How I Secured a Fully Funded Master's at Queen Mary University of London, United Kingdom Through the British Council for Women in STEM Scholarship

My name is Elfira Febriani. I am from Indonesia. I am a licensed pharmacist who has been working in the pharmaceutical Research and Development (R&D) field for almost 10 years. Currently, I am an MSc Clinical Drug Development master’s student at one of the UK Russell Group universities, Queen Mary University of London. I decided to pursue further education because, as a scientist, I believe in being a lifelong learner. Since drug development is a very dynamic field, there is always a need to learn about cutting-edge research and the newest advancements in the industry, and it is important to learn this from a country that has research-intensive universities like the UK Russell Group universities.

British Council for Women in STEM Scholarship Details

I received a fully funded scholarship from the UK British Council called the British Council for Women in STEM Scholarship. The scholarship covers full tuition fees, a year-long living stipend, travel and relocation fees (return economy class flight from home country to the UK), visa and health care insurance fees, and other additional fees such as IELTS and other study-related fees for a minimum amount of £40,000.

Were You Offered Any Other Scholarships?

Yes. In the same year, I was also offered the University of Leeds International Excellence Scholarship for the MSc Drug Discovery and Development course from the University of Leeds, with a scholarship value of £8,750.

Educational Background

I finished my undergraduate degree in Pharmacy at the University of Indonesia in 2014 and further continued my one-year professional degree course as a pharmacist at the same university the following year. I have always been interested in pharmaceutical analytical chemistry since my undergraduate days, so I pursued research in that specific field for my undergraduate research and further helped my professor as his research assistant during my one-year professional degree course. I decided that I wanted to be a pharmaceutical scientist and further pursued a career in pharmaceutical R&D. I think my consistent passion in the same STEM field helped carve my way and prepared me for my master’s degree and scholarship application.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to Queen Mary University of London?

How Did You Find Information About British Council for Women in STEM Scholarship and Queen Mary University of London?

I found information about scholarships from a local scholarship page on Instagram. They helped me find information about scholarship requirements, timelines, and funding type that helped me decide on what scholarship to focus on. For the institutions, I found the information from the Russell Group webpage. I did detailed research on each institution’s website, including what courses they offer that are in line with my interests. After having a list of what courses to apply to, further research on the British Council for Women in STEM scholarship webpage showed me that the Clinical Drug Development course at Queen Mary University of London is one of the eligible programs for the scholarship, so I applied to both the course and the scholarship.

Did You Take Any Standardized Tests? If So, How Did You Prepare for Them?

Yes, I took IELTS as the language requirement for the course application. If you take the test from the British Council, they will give you premium access to their IELTS Ready, which is a preparation tool where you can take exercises and mock tests. I had never taken the test before, and I only had two weeks of preparation before the test, so I started taking the mock test immediately. It helped me get familiarised with the concepts for each part of the test, which further helped me when I took the real test.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the British Council for Women in STEM Scholarship?

I did a lot of research on the topic that I wanted to raise in my essay. I like to mix factual data with my own critical opinion on the situation, so I believe knowing the topic well and having the best data would be the best way to build your essay argument and make sure that you have an accountable opinion on the topic. Since it is important to align the scholarship’s goals and my goals, and even more important to make sure I delivered it through my words, I made sure to recheck and revise my essay accordingly. I also asked my friends to proofread it. And lastly, I gave myself a break if needed, because forcing myself to write is not going to be good for the essay quality.

How Does Queen Mary University of London Support International Students?

Queen Mary University of London has been really supporting for the international students. Located in London, which is arguably the most diverse city in the world, QMUL has been really welcoming for international students. The university has so many programs to make sure we adapt well to UK life, including mental health and disability help. The university also has students’ societies for different nationalities, so we can have a community of our own within the university.

What Did You Pursue After the British Council for Women in STEM Scholarship?

I am thinking about pursuing a PhD after my master’s degree, preferably in the UK again.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

Deep understanding of the topic I raised in my essay. Deep passion for the STEM field and the link between my past, present, and future plans with the scholarship goals. Also, what I could bring to the table to make changes for society, especially for women in the STEM field.

What Would You Have Done Differently if You Were Going Through the Process Again?

I would have started my course and scholarship application earlier. The UK universities open their course application by October and stop assessing applications for the winter break in December. I set my target for course application before the winter break, but I spent too much time doing my research that I barely had time to prepare for the IELTS test. The same thing also happened for the scholarship application. However, I am still grateful for the results I have now.

What Advice Would You Give Those Looking to Apply for a Similar Scholarship?

The British Council for Women in STEM has a unique application system where you can only apply for specific eligible master's courses set by the British Council and the institutions. So, if you are applying for this scholarship, you need to make sure that the course that you are applying for fits your purpose of further education. Although the scholarship is funded by the British Council, it is managed by the institution. Different courses and institutions could mean different timelines and requirements. So, make sure to always check the institution’s scholarship webpage for updates, and don’t be afraid to ask the institution’s contact person if needed. Your essay should be the reflection of what is your goals and the scholarship's goals, so make sure you have enough time to prepare for your essay and make it as authentic as you can.