What OWSD PhD Fellowships for Women Scientists from Science and Technology-Lagging Countries actually covers.
The Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) PhD Fellowships support women scientists from Science and Technology Lagging Countries (STLCs) to undertake PhD research in the Natural, Engineering, and Information Technology sciences at a centre of excellence in a developing country outside the applicant's own country. OWSD is a UNESCO programme unit based at The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) in Trieste, Italy. The fellowship provides comprehensive funding including stipend, travel, research costs, and other necessary support for the duration of the PhD programme. The programme targets women who have been unable to access quality PhD education in their home countries due to limited resources or opportunities. African women scientists from eligible STLCs are a key target group for this fellowship. Fellows gain access to world-class research facilities, mentoring from leading scientists, and the OWSD global network of women in science. The 2026 fellowship cycle focuses on sustainable, affordable, and reliable energy (SDG7), though specific thematic focuses vary by annual call.
Who can apply.
Open to phd applicants. Eligible nationalities are listed below.
46 more eligible countries — full list available on the official application page.
Every academic discipline is accepted.
This programme does not restrict by field. Research proposals across humanities, sciences, engineering, agriculture, and medicine are all accepted.
From here to submitted.
Scholar Africa helps you discover, shortlist, and track. The application itself is submitted on the provider's site.
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Save itAdd this to your shortlist so we can recommend similar scholarships and remind you of the deadline.
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Prepare your documentsMost providers ask for the same set — transcripts, references, a personal statement, ID. Use the checklist below to track progress across all your applications.
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Apply on the provider's siteSubmit on the provider's site before August 31, 2026 · 44 days left.
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Track the outcomeAdd to your tracker so you can update the status as the provider responds (shortlisted, interview, decision).
Document checklist
Checks are local to this device — they're not stored. Always confirm exact requirements on the provider's official application page.
What we checked, when we checked it.
Scholar Africa runs a link-liveness check on every listing before it goes live and an admin manually reviews every scholarship submitted by providers. OWSD PhD Fellowships for Women Scientists from Science and Technology-Lagging Countries has been reviewed and verified by our team. Five deeper checks (contact, organisation, winners, third-party, formal audit) are on the roadmap.
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Other scholarships worth a parallel application.
Same eligibility window or destination. Many strong applicants apply to three or four programmes per cycle.