Applications for scholarships for the 2026-27 academic year are now open, check the applications links further down the page.
Are you a woman with a bachelor’s degree in a STEM subject and passionate about your study? You could receive a scholarship to study for a master's degree in a science, technology, engineering or mathematics programme at a leading UK university.
For the sixth year running the British Council is launching our global Women in STEM scholarship programme in partnership with UK universities. This is the fourth year that the scholarship has been launched for women from Kazakhstan.
We are looking for women with a STEM background who can demonstrate their need for financial support and who wish to inspire future generations of women to pursue careers in STEM. To date, the programme has granted 27 scholarships for Kazakhstan scholars and engaged 43 leading UK universities and awarded around 500 scholarships globally.
The information on this page is for applicants from Kazakhstan. For other countries, please visit our global Women in STEM scholarships webpage.
Why a scholarship programme?
Studying in the UK in the STEM field will broaden my potential career horizons and help me to contribute to my country as I want to be a part of the changes towards sustainability in our community. I would advise future applicants with a STEM background not to give up; continue to explore subjects in STEM and remember that your contribution is valuable.
Yerkezhan A., Almaty
MSc Sustainable Development, University of St Andrews
The gender gap in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions is well documented. Not only do women make up a small fraction of the workforce and research teams in STEM, they are also published less, paid less and are less likely to reach positions of leadership than their male counterparts, despite being proven to be on average eight per cent more productive.
We want to increase opportunities for women in STEM, strengthen female leadership in science and innovation, and promote a more diverse and gender-representative sector.
Access to education is a leading factor that contributes to the underrepresentation of women in STEM. The British Council Women in STEM scholarship programme addresses this by providing funding for one-year master's degree programmes at top ranking universities and research institutions within the UK, for women from socioeconomically and disadvantaged contexts.
The programme provides:
- Full scholarships – this includes monetary support, tuition fees, living stipends, travel and visa costs, health coverage fees and English language support. Each scholarship is worth a minimum of £40,000.
- Access to world-leading science and research universities – UK universities are globally recognised for science and research excellence. The UK is ranked second in the world for science and research.
- Career opportunities – the scholarships help enhance women’s careers in STEM and enable them to promote research and innovation in their home country through their exposure to expertise in the UK’s renowned STEM fields.
- Alumni networks – the scholarships provide a long-lasting platform to connect with UK alumni.
If I were to complete my education in the UK, I would gain practical knowledge about the progression of British companies and apply it to driving progress in Kazakhstani firms. I see myself as a CEO of a corporation with headquarters around the world. I am not afraid to dream big and work hard as I know what awaits me at the end.
Ayaulym Armanova, Semey
MSc Management and Information Systems, Cranfield University
Eligibility criteria
Please visit our global page for information for applicants from outside Kazakhstan.
Full eligibility criteria are available through this link.
Scholars 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 requirement 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 submitting the application 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 privately fund their UK studies and must not be in receipt of 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 study at. UK branch campuses abroad. We define significant experience as a period of study over one month, or enrolment on or completion of an international degree course. Short term visits such as study tours or conferences are permitted.
- Indicate their preference for 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 activity, as a condition of applying for the scholarship.
[1] Applicants must be able to confirm their legal sex as female, evidenced by passport or other official documentation, when requested by their institution. This will be a condition of acceptance.
[2] This 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.
[3] Additional 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.
What does the scholarship include?
In addition to the prestige of studying at a renowned UK university, the scholarship covers:
- Full tuition fees
- Monthly living stipend
- Return flights to the UK from your home country
- Visa and health coverage fees
- Refund of an IELTS English language test, if required
- Study related costs, such as essential travel within the course, materials, thesis binding, etc.
Please see the full eligibility criteria through this link.
How to apply
Applications should be made directly to the participating universities. Please click on the links for your chosen institution in the ‘Available scholarships’ section below.
Women from Kazakhstan are eligible to apply to three UK universities, where they will compete for 15 scholarships with other female candidates from the Wider Europe region. Each of the universities listed on this page is offering five scholarships to women from countries in Wider Europe, including Kazakhstan.
Each university has its own application requirements and process, so click on the university links below to check the exact requirements and start your application.
Deadlines for applications for master’s scholarships
| Institution | Deadline for applications |
| University of Bath | 23 April 2026 |
| University of Bradford | 30 April 2026 |
| Durham University | 30 April 2026 |
Please ensure you check and meet all the eligibility requirements before applying.
After submitting an application, you will next hear directly from the university about the status of your application.