Scholarships for Women: Complete Guide for International Students

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Last Updated: August 2026 — covers 2026 and 2027 application cycles

Quick Answer

Yes, international women students can get scholarships, but not every award you see on a list is open to you. Some major women’s scholarships, like the P.E.O. Scholar Awards, are restricted to U.S. or Canadian citizens. Others — like AAUW International Fellowships, Forté Fellows, Numerix Women in Finance Scholarship, and Faculty for the Future — are explicitly global or limited by country/development status. The key is verifying international eligibility before you invest time. The comparison table below flags each programme’s eligibility, degree level, field, and current status so you can target the right awards quickly.

Women’s Scholarships at a Glance

Programme Eligibility Degree / Field Award Status
AAUW International Fellowships Non-U.S. citizens / non-PR; STEM only Master’s / Doctorate; STEM $20,000–$25,000 Open (Aug 17 – Sep 17, 2026)
Forté Fellows Program All nationalities; MBA only MBA Varies by school Check partner school deadlines
Numerix Women in Finance Scholarship Female citizen of any country Master’s / PhD; Finance $20,000 Closed; recurring annually
Schlumberger Foundation Faculty for the Future Women from developing countries; no dual developed citizenship PhD / Postdoc; STEM Up to $50,000/year Open Sep 1 – Nov 6, 2026
SWE Scholarships International if ABET-accredited or India affiliate UG / Grad; Engineering & CS Varies; 330+ awards Next cycle open early 2027
P.E.O. Scholar Awards U.S./Canada citizens only Doctoral Up to $25,000 Not for international applicants
P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship Non-U.S./Canada citizens Graduate study in U.S./Canada Up to $12,500 Check P.E.O. site

Why Women’s Scholarships Matter (and Where They Actually Exist)

Women remain underrepresented in many fields, particularly STEM, business leadership, and academia. Women‑focused scholarships help remove financial barriers and build pipelines into advanced study and professional networks. For international students, these awards can be a powerful funding source — but only if you know which ones are genuinely available to you.

Example of the eligibility split:

AAUW International Fellowships are open to women from all countries except the U.S., funding graduate and postgraduate study in STEM fields at U.S. institutions. P.E.O. Scholar Awards, by contrast, are restricted to U.S. or Canadian citizens. Many applicants waste hours on the latter without reading the fine print. That’s why our comparison table separates them clearly.

Types of Women’s Scholarships for International Students

Scholarship Type Who Funds It International Eligibility Notes
Professional Association‑Funded AAUW, Forté, SWE, Numerix, Zonta Varies by programme — some globally open, others restricted by nationality, field, or degree level.
University‑Funded Individual universities, often business or engineering schools Most are open to international applicants. Look for “Women in Leadership” or “Women in STEM” awards on department pages.
Government‑Funded Fulbright, Chevening, DAAD, Australia Awards Not women‑exclusive, but women applicants are actively encouraged. Open to international students from eligible countries.
Corporate / Foundation‑Funded Schlumberger Foundation, Numerix, L’Oréal‑UNESCO Often focused on specific fields (STEM, finance) and open to women from developing or emerging economies.

STEM vs Business: Where the Funding Concentrates

Two broad categories dominate the women‑specific scholarship landscape. Understanding which one fits your profile will save you time.

🔬 STEM-Focused Women’s Scholarships

  • AAUW International Fellowships — STEM only for 2026/27; $20k–$25k; non-U.S. citizens.
  • Faculty for the Future — PhD/Postdoc in STEM for women from developing countries; up to $50k/year.
  • SWE Scholarships — Engineering & CS; international if ABET-accredited; 330+ awards.
  • Zonta International Amelia Earhart Fellowship — Aerospace/STEM PhD; international.
  • Google Women Techmakers Scholars Program — CS/technology; undergrad and grad.
  • L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science — Postdoctoral; international.

💼 Business & MBA-Focused Women’s Scholarships

  • Forté Fellows Program — MBA only; all nationalities; awarded through partner business schools.
  • Numerix Women in Finance Scholarship — $20k; master’s/PhD in finance; any nationality.
  • Zonta Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship — Undergrad/Master’s in business; requires Zonta club membership.
  • University-specific Women in Leadership awards — often open to international MBA and business master’s students.

