This list has been compiled in response to the large number of enquiries that the BRIDGE-hosted web resource Siyanda receives from women who are looking for funding for study, research and training.
The internet offers a great deal of information on various types of scholarships but what is listed below are those scholarships which we thought might be of most interest. There is more information on some regions than on others, for example, Africa. In order to fill this gap we would be happy to hear news of scholarships in other regions, particularly Asia, so we can update this list. Please see contact details at the end of this document.
The information is divided into two sections:
1. SCHOLARSHIPS FOR WOMEN
2. SCHOLARSHIPS IN GENERAL
Details have been extracted from funders’ websites and as such information is subject to change. Therefore please check the individual websites for full and up-to-date information.
We hope you find the resource useful.
Siyanda and BRIDGE Team
1. SCHOLARSHIPS FOR WOMEN
INTERNATIONAL
Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship Promoting Human Rights Journalism
The Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowshipprovides an opportunity for a woman journalist working in the print, broadcast or Internet media to spend an academic year in a tailored program that combines access to MIT’s (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) and other Boston-area universities and two media companies, The Boston Globe andThe New York Times. With this flexible structure, the fellow will have opportunities to pursue academic research as well as hone her journalistic skills covering topics related to human rights and social justice.
Deadline for 2006 applications: 31 March 2006.
Girls Global Education Fund (GGEF)
GGEF provides scholarships to girls in developing countries who would otherwise be unable to attend school. Scholarships are given to girls in primary school, junior high and high school. GGEF cover the cost of sending girls to school for the entire year, and if necessary, we also pay for transportation to school, and lunch. To remain in our program, a girl must complete the school year with satisfactory grades and attendance.
International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) Fellowships
Initiated in 1983, ICRW's Fellows Program gives development researchers and practitioners from developing countries the opportunity to spend time in Washington, DC, at ICRW, where they gain policy and project perspectives on the gender dimensions of development. Fellows are selected through a competitive process conducted in target countries, and unsolicited applications are not considered. Supported by the Ford Foundation, the recent program's participants have included Fellows from China, Egypt, Kenya, Palestine, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Native Leadership Scholarship (NLS) Program
(English, Spanish, French)
The Native Leadership Scholarship (NLS) program creates educational opportunities for women around the world who are grassroots leaders, organizers and activists demonstrating financial need. NLS invests in women's leadership and leadership development by supporting non-doctoral graduate education in human rights, sustainable development, and public health. The NLS awards four to six scholarships per year, up to US$25,000 per academic year for a maximum of two years. The awards help the recipients meet the costs of tuition, fees, books, educational supplies, housing, maintenance, and travel to and from the home country and the educational institution.
Third World Organisation for Women in Science (TWOWS)
Postgraduate Training Fellowships for Women Scientists in Sub-Saharan Africa or Least Developed Countries (LDC) at Centres of Excellence in the South
Applications should reach the TWOWS secretariat by 30 Mayof each year.
The general purpose of the scheme is to contribute to the emergence of a new generation of women leaders in science and technology, and to promote their effective participation in the scientific and technological development of their countries.
UNESCO Fellowships Programme in Support of Priority Programme Areas (2006-2007)
The fellowships offered under this scheme are of short term duration (6 months maximum) and are intended for specialized training at the postgraduate level. Priority targets are promising and qualified specialists who seek to undertake advanced research or to upgrade their skills and knowledge of state-of-the-art developments in their field of study or work. Target candidates are graduates and postgraduates wishing to study abroad. Priority attention will be given to candidatures on behalf of women, and, those from the Least Developed Countries (LDCs). Applicants should hold a university degree, at least a B.A. or B.Sc. and be under 45 years of age.
UNESCO-L’oreal fELLOWSHIP
science/fellowships/2005_Fellows_index.aspx?
This fellowship awards annual doctoral and postdoctoral research grants of up to $20K to three women worldwide, on a regional basis. The fellowships boost promising research in the Life Sciences by helping the beneficiaries, who have already distinguished themselves by their talent and commitment to pursue promising research at what may be a critical point in their scientific careers. The Selection Committee makes the final choice of three Fellowship beneficiaries from each of five UNESCO geopolitical regions: Africa, Arab States, Asia/Pacific, Latin America/Caribbean, and North America/Europe. Deadline for 2006 submissions: 30 April 2006
AFRICA
The Leadership and Advocacy for Women in Africa Fellowship Program
(LAWA Program)
This Program which is housed at the Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C., calls for applications for the 2006-2007 Fellowship year (July 2006 through August 2007) from attorneys in Africa who are interested in promoting women's human rights in their countries. The application deadline for 2006 is Friday, March 24, 2006.
Scholarship Award from Galilee College Israel
The Galilee College in Israel has awarded one of its scholarships to the Association of African Women Scholars (AAWS). Galilee College is interested in candidates from Africa (sub-Sahara regions). Interested members of AAWS are encouraged to apply. Galilee College, the leading higher education institute in Israel in training senior managers from Developing Countries, has expanded its TUITION SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM to include management training courses in several disciplines. Participants worldwide have graduated in the areas of Senior Port Management, Small Businesses and Industries, Tourism Management and Development, Health Systems Management, Environmental Planning & Management, and Urban Economic Development, and The Management of NGO's.
