On this International Day of the Girl (October 11th every year), After School Africa releases an updated and more comprehensive list of scholarships for African women and developing countries for the 2023/2024 academic year—to celebrate our daughters, sisters, and nieces in Africa.
A number of organizations encourage women’s empowerment through education at different levels by offering specific undergraduate, master’s, and PhD scholarships for women from developing countries, especially women from Africa.
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Although women looking for scholarships can as well apply for other scholarship programmes that are non-gender specific, there are sponsorship programmes that reduce the competition by offering African women scholarships, mostly (many listed here are only) for women.
Below is an updated list of scholarships (undergraduate, master’s, MBA, and PhD) that are open for women from African and developing countries. Some of these scholarships for African women are generally for international students but are also open for the said demography.
Table of Contents
US Government TechWomen Program:
The TechWomen initiative will identify 100 women in STEM fields from countries in Africa, Central and South Asia, and the Middle East every year.
African-German Network of Excellence in Science (AGNES) Scholarships:
AGNES is pleased to announce the “Call for Applications” for the AGNES-PAWS Intra-Africa Mobility Grant for Junior Female Researchers.
OWSD PhD Fellowships:
TWAS, in association with OWSD, is offering a fellowship program to support doctorate (PhD) studies for women scientists from science and technology-lagging countries who are interested in math science degrees.
L’Oréal-UNESCO Sub-Saharan Africa Young Talents Programme:
Each year the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science calls for applications from talented young African women scientists to receive fellowship grants to pursue promising research projects.
Durham University Hatfield Lioness Scholarship:
The Hatfield Lioness Scholarship enables a female student from a developing country to benefit from undertaking postgraduate study at the University of Durham.
Johnson & Johnson WiSTEM2D Scholars Program for Young Women in STEM Research
The J&J WiSTEM2D Scholars Award Program will help develop female leaders and support innovation in the STEM2D disciplines (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, Manufacturing, and Design) by funding six women at critical points in their research careers through a Scholar’s Award.
See more scholarships for African women HERE
Power Africa Leadership Training Programme
Are you a young woman working or involved in the African energy ecosystem? Do you want to improve your career and take off? Then apply to the Power Africa program of the Regional Leadership Center YALI, open yearly.
Columbia University Peace and Social Change Fellowship Program
This call for applications is open to African grassroots women activists working broadly on the issue of peace and security.
Margaret Sanders AISA Scholarship for Young African Women
Across Africa, many talented and academically gifted girl students are unable to complete their schooling due to a variety of social, economic, and/or cultural reasons. Key among these is a lack of financial support. In her lifetime, Margaret Sanders was a keen supporter of girls’ education.
Adobe Research Women-in-Technology Scholarship for Female Undergraduate Students in STEM Fields
To bring more gender diversity to the technology industry, Adobe is pleased to invite applications to the Adobe Research Women in Technology Scholarship.
Facebook Grace Hopper Women in Computing Scholarship (Funded to Conference in Texas, USA)
This unique scholarship program will be awarded to 50 women excelling in computer science. Each recipient will have the opportunity not only to attend the celebration but to spend valuable days before the conference with Facebook engineers learning, collaborating, and preparing for the conference.
FINCAD Women in Finance Scholarship for Postgraduate Studies
Applications are welcomed for the FINCAD Women in Finance Scholarship from female citizens of all countries who are enrolled in a postgraduate program at a university accredited by the national or international body approved for that purpose in the country where the university is situated.
Saïd Business School Diploma in Strategic Management Scholarships for Women
Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford, UK, is offering scholarships to three outstanding females for the Oxford Diploma in Strategic Management Program.
Cass Business School Global Women’s Leadership Scholarships
The Cass Global Women’s Leadership Programme, through the Coca-Cola Scholarship Foundation, seeks to inspire, equip and connect women who are or want to become resilient, inclusive, ambitious, brave, confident, responsible, authentic and thriving leaders.
Learn Africa Fully-funded Graduate Scholarships for African Women to Study in Spain
This program, promoted by the Women for Africa Foundation, aims to promote the transfer of knowledge, exchange and training of African women undergraduate and graduate students through scholarships in Spanish universities that collaborate in this initiative.
Henley Business School Women in Leadership MBA Scholarship
The Henley Business School of the University of Reading is delighted to announce the Women in Leadership MBA Scholarship, a prestigious MBA Scholarship competition.
African Leadership Centre (ALC) Peace and Security Fellowship for African Women
The Fellowships bring together African women in the early stages of their careers to undertake a carefully designed training program in conflict, security and development.
