Scholarships are a great way to offer people the opportunity to study a university degree that may not have the financial needs to do so. Unfortunately, nearly ¼ of students in the UK can’t afford to go to university, making scholarships an excellent way to get people into further education and advance their careers.
So how are we at Millennium Point supporting students in the West Midlands with our STEM Scholarship funding?
What is a Scholarship?
A scholarship is a form of financial aid provided by independent third parties or universities to support students through their education.
What does our STEM Scholarship involve?
At Millennium Point our STEM Scholarship gives one student a year the opportunity to study a STEM degree at Birmingham City University, with students being able to study courses relating to:
- Engineering
- The Built environment
- Digital technology
- Computing
We have over 20 courses you can choose from that you can explore on our scholarships page.
To be successful within your application, you’ll need to undergo two stages.These are your initial application and an assessment day.
If you make it to the final, you’ll be invited to get involved in developmental workshops that will support your personal development and professionalism within interviews and presentation skills.
Eligibility
To be eligible for our STEM Scholarship you’ll need to meet the following criteria:
- You live in the West Midlands combined Authority area in the UK. International applications are not accepted
- You’re 18 by September 2024 and are looking to start an undergraduate course at Birmingham City University in the faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment
- Your chosen course is listed on the website under ‘what courses are included’
- You will be available to participate in the second stage
How to apply
The online application form will be accessible in January 2024 and will include questions about who you are and why you think you should win a free degree at Birmingham City University.
You can sign up for notifications at the bottom of the page or check back in January to see when the form goes live.
Meet our latest Scholarship winner, Safa
Our latest winner Safa Bibi from Small Heath has started studying computer science at Birmingham City University as of September 2024. Safa became interested in the computing industry while at Secondary school and further developed it through watching speeches made by women in STEM.
As a result of our scholarship, Safa is able to further pursue her passion for computing and she hopes to be an inspiration for others and encourage them to follow their passion regardless of their religion or race.
So if you’re looking to pursue a career in STEM, keep an eye out for our applications opening in January 2024.
Scholarships often include interview stages to allow the scholarship body to get to know you further. Due to this it’s important to prepare for any questions that may be asked to help you be as successful as possible.
This blog will explore commonly asked interview questions and provide you with possible answers.
1. Tell us about yourself
This question is a great way for the interviewer to learn more about you as a person, as well as allowing you to establish why you deserve the scholarship over anyone else. You can start off with general information about yourself, but should use specifics later on, such as talking about your skillset and any experience that sets you apart.
Example answer: I’m really interested in the way in which things work, which is why I have chosen to undertake a degree in engineering. I’ve already undertaken work experience at a local car garage learning the basics of engineering, which helped me develop problem solving and organisational skills.
2. Why did you choose this scholarship?
Your response should highlight your passion for your degree and how the scholarship will help with your future.
Example answer: I chose this scholarship because it will help me achieve my future academic and career goals. The scholarship will support me throughout my degree enabling me to develop a career in engineering where I can focus on creating innovative solutions that will help people in the future.
3. Why do you deserve this scholarship?
Use this as an opportunity to be honest about your intentions within your degree, scholarship and future career. This is also another chance to let the interviewer get to know you more.
Example answer: I’m particularly interested in cyber security and with technology constantly being improved and cyber attacks being more likely, it’s urgent that new cyber crime solutions are found. This scholarship will not only help me through my university journey financially but will help me find new ways to protect people.
4. What has been your greatest achievement?
Talk about a significant achievement or project you’ve worked on and why it’s important to you.
Example answer: Last year I worked on a fundraising project that helped raise money for those affected by homelessness. This resonated with me, as I want to try and make as big of an impact as possible on people’s lives, whether this is within my degree or outside of it.
Other questions could include:
- How did you decide to undertake your degree?
- What’s your greatest strength and weakness?
- Tell me about a skill you have recently learnt
- How would you describe yourself?
- What motivates you?
How to answer interview questions
As the saying goes, by failing to prepare you prepare to fail. Answering interview question can be fairly easy once you’ve completed the following steps:
Always practice!
Practising your interview answers can go a long way. For example, it can help you feel more confident during your interview, allowing you to make the best possible first impression.
However, you don’t want to memorise your answers as this will feel unnatural and will appear obvious to the interviewer.
