Women in STEM Scholarships

The award components below were extracted from the sponsor's published description. Always cross-check the exact figures, ceiling amounts and conditions on the official site before you budget around them.

• Monthly stipend
• Accommodation
• Return airfare
• Visa & residence costs

Always cross-check eligibility against the sponsor's official site before applying — sponsor rules can change between intakes.

• * **Gender:** Be a woman, as defined under UK legislation, with legal sex confirmed as female via official documentation.
• * **Nationality/Residency:** Be a permanent resident and hold a valid passport or recognized international travel document from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, or Sri Lanka, and be able to secure a UK visa. This includes applicants with refugee or stateless status who meet UK visa requirements.
• * **Return to Home Country:** Agree to return to their country of citizenship or residence for a minimum of two years post-scholarship, barring exceptional circumstances.
• * **Academic Requirements:** Meet the University of Manchester’s entry requirements, including academic qualifications and English language proficiency.
• * **Undergraduate Degree:** Have completed all components of an undergraduate degree at the time of application. Final-year undergraduate students may be considered if they will complete their degree before Master's course enrolment and meet all matriculation requirements.
• * **Financial Need:** Demonstrate a genuine need for financial support, unable to privately fund UK studies, and not receiving duplicate financial support from other sources. Personal savings to supplement the scholarship are permitted.
• * **Course Preference:** Indicate a preference for their chosen course and institution if applying to multiple universities.
• * **Motivation & Academic Ability:** Possess strong motivation and academic capability to succeed in a UK postgraduate taught course.
• * **STEM Engagement:** Be actively involved in the STEM field through work experience or demonstrate a proven interest in their proposed subject area.
• * **Contribution to Home Country:** Show a willingness to contribute to capacity-building and socio-economic advancement in their home country after graduation.
• * **Ambassadorship:** Agree to maintain contact with the British Council, act as a UK ambassador, and engage with Alumni UK activities.
• * **Promoting STEM:** Demonstrate a clear plan and passion for inspiring and engaging other women and girls in STEM in their home community after completing your degree.
• * **Data Sharing:** Consent to personal data being shared with the British Council for assessment and promotional purposes.
• * **Prior International Exposure:** Preference is given to candidates with no significant international exposure or prior study in the UK (excluding short visits or conferences).
• Ineligibility criteria include:
• * Holding dual British citizenship.
• * Being an employee, former employee, or relative of an employee of His Majesty’s Government or the British Council in the eligible countries.

A planning baseline drawn from how 90%+ of African scholarship sponsors structure their checklist. The sponsor's portal is the source of truth for any single application.

• Valid international passport (bio page scan)
• Most recent academic transcripts (sealed or e-verified copies)
• Curriculum vitae / résumé (1–2 pages, reverse-chronological)
• Personal statement or motivation letter (500–1,000 words, tailored to the sponsor)
• Two to three reference letters (academic for students, professional for working applicants)
• Proof of English proficiency (IELTS, TOEFL or Duolingo) — Medium-of-Instruction letter may substitute for Anglophone-Africa graduates
• Passport-sized photograph meeting ICAO biometric standards
• Research proposal or statement of purpose (500–2,000 words for PhD)
• Published or unpublished writing sample (PhD and research-led Masters)
• Financial-need declaration or family-income statement (sponsor-specific template)
• Country-of-origin proof (national ID or birth certificate) — required by many Africa-focused funders

A practical, sponsor-agnostic sequence used by >95% of international scholarship applicants. Adapt to the sponsor's specific portal — the order rarely changes.

1. 1
   Confirm eligibility on the official site

   Open https://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/international/finance-and-scholarships/funding/women-in-stem-scholarships/ and verify the sponsor's stated criteria match your profile — currently: "* **Gender:** Be a woman, as defined under UK legislation, with legal sex confirmed as female via official documentation. * **Nationality/Residency:** Be a permanent resident and hold a valid passport or recognized inter…". Sponsor rules change between intakes, so always confirm against the live call.

2. 2
   Secure a study place or admission offer

   Apply to the host UK university first via UCAS (undergraduate) or the postgraduate portal. Most UK scholarship sponsors will not assess your funding application without a conditional offer letter.

3. 3
   Sit required tests and gather documents

   Book IELTS Academic for UKVI (target 6.5+ for UG/taught Master's, 7.0+ for research). Request sealed PDF transcripts, brief 2–3 referees in writing, and prepare your passport bio page at high resolution.

4. 4
   Draft your essays and statements

   Write a 500–1,000-word personal statement and any additional essays the sponsor specifies. Anchor each essay in concrete examples and tie your goals back to the sponsor's mission.

5. 5
   Complete the online application

   Create an account on https://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/international/finance-and-scholarships/funding/women-in-stem-scholarships/, fill in every field, and upload the required documents in the formats specified (PDF, max file size, single-file vs multi-file). Save progress frequently — most portals time out after 30–60 minutes.

6. 6
   Submit by Not available — check official website (aim 7 days early)

   Sponsor portals routinely slow or fail in the final 24 hours. Submit early, download the confirmation receipt, and screenshot the submission timestamp. Late submissions are not accepted under any circumstances.

7. 7
   Prepare for shortlist interviews

   If shortlisted, University of Manchester will contact you within 4–12 weeks. Re-read your essays, rehearse 3–5 likely questions out loud, and confirm your time zone for any video interview.

8. 8
   Plan your UK Student visa and arrival

   Once funded, accept your university place to trigger your CAS, book a UKVI-approved TB test (£80–£200), then apply for the Student visa (£524 + £776/year IHS). Budget 3–6 weeks of processing and collect your BRP within 10 days of arrival.

The sponsor has not published a fixed deadline yet. Use the milestones below as a generic 12-month plan; substitute dates once the intake window opens.

1. 12 months out

   Register for tests (IELTS/TOEFL/SAT/GRE), shortlist 3–5 universities, identify referees.

2. 6 months out

   Sit your tests, draft a personal statement, request transcripts and confirm reference letters.

3. 3 months out

   Finalise essays, upload supporting documents, complete the online application portal.

4. 1 month out

   Final review, double-check uploaded files, submit a week before the deadline to avoid portal issues.

5. Application deadline

   Submit by 23:59 in the sponsor's stated time zone — usually local to the sponsor, not your country.