Presently there are various financial aid and scholarships for women around the world. These scholarships for women are available at all degree levels—undergraduate, graduate, master’s, PhD, and postdoctoral for upgrading their education worldwide. Many organizations and institutions offer many grants to women so that they can continue their education with no difficulty.
Through scholarships, women are encouraged to pursue higher education and research in science, Business, Finance, Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology, Peace, and International Development.
If societal advancement is to be achieved, it must prioritize women’s academic upliftment because of their pivotal role(s) in society. However, ever-increasing fees and scarce financial support make this a tough goal.
Of course, just being a woman won’t get you a scholarship. Scholarships for women come with various criteria, including academic performance, sporting achievement, leadership skills, affiliation to a particular culture or community, age, or being part of a minority group. Examples of some of the most prominent providers of international scholarships for women are listed below.
Top Women Scholarships for International Students
- Forte MBA Fellows Program for Women
- HEC Foundation MBA Scholarships for African and Asian Women
- UNESCO-L’Oreal Fellowships For Women in Science
- PEO International Peace Scholarship for Women
- Hertha Firnberg Program for Highly Qualified Female Scientists
- Young Women in Public Affairs Award
- Margaret McNamara Memorial Fund for Women
- Schlumberger Foundation Faculty for the Future Fellowships for Women
- AAUW International Fellowships for Women
- WAAW Foundation Undergraduate Scholarships for African Women
- Australian Government Award Scholarships for Africans
- FINCAD Finance Scholarship for Women Worldwide
- Professor De Winter Scholarships for Women
- Swansea University Eira Francis Davies Scholarship
- Google Anita Borg Scholarships
- Microsoft Research Graduate Women’s Fellowships
- Adobe Research Undergraduate Women in Technology Scholarship
- The Dorothy Marchus Senesh Fellowship
- Oprah Winfrey African Women Public Service Fellowship
- MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program at Wellesley College
1. Forte MBA Fellows Program for Women
The Forté Fellows Program was structured intending to increase the number of women applying to and enrolling in MBA programs by offering fellowships to women pursuing a full-time, part-time or executive MBA education at our partner business schools. Schools have given $226 million to nearly 10,000 Forté Fellows.
To be considered for a fellowship, you must first submit an MBA application to a taking part school. All schools grant awards for full-time students. Part-time and executive awards are available at select schools.
Host/Eligible countries:
- Candidates should exhibit exemplary leadership in one or more ways: academic leadership, team leadership, community leadership, and creative leadership.
- Candidates should show a commitment to women and girls via personal mentorship or community involvement. Such commitment is in alignment with the mission of the Forté Foundation.
- Schools are encouraged to nominate fellows from their schools who represent diverse educational and work backgrounds, career goals, ethnicities and citizenship.
Level: This specific scholarship is among the most popular for women who are pursuing a full or part-time in MBA programs or executive MBA education at our sponsor business schools.
Scholarship Benefits: Besides the financial benefits, there is immediate exposure to leading companies in the Forté network and the network of peers among your fellows that extends beyond your business school. But there are additional ways you will benefit from being a part of the Forté community. Follow the link below.
2. HEC Foundation MBA Scholarships for African and Asian Women
The HEC Paris MBA can offer over €1,000,000 in aid every year thanks to the work and donations of the HEC Foundation.
Host/Eligible countries: The Scholarship is being taken in France (Paris). The Foundation Rainbow Bridge will enable young women recipients to enrich their academic backgrounds by obtaining an HEC MBA. Citizens of ALL African and Asian countries are eligible to apply.
Level: This scholarship is among the most popular for students who are pursuing Masters level courses in Business Administration (MBA)
Scholarship Benefits: The amount of the scholarships award is €20,000 per year for each successful applicant
3. UNESCO-L’Oreal Fellowships For Women in Science
Very early on, L’Oréal knew of the urgent need to address the challenges arising from the global environmental crisis.
As a response, they have continued to empower more women through their fellowships and programs.
Host/Eligible countries: L’Oreal in partnership with UNESCO, awards fellowships to women researchers pursuing doctoral or post-doctoral research programs in various fields within the life sciences, such as neurobiology, genetics, ecology and biotechnology at recognized research institutions worldwide
Level: This scholarship is among the most popular for women pursuing Graduate (PhD, PostDoc) study.
Scholarship Benefits: Fellowships up to the maximum value of Euro 15,000 will be awarded.
- 12 Fellowships of €5 000 each will be granted to African PhD Students enrolled in an African University.