Do your research
Researching the scholarship body to understand their values and goals is extremely important as it will allow you to tailor your answers. Taking note of eligibility criteria will also allow you to highlight areas you apply to, demonstrating why you’re a great candidate.
Consider using the STAR method
Using the STAR method allows you to cover all areas, helping you give the best possible answers.
The STAR method stands for:
- Situation – what was the problem or occurrence?
- Task – what was your role in the situation?
- Action – what steps did you take to resolve or improve the situation?
- Result – what impact did your action have on the situation?
Millennium Point Charitable Trust’s scholarship
Our Charitable Trust has partnered with Birmingham City University to provide a fully funded undergraduate degree at their Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment.
Your scholarship application is the first point of contact you have with the scholarship body. The decision on whether you progress to the next level is solely based on your application, making it imperative that you write the best application possible.
To help ensure success, we’ve put together 5 tips to help you write a great scholarship application.
Check you’re eligible
Before writing your application, you want to make sure you’re actually eligible, as you don’t want to waste time applying to scholarships you’re not eligible for.
Eligibility criteria will also give you an idea of the goals the scholarship is trying to meet and the value they want to provide. They also give you a good idea on whether you’re likely to receive the scholarship and what information you should include in your application.
To learn more about what you can do before writing your application, read our blog.
Write an introduction
Including an opening paragraph in your application will allow you to showcase why you should receive the scholarship you’re applying to.
Your introduction should include information about you, such as:
- Why you’re interested in the scholarship.
- What you intend to do if you receive the scholarship.
- How you’ll use your degree in the future.
When describing yourself you should discuss your educational background and your passion behind your chosen degree.
Outline your academic interests and academic goals
Due to scholarships being an investment in students’ futures, it is important to give the board the opportunity to understand how the scholarship will help you in the present and the future, as they like to understand the impact it will have on your goals.
Furthermore, scholarships are often awarded to financially support students through their academic journey, highlighting the need for you to demonstrate the passion you have for your degree as well as your future academic goals.
When writing your application you basically want to highlight why you should be awarded the scholarship over anyone else. Discussing what you plan to do post education can help cement your passion for your academic subject to the scholarship board, increasing your chances of being successful.
Proofread your application
It’s so important to proofread your application before your submission, whether this is completed by you, someone else or both. Getting a second pair of eyes on your application is always beneficial as it will help you pick out any mistakes or areas of improvements you can make.
This will help to strengthen your application and increase your chances of receiving the scholarship.x
Scholarship application template
[Full Name]
[Phone number] [Email address]
Dear [Scholarship review committee]
I’m applying to this scholarship because [include details about how the scholarship offering body aligns with your views and goals] [You can also talk about your current educational experience, for example are you currently studying a degree or are you planning on studying a degree in the future]
During my education and/or work experience I gained skills such as… through undertaking tasks like… [Discuss significant academic or personal achievements that have given you skills that relate to the scholarship you’re applying to]
I have a passion for [degree name] as it has impacts on… The scholarship will help me achieve goals like… [solidify your motivations for applying and passions for your degree to]
Thank you for taking the time to consider my application. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Best regards,
[Full name]
[Signature]
Millennium Point Charitable Trust’s Scholarship
If you’re looking to study a STEM subject at university, you could benefit from our scholarship. We have partnered with Birmingham City University to offer one person a fully funded university undergraduate degree every year.
You could be eligible if:
- You live in the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) of the United Kingdom.
- You will be 18 and looking to start an undergraduate degree in September 2023.
- Your course is included in our list.
- You don’t already have an undergraduate or above qualification.
- You’re not currently studying an undergraduate or above qualification.
- You meet the entry requirements for your chosen course – you can find this out on the BCU website.
To find out more about our scholarship, visit our website today.
Due to university being so expensive, scholarships are a great way to support students through their university journey. The financial aid scholarships provide to students can also open the door to higher education for those in underrepresented and underprivileged positions.
Many people dismiss applying to scholarships, as they don’t think that they’ll be eligible, however you could be surprised as they can be awarded for various reasons.
Here are 5 tips to help you nail your scholarship application.
