A student from Glasgow has been awarded a scholarship worth up to £20,000 as part of a national programme that provides financial support to 15 women students from low-income backgrounds studying engineering and computer science degrees in the UK.
Anurati Panchkoty (17), from Glasgow, is one of 15 recipients of the 2024 Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship, created in partnership with the Royal Academy of Engineering.
Since launching the scholarship in 2021, Amazon has awarded over £1.25 million worth of funding and currently supports 90 women studying STEM-related degrees at universities across the UK.
The scholarship is part of Amazon Future Engineer, Amazon’s childhood-to-career programme, which has provided free digital skills training and careers guidance to more than one million students across the UK.
Awardees like Anurati will each receive £5,000 annually for up to four years to support their university-related expenses, including tuition, accommodation, and living costs.
Alongside this financial support, awardees will also benefit from a comprehensive package that includes mentorship from Amazon employees to enhance their professional growth, provide networking opportunities, and the transition into employment.
Anurati, who is studying Computer Science at the University of Edinburgh, was awarded a place on the scholarship programme because of her passion to use technology to develop software for healthcare.
Anurati has been interested in computing from a young age. She explains why she chose to study computer science:
“It was actually music that led to the start of my journey into the field of computing. While learning to play the violin, I joined coding classes at the age of nine. This is where I began to see computing as a creative field, noticing the overlap between inspiring new thought patterns in music and the problem-solving aspect of programming.”
“I also feel there is a real connection between the process of developing a piece of music as well as developing software. I feel inspired by the transformative power of technology and how it can be used to shape and influence the world. I believe a degree in computer science will help me build creative and logical thinking skills while also equipping me with the tools to solve real world challenges in the future.”
One of the things Anurati loves about computing is the continual problem solving:
“I love working to try and solve a puzzle. When I’m given a challenge, I like to do research on it and figure out ways to solve it while also expanding my knowledge. I believe a growth mindset is essential in this field and maintaining a positive attitude is very important, as coding often involves a lot of trial and error. I also enjoy working as part of a team and sharing ideas with others. This process allows me to explore diverse perspectives which can often lead to efficient and robust solutions.”
Anurati explains what prompted her to apply for the scholarship.
“When applying for university, I was quite worried about the financial side of things. When I came across the Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship, what drew me was both the financial support and the mentoring scheme. I thought it would be amazing to hear from industry specialists and was excited about the networking opportunities that come with it, as I think learning from other people is so valuable. It can be intimidating to be a woman in STEM, and I hope to one day inspire and encourage others to join this exciting field.”
Anurati hopes to one day use her passion for computing and helping others to work on developing software for healthcare. She adds:
“During the university application process, I was researching women in STEM and came across the work of Krittika D’Silva. During her time working with NASA, she focused on space medicine and developed AI models for wearable devices to monitor, track and assist astronauts while they were in space. I would love to meet her one day! Krittika’s hard work has inspired me, and I hope one day I can contribute to solving challenges that haven’t been solved yet.”
Anurati has some advice for anyone considering applying for a programme like the one she’s doing with Amazon:
“Go for it! Try your best and put yourself out there, because you never know what opportunities await. Going through the application process gave me a chance to reflect on my future career goals and confirmed my desire to pursue a degree in a subject I truly enjoy and am passionate about. Definitely apply!”
Lauren Kisser, Ambassador for Amazon Future Engineer & Director, Living Room Technology at Amazon, said: “Exceptional talent can be found right across the UK, but the tech sector risks a lack of diversity of thought if we don’t step up efforts to support students from diverse backgrounds into STEM subjects. At Amazon, we’re passionate about breaking down barriers to opportunity and I’m delighted that we will support our scholarship recipients on their journey to become the innovators of the future, shaping a more equitable, sustainable future.”
Lynda Mann, Head of Education Programmes at the Royal Academy of Engineering, said: “We are very pleased to continue partnering with Amazon on this important positive action initiative to increase the number of women, from all over the UK, enrolling on STEM degree programmes. Evidence suggests the Amazon Future Engineer Scholarships are having a real and positive impact on recipients, both in terms of their experience at university and their progression into careers in engineering and computing.”
Scholarship applications for the 2025/26 academic year open on 18th November, and will close on 13th May 2025.
