Education

Gender Equality in our curriculum

Queen Mary’s Inclusive Curriculum framework guides teaching and assessment design to ensure all students—regardless of background, gender or identity—can thrive. The framework emphasises student–staff collaboration, diverse voices and global perspectives within modules, and pedagogic practices that remove barriers and promote belonging. Through inclusive advising, mentoring and curricular design that reflects multiple identities, QMUL builds a learning environment where gender equality and broader equity are embedded into the academic experience.

Women in STEM Scholarship 

In collaboration with the British Council, the Women in STEM Scholarships offers five scholarships to women from the Philippines, Thailand, Myanmar and Indonesia, removing financial barriers to postgraduate STEM study through full tuition support and funding for living, travel and visa costs. The scholarship screening process specifically looks for applicants who can demonstrate a plan and passion to engage other women and girls in STEM from their home country.

Girls in Maths Bursary 

Queen Mary recently offered a Girls in Maths Bursary, providing £5,000 of funding to three students, over the course of their degree, from 2023/24 to 2025/26. The bursary was established to improve access to and participation in a subject where women remain underrepresented, helping recipients progress through and succeed in their studies

Springboard Women’s Development Programme 

The Springboard programme is focused on personal development, encouraging women to reflect on all aspects of their life, not just their career but also personal goals. It recognises that women are significantly underrepresented in Higher Education leadership and that women benefit from discussing some issues in single gender groups, as women and men approach personal development in different ways. Hosted on the Queen Mary estate or online, the programme is run by an external consultant certified in counselling, coaching and mentoring. As with Aurora, participants are paired with a ‘coaching partner’ for the duration of the programme. Through this the programme supports women's progression, confidence and participation in higher education careers and leadership roles.

Accelerate Women’s Development Programme 

Part of Queen Mary’s Aspire career development programme, Accelerate is a personal development programme focused on our undergraduate and postgraduate female students from all faculties and schools. It is designed specifically to address barriers faced by female students during university, such as studying, imposter syndrome and confidence and support their transition into graduate employment and leadership opportunities.

Aurora Women’s Leadership Development Programme 

Queen Mary participates in the Aurora programme, which is a unique partnership bringing together leadership experts and higher education institutions to equip women with the knowledge and skills to influence institutional direction and cultivate essential leadership capabilities.

The programme entails a series of webinars, ‘development days’ and ‘action learning sets’ as well as networking with Queen Mary staff who have already participated. Most importantly, Aurora participants are required to have a mentor, from their institution, to support them throughout the programme experience. Queen Mary has many senior staff who have proudly participated in the Aurora programme and offer their services as mentors, helping women progress into senior leadership roles within higher education.

Women in Economics and Finance Scholarship 

Applicants must commit to engaging with women and girls in Economics and Finance for a total of 30 hours during their studies, through a range of avenues such as mentoring. In 2026 Queen Mary introduced the new “Women in Economics and Finance Scholarship in Honour of Ghazala Azmat.”

SEAL Programme

The SEAL Programme at Queen Mary provides our female staff with a structured, action-learning based environment where they can meet cohorts across higher education institutions to discuss career and leadership challenges. Each group is designed to include a balance of academic and professional services staff, enabling cross-sector collaboration. The programme helps participants develop leadership capacity, identify solutions to real-work issues and build their confidence.

The Hershel Programme 

The Herschel Programme is a national development initiative for technical staff, designed to address the under-representation of women in technical leadership roles in higher education and research. Designed as modules, peer-learning sets and leadership workshops, participants can build their confidence, network and develop the skills, influence and visibility required to progress their careers into technical management functions. The Queen Mary TechNET team helps prospective applicants with their applications, supporting technical professionals to play a fuller role as leaders in their institutions, advancing gender equity in technical leadership.

Women in Finance and Economics 

Women in Finance and Economics (WiFE) is a student-led, extracurricular, professional development society that supports women pursuing careers in finance and economics, sectors in which women remain underrepresented. Through mentoring, networking opportunities, industry events and access to internships, the society helps female students build professional networks, develop career-ready skills and connect with experienced professionals and Queen Mary alumni. By creating opportunities for peer support and professional development, WiFE helps increase participation and progression of women in finance and economics.

Women in Science and Engineering

Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) supports female students and early-career researchers in STEM through mentoring, professional development and networking opportunities. Originally established as a discussion group focused on women's participation in STEM, the society now connects members with women working across science, technology, engineering and academia, providing role models and career guidance. Through these activities, WiSE helps address barriers to participation and progression while supporting greater representation of women in STEM disciplines and careers.