MSc Data Science Student Frida Alejandra Ibarra Zavaleta from Mexico Shares Her Journey of Studying at the University of Essex, England

My name is Frida Alejandra Ibarra Zavaleta, and I am from Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, Mexico, one of the most economically marginalised states in the country, where nearly 80% of the population lives below the poverty line and only 15% of women pursue higher education in STEM fields.

I am currently pursuing an MSc in Data Science and its Applications at the University of Essex in Colchester, England, as one of five recipients of the prestigious British Council Women in STEM Scholarship.

I decided to pursue further education in data science because I witnessed firsthand how data-driven solutions can transform lives, particularly for marginalised communities. Throughout my career, working with organisations such as Laboratoria, Technolochicas, and Equal Measures 2030. I have seen how leveraging data analytics can create pathways for women in technology, improve educational access, and inform evidence-based policymaking. I wanted to deepen my technical expertise to scale my impact not just in Mexico, but globally, by developing machine learning models and data pipelines that address systemic inequalities in education, healthcare, and economic opportunity.

British Council Women in STEM Scholarship Details

The British Council Women in STEM Scholarship at the University of Essex covers:

• Tuition fees: Paid in full to the university.
• Monthly living stipend: Designed to cover accommodation, food, and basic living costs for 10 12 months; typically ranges from £1,200 to £1,700 depending on location.
• Travel costs: Return economy-class flight from home country to the UK.
• Visa and healthcare costs: UK student visa fee and Immigration Health Surcharge NHS access).
• IELTS/TOEFL exam fee reimbursement: If required to meet English language entry requirements.
• Study-related costs: Local travel to conferences, materials, or thesis printing, depending on university-level implementation.
• Child allowance (in some partner schemes): Available for scholars who are primary carers and meet visa conditions.

At the programme level, the British Council values each Women in STEM scholarship at a minimum of approximately £40,000 once tuition, stipend, and associated costs are included.

Were You Offered Any Other Scholarships?

I didnʼt receive the scholarship, but I did reach the interview stage. I applied for the Chevening Scholarship, the UK governmentʼs flagship fully funded Masterʼs programme for emerging leaders, and progressed through its highly competitive selection process to the interview round, which is typically reached by only a small proportion of applicants worldwide. Although I was ultimately not selected as a Chevening Scholar, the experience significantly strengthened my application narrative and reaffirmed the relevance of my leadership and social-impact trajectory.

The scholarship I was finally awarded: the British Council Women in STEM Scholarship at the University of Essex, was the one I accepted, as it closely aligns with my focus on data science, gender equality, and digital inclusion.

Educational Background

• Institution: Escuela Bancaria y Comercial School of Banking and Commerce, Mexico - EBC
• Graduation: July 2023
• GPA: 9.4/10 Top 5% of cohort)
• Academic Scholarship: Earned a competitive merit-based scholarship awarded to top-performing students.

Additional Training

• Social Innovation Diploma – University for Peace 2024 2025 | Top 2% scholarship recipient
• Aspire Leaders Programme – Aspire Institute 2025
• Data Science Bootcamp – Bedu x Tecnolochicas 2024
• Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate – Coursera 2022
• Google Project Management Professional Certificate – Coursera 2024

How My Background Prepared Me

My marketing degree provided me with a strong foundation in consumer behaviour analysis, strategic communication, and data interpretation, skills I immediately applied in real-world contexts. Whilst studying, I led the Catapulta Entrepreneurship Club, increasing student participation by 200%, and served as Campus Director for the Hult Prize, being selected to represent Mexico at the Regional Summit in Nairobi, Kenya.

However, my passion for leveraging data for social impact grew exponentially through hands-on work. My roles at Laboratoria (managing admissions for 4,000+ women across seven Latin American countries using SQL, Looker, and

Excel dashboards) and Equal Measures 2030 (analysing 100 SDG Gender Index indicators to build evidence-driven narratives) revealed the transformative power of data science. This led me to pursue technical certifications and ultimately apply for a Masterʼs in Data Science to formalise my expertise and tackle structural inequalities at scale.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to the University of Essex?

How Did You Find Information About Scholarships and the University of Essex?

British Council Website: I regularly monitored the British Councilʼs scholarship programmes page.

University Websites: I researched UK universities with strong Data Science programmes aligned with social impact, focusing on those offering modules in fairness, bias mitigation, and responsible AI.

Networking:  I connected with professionals who had studied in the UK and could provide insights into application processes and institutional culture.

Social Media & Webinars: I followed British Council social media channels and attended virtual information sessions about the Women in STEM scholarship criteria and selection process.

Did You Take Any Standardised Tests? If So, How Did You Prepare?

Yes. I took the TOEFL iBT to meet the English language requirements for my Masterʼs at the University of Essex. The exact minimum score depends on the programme, but for courses like the MSc Data Science and its Applications, the university typically requires an overall score in the mid-70s to 80s range (or equivalent to around IELTS 6.0, with minimum scores in each component.

I prepared over several weeks using official TOEFL practice materials and full-length mock tests, focusing on academic reading and listening, then refining my writing and speaking through timed practice.

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

I started by conducting extensive research on Masterʼs programmes and scholarships. I built a spreadsheet comparing universities, course content, entry requirements, English tests, deadlines, and funding options, then applied to every opportunity that genuinely aligned with my profile and goals.

For the British Council Women in STEM Scholarship, I studied the British Councilʼs mission around gender equality, international development, and STEM empowerment, ensuring every part of my application (essays, CV, references) clearly demonstrated how my background and future plans supported those objectives.

I prepared for the English test TOEFL iBT) well in advance so that language would not be a barrier.

