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

My name is Regina. I’m a 27-year-old environmental professional from México who is also an alumna of the Women in STEM Scholarship 2023-2024 at Brunel University London. As part of the scholarship, I completed the Environmental Management MSc.

I became interested in the environmental field after working on large-scale solar farm projects as part of my professional career, which followed my undergraduate degree. The applicability of environmental engineering to a range of areas is something that drew my attention and made me want to get into this field. The university offered an interesting course syllabus which is designed around a holistic perspective on the current environmental challenges in the world while providing practical tools and skills to develop methods that can tackle or address these. The second semester of the program allows you to choose specific compulsory modules according to the professional pathway you’d want to follow.

British Council Women in STEM Scholarship Details

Name of the Scholarship: Women in STEM Scholarship

Institution name: British Council.

Sponsoring University: Brunel University of London.

Amount: Not to be disclosed. The total amount varies depending on the University you are selected for. The scholarship, however, fully covers the following financial expenses:

• Full tuition of the master’s program.
• Monthly stipend for up to 12 months to fully cover costs of living and accommodation. In my case, the monthly stipend was around £1,600, but this varies depending on the year and location.
• Monthly child allowance for children under 16 for up to 12 months (where applicable).
• IELTS / TOEFL exam fees, if the scholarship holder does not have a valid test.
• Return travel fees from home country to the UK.
• Medical insurance costs.

Any other costs associated with course requirements, materials, or research costs associated with the final dissertation.

Were You Offered Any Other Scholarships?

I was not offered any additional scholarship.

Educational Background

I have an undergraduate degree in Renewable Energy Engineering with an average GPA of 4 (98 out of 100) for the whole course. My undergrad was mainly industry–focused, which means I had a lot of hands-on experience in the lab.

What I learnt there helped me land several jobs during the course of three years, which, although not related to environmental engineering, made me realise the lack of environmental planning in the construction of large-scale projects, and the non-existent industrial symbiosis in my country for products such as solar panels, electrical equipment, and even windmills. All of this made me want to switch fields, and so I started acting on it.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to Brunel University of London?

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

I follow several pages that often publish scholarships, such as ‘Opportunities for Youth’ who often publish opportunities. I also often looked at México’s national research body’s webpage, as they provide several scholarships with international institutions.

For my specific case, the scholarship was relatively new when I found out about it, so it didn’t have a lot of visibility. I got to know about it from a British organisation based in México which promotes studying in the UK, provides free consultancy, and discloses funding opportunities.

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

The university I got selected for did not ask for any technical exams prior to being accepted. However, it did ask for an English Proficiency test. It accepted both the TOEFL iBT and the IELTS.

For this exam, I took the TOEFL’s two-week online course to prepare myself, especially for the speaking part, since my University asked for a minimum score of 20 points for each section (reading, speaking, writing, listening).

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

This scholarship required you to first get accepted with an unconditional offer at one of the Universities offered by the scholarship in the particular program of your interest, and only then apply for the scholarship.

The scholarship application called for a personal statement, as well as an essay answering 5 questions. If you got through the first stage, then an interview was scheduled for the shortlisted candidates. To prepare for this, I read several personal statements to get a grasp of the structure of it. I also accessed the university’s digital resources, as well as Oxford and Harvard’s publicly available materials, which guide you on how to write essays, resumes, etc.

Another helpful resource is YouTube, which can also guide you on this matter. I particularly like Dr Amina Yonis, who makes videos on a range of topics, from tips on how to write a book essay to writing a literature review for your dissertation. Finally, I’d suggest taking any available academic writing and/or oral public speaking course and avoiding using AI; universities want to see who you really are and what added value you can give.

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

I got an internship in a European Agency thanks to the scholarship, and then landed a job in environmental consultancy in Spain. In the future, I’d like to go back to research and study for a PhD in the UK.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

I am confident that one of the things which made my application stand out was the fact that I was transparent about my prior experience in the area I was trying to get into. I was aware that studying this subject would be a challenge for me since I came from a different field (electrical engineering) and clearly stated it on my application. However, I also showed how committed I was to pursue this change, which showed through my experience volunteering at different climate NGOs.

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

If I were to do it all over again, I’d show more confidence on my essay and during the interview by showcasing my achievements, and probably I’d take a storytelling course in order to prepare for the interview. However, I am very happy about how my application came out. It was my first time applying for an international scholarship and I got it, so that made me extremely proud of myself.

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

I’d say there’s not such thing as the perfect timing for applying. Don’t wait until you achieve certain things to start applying. Start now and if you fail seek for feedback, that is the best way to learn!

Do your studying and research, and I don’t mean uni studying, I mean preparing to apply for scholarships, because it is a subject in its own. If you are actively looking for opportunities, I’d reserve a time sloth during your week exclusively to prepare for interviews, practice writing essays, etc.

Finally, I would also encourage you to showcase all your skills, don’t be afraid to brag a bit in your application. Be confident of what you know; in the end, it is what all these years of study have been preparing you for. You’ve got the skills; you just need to believe in your capacity to use them!