrate their legal status and provide documentation that enables them to travel to and from the UK.
³Additional awards may be allowed if they are aimed at enhancing academic or professional development, provided they do not replicate the Women in STEM scholarship’s provisions

How to apply

To apply for this scholarship, you are first required to apply for the relevant master’s programme.

Once you have submitted your academic application, please email pse-students@cardiff.ac.uk to access the scholarship application form.

For enquiries, contact our International Scholarships team at InternationalScholarships@cardiff.ac.uk.