Women’s Scholarships by Degree Level

Degree Level Key Scholarships
Bachelor’s / Undergraduate SWE Emerging First Year Scholars, Zonta Jane M. Klausman, university-specific women’s scholarships
Master’s AAUW International Fellowships (STEM), Numerix Women in Finance, British Council Women in STEM, university-specific awards
MBA Forté Fellows Program, Brunel Women in Leadership MBA Scholarship, other business school women’s awards
PhD / Doctorate AAUW (doctoral), Faculty for the Future, SWE Graduate Scholars, Zonta Amelia Earhart, L’Oréal-UNESCO
Postdoctoral Faculty for the Future, L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science

Top Women’s Scholarship Programmes for International Students

AAUW International Fellowships

Eligibility: Non-U.S. citizens / non-PR; women; STEM fields only for 2026/27; enrolled in first master’s or doctorate. Award: $20,000 (Master’s) / $25,000 (Doctorate). Deadline: Opens Aug 17, closes Sep 17, 2026. GPA: 3.5 minimum. More: aauw.org

Forté Fellows Program

Eligibility: All nationalities; MBA only; selected by partner Forté business schools. No separate Forté application — apply through the school. Award: Varies by school. Timing: Align with school MBA deadlines. More: fortefoundation.org

Numerix Women in Finance Scholarship (formerly FINCAD)

Eligibility: Female citizen of any country; Master’s or PhD in Finance; full-time. Award: $20,000. Status: Annual; currently closed for 2026, check numerix.com for next cycle. More: numerix.com

Schlumberger Foundation Faculty for the Future

Eligibility: Women from developing/emerging countries; PhD or Postdoc in STEM; no dual developed-country citizenship. Award: Up to $50,000/year (PhD) / $40,000/year (postdoc). Deadline: Sep 1 – Nov 6, 2026. More: schlumbergerfoundation.com

SWE Scholarships (Society of Women Engineers)

Eligibility: International if studying/planning to study in ABET-accredited engineering/CS programme; India Scholars track for select Indian institutions. Awards: 330+ scholarships; undergraduate & graduate. GPA: 3.0 (Collegiate/Graduate) / 3.5 (Emerging First Year). More: swe.org

P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship

Eligibility: Non-U.S./Canada citizens; women; graduate study in U.S. or Canada. Award: Up to $12,500. Note: P.E.O. Scholar Awards are U.S./Canada citizens only — don’t confuse the two. More: peointernational.org

How to Apply for Women’s Scholarships — Step by Step

  1. Verify international eligibility first. Read the “Eligibility” section on the official website — not on third-party lists.
  2. Match your field and degree level. AAUW is STEM-only; Forté is MBA-only; Faculty for the Future is PhD/Postdoc only. Don’t force a mismatch.
  3. Check country-specific restrictions. Faculty for the Future excludes dual developed-country citizens; P.E.O. Scholar Awards are U.S./Canada citizens only; P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship is for non-U.S./Canada citizens.
  4. Prepare documents early. Transcripts, CV, leadership examples, 2–3 recommendation letters, personal statement, and English proficiency proof. For GPA conversion, use our GPA to percentage converter.
  5. Tailor your story. Use concrete examples: projects you led, barriers you overcame, communities you served. Avoid generic statements.
  6. Apply to multiple sources. Combine association, university, and government awards. Even partial awards stack.

Common Mistakes That Cost Women Applicants Scholarships

  • Applying to awards without checking citizenship restrictions. P.E.O. Scholar Awards are for U.S./Canada citizens only; International Peace Scholarship is the one for everyone else.
  • Overlooking field/degree restrictions. AAUW is STEM-only now; Forté is MBA-only; Faculty for the Future doesn’t fund master’s.
  • Assuming “international” always means worldwide. Some programmes use developing-country lists or exclude dual citizens.
  • Missing department-level women’s scholarships. University-specific awards may be hidden on department pages.
  • Submitting a generic personal statement. Committees want specific leadership, resilience, and vision.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there fully funded scholarships specifically for women?
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Yes. AAUW International Fellowships ($20k–$25k), Faculty for the Future (up to $50k/year), and some university-specific awards provide substantial or full funding. Government programmes like Fulbright and Chevening also fully fund women in all fields.
Can international students apply for SWE scholarships?
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Yes, but conditionally. SWE’s Collegiate/Graduate and Emerging First Year Scholars programmes accept international students studying or planning to study in ABET-accredited engineering or computer science programmes. Students at select Indian institutions may apply through the India Scholars track.
Do I need to be in a STEM field to get a women’s scholarship?
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No. While many women-focused awards target STEM, scholarships exist for business, law, arts, humanities, and social sciences. The Forté Fellows Program (business) and several university-specific awards are open across fields.
What is the difference between P.E.O. Scholar Awards and P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship?
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P.E.O. Scholar Awards are for U.S. or Canadian citizens/permanent residents only. P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship is for women who are *not* U.S. or Canadian citizens, pursuing graduate study in the U.S. or Canada.
Can I get a women’s scholarship without IELTS?
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Possibly. Many universities accept TOEFL, PTE, Duolingo, or Medium of Instruction certificates as alternatives to IELTS. Scholarship-specific requirements vary; check both the scholarship provider and the university.
Are there scholarships for women from developing countries?
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Yes. Faculty for the Future is specifically for women from developing/emerging countries. Other awards like the Margaret McNamara Education Grants (MMEG) also target women from developing nations. Check each programme’s eligible-country list.

Official Resources

Disclaimer: This guide covers general scholarships for women open to international students for the 2026 and 2027 academic years. Eligibility, award amounts, and deadlines change frequently. Always confirm details on the official programme websites before applying.


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