
ASEAN-UK SAGE Women in STEM Scholarships
The University of Manchester is proud to offer six fully-funded scholarships to women from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand or Timor-Leste completing specific master's courses in STEM subjects.
Developed by the British Council and funded by the UK International Development from the UK government through the ASEAN-UK Supporting the Advancement of Girls' Education (ASEAN-UK SAGE) programme, the scholarships provide funding for women from eligible countries to complete a one-year master's degree in the UK.
Since 2020, the British Council has delivered the programme in partnership with selected UK universities and research institutions and has awarded over 300 scholarships.
Key dates
Applications for the ASEAN-UK SAGE Women in STEM scholarships 2025-26 will open in early 2025 with a scholarship application form emailed to all relevant offer holders. The deadline for applications is 30 April 2025. The University of Manchester will aim to notify successful applicants by 12 June 2025.
The scholarship covers
- Tuition fees.
- Up to 12-months monthly stipend at the rate of £1,603 per month to cover costs of living, including accommodation.
- IELTS exam fee (for scholars without a valid test of English).
- Return economy-class travel from home country to UK.
- Study-related costs, such as essential travel, materials, equipment, thesis printing etc.
- Visa and insurance/NHS surcharge costs.
- Ad hoc costs (heavy baggage allowance etc.).
- Reasonable adjustments costs for scholars with disabilities.
Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health
- MSc Precision Medicine
- MSc Medical and Molecular Virology
- MSc Clinical Biochemistry
- MSc Molecular Pathology of Cancer
- MSc Clinical Immunology
- MSc Health Data Science
- MSc Audiology
Faculty of Science and Engineering
- MSc Pollution and Environmental Control
- MSc REaCT
- MSc Geosciences for Sustainable Energy
- MSc Subsurface Energy Engineering
- MSc Biomaterials
- MSc Advanced Manufacturing Technology & Systems Management
- MSc Robotics
- MSc Advanced Computer Science
- MSc Artificial Intelligence
- MSc Cyber Security
- MSc Machine Learning
- MSc Software Engineering
To be eligible for the ASEAN-UK SAGE Women in STEM offered by The University of Manchester you need to:
- Be or identify as a woman.
- Be a passport holder and permanent resident of one of the eligible countries: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand or Timor-Leste.
- Hold a conditional or unconditional offer for the course you apply for, including academic equivalents and English language. Applicants must normally have completed all components of an undergraduate degree at the time of submitting the application for the scholarship but the British Council can consider final awards pending on a case-by-case basis.
- Demonstrate case for financial support/socio-economic need.
- Not be in receipt of financial support or funding towards their study programme in the UK from any other source and not be able to privately fund your UK studies.
- Have not previously studied at degree level or higher in the UK or lived recently in the UK. Distance learning at a UK university or study at a UK branch campus in another country will also be considered as studying in the UK.
- Indicate your preference for course and institution in the case of applying to multiple institutions.
- Meet the English language requirement of the UK Higher Education Institution.
- Be motivated and academically able to follow and benefit from a UK postgraduate taught course.
- Be active in the field with work experience or with a proven interest in the proposed subject area.
- Be willing to demonstrate future contribution to capacity-building and socio-economic advancement of their home country through the benefits achieved after graduating from UK higher education.
- Agree to maintain contact with the British Council and act as an ambassador for the UK and engage with activities as part of a Scholarships for Women in STEM alumnus during and after their studies in the UK.
- Demonstrate a plan and a passion to engage other women and girls in STEM from their home country.
- Agree to your personal data being shared with the British Council for purposes of assessment and promotional activity, as a condition of applying for the scholarship.
- Agree to return to your country of citizenship for a minimum of two years after their scholarship award has ended.
Preference will be given to candidates who have not had any international exposure prior to this scheme. International experience will also include any third country other than the UK.
A candidate will not be eligible for a ASEAN-UK SAGE Women in STEM scholarship if they:
- Hold dual British citizenship.
- Are an employee, a former employee, or relative (*) of an employee of Her Majesty’s Government (including but not limited to: British Embassies/High Commissions; Department for Business and Trade (DBT), the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNEZ), Department for International Trade; the Ministry of Defence; and the Home Office).
- Are an employee, a former employee, or relative (*) of an employee of the ASEAN-UK SAGE Women in STEM scholarship – eligible countries.
- Are currently in receipt of financial support or funding towards your study programme in the UK from any other source.
- Have previously studied in the UK with funding from a UK Government-funded scholarship or a UK institutional scholarship/financial bursary, as well as those who privately funded their UK studies.
(*) Relatives are defined as parents or stepparents, siblings or stepsiblings, children or stepchildren, spouse, civil partner, or unmarried partner (where the couple have been in a relationship akin to marriage or civil partnership for at least two years).
A scholarship application form will be emailed to all relevant offer-holders by the International Office from mid January.
The deadline for application form submission is 30 April 2025.
Successful candidates will be notified by 12 June 2025.
You must agree for your personal data to be shared with the British Council, who will be jointly responsible with The University of Manchester for allocating the scholarships.
The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We build connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and other countries through arts and culture, education and the English language. Last year we reached over 80 million people directly and 791 million people overall including online, and through broadcasts and publications. Founded in 1934, we are a UK charity governed by Royal Charter and a UK public body. We receive a 15% core funding grant from the UK government.
If you have a question about the scholarships, email international@manchester.ac.uk with ‘Women in STEM’ as the subject header.