STEM Scholarships for Women in Engineering: The Best Opportunities Available Right Now

The reasoning behind gender-specific STEM scholarships is straightforward. Women face structural barriers in accessing and completing STEM education – including financial constraints, limited mentorship, social expectations, and historically male-dominated academic environments.

Targeted scholarships address these barriers directly. Beyond financial support, most of these programmes include mentorship networks, leadership development, and alumni communities that provide career advantages extending well beyond the degree itself.

For women planning to study abroad in engineering, data science, renewable energy, biotechnology, computer science, or related fields, these scholarships represent some of the most accessible and comprehensive funding available.

Offered by: Swedish Institute (SI)

Launched: Autumn 2024 – a relatively new dedicated programme within the SI scholarship framework

What it covers: The scholarship is fully funded, covering:

• Full tuition fees at eligible Swedish universities
• Monthly living stipend
• Travel grant
• Membership in SI’s professional alumni network – a genuinely valuable long-term career asset given SI alumni’s representation in government, research, and business globally

Who is eligible: Women who are citizens of one of ten specific countries in Africa and Asia:
Bangladesh, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Nigeria, Philippines, Rwanda, South Africa, Thailand, Vietnam

Additional eligibility requirements:

• Must be legally recognised as a woman in official ID documents
• Must be liable to pay tuition fees at Swedish universities – EU/EEA citizens and Swedish permanent residents are not eligible
• Must not currently be enrolled in or hold a degree from a Swedish university
• Must not have previously received a Swedish Institute scholarship
• Must not have resided in Sweden for a cumulative total of 2 or more years prior to the scholarship start date
• Must be admitted or conditionally admitted to an eligible STEM master’s programme at a Swedish university

Important: The programme requires both a university application through University Admissions Sweden and a separate scholarship application through the SI portal. These are two distinct steps with different deadlines.

Application timeline for the next cycle (2027–28):

• University programme application: Opens October 2026, closes 15 January 2027
• SI Scholarship application: Expected February 2027
• Results announced: March to April 2027

The list of eligible programmes for 2027–28 will be published on the SI website in mid-November 2026. Students from eligible countries should begin identifying STEM programmes at Swedish universities now.

Offered by: British Council in partnership with UK universities

Structure: This is not a single centrally administered scholarship – it is a partnership programme where the British Council works with specific UK universities to fund women from eligible countries for STEM master’s programmes.

What it covers: Full tuition fees for one-year master’s programmes at participating UK universities. Living costs are not covered by the scholarship itself – students should budget for UK living costs of £10,000–£18,000 per year depending on location.

Key example: Imperial College London has offered highly competitive Women in STEM Scholarships in partnership with the British Council. Country eligibility and the number of awards vary year by year – students should not assume the same countries or number of awards will be offered in subsequent cycles.

Who is eligible: Eligibility varies by partner university and cycle. Generally:

• Women from developing countries designated by the British Council as eligible
• Applying to a full-time STEM master’s programme at a participating UK university
• Meeting the academic and English language requirements of the specific programme

Application process: Applications go through the individual partner university – there is no central British Council application portal for this scholarship. Check each participating university’s scholarship pages for current availability, country eligibility, and deadlines.

Offered by: Zonta International

Named after: Amelia Earhart, the pioneering American aviator and Zonta member

What it covers: $10,000 per year – awarded to support women in aerospace-related STEM fields specifically. This is not a full scholarship but a significant financial award that can supplement other funding sources.

Who is eligible:

• Women of any nationality
• Pursuing a PhD or doctoral degree in aerospace engineering or the aerospace sciences
• Enrolled in a full-time programme at an accredited university anywhere in the world
• Demonstrating a superior academic record

Why it stands out: The Amelia Earhart Fellowship is one of the few internationally open STEM fellowships with no country restriction – women from any country pursuing doctoral aerospace engineering or aerospace sciences globally are eligible. It has been awarded since 1938, making it one of the oldest continuous scholarship programmes for women in STEM.

Application timeline: The application cycle typically opens in August and closes in November each year for awards presented the following year. Exact dates for the current cycle should be verified directly at zonta.org.

Offered by: Google

Previously known as: Google Anita Borg Memorial Scholarship

What it covers:

• University-specific award amounts – in the US and Canada, the award is $10,000 per academic year
• Retreat attendance – scholars are invited to a Google-sponsored retreat for networking, mentoring, and professional development
• Community membership in the Women Techmakers global network

Who is eligible:

• Women identifying as female and enrolled in a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral programme
• Studying computer science, computer engineering, or a closely related technical field
• Demonstrated leadership and passion for increasing women’s representation in technology
• Eligibility varies by region – separate applications exist for the US and Canada, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and Asia Pacific

Why it stands out: The Women Techmakers programme is one of the most globally recognised corporate scholarships for women in technology and engineering. The alumni network and Google connection carry genuine career value beyond the financial award.

Application timeline: The application cycle varies by region. Most regional cycles open in October and close in December for awards in the following academic year.

Offered by: Society of Women Engineers

Scale: One of the largest scholarship programmes specifically for women in engineering – awarding over $1.5 million annually to more than 250 recipients

What it covers: Award amounts range from $1,000 to $17,000 per year depending on the specific scholarship within the SWE programme. Multiple scholarships are bundled under the SWE umbrella, each with slightly different eligibility criteria.

Who is eligible:

• Women identifying as female
• Enrolled in or planning to enrol in an ABET-accredited engineering or engineering technology programme, or a computing programme
• Some SWE scholarships are open to international students studying at US institutions
• Most require a minimum GPA – typically 3.0 on a 4.0 scale

Application timeline: The SWE scholarship portal typically opens in December and closes in February each year for awards for the following academic year. All SWE scholarships are applied for through a single application on the SWE portal.