- 2 Fellowships of €10 000 each will be granted to African postdoctoral researchers working in a laboratory or research institution registered in one country of the region.
4. PEO International Peace Scholarship for Women
The scholarship is founded upon demonstrated need. Although the award is not intended to cover all academic or personal expenses. At the time of application, the applicant must indicate additional financial resources adequate to meet her estimated expenses.
Host/eligible countries: The Scholarship is being taken in the USA, the scholarship is open for high school seniors (women) who are graduating and have shown impressive academic performance, extracurricular activities, and community service.
Level: This scholarship is for high school seniors that are female
Scholarship Benefits: A $2,500 scholarship will be awarded to the candidate who emerges as the winner, and other benefits attached. Follow the link below.
5. Hertha Firnberg Program for Highly Qualified Female Scientists
The FWF is offering extremely well-qualified female scientists who are working towards a career in universities the chance of two-stage funding for six years.
The improvement of the career prospects for women in Austrian research facilities and the generous support for the postdoc phase for women at the start of their scientific careers or on its resumption following maternity leave are core aspects of their goals.
Host/Eligible countries: The Scholarship is being taken in Austria, (women) Citizens of ANY country can apply.
Level: The scholarship is open for postgraduate (postdoctoral)
Scholarship Benefits: The value is €64.670 personnel costs per year plus 12,000 € p.a. for material, travel, help etc.
6. Young Women in Public Affairs Award
The Young Women in Public Affairs Award recognizes young women, ages 16-19, who show superior leadership skills and a commitment to public service and civic causes and encourages them to continue their participation in public and political life.
Host/eligible countries: The Scholarship is being taken in any country.
Level: This scholarship is for Secondary school, Pre-university that are female
Scholarship Benefits: District recipients receive US$1,000 each, while international recipients are selected from the district/region recipients and receive US$4,000 each.
7. Margaret McNamara Memorial Fund for Women
The Margaret McNamara Memorial Fund (MMMF) awards grants to women from developing and middle-income countries to further their education and strengthen the professional and leadership skills they need to improve the lives of women and children.
Host/eligible countries: Currently the MMMF manages education grants programs in three regions: US/Canada, South Africa, and Latin America.
Level: This scholarship is for Secondary school, Pre-university that are female
Scholarship Benefits: An MMMF grant covers only a portion of the total costs for an academic year.
8. Schlumberger Foundation Faculty for the Future Fellowships for Women
The Schlumberger Foundation is a non-profit organization that supports science and technology education.
They’re completely invested in recognizing the link between science, technology, and socio-economic development, as well as the key role of education in finding individual potential, the Schlumberger Foundation flagship program is Faculty for the Future.
Host/eligible countries: The Faculty for the Future program, launched in 2004, awards fellowships to women from developing and emerging economies to pursue PhD or Post-doctorate studies in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines at leading universities worldwide.
Level: This scholarship is for students pursuing their PhD or Post-doctorate studies
Scholarship Benefits: The grants are based on the actual study and living costs up to a maximum of $50,000 for PhDs and $40,000 for Post-doctoral study per year.
9. AAUW International Fellowships for Women
International Fellowships are awarded for full-time study or research in the United States to women who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Both graduate and postgraduate studies at accredited U.S. institutions are supported.
Host/Eligible countries: The Scholarship is being taken in USA (women) Citizens of ANY country can apply. Citizens of ALL nationalities (EXCEPT the U.S. or U.S. permanent residents) are eligible to apply.
Level: This scholarship is for Graduate (masters, PhD, Postdoc, fellowship)
Scholarship Benefits: The value of the fellowships are as follows:
- Master’s/first Professional Degree Fellowship: $18,000
- Doctoral Fellowship: $20,000
- Postdoctoral Fellowship: $30,000
10. WAAW Foundation Undergraduate Scholarships for African Women
WAAW Foundation is pleased to announce its 2023/2024 scholarships, offering $500 for need-based undergraduate female African students admitted to a University, College or institute of higher learning in Africa.
Host/eligible countries: The Scholarship is being taken in Country to Study in Africa (Applicants’ home country)
Level: This scholarship is for female undergraduates.
Scholarship Benefits: Scholarship recipients will receive an award of $500 for the current academic year, or the equivalent in their country’s local currency.
11. Australian Government Award Scholarships for Africans
The Australia Awards in Africa is a pan-African program of development scholarships and fellowships offering 1,000 postgraduate scholarships to eligible Africans. It is a FULLY-sponsored award.