What is a scholarship
Scholarships are usually provided by universities or third parties who offer financial aid for students to help them accelerate their career. One of the major benefits of this is that students don’t need to pay the money back, relieving them of some of the financial burdens that come along with university.
Read our complete guide to scholarships to learn more.
Types of scholarship
As stated previously, there are various types of scholarships that you may be eligible for, making it important for you to do your research.
Types of scholarships can include:
- Academic Excellence Scholarships – Some universities offer money for achieving certain A-level grades to help support students further.
- Musical Scholarships – offered for those with musical talents.
- Personal circumstances – This can be based on where you live, where you go to school and what your parents do.
- Financial need – offers money for those who are in financial need and may not be able to attend university without it.
- Sporting achievement – Usually offered to those with high achievements in sport to help universities attract the best talent.
To learn more, read our complete guide to scholarships blog.
Shop around
Instead of applying to any and every scholarship out there, it’s best to look around first to find a few that apply to you best. You may be surprised at how many scholarships you’re eligible for and therefore you want to keep your options open, by collating the best scholarships for you before applying to any.
Application processes can be lengthy and you don’t want to waste your time applying to ones you don’t want or have slim chances of getting due to your eligibility.
Looking around allows you to find the scholarships that suit you best, giving you the opportunity to put your best effort into the application process, showing that you want to win rather than rushing through multiple applications and not giving sufficient answers.
Check eligibility criteria
Checking the eligibility criteria of a scholarship before applying is extremely important as you don’t want to waste valuable time on applications you definitely won’t be successful in.
Furthermore, checking eligibility criteria will allow you to apply for scholarships that will provide real value to you and provide you with the support you need.
What are the timelines?
Keeping on top of scholarship deadlines is key to being successful in the application process. Scholarships can also have multiple deadlines, such as application and interview deadlines that you need to keep an eye on.
Furthermore, understanding deadlines allows you to plan a head for any documents or information you may need to provide in the future.
Understanding deadlines also allows you to spend as much time as you need filling out your application without the need to rush, helping you to write a winning submission.
Tailor your application
Tailoring your application to the scholarship you’re applying to will have a significant impact on whether you’re successful or not. Taking the time to tailor your application will show the attention to detail and effort you have put in, highlighting that you want and deserve to win the scholarship.
Being honest about why you’re applying to the scholarship, why you’re interested in your course and what you want to do with your degree in the future will help your application stand out.
Ask for help
It never hurts to ask for help. Getting your friends, parents or teachers to proofread your application or asking for tips on how to tailor it will help you put your best foot forward.
You could also reach out to previous scholars on LinkedIn for advice or feedback as they’ve experienced the process before.
The great thing about asking for help is that people might point out things you may not have previously considered, helping you to boost your application even further.
The Millennium Point Charitable Trust’s scholarship
Here at Millennium Point, our Charitable Trust offers a scholarship for STEM students every year. The scholarship is partnered with Birmingham City University, where students can receive a fully funded undergraduate degree in Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment.
Our 2023 applications are currently open, however the deadline closes on the 23rd of March 2023 at 5PM.
To be eligible for our scholarship you’ll need to meet the following criteria:
- You live in the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) of the United Kingdom.
- You will be 18 and looking to start an undergraduate degree in September 2023.
- Your course is included in our list.
- You don’t already have an undergraduate or above qualification.
- You’re not currently studying an undergraduate or above qualification.
- You meet the entry requirements for your chosen course – you can find this out on the BCU website.
To learn more about our STEM scholarship visit our website today.
The application deadline for our scholarship program has been extended until Thursday 23rd March 2023, giving students extra time to get their applications in for a life-changing opportunity.
Now in it’s ninth year, one lucky undergraduate gets complete funding for their degree, from a choice of over 20 courses at the faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment at Birmingham City University.
Interested in applying but unsure what course to pick? Our recent blog outlines the best courses to choose based on what path you’re looking to take with your career.
Who can apply?
In order to apply you must live in the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and your chosen course must be listed in the ‘What Courses are Included’ section on our application page.
Applying is easy and simple
Applications are straight forward and can be done by visiting our dedicated application page. If you need any help please visit our frequently asked questions page or speak to one of our friendly Trust team.
