British Council Hong Kong has launched the third edition of its flagship Scholarships for Women, offering fully funded postgraduate opportunities in collaboration with the University of Bristol and supported by the Sir Tang Shiu Kin Education Trust. The scholarship champions female students from Hong Kong – especially those from marginalised backgrounds - empowering them to pursue postgraduate studies and advance their careers across diverse fields.
Building on the success of the first two years, the 2026 programme will provide four fully funded scholarships for women from Hong Kong to pursue one‑year full‑time Master’s degrees at the University of Bristol in selected programmes. Each British Council Scholarship for Women 2026 includes:
- Full tuition fees for the eligible Master’s programme at the University of Bristol.
- Monthly stipend of £1,732 to cover living costs including accommodation, for up to 12 months.
- IELTS exam fee (if needed), UK visa fee, insurance and NHS surcharge.
- Return economy‑class airfare between Hong Kong and the UK.
- Support for study‑related costs such as essential travel, materials, equipment and thesis printing, as well as reasonable adjustments for scholars with disabilities where required.
“The British Council proudly continues its mission to connect Hong Kong students to realise their potential through UK education. As we enter another year of the Scholarships for Women, we remain committed to creating lifechanging opportunities for women who may not otherwise be able to afford to continue their studies and addressing persistent gender gaps in leadership and decision-making roles in Hong Kong and globally. We welcome applications from women ready to advance their postgraduate studies and drive meaningful impact back home,” said Susannah Morley, Director, British Council Hong Kong.
Over the past two years, the Scholarship for Women has empowered women pursuing advanced studies, reflecting the British Council’s ongoing commitment to gender parity, diversity, and equality of opportunity. Past scholars have advanced their professional journeys, applying their UK education to create positive change in their communities and careers.
“Studying in the UK was truly challenging, transformative and empowering — it connected everything I’d learned to real global issues, reshaped how I think about law and technology, and gave me the confidence to use my voice on the international stage. None of this would have been possible without the support of the British Council Scholarships for Women, which opened the door for me to pursue this life‑changing experience,” said Vivian Ma, recipient of Scholarships for Women 2024.
“The British Council Scholarships for Women didn’t just fund my studies — they gave me the courage to believe in myself. My time in the UK was empowering and life‑changing, opening my eyes to new
perspectives and giving me the confidence to use my voice to create meaningful change. It broadened my thinking from implementation to decision‑making, from local impact to global systems, and strengthened my ability to bridge sustainability with management — paving the way for my future career development,” said Toni Wong, recipient of Scholarships for Women 2024.
To be eligible, applicants must identify as a woman and be a permanent resident of Hong Kong. They must not have previously studied at degree level or higher in the UK, must not hold dual British citizenship, and should be willing to return to Hong Kong for a minimum of two years after their scholarship has ended. Applicants must be classified as overseas students for fee purposes, be able to demonstrate a need for financial support, and have submitted an application for an eligible one‑year full‑time Master’s programme at the University of Bristol starting in September 2026.
Applications for the Scholarships for Women 2026 are open until 30 April 2026. Interested candidates can learn more and submit their applications via the British Council Hong Kong website at https://www.britishcouncil.hk/en/scholarships-women-2026 and the University of Bristol website at https://www.bristol.ac.uk/students/support/finances/scholarships/women-in-stem-scholarship/.