A number of organisations encourage women empowerment through education at different levels by offering specific scholarships for African women from Africa and developing countries. 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 their scholarship programmes solely for women. From the archives of AfterschoolAfrica, below is an updated list of scholarships (undergraduate, Masters, MBA and PhD) that are open for women from African and developing countries. Some of these scholarships are for international students but are also open for the said demography.
Please note that application deadlines and other information provided on this site can change at any time. You are therefore advised to visit the recommended scholarship organisation website.
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.
Previous Deadline March 1
Google Anita Borg Memorial Scholarships for Women in Africa, Europe and the Middle East
Google offers The Google Anita Borg Memorial Scholarship for women in Europe, the Middle East and Africa to study in the field of computing and technology for Bachelors, Masters or PhD degrees.
Previous Deadline 1 February
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.
Previous Deadline 1 February
MMMF Scholarship for Women from Developing Countries in US & Canada
Margaret McNamara Memorial Fund (MMMF) scholarship applications for female students from Developing Countries who are currently studying in the United States or Canada
Previous Deadline: January 9th
MMMF Grants for Women Studying in South Africa
The Margaret McNamara Memorial Fund (MMMF) grants will be offered for female students from developing countries who are currently studying in South Africa at the University of Pretoria, the University of Cape Town, University of Stellenbosch or the University of Witwatersrand
Previous Deadline 19 August
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)
Previous deadline: May 30
MILEAD Empowerment and Leadership Fellowship for Young African WomenThe MILEAD Fellows Program is a one-year leadership development program designed to identify, develop and promote emerging young African Women leaders to attain and succeed in leadership in their community and Africa as a whole.
Previous Deadline March 15
JAUW International Fellowships Programme for Women
The Japanese Association of University Women currently 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.
Previous Deadline April 10
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.
Previous deadline: open August 1–December 1.
WAAW Foundation Scholarship for African Women
The Working to Advance African Women (WAAW) foundation aim to increase the pipeline of African women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) related disciplines, and work to ensure that this talent is engaged in African innovation. WAAW Foundation offers Annual Scholarship program for Undergraduate African female students.
Previous deadline 31 October
Schlumberger Foundation Fellowship Grant for Women from Developing countries
The Faculty of the Future Leader offers PhD & PostDoctoral Fellowship for Women from Developing Countries and emerging economies sponsored by the Schlumberger Foundation.
Application Deadline November 16
Microsoft Research Graduate Women’s Scholarships, USA
The Microsoft Research Graduate Women’s Scholarship is a one-year scholarship program for outstanding women graduate students and is designed to help increase the number of women pursuing a PhD. This program supports women in the second year of their graduate studies.
Previous deadline October 16
Previous deadline October 16Women in Aviation Scholarships for International Students
To be eligible to apply for the Women in Aviation scholarship, scholarship applicants must be a member of Women in Aviation, International.
Previous Deadline November 12
Makerere University offers Undergraduate Scholarships for Female Students, Uganda
The Makerere University Female Scholarship Foundation (FSF) was launched in November 2010 as a continuation of the Makerere University Female Scholarship Initiative (FSI).
Previous deadline 17 August
The Conchita Poncini Jimenez Human Rights Fellowship for women by the International Federation of University Women (IFUW) will be awarded for advanced research, an internship or study related to the use of human rights instruments and agreements for the advancement of women.
Previous deadline June 30
Switzerland- Nestle MBA Scholarships for Women Developing CountriesThe 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. Preference are given to women from developing countries.
Previous deadline 30 September
Kofi Annan €38,000 MBA Fellowship for Developing Countries to Study at ESMT Berlin, Germany
The Kofi Annan Business School Foundation offers fellowship grant for an emerging leader from a developing country for a one-year full-time MBA education at European School of Management and Technology (ESMT) in Berlin, Germany
Previous deadline 30 September
Postgraduate Training Fellowships for Women Scientists from Sub-Saharan Africa and LDC
Postgraduate Training Fellowships for Women is offered for women Scientists from Sub-Saharan Africa and Least Developed Countries (LDC) at Centres of Excellence in the South for research in Natural sciences related fields.
Previous deadline 31 July
Amelia Earhart Fellowship for Women- PhD Scholarship
Women of any nationality pursuing a Ph.D./doctoral degree who demonstrate a superior academic record in the field of aerospace-related sciences and aerospace-related engineering are eligible.
Previous deadline 15 November
Campbell Fellowship for Women Scholar-Practitioners from Developing Nation
The Vera R. Campbell Foundation funded Fellowship is offered for female postdoctoral social scientist from a developing country whose work addresses women’s economic and social empowerment in that nation.
Previous deadline 1 November
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.
Previous deadline December 15 and April 1
Deutsche Bank Scholarships for Women at London Business School
The Deutsche Bank scholarship is award to four MBA and Masters in Finance female students in the AMOUNT of £20,000 each. These extremely generous awards are designed to enable talented women with an interest in the finance sector to study at London Business School.
Previous deadline 18 April
African Guest Researchers’ Scholarship Programme, SwedenAfrica Guest Researcher Scholarships at Nordic Africa Institute (NAI), Sweden for African Researchers /Scholars 2013 – With preference to Women Researchers.
Previous deadline 1 April
Dorothy Marchus Senesh Fellowship For Women From Developing Countries in USA
The International Peace Research Association Foundation (IPRA), USA invites applications for the Dorothy Marchus Senesh Fellowship for Women from Developing Countries in Peace and Development Studies.
Previous application deadline 15 January
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 entering their Honours level/ 4th year of study to apply for the two SAWISE scholarships.
Previous deadline 15 November
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.
Previous deadline 1 February
INSEAD Alumni Fund (IAF) Women’s ScholarshipsThe scholarship seeks bright, dynamic and motivated women who are making significant achievements in their professional and/or personal lives.
Deadline 11 February and 18 August each year
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.
Previous deadline: 1 July
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.
Previous Deadline: December and August
Professor De Winter Scholarship for Women at University of Twente, Netherlands
Master’s Scholarship in any subject at University of Twente for Female/Women Students of Non-EU/EEA Countries in Netherlands.
Previous deadline 1 April
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/ women from disadvantaged backgrounds from Africa to pursue higher education in the US.
Funds for Women Graduates Scholarship Grants for PhD/ Doctoral Study & Research
Funds for Women Graduates- FfWG offers Foundation Grants to help women graduates with their living expenses (not fees) while registered for study or research at an approved institution of higher education in Great Britain.
Previous deadline 4 April
Forté Foundation MBA Fellows for Women
Forté Foundation offers fellowships to women who are pursuing a full-time, part-time or executive MBA education at participating business schools. Forté Foundation Fellowships are intended to increase the number of women applying to and enrolling in MBA programs. Students of all nationalities are eligible for consideration.
The Global Fund for Women supports women’s groups that advance the human rights of women and girls. The Organization strengthen women’s right groups based outside the United States by providing small, flexible, and timely grants ranging from $500 to $30,000 for operating and program expenses.
Applications are accepted throughout the year and grants awarded every three months.