Sexuality Leadership Development Fellowship (SLDF)
The Africa Regional Sexuality Resource Centre (ARSRC) calls for applications to its annual Sexuality Leadership Development Fellowship (SLDF) Programme. The Fellowship is scheduled to take place in Lagos, Nigeria from July 10- 28 2006.
The objectives of the SLDF programme are to:
- Provide exposure to cutting-edge conceptual, theoretical and programmatic issues in sexuality, sexual health and sexual rights.
- Provide opportunities to conduct research or action projects on sexuality issues.
- Promote mentoring of young African professionals by experts in the field.
- Facilitate the emergence of a new generation of leaders.
This course is designed for young researchers, academicians, civil servants, programme officers, programme managers, media practitioners and others resident in Africa, aged 35 years and below with a Bachelor’s degree or its equivalent and with demonstrable experience and (or) interest in the area of sexuality, sexual health and rights.
ASIA
Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) MSc Degrees in Gender and Development Studies
The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) in Thailand grants Competitive Awards for Post-graduate studies on ‘Gender and Development Studies with Specialization in Gender, Environment and Development’. Applicants should have an educational background in social sciences or human geography or any of the natural science disciplines, as well as career experience in organizations working with programs related to natural resources management or environmental governance for a minimum of three years. Applicants should also be nationals of the following countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, Philippines, East Timor, Cambodia, Lao PDR, China, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bhutan. The scholarship will cover all school fees, travel to the AIT from country of origin.Deadline for 2006 submissions have yet to be announced.
E-mail:
LATIN AMERICA
Elisabeth E. Bascom Scholarship
For Latin American women specialising in botanics. Undergraduate degree is required. Applicants can be working in universities, institutions, government or non-government institutions. Grants are given by the Missouri Botanical Garden. For more information, contact Alina Freire-Fierro Correo electrónico:
Teléfono: 1-314-577-9353 Fax: 1-314-577-0830
FORMUJER, Bolivia
ForMujer is a transnational initiative of some Latin American government and non-government entities and CINTERFOR/ILO and BID/FOMIN. The office of ForMujer in Bolivia is implementing a Grant Programme targeting Bolivian women with low or no income which aims to help them to access and remain in education.
Master in Gender and Development (Magíster en Género y Desarrollo -
2006-07) (Spanish)
The Fundación Carolina will grant four scholarships for Latin American women residing in their countries of origin. The call for applications for 2006 is open until 5 March 2006. Applications can be submitted directly through the following link, under the section Postgraduate Scholarships – L. Social Sciences and Communication/Master in Gender and Development – L. Social Sciences and Communication, Master in Gender and Development (Becas/Postgrado/ L.- Ciencias Sociales y de la Comunicación/ Magíster en Género y Desarrollo).
Red Mujer y Habitat de America Latina
(Spanish)
This is a directory compiled by the Red Mujer y Habitat de America Latina and is hosted on their website. It aims to present women with a wide choice of fellowships and grants for education. Some fellowships are directly aimed at Latin American women, but others offer opportunities to women from all regions. The areas covered by the many fellowships here can be as general as human rights and gender equality and as specific as sexual and reproductive rights. Some of the information provided may be dated, so it is advisable to always link directly to the website address provided.
NORTH AMERICA
The American Political Science Association : Special Fund for the Study of Women and Politics
The Special Fund for the Study of Women and Politics is designed to provide scholars conducting research on issues of women and politics with supplemental funding. Monies awarded through this fund may support resident or non-resident stays at the Centennial Centre. The Centennial Centre assists scholars from the United States and abroad whose research and teaching would benefit from a stay in Washington, D.C. and access to the incomparable resources that are available in the nation's capital.
The American Political Science Association has a database of over 200 funding opportunities in political science.
The Canadian Federation Of University Women (CFUW)
The Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) is a voluntary, non-partisan, non-profit, self-funded bilingual organization of 10,000 women university graduates. Affiliated with the International Federation of University Women (IFUW/FIFDU), CFUW is committed to working to raise the social, economic, and legal status of women, as well as to improve education, the environment, peace, justice and human rights. CFUW offers a series of awards. For 2006/7 academic year, these included the: Dr. Margaret McWilliams Pre-Doctoral Fellowship $12,000; Dr. Marion Elder Grant Fellowship, $10,000 funded by
CFUW/Wolfville and CFUW Memorial Fellowship $9,000. There are many more.
Details of 2007/2008 Fellowships to be announced. Applicants should hold at least a Bachelors degree, be accepted into a proposed programme of study and be a Canadian citizen or have landed immigrant status for at least one year.
The Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation Dissertation Fellowships in Women’s Studies
Woodrow Wilson Dissertation Fellowships in Women’s Studies encourage original and significant research about women that crosses disciplinary, regional, or cultural boundaries. Previous Fellows have explored topics such as women’s role in African American adult literacy, women’s sports, militarism and the education of American women, the urban crisis, gender and globalization in Indian film, and the dynamics of employment and childbearing.
