KATHMANDU, JANUARY 23 Nepali students will gain access to new undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships in Health and Life Sciences following a landmark £4.2 million donation to London's University of Westminster by Serum Institute of India CEO and alumnus Adar C. Poonawalla, according to the University. According to the press release issued by the university, the donation will fund the Pathways to Excellence in Health and Life Sciences Programme, a multi-year initiative supporting scholarships, studentships and fellowships across undergraduate to doctoral levels within the university's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The programme aims to widen access to STEM education by removing financial and structural barriers, with specific opportunities earmarked for talented students from Nepal, it added. Applications are expected to open in early February. According to the university, the initiative will create an inclusive pipeline of scientific talent, supporting education and research in areas including global health, disease prevention, sustainable healthcare and biodiversity conservation. Poonawalla, who graduated from the University of Westminster in 2002, said the contribution was intended to create long-term impact by nurturing diverse scientific talent and empowering future innovators to address pressing global health challenges. University Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Bonfield described the donation as a defining moment, saying it underscored the importance of global collaboration in advancing STEM education and research. The University of Westminster said the programme's impact would extend beyond the campus, enabling students who might otherwise lack access to STEM education to become leaders and change-makers in their communities.