Imperial launches Latin America scholarships for women in STEM

Imperial has launched Master’s scholarships for women from Latin America.

The new scholarships, funded by the British Council, will fully-fund five women researchers from Brazil, Mexico or Peru to spend a year in London at one of the world’s top universities.  

Students can apply for 20 different courses within the fields of: 

• Engineering 
• Climate Change 
• Public Health 
• Environmental Science 

The Master's courses range from computing and AI to climate change, biodiversity, sustainable energy, international health management, and many more.

Read the full list of courses

The scholarships will help address the under-representation of women in STEM and will reach students that need financial support. 

Successful applicants will demonstrate a plan and passion to engage other women in STEM from their home country. 

The courses will start in Autumn 2022 and will offer students economic support including tuition fees, stipend, travel costs, visa and health coverage fees.

Professor Maggie Dallman, Vice President (International), said: "Imperial is home to an international scientific community where women succeed.

"These new scholarships will enable talented, Latin American students to fulfil their potential at one of the world's leading universities and help inspire the next generation of women scientists. 

"The best science comes from the most diverse teams, and these scholarships will reach those that are under-represented and disadvantaged financially so they can further develop their innovative ideas." 

Read more and apply for the scholarship

International Scholars

Imperial welcomes many international scholars every year to further their knowledge, research and careers at one of the world's top universities. 

Here. some of the scholars currently studying at the College share their experiences of life at Imperial and living in London.

For more stories from Scholars from Brazil, Colombia and Peru, read here.

Mariana Henriques Santana, MSc. Taxonomy, Biodiversity and Evolution 
 
Mariana, from Brazil, said: “I thought studying at Imperial would never be an option, it was much more like a distant dream, as it is in the top-ranked universities of the world.   
 
“Coming from a poor background and having no resources to afford all the expenses for studying abroad, at a renowned institution that is classified as one of the best in the world, was very far from my reality.  
 
“Then I discovered the possibility of studying at Imperial with the scholarship offered by the British Council for Women in STEM and my dream that was so distant started to become a reality.

"Imperial has now become the best thing that could ever happen in my career in all possible ways."  Mariana Henriques Santana Imperial Scholar

"Imperial has now become the best thing that could ever happen in my career in all possible ways. 

“Unfortunately, Biological Sciences is still an area dominated by men, especially in Botany which is the area that I am aiming for. But more recently this has been changing and women have been gaining and achieving spaces.

"With the proper qualifications and preparation I have been receiving, especially at Imperial, I can consider myself able to enter this area with more confidence and competence.” 

Maria Carolina Vincentelli, MSc International Health Management 

Maria, from Venezuela, said: “Imperial College London is a leading institution recognised globally for its outstanding achievements, research and education, where different perspectives and backgrounds are embraced and valued.

"I chose Imperial for these

"I chose Imperial because I knew this would be a place for personal, academic and career growth where I would be able to interact and learn from students, staff and faculty from across the globe" Maria Carolina Vincentelli Imperial Scholar

reasons, but more importantly, because I knew this would be a place for personal, academic and career growth where I would be able to interact and learn from students, staff and faculty from across the globe and make long-lasting relationships that I will cherish for the rest of my life. 
 
“Since before I started Medical School back in my home country, I knew that I wanted to be able to make a positive impact by helping communities in need.

"I found out that I could do that through the work of NGO’s, therefore, my main career goal is to be able to join a healthcare NGO to provide access to public health in communities in need. I want to enhance the knowledge I acquired throughout my medical career with the knowledge I am gaining in the International Health Management programme in order to achieve this goal and advocate for others.” 

Jennyfer Ruiz Sánchez, MSC. Ecology, evolution and conservation 

Jennyfer, from Colombia, said: “I started to research information about Imperial and realised that it is one of the top universities in the world. The ecology related programs are also excellent. 

“I just want to use this Master’s as a tool to help in tropical forest conservation and gain experience

"I want to use this Master’s as a tool to help in tropical forest conservation" Jennyfer Ruiz Sánchez Imperial Scholar

working in Colombia, where we have really bad environmental issues. 
 
“Imperial have multiple approaches to ecological problems. The coding part could be really difficult but it is avant-garde and eventually would be really helpful if you want to work in any ecological field.”