I actively used my network: I asked former scholars, colleagues, and mentors to review my essays and provide honest feedback, and I requested references from supervisors at Laboratoria and EBC who could speak to my technical skills, leadership, and social-impact trajectory.

In my written responses, I answered exactly what was asked whilst maintaining my authentic voice; explaining what it means to grow up in Chiapas, where systemic inequalities limit womenʼs access to STEM, and why that experience drives my work.

A key part of my preparation was demonstrating measurable results:

• Laboratoria: 4,000+ women impacted, 77% job placement rate, rapid-response admissions bot reaching 10,000+ applicants
• Technolochicas: 500+ girls taught coding, 45% increase in retention amongst rural girls
• Equal Measures 2030 Article on gender data read by approximately 15,000 people and translated into six languages

I also demonstrated a clear fit with the University of Essex, for example, my interest in working with the Institute of Analytics and Data Science IADS, the relevance of modules, and the universityʼs focus on social justice applications of data science.

Finally, I was transparent that, given the economic conditions in Chiapas and my familyʼs situation, studying for a UK Masterʼs would be financially impossible without a full scholarship. I outlined concrete plans to return to Mexico to work with international organisations (such as the World Bank and UN agencies) and NGOs on evidence-based policies addressing gender inequality in education, healthcare, and employment.

The process involved several stages: university application, a detailed scholarship questionnaire, and throughout each round, I refined my answers to remain honest, data-driven, and tightly aligned with what the British Council was seeking.

How was your experience at the University of Essex?

Studying at the University of Essex has been demanding but deeply rewarding and fits very well with my goals in data science and social impact. The MSc in Data Science and its Applications is genuinely applied: most of our assignments use real-world datasets, which allows me to connect my coursework directly to issues like gender inequality, education access, and public services.

As an international student, I have felt well supported academically and personally: lecturers are approachable, and the university has strong support structures for wellbeing and academic skills. The campus is very international, with students from over 150 countries, so I am constantly exposed to different perspectives on development and technology, which enriches both group projects and informal conversations.

At times, balancing an intensive technical programme with my leadership and volunteering commitments has been challenging, but overall, the experience has confirmed that Essex was the right place for me to grow into a data scientist focused on equity and inclusion.

How Do You Rate the University of Essex Academically and Why?

Academically, I would rate the University of Essex as strong and clearly above the average of what I had access to in my home country, especially in quantitative and data-driven disciplines. Essex consistently appears in the top third of UK universities overall and has particular strengths in mathematics, statistics, and computer science, which are core to data science. For example, it ranks around the top 35 in the UK for Computer Science and top 40 for Mathematics, with strong publication and citation records in areas such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, statistics, and econometrics.

How Does the University of Essex Support International Students?

I feel very well supported as an international student at the University of Essex, both by the university and especially by the Studentsʼ Union SU. There are clear structures for almost everything an international student might need: the Student Services Hub helps with practical issues like accommodation, fees, documentation, and day-to-day questions, whilst specialist teams provide guidance on visas, careers, and wellbeing. The SU runs an International Studentsʼ Community and International Studentsʼ Association, which organises cultural events, trips, and social activities so you can build a network quickly and feel at home on campus.

Personally, I havenʼt had any major issues at Essex; the campus feels like a very peaceful and welcoming place where support is easy to access when needed. There are also Academic English support classes, careers resources tailored to international students (including advice on Graduate and Skilled Worker visas), and 24/7 wellbeing and security contacts, which help create a safe and stable environment to focus on studying.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

I believe my application stood out because my track record in gender and technology was not just theoretical but backed by concrete, measurable results. Through roles at Laboratoria, Technolochicas, and Equal Measures 2030, I had already worked with thousands of women and girls, using data and digital tools to expand access to STEM education and tech jobs across Latin America.

At Laboratoria, I helped manage the admissions process for around 4,000 women in seven countries, improved conversion using data dashboards and automation, and contributed to a 77% job placement rate for graduates, demonstrating that I could use data to design scalable, inclusive systems. As a Technolochicas mentor in Chiapas, I taught 500+ girls coding and digital skills and helped increase programme retention amongst rural girls by approximately 45%, directly addressing the gap where only about 15% of women in my state pursue STEM degrees.

Through my Storytelling with Gender Data Fellowship at Equal Measures 2030, I demonstrated that I could turn complex SDG gender indicators into accessible stories and visuals that reached global audiences and informed advocacy. Combined, these experiences showed the selectors that I was already using data and technology to advance gender equality, and that the scholarship would amplify an existing trajectory rather than start from zero, which I think was a key reason my application was compelling.

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

Honestly, I would not change anything significant about my process. I started preparing early, aligned my story clearly with the scholarshipʼs goals, and chose a programme and university that genuinely matched my profile and long-term plans. Of course, there were stressful moments and a lot of hard work, but looking back, every step, from test preparation to essays and interviews, helped me refine my vision and ultimately led to an outcome that feels exactly right for me.

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

My main advice is to start researching early: understand the scholarshipʼs priorities, the university options, and the exact academic and language requirements, so you are not rushing at the last minute. Apply to every opportunity that genuinely aligns with your profile and values, not just one “dream” scholarship. This increases your chances and also helps you clarify your own narrative as you write multiple applications.

Also, use your network intentionally: talk to former scholars, current students, and mentors; ask them to review your essays; and request specific, strong recommendation letters rather than generic support. Many people underestimate how much their existing connections can help with feedback, interview preparation, and even hearing about lesser-known scholarships, so my advice is simple: donʼt be shy: reach out, follow up, and actually use your connections.