STEM is an abbreviation for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. A degree in STEM equips students with technological and scientific concepts, develops critical thinking and logical reasoning skills, and prepares them for in-demand career options. Many women are opting for STEM courses at reputed universities. So, if you are planning to enrol in a STEM program and want to know how women are changing the technological landscape, this guide is for you.

Key Highlights

• Women and STEM
  • Role of women in Science and Technology
  • Women in STEM fields: Key statistics
  • Famous women in STEM
• Top countries and universities offering STEM courses
• Popular STEM courses
• Career avenues for females in STEM fields
• Tips for women in Science and Technology

Women and STEM

Since times immemorial, women have been playing an active role in enriching human lives with their brilliant ideas and innovations. Over the years, they have exhibited their tremendous potential and survived in this male-dominated field when provided with the right learning environment.

• Role of women in Science and Technology

   Every year, the United Nations celebrates February 11 as the International Day of Women and Girls in Science to appreciate the ground-breaking discoveries led by the female community. From space to vaccines, several talented women are carving their niche in Science and Technology and even inspiring other women to build robust careers in this domain.

  Also Read: What are the top 10 benefits of STEM education

• Women in STEM fields: Key statistics

  • As per the recent report, women accounted for 29.2% of the total STEM working population in 146 nations.
  • According to the latest report, women accounted for 27% of the total STEM workforce population in India
  
  

• Famous women in STEM

  Name	Achievements
  Sunita Sarawagi	An eminent IIT Bombay professor and Computer Scientist who has won accolades for revolutionary research in data mining and databases
  Nigar Shaji	Nigar Shaji, working in ISRO since 198, is an Aerospace Engineer and has played an instrumental role in India’s first solar mission: Aditya-L1 and many other space missions.
  Kalpana Chawla	An Astronaut and Aeronautical Engineer, Kalpana Chawla was the first Indian-origin woman to go to space in 1997. She was one of the seven crew members chosen by NASA for the Space Shuttle in Columbia.

Top countries and universities offering STEM courses

Countries	Name of the universities
The USA	Massachusetts Institute of Technology Harvard University Stanford University California Institute of Technology University of California, Berkeley
The UK	University of Cambridge University of Oxford Imperial College London The University of Manchester University College London
Canada	McGill University University of Waterloo The University of British Columbia University of Toronto University of Alberta
Australia	The University of Sydney The University of Melbourne The Australian National University The University of Queensland Monash University
Germany	Technical University of Munich Technical University Berlin RWTH Aachen University Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich University of Tübingen

Also Read: It’s Time To Focus On STEAM Programs!

Popular STEM specialisations

• Chemical Engineering
• Aerospace Engineering
• Data Science
• Computer Science
• Physics
• Mathematics
• Data Analytics
• Agriculture Science
• Electrical Engineering
• Environmental Science

As per your interests and career goals, you can pursue a master’s, PhD degree, or other diploma/certification courses in any of the STEM specialisations. Kindly note that this is not an exhaustive list.

Career avenues for females in STEM fields

After completing STEM courses from a prestigious university, women can explore rewarding job opportunities across sectors to build lucrative careers.
Some interesting job roles are:

• Data Scientist
• Architect
• Cybersecurity Analyst
• Mechanical Engineer
• IT Manager

Tips for women in Science and Technology

• Learning about new technologies and developments will help you thrive in the ever-changing tech industry.

  Also Read: Top 5 Unconventional and Promising Study Abroad Destinations

• Establishing a professional network with industry leaders can open new opportunities in the tech space. Also, a mentor can provide you with career guidance.
• You can participate in internships and skilling programs to develop an in-depth understanding of your chosen STEM field and to learn from industry experts.

So, if you are planning to enrol in a STEM degree but are facing financial constraints, you can opt for an abroad study loan. At Avanse Financial Services, we offer education loans with multiple benefits like 100% finance, quick loan sanctions, and multiple repayment options. Get in touch with us to know about education loan interest rates, how to use an EMI calculator for education loan, and more.