For women studying in the USA:

AAUW International Fellowship (25,000 for STEM graduates) and SWE Scholarships (up to $17,000 for engineering students) are the strongest options. Google Women Techmakers is relevant for computer science and computing-related fields.

For women studying in Sweden:

The SI Pioneering Women in STEM Scholarship is fully funded and designed for women from ten specific countries in Africa and Asia. It covers tuition, living costs, and travel.

For women studying in the UK:

The British Council Women in STEM Scholarships in partnership with universities like Imperial College London cover full tuition – though availability varies by country and cycle each year.

For women pursuing doctoral aerospace engineering anywhere in the world:

The Zonta Amelia Earhart Fellowship ($10,000 per year) has no country restriction and is one of the few globally open doctoral fellowships in this specific field.

Across all the scholarships covered here, several common themes emerge in what selectors look for beyond academic grades:

A clear connection between your STEM field and social impact

Most of these scholarships – particularly AAUW, SI Pioneering Women in STEM, and Google Women Techmakers – explicitly prioritise women who demonstrate how their engineering or science education will benefit their community, country, or the broader representation of women in STEM. Generic statements about career ambition are not sufficient. Specific, grounded plans for impact matter.

Leadership experience and evidence

Not necessarily formal titles – but evidence that you have initiated something, mentored others, advocated for change, or led a team or project in a meaningful way.

Academic consistency

Most of these scholarships require a minimum GPA – the AAUW requires 3.5 on a 4.0 scale. A strong and consistent academic record across your undergraduate degree is a baseline requirement, not a differentiator.

Commitment to returning and contributing

For AAUW and SI in particular, there is a strong preference for scholars who will return to their home countries or regions and use their education to create change there. Selectors are experienced at identifying applicants who are simply seeking to emigrate versus those with a genuine long-term purpose.

Finding the right scholarship for your specific profile, country, field, and programme level involves significant research. My Study Offers is a global education platform for students that helps women planning to study engineering or STEM abroad identify the right scholarship opportunities, understand eligibility requirements, and plan their full application journey. Speak to an expert advisor at mystudyoffers.com.

Strong, well-funded scholarships for women in STEM and engineering exist across multiple destinations – the USA, UK, Sweden, and globally for specific fields. The AAUW International Fellowship, SI Pioneering Women in STEM, British Council Women in STEM Scholarships, Zonta Amelia Earhart Fellowship, Google Women Techmakers, and SWE Scholarships collectively represent a significant pool of funding available to qualified women at every level of study.

The common thread across all of them is this – academic excellence is the entry point, not the deciding factor. What wins these scholarships is clarity of purpose, evidence of leadership, and a genuine commitment to using your STEM education to create change beyond your own career.

Start early. Application windows are often short – the AAUW window is just 31 days. Identify the scholarships that match your profile, prepare your documents well in advance, and apply before the deadline.

Note: Eligibility requirements, award amounts, and application deadlines change annually. Always verify the most current information directly on each scholarship’s official website before applying.

Q1. What is the best fully funded scholarship for women in STEM studying abroad?

The AAUW International Fellowship (25,000 for STEM graduates at US universities) and the Swedish Institute Pioneering Women in STEM Scholarship (fully funded master’s in Sweden for women from ten specific countries) are among the strongest fully funded options. The right scholarship depends on your country of citizenship, target destination, and level of study.

Q2. Is the AAUW International Fellowship open to all nationalities?

The AAUW International Fellowship is open to women who are not US citizens or permanent residents. There is no country restriction beyond this — women from any country outside the US are eligible, provided they meet the academic, GPA, and STEM programme requirements.

Q3. Which countries are eligible for the Swedish Institute Pioneering Women in STEM Scholarship?

The scholarship is open to female citizens of ten specific countries: Bangladesh, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Nigeria, Philippines, Rwanda, South Africa, Thailand, and Vietnam. Citizens of other countries are not eligible for this specific programme.

Q4. Is the AAUW Fellowship now only for STEM students?

Yes. The AAUW International Fellowship has been restricted to STEM disciplines only in its most recent cycle. Women pursuing degrees outside STEM fields are no longer eligible for this fellowship. This is a significant change from the programme’s earlier broader eligibility.

Q5. Can women in computer science apply for engineering scholarships?

Yes – most STEM scholarships for women cover computer science, computer engineering, and related computing disciplines alongside traditional engineering fields. The Google Women Techmakers Programme is specifically designed for computer science and computing. The AAUW Fellowship and SWE Scholarships also cover computing-related STEM fields. Always check the specific programme’s definition of eligible fields before applying.

Q6. When does the next AAUW International Fellowship cycle open?

The 2027–28 AAUW cycle has now closed with a deadline of 17 September 2026. Based on AAUW’s consistent annual pattern, the next cycle for the 2028–29 academic year is expected to open in August 2027 and close in September 2027. Exact dates have not yet been published. Monitor the official AAUW website at aauw.org for the confirmed opening date announcement.

Q7. What GPA is required for women in STEM scholarships?

Requirements vary by scholarship. The AAUW International Fellowship requires a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale. SWE Scholarships generally require a minimum 3.0 GPA. The Swedish Institute Pioneering Women in STEM Scholarship does not state a specific GPA cutoff but places strong emphasis on academic merit alongside leadership and social impact. Always check the specific GPA requirement for each scholarship you are applying to.