Host/eligible countries: The Scholarship is being taken in Africa, Australia
Level: This scholarship is for the Masters level, Doctoral level and Short term professional training courses in various fields specific to different countries.
Scholarship Benefits: This is a FULL government-sponsored award – thus covers full financial support for the postgraduate programs.
12. FINCAD Finance Scholarship for Women Worldwide
The annual FINCAD Women in Finance Scholarship encourages and supports outstanding women in finance to pursue graduate-level master’s or doctoral studies. Women of any age and from any country of the world may apply.
Host/eligible countries: The Scholarship is being taken in any country.
Level: This scholarship is for Graduate (masters, PhD)
Scholarship Benefits: This is a FULL government-sponsored award – thus covers The scholarship provides an award of US$10,000.
13. Professor De Winter Scholarships for Women
Professor de Winter and Mrs. de Winter were highly involved in UT programs and with ‘their’ students. Their heirs continue to be involved in their honor by awarding a scholarship of € 7,500 to an excellent female student.
Host/eligible countries: The Scholarship is being taken in the Netherlands.
Level: This scholarship is for Graduate (masters, PhD)
Scholarship Benefits: The value of the scholarship is €7,500 per year for the full duration of your Master’s program. If you have applied for a two-year program, read the information about the two-year study programs above.
14. Swansea University Eira Francis Davies Scholarship
The Eira Francis Davies Scholarship is offered to female students who are admitted to pursue an undergraduate or a Taught Master’s postgraduate course within the College of Human and Health Sciences at Swansea University
Host/eligible countries: The Scholarship is being taken in the UK
Level: This scholarship is for Bachelors, Masters Students.
Scholarship Benefits: The Eira Francis Davies Scholarship is a full tuition fee scholarship.
15. Google Anita Borg Scholarships
Through the scholarship, Google aims to encourage women to excel in computing and technology and become active role models and leaders
Host/eligible countries: The Google Anita Borg Memorial Scholarship targets female students from Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
Level: This scholarship is for Undergraduate (bachelors), Postgraduate (Masters, PhD) Students.
Scholarship Benefits: The scholarship recipients will each receive a €7,000 (or equivalent) scholarship. All scholarship recipients and finalists will be invited to attend an annual Google networking retreat.
This will usually include workshops with a series of speakers, panels, breakout sessions, and social activities, and will provide an opportunity for all finalists to meet and share their experiences.
16. Microsoft Research Graduate Women’s Fellowships
Host/eligible countries: The Scholarship is being taken in the USA
Level: This scholarship is for female Graduate (PhD) Students.
Scholarship Benefits: The scholarship recipient award is US$20,000 – $18,000 will be applied toward tuition costs, and $2,000 will be allocated toward travel allowance and fees for attending a conference in the fellowship recipient’s field of study.
17. Adobe Research Undergraduate Women in Technology Scholarship
The Adobe Research Women-in-Technology Scholarship recognizes outstanding undergraduate and masters female students studying artificial intelligence/machine learning, data science, computer science, mobile/web development at North American universities (including Canada and Mexico).
Host/eligible countries: The Scholarship is being taken in the USA
Level: This scholarship open to undergraduate female students in an accredited university worldwide studying Computer science, Computer Engineering or a closely related technical field.
Scholarship Benefits: The award includes a $10,000 award, a Creative Cloud subscription membership, an Adobe Research mentor, and an internship opportunity at Adobe.
18. The Dorothy Marchus Senesh Fellowship
The Dorothy Marchus Senesh Fellowship provides two biennial fellowships awarded to two women from the developing world for studies in peace and development studies at any accredited institution around the world
Host/eligible countries: The Scholarship is being taken in any country
Level: This scholarship open to Graduate (fellowship) female students
Scholarship Benefits: The Fellowships provide $5,000 per year for two years, for a total of $10,000 each.
19. Oprah Winfrey African Women Public Service Fellowship
The African Women Public Service Fellowship program offers postgraduate master and executive master-level support to eligible women from Africa to attend the New York University Wagner Institution, which offers an exceptional program to help women expand their Public Service in their home countries
Host/eligible countries: The Scholarship is being taken in the USA.
Level: This scholarship open to Graduate (fellowship) female students
Scholarship Benefits: The award supports tuition, housing, travel to and from the USA, and a small stipend to cover books and miscellaneous expenses.
Conclusion
As a woman, you can see that accessing funding for your education is possible. These women’s scholarships have helped many women study courses of their choice in different universities.