Top 10 Graduate Scholarships for Women

Graduate scholarships for women are widely available and frequently underused. Universities, governments, professional associations, and private foundations fund them specifically to help women enter and advance in graduate study. This guide profiles ten established programs, explains what each one supports and who tends to qualify, and sets out a practical approach to applying without wasting effort on awards you do not fit.

Why Dedicated Scholarships for Women Still Matter

Women earn a large share of graduate degrees in many countries, yet gaps persist in specific fields, in senior academic positions, and in funding for researchers with caregiving responsibilities. Targeted scholarships address those gaps directly. Some focus on STEM and economics, where women remain underrepresented at senior levels. Others support women from low-income backgrounds, women in developing countries, or mothers returning to study.

Applying for these awards is also strategically useful. A named scholarship on your CV signals initiative and external validation, which can help with PhD admissions, fellowship applications, and academic job searches later.

• Many women-only awards receive fewer applications than general scholarships of similar value.
• Some programs fund living costs, not just tuition, which matters for self-funded master’s students.
• Several awards include mentorship, networking, and conference funding alongside the cash grant.
• Eligibility rules vary widely, so always read the official criteria before starting an application.

A Quick Comparison of Ten Graduate Scholarships for Women

The table below summarizes the ten programs covered in this article. Amounts and deadlines change, so treat this as an orientation and confirm details on each official page.

Scholarship	Provider	Level / Focus	Typical Benefit
AAUW International Fellowships	American Association of University Women	Master’s, PhD, postdoctoral (non-US women)	Stipend for study or research in the US
AAUW American Fellowships	American Association of University Women	Dissertation and postdoctoral (US women)	Funding for final-year dissertation or research
Margaret McNamara Education Grants	MMEG	Graduate study in US, Canada, South Africa, Latin America	Grant toward tuition and living costs
PEO International Peace Scholarships	Philanthropic Educational Organization	Graduate study in US or Canada (international women)	Recurring scholarship for tuition and expenses
Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship	Zonta International	Undergraduate and master’s business students	Scholarship awarded through local Zonta clubs
Amelia Earhart Fellowship	Zonta International	PhD in aerospace engineering or space sciences	Fellowship for doctoral research
Google Women Techmakers Scholars Program	Google	Computer science and related fields	Academic scholarship plus community membership
Schlumberger Foundation Faculty for the Future	Schlumberger Foundation	PhD and postdoctoral in STEM (women from developing countries)	Grant for study at institutions abroad
British Federation of Women Graduates Awards	BFWG	Women in final year of PhD (UK)	Research awards and emergency grants
Anita Borg Institute / Systers Pass-It-On Awards	AnitaB.org	Women in computing at any career stage	Small grants for education and career development

The Ten Scholarships in Detail

1. AAUW International Fellowships

The American Association of University Women runs one of the best-known fellowships for women who are not US citizens or permanent residents and who want to study or research in the United States. Awards support full-time master’s, doctoral, or postdoctoral work. Preference is generally given to women who show a commitment to advancing women and girls in their home countries.

• Open to women of any nationality except US citizens and permanent residents.
• Requires admission to, or enrollment in, a US institution.
• Applicants must intend to return to their home country to pursue a professional career.
• English proficiency evidence is required.

Check the official AAUW International Fellowships page for current eligibility criteria and application deadlines.

2. AAUW American Fellowships

This is the domestic counterpart to the international program, aimed at US women who are close to finishing a doctorate or who are early-career postdoctoral researchers. The dissertation fellowship is designed for women in their final year of writing. It is not a general tuition scholarship, so it suits candidates who need time and funding to complete research rather than to start a program.

• Applicants must be US citizens or permanent residents.
• Dissertation awards target women in the final year of doctoral study.
• Publication and postdoctoral awards support early-career researchers.
• Strong letters of recommendation and a clear research plan carry significant weight.

Details and forms are published on the AAUW American Fellowships page.

3. Margaret McNamara Education Grants

MMEG awards grants to women from developing countries who are studying at selected universities in the United States, Canada, South Africa, and Latin America. The grants are modest compared with full scholarships but are flexible. Recipients typically use them for tuition, books, childcare, or living expenses.

• Applicants must be women from developing countries.
• Study must be at an eligible institution in one of the participating regions.
• Applicants should demonstrate financial need and a commitment to improving life in their home country.
• Applications are submitted through the official MMEG portal.

Eligible universities and application windows are listed on the MMEG official website.

