New Imperial scholarship opening doors for women in South East Asia

Credit: Madeleine Waller.

A scholarship programme jointly launched with the British Council will see more women in South East Asian countries be supported to study at Imperial.

The ASEAN – UK SAGE: Women in STEM Scholarships will provide the opportunity for six outstanding women students from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, or Timor-Leste to study a one-year Master’s course at Imperial.  

The Master’s courses – covering a whole range of subjects from Engineering and Life Sciences, to Earth Sciences and Environmental Policy – will start in autumn 2024. The fully-funded scholarships will cover students’ full tuition fees, and will also provide an annual stipend and return flights to the UK.

Anna Oposa, from the Philippines, completed an MSc in Conservation Science in 2015 and is now Executive Director and Chief Mermaid of Save Philippine Seas. Anna said of her time at Imperial:

“It was a life-changing opportunity that I'm still so grateful for. My MSc offered me the time and space to learn about conservation in a structured way, to immerse myself in theoretical frameworks and case studies, and to build skills I didn't know I would ever need, like statistics or academic writing. It boosted my confidence and credibility. I make sure that whatever I learned there, I share with the communities I work with and the people I mentor.”

Cecilia Martinez-Miranda, from the Philippines, studied an MSc in Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Management in 2019, and is now Managing Director of Josan Farms, Inc. Cecilia said: 

“My time and experience at Imperial helped me realise my dream of working in social impact in the Philippines. My work placement with Ananas Anam UK LTD, provided me with incredible insight into the amount of resources, dedication, and creativity required to turn an innovation into a commercial product as well the challenges involved in scaling production. After the placement, I ended up joining Ananas Anam’s Philippines full time and helped lead the Philippines entity.

Janjao Mongkolnavin, from Thailand, studied MSc Foundations of Advanced Information Technology in 1996 and completed a PhD in Computing in 2001. Janjao, who is now Associate Professor at Chulalongkorn Business School, said: 

“Studying at Imperial has been instrumental in shaping my career path. The rigorous academic training and access to top-tier resources and networks laid a solid foundation for my profession.” 

Janjao’s advice to prospective students is to: “Take full advantage of the vast resources and support, from esteemed faculty guidance to cutting-edge research facilities. Cultivate a spirit of curiosity and innovation that will serve you well beyond graduation.” 

Phearanich Hing from Cambodia studied an MSc in Environmental Technology at Imperial in 2009, and now works as an Independent Consultant in Environment and Climate Change. Phearanich said:  

“Imperial gave me fresh and multiple perspectives to understand and address environmental and climate change issues, which continues to make a positive impact on both my career, and Cambodia.”  

“The highlights of my study were the opportunities to engage with multinational professors and study mates to exchange not just about the study subjects but professional and life experience.”

Rosanele Romero, who grew up in the Philippines, studied an MSc in Petroleum Geoscience in 2004, and is now Technical Research Analyst at S&P Global Commodity Insights in Malaysia. Rosanele said of her Imperial experience: 

“Every day I attended class I felt privileged to enter the doors of Imperial’s Royal School of Mines, which distinguished geologists of the past and present have also walked through.

“My time in Imperial led to life-long friendships among classmates and professors who gave me guidance and support even after my MSc, and also helped build my professional network. Through studying my Master’s I grew to understand why natural resources could be a cause of conflict or a solution for peace and prosperity.” 

Flordeliza Andres, from the Philippines, completed a PhD in 2004 and has held roles at the Philippine Department of Energy, and The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change secretariat. Flordeliza said: 

“Studying at Imperial has opened new career opportunities and gave me the confidence to take on new challenges and become more independent and entrepreneurial. I chose Imperial upon the recommendation of former professors. Not only was it one of the top-ranked universities in the UK but it also had the multi-disciplinary post-graduate programmes that I was looking to pursue. I highly recommend taking advantage of an opportunity to study in a renowned academic institution such as Imperial.”  

Professor Maggie Dallman, Vice-President (International), said: "At Imperial we are dedicated to finding and nurturing the best talent across the globe, and breaking down barriers – whether financial, ethnicity or gender-based – so people can become part of our world-leading STEM university. I’m incredibly proud that today Imperial is an international scientific community where women succeed. 

“Our strength comes from the diversity of our community where everyone contributes their own perspective, experience and skills. I look forward to seeing what each of the six scholars from South East Asia who take up these scholarships contribute to Imperial’s world-changing impact.” 

Find out more information on eligibility and how to apply for a scholarship.  

The scholarship has been developed by the British Council, and funded by the UK Government through the ASEAN – UK Supporting the Advancement of Girls’ Education (SAGE) Programme.