The British Council’s Going Global Partnerships programme aims to build stronger, more inclusive, internationally connected higher education and technical and vocational education and training (TVET) systems by supporting partnerships between universities, colleges, education policy makers, civil society organisations and industry partners around the world. The partnerships aim to bring together organisations in the TVET sector from the UK and overseas to share their knowledge and expertise, and to collaborate on projects that focus on enhancing approaches to skills development internationally.

Forming part of this programme, the Women in STEM Scholarship programme provides funding for women from eligible countries to complete a one-year Master’s degree in the UK. Scholars should create strong and lasting connections with the UK, either through active engagement in the alumni network or by directly contributing towards/supporting the success of this scheme in future iterations of the scholarship. The scholarships should also provide a platform for the participating countries and the UK to work together to address the significant challenge of the gender gap in STEM.

The Women in STEM Scholarships 2026/27 are being launched in partnership with the following funders and partners:

• Fundación Coppel, Mexico
• COPOCYT, Mexico

The call is open to UK higher education and research institutions listed on the UK Home Office Register of Student Route Sponsors (approved ‘Education Providers’) and should be QAA/OfS/SFC/HEFCW/DfE inspected and approved.

The grant amount for each cohort is £200,000, which the British Council will pay as a grant in advance to the UK Higher Education Institutions or Research Institution selected for that cohort in December 2025. This is expected to be sufficient for institutions to make at least five scholarship awards. Institutions that would like to host students under this scheme would be expected to co-fund the scholarships by way of making up any shortfall in funding.

Applications should be submitted by the deadline of 24 October 2025 (16:00 BST).