4. PEO International Peace Scholarships

PEO is a US-based philanthropic organization that has funded thousands of women from outside North America to pursue graduate study in the United States and Canada. The scholarship is renewable, which makes it unusually valuable for multi-year programs. Recipients must study full-time and maintain satisfactory academic progress.

• Open to women who are citizens of countries other than the US or Canada.
• Applicants must be enrolled full-time in a graduate program in the US or Canada.
• Financial need is a core criterion.
• Applicants must plan to return home after graduation.

Full requirements are on the PEO International Peace Scholarship page.

5. Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship

Zonta International awards this scholarship to women pursuing business-related degrees who show leadership potential. Applications are handled through local Zonta clubs, which means the process starts in your area rather than on a single global portal. That local step is easy to overlook.

• Applicants must be women studying business at an accredited institution.
• Applications go through a local Zonta club in the applicant’s region.
• Academic achievement and leadership are both assessed.
• Winners may progress from club level to district and international awards.

Find the program rules and club contacts on the Zonta Women in Business Scholarship page.

6. Amelia Earhart Fellowship

Named after the pioneering aviator, this Zonta fellowship supports women pursuing doctoral research in aerospace engineering and space sciences. It is one of the few major awards specifically aimed at women in aerospace, which makes it especially relevant for PhD candidates in that field.

• Applicants must be women enrolled in a PhD program in aerospace-related science or engineering.
• Research must be at an advanced stage, typically after coursework is complete.
• The fellowship is awarded annually to a select group of researchers.
• Applications are submitted directly to Zonta International.

Eligibility details are available on the Amelia Earhart Fellowship page.

7. Google Women Techmakers Scholars Program

Google’s scholarship program for women in computing recognizes academic excellence and leadership in computer science, computer engineering, and closely related fields. Beyond the financial award, recipients join a community that includes networking events, mentorship, and access to Google recruiters.

• Open to women studying computer science or a related discipline at an accredited university.
• Academic performance and demonstrated leadership are key criteria.
• Recipients gain access to the Women Techmakers community.
• Application requirements and regional eligibility vary by year.

Current details are posted on the Google scholarships page.

8. Schlumberger Foundation Faculty for the Future

This program funds women from developing and emerging economies to pursue PhD or postdoctoral study in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics at institutions abroad. It is one of the more substantial awards for international STEM researchers, and it explicitly aims to build a pipeline of women faculty in home countries.

• Applicants must be women from developing or emerging economies.
• Study must be in STEM at the PhD or postdoctoral level.
• Applicants must be enrolled or accepted at a host institution abroad.
• Grants are renewable subject to academic progress.

Program criteria and the application portal are on the Faculty for the Future official site.

9. British Federation of Women Graduates Awards

BFWG supports women in the final year of doctoral study at UK institutions through a range of awards and emergency grants. The organization also runs a separate charitable fund that can help women graduates facing unexpected financial hardship.

• Open to women in the final year of a PhD at a UK university.
• Awards are competitive and assessed on academic merit.
• Emergency grants exist for women graduates in financial difficulty.
• Membership of BFWG is not required to apply for most awards.

Application guidance is published on the BFWG official website.

10. Systers Pass-It-On Awards

AnitaB.org’s Pass-It-On program offers small grants to women in computing who need financial help with education, conference attendance, or career development. The amounts are smaller than major fellowships, but the application is lighter and the award can cover specific, practical costs that larger scholarships often ignore.

• Open to women at any stage of a computing career.
• Grants can be used for tuition, books, certification, or conference travel.
• Applicants describe how the grant will help them and how they will pass the support on.
• Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

Details are on the Systers Pass-It-On Awards page.

How to Check Whether You Qualify

Eligibility rules are the most common reason applications get rejected before they are even read. Read the criteria carefully and match them against your situation before writing anything. Key factors to check on every scholarship page:

• Citizenship or residency requirements, which often exclude the country where the scholarship is based.
• Field of study restrictions, especially for STEM and business awards.
• Degree level, since some programs fund only PhD or only master’s study.
• Institution requirements, including whether the university must be in a specific country.
• Whether the award is for new students or only for those already enrolled.
• Financial need documentation, which may require tax records or income statements.
• Return-to-home-country commitments, common in development-focused programs.

Documents You Will Usually Need

Most of these scholarships ask for a similar core set of documents. Preparing them once in a shared folder saves days of work across multiple applications.