See more scholarships for African women HERE
LSE Pauline Graham Undergraduate Scholarship for African Women
The Pauline Graham scholarship is available for women from Africa who desire to undertake undergraduate studies at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
BHW Group Women in STEM Academic Scholarship for Study in USA
Women who are pursuing an undergraduate or master’s degree and are majoring in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics during the 2018 school year are eligible to apply for the Women in STEM academic scholarship.
Oprah Winfrey’s African Women’s Public Service Fellowship at NYU
African Women’s Public Service Fellowship, sponsored by Oprah Winfrey, seeks to prepare African women with experience working on issues facing Africa for public service careers in their home countries.
See more scholarships for African women HERE
University of Michigan Centre for the Education of Women (CEW) Scholarships for Women
The CEW Scholarship Program, which today serves women and nontraditional students, was established in 1970 to honor the academic performance and potential of women whose education has been interrupted and to commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of the admission of women to the University of Michigan.
Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academic Scholarship for Girls
The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls is seeking to admit young African female students for the special learning school.
Mwangi MBA Scholarship for Kenyan Female Students
UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School is pleased to announce the opening of applications for the Mwangi MBA Scholarship Competition in conjunction with the Irish Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade.
British Federation of Women Graduates (BFWG) Scholarships
The British Federation of Women Graduates scholarships are for women who will be in their third year of doctoral studies or part time equivalent at the time when the awards are given out in October/November of each year.
MasterCard Foundation Scholarships Program at Wellesley College, USA
As part of the Scholars Program, Wellesley will provide nine (9) African women with comprehensive support that includes scholarships, mentoring, counseling, and internship opportunities. Scholars at Wellesley will build experiences, values, and competencies that are critical to success in the global economy and that enable them to give back to their communities and home countries.
Women Techmakers (Formerly Google Anita Borg Memorial Scholarship) Scholars Programme for Women in Africa
Through the Women Techmakers Scholars Programme—formerly the Google Anita Borg Memorial Scholarship Programme—Google is furthering Dr. Anita Borg’s vision of creating gender equality in the field of computer science by encouraging women to excel in computing and technology and become active leaders and role models in the field of computing and technology for Bachelors, Masters or PhD degrees.
Zonta International Young Women in Public Affairs Award
Because Zonta International believes that young women are the key to women’s advancement in the field of public service, it offers the Young Women in Public Affairs (YWPA) Award, which recognizes young women, ages 16-19, for demonstrating leadership skills and commitment to public service and civic causes.
See more scholarships for African women HERE
Queensland University of Technology Research Scholarship for International Women
QUT awards a limited number of scholarships every year to students who provide clear evidence of exceptional research potential and who are undertaking, or applying to undertake, a higher degree by research. QUT research scholarships provide funding to women researchers.
United Nations Women in Science (WiSci) Girls STEAM Camp for Young African Girls
Join other girls from around the world for a unique educational opportunity and rich cross-cultural experience at the 2018 WiSci Girls STEAM Camp held in Namibia from June 17 – June 29, 2018. STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Design, and Mathematics.
See more scholarships for African women HERE
Call for Applications: Harvard University International Women’s Research in Religion Studies
Each year, Harvard Divinity School selects five candidates for full-time Research Associate and Visiting Faculty positions in its Women’s Studies in Religion Program. Proposals for book-length research projects using both religion and gender as central categories of analysis are welcomed.
VLIR- UOS Masters & Training Scholarships in Belgium for African and Developing Countries
VLIR-UOS offers 180 Masters & 70 training scholarships in Belgium for students from developing countries; 50% of scholarships will be offered to African students and almost 50% for women. The eligible training or master programmes are taught in English.
Margaret McNamara Educational Grants (Formerly Margaret McNamara Memorial Fund) Scholarships for Women from Developing Countries
The Margaret McNamara Educational Grants (MMEG) provide grants to women from developing countries to help further their education and strengthen their leadership skills to improve the lives of women and children in developing countries.
McKinsey&Company Next Generation Women Leaders Event for Female Students and Professionals (Fully-funded to France)
McKinsey invites female students and experienced professionals based in Europe, the Middle East and Africa to join us for our 5th Next Generation Women Leaders event.
Visiola Foundation STEM Scholarships for African Girls
The Visiola Foundation offers scholarships to high potential African girls from disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue STEM degrees at three partner institutions in Africa.
105 Fully-funded UNODA Women Scholarship for Peace
The Women Scholarship for Peace: Global South is an initiative coordinated by the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) at Vienna in partnership with 26 organizations whose work contributes to disarmament, non-proliferation and development-related technologies.
