The School of Life Sciences at Westminster has been awarded the British Council Women In STEM Scholarships programme for the 2025-26 academic year. The application was led by Dr Saki Raheem, Reader in Biological Chemistry and Biochemistry and Dr Miriam Dwek, Research and Knowledge Exchange Director in the School of Life Sciences. The programme addresses the underrepresentation of women by providing opportunities for women from selected countries to continue with their studies and research in STEM subjects.
This opportunity allows the School of Life Sciences to host women from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia to study at the University of Westminster.
The scholarship aims to increase the number of opportunities for women from the eligible countries and enable them to complete a UK Master’s degree in the 2025-26 academic year. It also ensures that scholar selection will be based on an individual’s academic potential and their demonstrated case for financial support. It aims to provide the scholars with a foundation to launch their careers in Higher Education and Research in their home country, enable individuals to promote and enhance Science and Innovation in their home country through their exposure to the expertise in the UK’s renowned STEM research sector, and provide a platform for the eligible countries and the UK to work together to address the challenge of the gender gap in STEM.
Since 2020, the British Council has delivered the programme in partnership with selected UK universities and research institutions and has awarded over 300 scholarships. The Scholarships programme is supported by funding from the British Council’s Going Global Partnerships programme. Going Global Partnerships supports universities, colleges and wider education stakeholders around the world to work together towards stronger, more equitable, inclusive and more internationally connected higher education, science and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
About this award, Dr Saki Raheem said: “In collaboration with the British Council, the University of Westminster is proud to contribute to tackling gender inequality by enabling women scholars to pursue STEM studies. We look forward to welcoming the first cohort of STEM scholars from the Wider Europe region.”
This scholarship programme directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 4: Quality Education and 5: Gender Equality. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
Learn more about Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at the University of Westminster.
Related articles