What did previous winners experience
Previous winners of our scholarship have experienced life-changing moments after applying, enjoying positive steps with their development and kickstarting a career in their chosen field. Our 2017 winner Sagal studied Civil Engineering, graduating with a first class honours degree and landing a role with Jacobs as a Graduate Geotechnical Engineer.
The 2021 winner Asima Adnan from Dudley, is currently in her second year of studying for a degree in Planning at BCU. She commented: “Winning the scholarship was a wonderful surprise. It allowed me as a single mom to concentrate on building myself as a strong academic individual rather than to worry about how to financially pay back for what I have achieved. Millennium Point has given me the financial and emotional support I need to continue progressing into achieving my degree.”
Our charitable trust funds future talent in the region
Commercial activity that takes place in our building is funded back into the Millennium Point Charitable Trust, enabling the charity to donate, invest and facilitate more than £3.25m to STEM related organisations, projects and initiatives in the West Midlands, during 2022.
There’s just over two weeks remaining to grab the opportunity of a lifetime, and apply for the 2023 Millennium Point Trust Scholarship and help is at hand for any students in need of support to complete their application.
Submissions close on March 23rd for the chance to win a fully paid-for degree in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths). The programme, now in its ninth year, offers one lucky undergraduate complete funding for their degree, from a choice of over 20 courses at the faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment at Birmingham City University (BCU). The scholarship is the flagship initiative from the Millennium Point Charitable Trust and is fully funded by the charity.
A shortlist of candidates will be invited to present to a panel of judges at an Assessment Day, with the winner announced a few weeks later.
The Millennium Point Trust team is on hand to help any students looking to apply – simply email scholarshipapplications@millenniumpoint.org.uk.
We asked our previous winners for tips
We have also enlisted the assistance of former scholarship winners, who have been through the process and know a few ‘tricks of the trade’.
Ryan Dowell, who won the scholarship in 2018, graduated with a first-class honours degree in Civil Engineering, in 2021. He is currently working in Dublin, on the graduate programme at Ireland’s leading builder and contractor John Sisk and Son. Ryan has already worked on the landmark Fibonacci Square project for Meta, and is now working on 4 Park Place, in the heart of the Irish capital.
Ryan commented: “The scholarship was a key point in my development – before this point I had not delivered a presentation to a large group. I can confidently say that the experience helped build my confidence when speaking to people who I do not know. The location and people I have met have also made the choice to attend BCU one of the best I made.”
Ryan’s top tips for applicants:
- Make sure you are open and honest when you are writing your application. Show who you truly are and what this opportunity will mean to you.
- When choosing your topic – first and foremost – elect for a topic that you find interesting. Having a specific topic, you are passionate about will motivate you to find those little bits of information that will elevate your presentation.
- Keep your presentation simple, adding in some key terms and jargon is all well and good but you will be relying on remembering your words. Having a streamlined and simple presentation will help you in remembering and delivering a cohesive and collected presentation.
- Practise several times until you can remember your key overarching points well.
Asima Adnan from Dudley, the 2021 Scholarship winner, is currently in her second year of studying for a degree in Planning at BCU. She commented: “Winning the scholarship was a wonderful surprise. It allowed me as a single mom to concentrate on building myself as a strong academic individual rather than to worry about how to financially pay back for what I have achieved. Millennium Point has given me the financial and emotional support I need to continue progressing into achieving my degree.”
Applications are only being accepted from students in the West Midlands region, who cannot already be studying for an undergraduate degree. Submissions are particularly being encouraged from traditionally marginalised groups in the field of STEM.
All of the commercial activity that takes place in the Millennium Point building feeds back into the Millennium Point Charitable Trust, enabling the charity to donate, invest and facilitate more than £3.25m to STEM related organisations, projects and initiatives in the West Midlands, during 2022.
For more information, visit www.millenniumpoint.org.uk/scholarship
Applications are open for our life changing Scholarship programme. The programme, now in its ninth year, offers one lucky undergraduate complete funding for their degree, from a choice of over 20 courses at the faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment at Birmingham City University.
With many courses to choose from, we understand there’s a lot to take in, below we have broken these down to give you an insight into what’s available and what career paths you can take with each subject.
Engineering
A degree in engineering welcomes you to an ever evolving and diverse industry. This exciting opportunity offers lots of career paths where you can innovate and shape the world we live in.