NWAG Scholarship for Nigerian Women
Each year the Nigerian Women Association of Georgia (NWAG) offers undergraduate scholarships for 37 Nigerian female students (one per state of origin) in Nigerian universities on any course of study in the amount of fifty thousand Naira (N50,000).
See more scholarships for African women HERE
The Elsevier Foundation Awards for Early-Career Women Scientists in Developing Nations
Launched by The Elsevier Foundation, TWAS and OWSD, the Awards reward and encourage women working and living in developing countries in the early stages of their scientific careers. The award has an important impact on local research cultures. Previous winners say the awards have had a powerful effect, enhancing the visibility of their past work and creating new opportunities for the future.
UCL Denmark Fully-funded Nursing Scholarships for International Students
University College Lillebælt is awarding nursing scholarships (tuition waivers and stipends) to international students wishing to undertake nursing short courses at the university.
See more scholarships for African women HERE
JAUW International Fellowships Programme for Women
The Japanese Association of University Women recently announced its International Fellowships Programme for women who are carrying out or would like to carry out independent research or advanced study at postgraduate level in Japan.
AAUW International Fellowship for Women, Masters & Doctoral program in USA
AAUW 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.
See more scholarships for African women HERE
WAAW Foundation Undergraduate Scholarships for African Women
The Working to Advance African Women (WAAW) foundation STEM scholarships aim to increase the pipeline of African women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) related disciplines and work to ensure that this talent is engaged in African innovation.
Schlumberger Foundation Fellowship for Women from Developing countries
Each year, The Faculty for the Future fellowships, launched by the Schlumberger Foundation, are awarded to women from developing and emerging economies who are preparing for PhD or postdoctoral study in the physical sciences and related disciplines at top universities for their disciplines abroad.
Women in Aviation Scholarships for International Students
WIA offers scholarship awards annually to women (and often men) members of WIA (students, teachers and professionals) who want to further their studies in aviation. The WIA scholarships also help teachers fulfill their dreams by providing them with the resources they need to bring aviation into their classrooms or to enhance their skills.
Switzerland- Nestle MBA Scholarships for Women Developing Countries
The Nestlé Scholarship for Women was first awarded in 1997 and was initiated by a group of IMD-Switzerland MBA (Masters in Business Administration) participants who desired to encourage women to take the MBA courses. Preferences are given to women from developing countries.
Kofi Annan €38,000 MBA Fellowship for Developing Countries to Study at ESMT Berlin, Germany
The Kofi Annan Business School Foundation offers a number of numerous grant opportunities for emerging leaders from developing countries for a one-year full-time MBA education at the European School of Management and Technology (ESMT) in Berlin, Germany.
OWSD Postgraduate Training Fellowships for Women Scientists from Sub-Saharan Africa and LDC
Postgraduate Training Fellowships for Women are offered for women scientists from Sub-Saharan Africa and Least Developed Countries (LDC) at Centers of Excellence in the South for research in natural sciences related fields.
Amelia Earhart Fellowship for Women in Aerospace/Mechanical Engineering – Up to $10,000
Zonta International offers Amelia Earhart PhD Research Fellowships for women of any nationality in Aerospace-related Sciences and Aerospace-related Engineering at any university or college offering accredited degrees.
Various IMD MBA Scholarships for Women (and Men) in Africa and Other Developing Nations
The International Institute for Management Development (IMD) business school in Switzerland offers a number of merit- and need-based MBA scholarships for students from Africa and developing countries.
Campbell Fellowship for Women Scholar-Practitioners from Developing Nations
The Vera R. Campbell Foundation funded fellowship is offered for female postdoctoral social scientists from a developing country whose work addresses women’s economic and social empowerment in that nation.
PEO International Peace Scholarship fund for Women – USA and Canada
The PEO International Peace Scholarship Fund is a program of women helping women reach for the stars. The fund provides scholarships for selected women from other countries for graduate study in the United States and Canada.
See more scholarships for African women HERE
Dorothy Marchus Senesh Fellowship For Women From Developing Countries in USA
The International Peace Research Association Foundation (IPRA) invites applications for the Dorothy Marchus Senesh Fellowship for Women from Developing Countries in Peace and Development Studies.
SAWISE Hope & Angus Scholarship for African Women in Science and Technology
The Association of South African Women in Science and Engineering (SAWISE) invites female students from all over Africa entering their honors level or 4th year of study to apply for the SAWISE scholarships. Preference will be given to a candidate experiencing financial difficulty or distress.