• Academic transcripts and degree certificates, often with certified translations.
• Two or three recommendation letters from professors or supervisors.
• A personal statement explaining your goals and why you need the funding.
• A research proposal for PhD-level awards.
• Proof of admission or enrollment at your institution.
• English language test scores where required.
• Passport or identity documents for international applicants.

How to Write a Strong Application

Selection committees read many applications that describe ambition in general terms. The ones that stand out are specific about what the applicant will do and why the funding is necessary. Start with a clear statement of your research or study goal. Then connect it to your background and to a concrete outcome, such as returning to teach, founding a lab, or working in a policy role.

• Name the exact program, institution, and supervisor involved.
• Explain the funding gap: what the scholarship will pay for that other sources will not.
• Show evidence of leadership or community contribution, not just grades.
• Ask recommenders early and give them your CV and statement draft.
• Tailor each statement to the specific scholarship’s stated priorities.

Common Mistakes That Cost Applicants the Award

Strong candidates are rejected every cycle for avoidable reasons. Most of them come down to carelessness rather than weak qualifications.

• Missing the internal university deadline, which is often earlier than the scholarship’s published date.
• Submitting a generic personal statement that could apply to any award.
• Using recommendation letters that repeat the transcript instead of adding insight.
• Ignoring word limits or formatting instructions.
• Applying for an award that excludes your nationality or field.
• Failing to follow up with recommenders to confirm submission.

Where to Find More Scholarships for Women

Beyond the ten programs above, many universities run their own women-focused graduate awards. Check the financial aid or graduate school page of each institution you apply to. Government-funded programs in your home country and in your destination country are also worth reviewing. National agencies often publish scholarship directories with verified eligibility rules.

Professional associations in your field, such as engineering, computing, and business organizations, frequently offer awards for women members or students. These are less advertised and often less competitive.

Final Thoughts

Graduate scholarships for women range from small grants that cover conference travel to multi-year fellowships that fund an entire doctorate. The right one depends on your citizenship, field, degree level, and financial situation. Start with two or three programs where you clearly meet the criteria, prepare your documents once, and tailor each application to the specific funder’s priorities. Verifying details on official pages before applying remains the single most reliable step.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can international students apply for graduate scholarships for women?

Many programs are designed specifically for international women, including AAUW International Fellowships, PEO International Peace Scholarships, and Faculty for the Future. Others, such as AAUW American Fellowships, are restricted to US citizens and permanent residents, so always check the citizenship rules first.

Do these scholarships cover full tuition?

Coverage varies. Some awards, like PEO and Faculty for the Future, are substantial and renewable, while others such as MMEG grants and Systers Pass-It-On awards are smaller and intended to supplement other funding. Read the stated benefit on each official page to see what is actually covered.

Can I apply for more than one scholarship at the same time?

Yes, in most cases. Applying to multiple programs is normal and often necessary. However, some scholarships require you to disclose other funding, and a few restrict recipients from holding certain overlapping awards, so check the terms of each one.

Do I need to be enrolled before applying?

It depends on the program. Some require proof of admission or current enrollment, while others accept applications from candidates who are still in the process of applying to a university. The eligibility section of each scholarship page states this clearly.

Are there scholarships for women in STEM specifically?

Yes. Faculty for the Future, the Amelia Earhart Fellowship, and Google’s Women Techmakers Scholars Program all focus on STEM fields. Many universities also run their own women-in-STEM awards that are not listed on national databases.

How competitive are these scholarships?

Competitiveness varies widely. Large international fellowships receive many applications, while smaller grants and local awards attract fewer. Applying to a mix of well-known and lesser-known programs improves your chances without lowering the quality of your applications.

Do I need strong English test scores?

Programs that fund study in English-speaking countries usually require evidence of English proficiency, either through a test score or through prior study in English. Requirements differ by program, so confirm what each one accepts.

Can mothers or women with caregiving responsibilities apply?

Yes. Several programs, including MMEG grants, allow funds to be used for childcare and living costs, which can make study more feasible for parents. Check whether the award restricts how funds may be spent.

Are there scholarships for master’s students, or only PhD candidates?

Both exist. AAUW International Fellowships, MMEG, PEO, and the Klausman scholarship support master’s study, while the Amelia Earhart Fellowship and BFWG awards target doctoral researchers. Match the degree level to the program’s stated scope.

What if my application is rejected?

Rejection is common, and many successful applicants apply more than once. Ask the funder whether feedback is available, strengthen your statement and references, and reapply in the next cycle if you remain eligible.