Engineering courses available:
- Automotive Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Electronic Engineering
- Manufacturing Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
Digital Technology
The digital industry is forever evolving, offering lots of opportunities within the film industry, gaming, music and visual effects. If you’re creative and like being at the centre of digital innovation, a career in digital technology is for you.
Digital Technology courses available:
- Digital Media Computing
- Digital Film Production
- Visual Effects
- Music Technology
- Sound Engineering and Production
Computing
Computing is at the centre of most industries in some shape or form. With this brings multiple opportunities across a number of computing specialisms, ranging from computer science to digital forensics.
Computing courses available:
- Business Information Technology
- Computer Games Technology
- Computer Networks and Security
- Computer Science
- Digital Forensics
- Computing and Information Technology
- Cyber Security
- Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence
Built Environment
Birmingham has seen some exciting developments over recent years, with plenty more in the pipeline. Want to be part of future planning and developments that innovate and enhance cities across the UK? Then a career in Built Environment is just for you.
Built Environment courses available:
- Architectural Technology
- Building Surveying
- Construction Management
- Quantity Surveying
- Real Estate
Begin your journey by applying for a Scholarship
Applications are straight forward and can be done by visiting our dedicated application page here. In order to apply you must live in the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and be 18 years of age by, and looking to start an undergraduate degree in September 2023. Applications close on Friday 17th March 2023.
Our team are here to help every step of the way
We want everyone to have the best chance of success when applying for our Scholarship scheme, and realise ‘bigging yourself up’ can be a little daunting. That’s why we have created a helpful guide to aid you through your application.
You can always contact our friendly Trust team for any other enquiries you may have.
Grant funding is a great opportunity for businesses and organisations to start a project that they would struggle to fund with their own money.
Grants can be given for different types of projects including education and environment led work. At Millennium Point we offer grant funding for STEM-related projects to help encourage children to pursue a career within the industry.
So what is grant funding and how could it help you?
What is grant funding?
Grant funding helps encourage companies to take risks and drive growth, through giving them the opportunity to invest in projects that may have been too risky or expensive for them to invest in themselves.
For example, £15.5 million of the Levelling Up Fund is going to be used to restore Moseley Road Baths heritage funding. The fund will also help make it more accessible and prevent further decline.
The baths originally opened in 1907 and have been a part of the Balsall Heath community for 115 years. This highlights the huge positive impacts grant funding can have on both organisations and buildings, as well as communities.
To learn more about the Levelling Up Funding going into the Moseley Road Baths, visit the government website.
How does grant funding work?
Grant funding works differently depending on the funding body’s application progress. For example their could be various stages such as:
- Expression of interest
- Multi-stage application forms
- Interviews
How to find the right grant funding opportunity
Applying to grants can be extremely time consuming, even when the grant may not be offering a large sum of money.
Due to this and the fact that grant funding opportunities can have low success rates, you want to make sure that you read grant guidelines carefully and understand what they’re offering so that you don’t waste your time.
What should you look out for?
When applying for grant funding opportunities, you should look out for:
- Eligibility criteria – Such as location, organisation size or project aim.
- Any exclusions – These could be based on location or annual income.
- The objectives the grant aims to achieve – This could be objectives like funding opportunities to further education or buying equipment to improve people’s lives.
Examples of criteria you may need to meet
Grants may require you to meet a number of criteria, such as:
- Where you’re located.
- Your annual business income.
- The type of organisation you are.
- The total cost of your proposed project.
- The size of the grant you need.
- The length of time your organisation has been running for.
Further research
When looking at grant funding opportunities, it’s important to further research the grant and the funding body offering it, so that you fully understand what you’re applying for and whether it meets your needs.
You can do this by:
- Visiting their website and looking at previous projects.
- Looking at their website to see if they have published any annual reports of previous projects.
- Call or email the funding body to ask any questions and find out more information.
Grant funding opportunities at Millennium Point
Every year the Millennium Point Charitable Trust provides funding to not-for-profit organisations, schools and colleges across the West Midlands combined area.
Applicants can apply for up to £20,000 to fund their STEM-related projects, depending on whether they meet eligibility criteria.
Over the last 5 years, The Millennium Point Charitable Trust has awarded over £2,100,706 to help fund STEM-related projects.