Leadership and Advocacy for Women in Africa (LAWA) Fellowship Program
The Leadership and Advocacy for Women in Africa (LAWA) Fellowship Program was founded in 1993 at the Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C., in order to train women’s human rights lawyers from Africa who are committed to returning home to their countries in order to advance the status of women and girls in their own countries throughout their careers.
See more scholarships for African women HERE
INSEAD Alumni Fund (IAF) Women’s Scholarships
The scholarship seeks bright, dynamic and motivated women who are making significant achievements in their professional and/or personal lives.
Jane M Klausman Women In Business Scholarship
The Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship program helps women pursue undergraduate and Master’s degrees in business management and overcome gender barriers from the classroom to the boardroom.
Fondation Rainbow Bridge MBA Scholarship for Women from Africa and Asia
The Fondation Rainbow Bridge will enable young women scholars to enrich their academic background by obtaining an HEC MBA in France. This scholarship is available for women from Asian or African countries affected by natural disasters, drought or famine.
Professor De Winter International Masters Scholarships for Women – Netherlands
The Professor De Winter Master’s Scholarships in the Netherlands are offered to women wishing to undertake related courses in engineering and applied physics at the University of Twente.
Eira Davies Undergraduate and Postgraduate Scholarship for African Women in Sciences
The Eira Francis Davies Scholarship by Swansea University is a full tuition fee scholarship and will be awarded to female students demonstrating academic excellence and evidence of financial need.
See more scholarships for African women HERE
Global Change Leaders Programme for Women in Developing Countries. Fully-funded to Canada
The Global Change Leaders program provides successful candidates with a full scholarship that includes tuition, travel, accommodations, and meals. Successful participants are responsible for costs pertaining to acquiring a visa to enter Canada.
Zawadi Africa Education Fund Undergraduate Scholarship for Women- in Partnership with Google
The Zawadi Africa Education Fund is a program designed to provide undergraduate scholarships to academically gifted girls and women from disadvantaged backgrounds in Africa to pursue higher education in the US.
That’s it, folks. Get the Scholarship Digest for more scholarships like these, organized and detailed for you, as well as secret tips to being a scholarship winner. Quick, grab your own copy of The Scholarship Digest HERE
There is never a bad time to begin preparing for your own future, and if there's ever been a good time, it's right now. If you have been thinking about furthering your education, getting a college degree, or advancing your career, now would be the best time to take action on those dreams and finally make them come true.
I am looking for scholarships to study in the US this coming year(2012/2013)
Pls i need direct links to 2 d scholarship application form 4 africans.my e-mail is [email protected]
Good to empower a woman through education!
Yeah, you are an woman activist.
When a woman is empowered the entire family is empowered!
Please I need a scholarship in International Peace and a sponsor.
I need a scholarship to do my Phd on women's development.
very True.
Please, kindly assist me to get a scholarship and pursue a PhD in hospitality management. Thank you.
i need funding for research travel to go and present a paper at ODLAA SUMMIT in Australia on 4-6 February 2013. The total amount needed is $4000. Please advise on organisations giving Zimbabwean women funding. Thank you.
Its good to empower a woman through education. I need a scholarship to do my Masters on Gender Issues.
Women are great builders of nations, they have been perceived as weak, but possess great power that can turn the whole world round-for the good.
I am a young lady and a mother wishing to study nursing in canada on scholarship. Please send me some information
educating a weman is educating the society.
ladies lets go…..may the sky remain the stepping stone
This is good information for us. Thank u
i like it
Solomon Tibo Rogers – the ideal is good about women scholarship in some countries. but am wonder if this opportunity will come down to sierra leone as women education is a vulnerability issues. thanks
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I am a young mother wishing to further my education is cybersecurity in USA
I am an African woman aged 47 years old and have been offered a place for PhD in Interprofessional Healthcare Leadership programme at Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS) in Malawi to start on 4th September 2023 and I am looking for scholarships . The programme is for 4 Please assist
Great to see this list of scholarships for African women! As a young African woman myself, I can attest to the difficulties in accessing educational opportunities. I am definitely going to share this with my network and apply for these scholarships. Thank you for compiling this list and making it accessible to us!
I’m so grateful for this updated list! Many African women face numerous barriers in education and this resource is a game-changer. I’ll be sharing it with my network to help spread the word. Thank you for the hard work in compiling and updating this list!
Thanks for sharing. I read many of your blog posts, cool, your blog is very good.
Thank you for sharing this comprehensive list of scholarships! It’s incredibly helpful for many African women aspiring to further their education. I appreciate the effort put into updating this resource for 2024. It’s inspiring to see so many opportunities available!