Two STEM scholarship programs for women to study in the UK are now accepting applications.

Applications for the ASEAN-UK SAGE Women's STEM Scholarships are now open

The UK Government, in collaboration with the ASEAN Secretariat, launched the ASEAN-UK SAGE Girls’ STEM Scholarships for Women on 28 February. The initiative aims to provide greater access to STEM education for women and girls to address gender disparities in the sector in ASEAN countries and Timor-Leste.

The scholarship will support inspiring individuals in STEM and promote female role models with notable achievements in STEM work. Eleven candidates from Timor-Leste and ASEAN, including Vietnam, will receive a one-year scholarship to complete a master’s degree at the prestigious University of Warwick or Imperial College London in the UK.

The scholarship is fully funded and includes tuition fees, living allowance, round-trip airfare, travel expenses, international English proficiency test fees, visa fees and health insurance. To apply, candidates must meet many criteria such as: having been admitted to designated schools, having completed a bachelor's degree, demonstrating the ability to contribute to the country in the future, returning to the country for at least 2 years after the scholarship program ends and committing to actively working in the STEM field...

In addition, this is also the fourth year that the British Council has implemented the STEM scholarship program for women globally in cooperation with universities in the UK. For Vietnamese candidates, the scholarship is fully funded for one year to complete a master's program at the University of Bristol. Many of the criteria for this scholarship are similar to the ASEAN-UK SAGE STEM scholarship for women.

Both scholarship programs are accepting applications now and the deadline is mid-April 2024.

Criteria for the ASEAN-UK SAGE Women's STEM Scholarship

Mr. Iain Frew, British Ambassador to Vietnam, said that the launch of the ASEAN-UK SAGE STEM Scholarship for Women aims to highlight the great potential of women and girls in education. "Through this initiative, we hope to not only support access to education but also nurture a generation of pioneers who will inspire those around them," Mr. Frew shared.

Meanwhile, Ms. Donna McGowan, Director of the British Council in Vietnam, said that the scholarships are designed to address the absence of women in STEM leadership roles due to social attitudes and perceptions. Therefore, both scholarships aim to challenge these norms, empower women, create role models and reinforce positive attitudes towards STEM education for women, according to Ms. McGowan.

In ASEAN countries, girls often outperform boys in math and science in primary and secondary school. The gender gap begins to appear in STEM education at the university level, with only 19.3% of women holding a STEM degree compared to 39.8% of men. According to the United Nations 2022 report, women only participate in 20% of STEM jobs globally. Many other studies have also highlighted the disparities in scientific publications, income and career advancement for women in STEM.

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