Top international scholarships for women: Many institutions and organizations around the world that give scholarships to female students do so because women are still underrepresented in many fields, especially at the highest levels.
Being a woman by itself will not automatically qualify you for a scholarship, of course. Women can get scholarships based on a wide range of things, such as their grades, athletic skills, leadership skills, loyalty to a certain culture or community, their age, or their membership in a minority group. The following is a list of some examples of notable foreign scholarship providers for women that can be found all over the world.
Please note that this page is updated yearly, and because the sponsors or institutions that open these scholarships may often change the period in which they accept applications, we may not keep up with these updates due to the volume of scholarships we publish here. Therefore, this page is basically intended to show you the endless opportunities you have to get a scholarship to study anywhere in the world. Simply click on the link to the scholarship you want to check the deadline for on the official website. Or click here to access our list of current scholarships.
American Association of University Women (AAUW)
The American Association of University Women (AAUW) offers seven different types of grants and fellowships for women. These include American Fellowships for women scholars who are US citizens or permanent residents; International Fellowships for women from other countries who want to study in the US; and Selected Professions Fellowships to support women in the US pursuing a master’s degree in the fields of architecture, computer science, engineering, and mathematics.
The Schlumberger Foundation
The non-profit Schlumberger Foundation provides support for women in science and technology education. Its flagship Faculty for the Future program awards fellowships to women who are from developing and emerging economies, for Ph.D. or postdoctoral studies in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields at universities worldwide. Recipients are selected based on both scientific talent and leadership potential, with grant amounts decided based on an assessment of costs involved, up to US$50,000 per year.
More scholarships for women to study male-dominated STEM subjects can be found here.
PEO International
Established in 1869, the US-based PEO International runs six projects dedicated to helping women further their education. The PEO International Peace Scholarship Fund provides international scholarships for women from outside the US and Canada hoping to pursue graduate-level studies in one of those two countries. The PEO Program for Continuing Education provides need-based grants of up to $3,000 for women in the US and Canada whose educational path has been interrupted for various reasons. And the PEO STAR Scholarship and PEO Scholar Awards provide scholarships for women applying to study at undergraduate and doctoral levels, respectively.
Margaret McNamara Education Grants
The Margaret McNamara Education Grants offer scholarships for women aged 25 or over who are studying in the US, Canada, or select universities in South Africa and Latin America. Applicants should be able to demonstrate a commitment to improving the lives of women and children and be from a country designated as a “lower or middle income developing member country” (full list here).
Zonta International
Zonta International has two scholarship programs to help promote the rights, well-being, and professional status of women around the world. The Jane M Klausman Women in Business Scholarship awards a series of annual scholarships for women studying business management at the undergraduate or master’s level. Recipients must be members of the Zonta club, with scholarships worth US$2,000 at the district/region level and US$8,000 at the international level. The Amelia Earhart Fellowship is for women studying at a Ph.D. level in the aerospace field. This scheme awards 30 fellowships each year to women around the world, worth US$10,000 each, which can be used to support doctoral studies at any university or college.
To access scholarships for minority women please click here.
Women Techmakers Scholars Program
Google’s Women Techmakers Scholars Program awards scholarships to women studying in the field of computer science and technology at the undergraduate or graduate level. Scholarships are worth around US$10,000 and are awarded across the globe, with applicants assessed on their academic and leadership backgrounds. In addition to financial support, successful applicants are also invited to one of Google’s major regional offices for a special “retreat,” which includes workshops, speakers, networking, and social activities.
L’Oréal-UNESCO for Women in Science Programme
The L’Oréal-UNESCO for Women in Science Programme awards five international fellowships worth £15,000 each year to women pursuing postdoctoral research in the life sciences at any UK or Irish university or research institute. The aim is to help young researchers widen their expertise, by spending time at a leading research center outside of their own country.
1000 Dreams Scholarship Fund
Awarded by the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation, the 100 Dreams Scholarship Fund provides one-time financial assistance of up to US$1,000 to women currently attending high school or university who demonstrate financial need. This scholarship can’t be used to fund tuition or ongoing living costs and is instead intended for providing access to educational opportunities, for example by funding the cost of textbooks, exam fees, or, education conferences.