Visit our website today to learn more about our grant opportunities.
How has Millennium Point supported groups through their grant funding opportunities?
Millennium Point has supported a multitude of businesses in funding their STEM-related projects, helping to improve STEM teaching for children of all ages, across the West Midlands combined area.
Below are 3 examples of not-for-profit organisations and schools Millennium Point have supported through their grant.
Birmingham Botanical Gardens
The Millennium Point Charitable Trust’s grant opportunities allowed the Botanical Gardens to introduce their sensational science sessions that give children the opportunity to undertake science experiments they may not be able to do at school.
This has helped to get children further involved in science and the Botanical gardens as well, helping to improve the standard of teaching within the STEM curriculum.
To learn more about how Millennium Point supported the Botanical Gardens, visit our Youtube channel today.
Ark Trindal Primary
The grant from Millennium Point’s Charitable Trust allowed Ark Trindal to bring the science curriculum to life with an outdoor teaching space, which included a science garden with a renewable energy area. This has helped the school make teaching science more fun and hands-on, enabling children to learn through sight and touch.
Ark Trindal Primary found the grant really quick and simple to apply for and has helped the school out massively in terms of teaching and engaging students in the science curriculum.
To learn more about Ark Trindal’s project and how Millennium Point supported them, watch our short video today.
King Solomon School: Breaking barriers
The grant Millennium Point provided for King Solomon School enabled them to create their project, ‘breaking the barriers of STEM’.
The project included building a sensory garden and utilising an old car park that was a part of their playground and turning it into a safe, quiet and peaceful area where children can engage with outdoor learning.
The grant has allowed the school to develop areas for children to engage in science lessons in a physical way, while bringing the community of parents and grandparents together through them donating plants to the schools sensory garden.
To learn more about King Solomon School’s breaking the barriers of STEM project, visit our YouTube channel today.
Get in touch with Millennium Point today!
Here at Millennium Point we want to support as many people and children as possible and encourage them to pursue further education and careers within the STEM industries, highlighting why we started our grant funding opportunities.
To discover more about whether Millennium Point’s Charitable Trust grant can help you, get in touch today!
It’s already widely known that females are massively underrepresented in STEM education, but what is being done to change this? Currently females make up 28% of the science, engineering, technology and maths workforce, highlighting that males outnumber females in the STEM industry.
What is STEM Education?
STEM education is all about teaching students science, technology, engineering and maths.
Rather than teaching these subjects separately, STEM uses a combined applied approach to encourage and better equip students to consider careers within STEM.
Why is there a lack of females in STEM Education?
There is a noticeable difference between the amount of females and males in STEM education that decreases continually after GCSE level education. After GCSEs, only 35% of females choose to study STEM subjects, with this decreasing to 25% of females choosing to study them at university.
Students, and people more generally, are often misled into thinking that STEM subjects are ‘meant for boys’ which can therefore be off-putting for girls to apply for or sit in classes where they may be one of a few girls or even the only girl in the class.
How can we change this and encourage more girls to apply for STEM subjects and consider a career in the industry?
Improve job satisfaction
Research shows that 1 in 10 girls want a job that makes a contribution to society. Due to this, more should be done to highlight that studying STEM subjects can lead to a career where girls can meet their ambitions to make a contribution to society. This will help close the gender gap by encouraging more girls to study STEM subjects relating to their aspirations.
Showcase more role models in STEM industries
Showcasing more female role models in STEM industries will help encourage girls to consider STEM subjects and careers as they can be inspired by someone more like them. This could be done by including more female role models in school career days.
Furthermore, universities could have more female lecturers, helping encourage girls to pursue university degrees, by providing a female role model that understands the career path they want to pursue.
What problems do females face in STEM industries?
Over half of females in a male dominated STEM workplace have felt some kind of discrimination while at work.
Furthermore, 1 in 5 women stated that, before the Me Too movement, they felt being female had held them back from succeeding at work and gaining promotions.
Women also face problems such as:
- Not receiving promotions – 40% of women have missed out on a promotion that was given to a less qualified male. As a result, women have considered changing employers to attain a promotion.
- Not receiving a good work life balance – Women understand that keeping a work life balance is hard, but they would like more opportunities to balance working and spending time with their family.
