STEM scholarships for African women represent one of the most actively funded categories in international scholarship giving. The intersection of gender equity goals, STEM workforce development priorities, and Africa-focused giving has created a substantial and growing pool of scholarships, fellowships, and grants specifically for African women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
The landscape has shifted significantly in recent years. What were once primarily small NGO-run programmes have been supplemented by major corporate scholarship initiatives (Google, Microsoft, Facebook/Meta), large foundation programmes (Gates, Ford, AAUW), and intergovernmental programmes (UNESCO, OWSD, African Union). The result is a richly layered set of funding opportunities across levels from undergraduate through postdoctoral.
This guide covers scholarships and fellowships that either exclusively target women, strongly prefer women applicants, or have documented strong representation of African women among recipients. We include both STEM-general programmes and discipline-specific awards.
Eligibility note: some programmes in this category are limited to women who are citizens of African Union member states. Others accept any woman from a developing country as defined by UN or World Bank classifications. Several require applicants to be affiliated with or returning to an institution in Africa. Always verify current eligibility on the official programme website.
Top STEM Scholarships for African Women in 2026
The following programmes are the most prominent and best-funded STEM scholarships available to African women in 2026.
OWSD-Elsevier Foundation Awards
The Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD), in partnership with the Elsevier Foundation, awards the OWSD-Elsevier Foundation Awards for Early Career Women Scientists in the Developing World. These awards recognise outstanding women scientists from the Global South — including all African regions — who are making significant contributions to science while based in their home countries. The awards are highly prestigious and provide a financial prize plus networking opportunities and visibility within the global scientific community.
OWSD also operates a PhD Fellowship Programme that funds African women to pursue PhD degrees at OWSD member institution universities in the South. The fellowship covers full tuition, living costs, and travel for the PhD period.
Google Women Techmakers Scholars
Google's Women Techmakers Scholars Program (previously Google Anita Borg Memorial Scholarship) provides scholarship funding to women studying computer science, computer engineering, or a closely related technical field. The programme is available in multiple regions, including an Africa and Middle East track. Awards cover a portion of tuition costs for one academic year and include membership in the Women Techmakers community, access to Google events, and mentorship from Google engineers.
Toptal Scholarships for Women in Engineering
The Toptal Foundation offers scholarships for women pursuing engineering, computer science, and related technical disciplines at accredited universities. The application is open to women globally, including from African countries, and focuses on academic achievement and leadership. Award amounts vary; check the Toptal Foundation website for current scholarship rounds and amounts.
Application Advice: Standing Out in Women's STEM Scholarship Applications
- Document your impact on other women. Women's STEM scholarships particularly value applicants who actively mentor, teach, or support other women in STEM. If you run a coding club, tutor younger students, or volunteer with STEM outreach, document this specifically — it is a differentiating factor.
- Articulate your STEM research goals concretely. Vague statements about "contributing to science in Africa" are less compelling than specific research questions, named techniques, or identified problems you plan to address.
- Apply to multiple programmes in the same cycle. Most women's STEM scholarships run on annual cycles. Applying to five or six in a single year — with personalised applications for each — is the most efficient use of preparation effort.
- Consider the Schlumberger Faculty for the Future if you are already a university staff member. If you are a woman already working as a lecturer or researcher at an African university, the Schlumberger FFTF fellowship is one of the most valuable and well-funded options available specifically to you.