Students in doctoral programs in any field of study at graduate schools in the United States are eligible to apply. Fellows will receive $3,000 to be used for expenses connected with the dissertation. These may include, but are not limited to, travel, books, microfilming, taping, and computer services. Fellowship details for 2007/8 to be announced.
2. SCHOLARSHIPS IN GENERAL
The British Council
This is an online searchable database of funding grants for international students who wish to study in the UK - scholarships, bursaries and awards. Search by subject, study level, award type, country of residence, institution, charity or organisation.
Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowships Plan (CSFP), Commonwealth Scholarship Commission
Offers a range of scholarships including:
- General Scholarships:Open to Commonwealth citizens and British protected persons, permanently resident in any Commonwealth country other than the United Kingdom. Almost all awards are for taught postgraduate courses or doctoral study. Undergraduate awards are, however, available for residents of the Falkland Islands, Maldives, Seychelles and St Helena.
- Commonwealth Academic Fellowships:Support the cost of up to six months work in the United Kingdom, for staff of universities in certain developing Commonwealth countries. Applicants should have at least 5 years postdoctoral experience.
- Split-Site Doctoral Scholarships:Available to those studying for a PhD in developing Commonwealth countries. The scholarships support attendance for one year at a UK university, under the joint supervision of a home country and UK supervisor. Applications are accepted directly from certain developing country universities, or from UK university departments which have an established link with a university in the developing Commonwealth.
- Professional Fellowships:Offer opportunities for mid-career professionals to visit the United Kingdom for professional updating purposes. Fellowships last for an average of three months, and applications should be made by host organisations in the UK. Priority will be given to applications relevant to education, engineering, environment, governance, public health and technology.
- Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme: The scheme is a joint initiative between the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and UK universities, to jointly support scholarships for students from developing Commonwealth countries who would not otherwise be able to study in the United Kingdom.
Awards for 2006/7 to be announced.
The Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA)
CODESEIA has announced the fifteenth competition under its Small Grants Programme for Thesis Writing. The grants are intended to contribute to the development of the social sciences in Africa and the strengthening of the research capacities in African universities through the funding of primary research conducted by post-graduate students and professionals. In this connection, candidates whose applications are successful are encouraged to use the resources available under the grants to cover the cost of their fieldwork, the acquisition of books and documents, the processing of data which they have collected and the printing of their thesis/dissertation. The Programme is open to graduate students and professionals registered in African universities preparing their theses in all social
science fields and other disciplines involving social or economic analysis.
For more information, please contact: The Small Grants Programme for Thesis Writing CODESRIA, BP 3304, CP 18524, Dakar, Senegal. Tel.: +221-825 9822 Fax: +221-824 1289 E-mail: or check the website.
CODESRIA Prize for Doctoral Theses
This programme is a new CODESRIA initiative launched in 2002 and designed to encourage post-graduate research in Africa by offering three prizes annually for the best theses produced within Africa. Beneficiaries of the CODESRIA Small Grants Programme are encouraged to participate in the competition for the award of the prizes but the initiative is not limited to them as all postgraduate students involved in social research are encouraged to enter the competition. The award process is managed by an independent jury of eminent scholars.
Department for International Development (DFID), UK
DFID is the main supporter of the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the United Kingdom. The Commission offers a wide range of study and mid career professional updating opportunities for citizens of Commonwealth countries as part of Britain’s contribution to the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP). To find out whether you might be eligible for a scholarship or for financial grant support, start by asking your own Ministry of Education. You can also contact your local British Council office, which will have information about UK award schemes.
The European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes
(EADI) Prize
EADI announces the 2006 prize for excellence in development research. The prize, worth £1,000, will be awarded for an essay on an issue of development studies in any field of the social sciences submitted and written by a postgraduate student from an EADI member country or attending a programme at an institutional member of the Association. Details can be found at: Jury will make its decision known in September 2006. The prize winner will be invited to the Association’s Directors’ Meeting at IDS from 2 to 3 November where the award ceremony will take place.
Closing date for 2006 entries: 31 May.
ESRC-SSRC Collaborative Visiting Fellowship: Call for Applications
The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and the Social Science Research Council (SSRC) are pleased to announce a fellowship for U.S. and Canadian scholars to visit and engage in collaborative activities with members of ESRC-supported projects in Britain, or for British scholars at ESRC-supported projects to visit collaborators in the U.S. or Canada, between June 2006 and September 2007. Approximately ten research fellowships of up to $8,500 (approx. £5,000) will be awarded. The ESRC and the SSRC have a common mission of promoting, funding, and disseminating important and socially useful knowledge in the social sciences. Deadline : April 20, 2006.
Ford Foundation International Fellowships Program (IFP)
The Ford Foundation International Fellowships Program (IFP) provides opportunities for advanced study to exceptional individuals who will use this education to become leaders in their respective fields, furthering development in their own countries and greater economic and social justice worldwide. To ensure that Fellows are drawn from diverse backgrounds, IFP actively seeks candidates from social groups and communities that lack systematic access to higher education.