- Not receiving equal pay – Men and women tend not to receive equal pay in tech. If they were paid equally, STEM education and careers may attract more women.
What can education and not for profit leaders do to close the gender gap?
Education and not for profit leaders can make small changes to the way schools deliver STEM education to females to help close the gender gap.
For example education and not for profit leaders could:
Generate excitement
Generating excitement around the creative opportunities STEM education can give to females could help encourage them to further study science, technology, engineering and maths.
Excitement can be generated by:
- Decorating classrooms with posters and displays that show how creativity can be utilised within STEM.
- Experiment with ways to debunk myths about STEM and highlight the relevance it has to the real world.
- Share any interesting news, classes, competitions or case studies relating to STEM with students.
Provide hands-on experience
With 47% of women saying they learn best with hands-on experience, it’s important to mix theory with hands-on learning. This allows all types of learners to access teaching in the way that best suits them, helping them thrive in STEM education and making them more likely to study these subjects in further education.
Hands on experience can be provided by:
- Introducing STEM and computer science at an early age.
- Offering STEM clubs and activities during and after school, such as coding and science clubs.
- Offering school trips to STEM related centres and museums.
Encourage a growth mindset
Encouraging a growth mindset among both students and teachers will help to open doors into the STEM industry and encourage teachers to do more to support students going into STEM related subjects.
Encouraging a growth mindset could be done by:
- Encouraging teachers to support students through all areas of the learning process, including asking questions and failures.
- Exploring different ways to implement STEM subjects into learning models, for example including computer science in the learning curriculum.
- Including ‘learn by doing’ apps into classes and homework tasks.
- Reaching out to other schools that are leading the way in STEM education to ask for advice or collaborate on teaching and holding after school STEM related clubs.
How have female positions in STEM education changed since 2015?
In physical sciences and engineering and tech, the percentage of female graduates has increased since 2015, however there has only been a tiny improvement. Similarly, female graduates in mathematical sciences decreased by 1% in 2018/2019 compared to 2015/16. However, female graduates in computer science dropped between 2016 and 2017, but increased to 16% of graduates in 2018/2019.
While it’s great that we’re seeing an increase in female graduates in STEM related subjects, it’s clear that there’s a lot more educators and not for profit organisations can be doing to help encourage more females to enter STEM related subjects.
How can Millennium Point help close the gender gap in STEM education?
The Millennium Point Charitable Trust has created the STEM roundtable to help bring together STEM industries, primary and secondary education, further education and not-for-profits in STEM sectors.
What’s the purpose of the working group?
- To provide a platform for support and communication to facilitate the sharing of ideas and cross-collaboration for the development of STEM projects.
- To shape the future of STEM learning, starting in the West Midlands by making affirmative action that creates positive change in STEM education and industry.
- To reverse current negative STEM trends by bridging the skills gap and ensuring every child has an opportunity to develop a career in STEM.
- To increase home grown STEM talent by creating a legacy that will nurture local and national talent that will allow the UK to be a major competitor on the global stage.
Get in touch with our Trust Team today to see how you can get involved in closing the gender gap in STEM.
Bursaries and scholarships are both great ways to support students financially while they’re at university, however bursaries and scholarships are often confused as being the same thing.
Both scholarships and bursaries are given out to help students financially without the need for them to pay them back.
This blog will explore the difference between a scholarship and a bursary and how you can make the most of them.
What’s a scholarship?
Scholarships usually come from independent third parties and universities to help students accelerate their education by offering financial aid. They often place focus on academic excellence.
Eligibility may include:
- Academic achievements.
- Personal circumstances, such as where you live or religious background.
- Musical achievements.
- Sporting achievements.
What’s a bursary?
Bursaries are usually offered to those with financial needs to help cover education costs or one off payments to help with living costs.
Criteria students need to meet to receive a bursary:
- They are a home or EU student.
- Their income is less than £25,000.
- They’re household income is between £25,001 – £42,611.
- They have a disability or long term health condition where Disability Living Allowance (DLA) isn’t available.
- They’re working or studying away from their university.
- They have previously been in care.
- They’re a carer for an adult or child.
- They’re living in a hostel or student accommodation.
Despite this criteria, some bursaries may not be available to:
- Part time students.
- Postgraduate students.
- NHS sponsored or funded students.
- Students on placement years, years abroad or sandwich years.
- Students who are paying reduced tuition fees.
Tips on applying for a scholarship or bursary
Applying for a scholarship or bursary can be very stressful, as you want to get everything right. But with these 7 tips, you’ll find applying for a scholarship or bursary easier than ever.
Consider your chances
When applying for a scholarship or bursary it’s important to consider your chances. For example, if your parents earn a high income you’re unlikely to receive a bursary. However you may be eligible for scholarships relating to academic or musical achievements.
You should also look at the value of the award and how many are available, to help you understand how likely you are to receive it.
Check if you need to apply and whether there’s a deadline
Scholarships often require you to fill out an application to see whether you’re eligible and a good fit for the award. However bursaries tend to be automatically awarded as a result of personal circumstances or grade achievements.
If you need to fill out an application for an award, then you’re likely to need to have a place confirmed at a university. Due to this you should keep an eye on application deadlines to ensure you apply on time and give yourself the best possible chance.
Look at key dates and when you may be successful
When you’re applying to a scholarship you should look at the eligibility, how to apply and when you’re meant to hear if you’re successful.
In terms of bursaries depending on income or personal circumstances, you’re likely to know whether you’re eligible for a bursary when you get your student finance assessment.
Share your information with student finance
When you apply for your student loan you should tick the box that allows student finance to share your information with universities. This allows them to judge whether you’re eligible for any scholarships or bursaries.
Look out for other opportunities
You can keep an eye out for any new scholarships or bursaries when you visit university open days or interviews. Clearing is also a great time to look out for scholarships or bursaries as some universities may make increases to fill application places.
Take pride in your application
When completing an application it’s important that you take the time and effort to fill it out properly. You should check for any errors and ensure you answer all questions honestly and accurately.
Furthermore, if you’re having difficulty answering or understanding any questions in the application, there’s no harm in contacting the university or provider for help.
Be realistic
When applying or thinking about applying for a bursary or grant you should consider whether you want to attend a university because you like it or because you like the award they offer. If it’s the latter, it isn’t wise to attend a university you’re not interested in and you should consider other options.
Types of scholarship or bursary
Scholarships are usually awarded for merit based and talent based achievements, whereas bursaries are usually awarded on a need basis.
Types of scholarships
- Musical scholarships
- Sport scholarships
- Personal circumstance scholarships
- Vocational scholarships (offered by businesses)
Types of bursary
- Bursaries based on grade achievements
- Personal circumstance bursaries, such as those with difficult backgrounds or live in a low income household.
Benefits
Scholarships tend to offer an automatic reduction or cover entire tuition fees and can also offer discounts alongside annual, term-wise or one-off payments for living costs.
Whereas bursaries offer money to cover education costs or one off payments to help with living costs.
Despite scholarships and bursaries offering awards for different reasons they have a number of similar benefits, such as:
- Reduced financial burden.
- Ability to focus on education without worrying about income.
- They show that you’re hard working and determined.
- They highlight that you’re accomplished and make your CV stand out.
Millennium Point’s scholarship
Millennium Point Trust has partnered with Birmingham City University to offer a scholarship where one undergraduate degree is paid for each year.
With over 20 courses included in the scholarship there’s lots to choose from. However the application deadline closes on the 17th March 2023. To apply for the scholarship, visit our website today.
How to apply
You’re eligible to apply to the scholarship if you’re 18 and planning on starting university by September 2023. You must be within the West Midlands Combined Authority and looking to start a degree included within the scholarship list.
Eligible degree courses include:
Engineering
- Automotive Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Electronic Engineering
- Manufacturing Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
Built environment
- Architectural Technology
- Building Surveying
- Construction Management
- Quantity Surveying
- Real Estate
Digital Technology
- Digital Media Computing
- Digital Film Production
- Visual Effects
- Music Technology
- Sound Engineering and Production
Computing
- Business Information Technology
- Computer Games Technology
- Computer Networks and Security
- Computer Science
- Digital Forensics
- Computing and Information Technology
- Cyber Security
- Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence
The application has two stages with the second stage being an assessment day where you’ll participate in developmental workshops.
For further advice on applying for a scholarship, read our helpful guide here.