Women’s International Scholarships and Grants

Whether desiring study and internships abroad or wanting to enter a career field that is traditionally male-dominated, academically talented women have many opportunities for financial assistance. Often, the money from Pell grants and student loans can be used to supplement the support gained from one of these programs. Some of the programs reported are also open to men, but many are exclusively for women. All of these programs either support experiences abroad or are offered to international students.

Education, internship and volunteer programs are all included because they are all wonderful for building a resume that will attract employers. Women are making great strides in professional endeavors but still lag behind their male counterparts in terms of the money they are able to earn and the type of positions to which they can aspire. These programs are designed to assist them in pursuing their dreams.

Academic Scholarships and Grants

Scholarships and grants are a student’s best friends. Loan money has to be paid back, but anything titled scholarship or grant does not. This means that the student is free to study and learn without worrying about accruing a crippling debt.

Undergraduate Scholarships and Grants

• Zonta International sponsors the Amelia Earhart Scholarship, intended to assist women to enter fields that have been dominated by males. It encourages women to aspire to positions in aerospace engineering, astronomy, geology, academia, business and the military. The Fellowship helps women purchase computer equipment and research materials and to participate in studies in other parts of the world.
• Zonta International sponsors the Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship of $1,000-$5,000 per year for undergraduate women and women working toward a master’s degree who are pursuing positions in a business-related field. The awards are offered to women from many countries.
• Society of Women Engineersprovides scholarships to academically qualified women wanting to pursue careers in engineering and computer science. These fields are typically male-dominated. SWE works to encourage talented women to enter these lucrative professions.
• Boren Awards for International Study target study in places that are underrepresnted and are important to U.S. interests. They include Eastern Europe, Africa, Latin America, Central Europe and Asia. The number of awards varies from year to year. These scholarships are sponsored by the National Security Education Program and focus on languages and fields of study considered important to national security. This is taken in a broad view that recognizes the importance of meeting global challenges including sustainable development, environmental issues, hunger and disease, population growth, and economic issues. Boren Scholarships will provide $10,000 per semester, up to $20,000 per year for undergraduate or graduate study. Applications for the 2013 school year must be submitted by January 31, 2013. Individual campuses set their own deadlines. Both male and female students are accepted.
• The Boeing Company 737-NG Type Rating Certificate Scholarship awards $35,000 to women who possess ratings for Commercial, Instrument and Multi-Engine aircraft to attend an intensive three-week training. The award includes all instructional materials. Housing, meals and transportation are the responsibility of the recipient.
• The Joseph Finelli Memorial Aviation Scholarship is awarded for either undergraduate or graduate students seeking a degree in aviation. Scholarships of $1,000 are awarded.
• The Margaret McNamara Memorial Fund supports grants for international women studying in the U.S. or Canada. Awards are about $12,000 each and are not renewable. Women who are committed to improving the conditions of women and children and have participated in services for them are invited to apply for these grants. The individuals must come from a lower or middle income developing country and intend to return to their country after completing the program. Participants commit to at least two years of service in the field.
• The MMMF South Africa grants are offered to women from developing countries who are attending either the University of Pretoria or the University of Cape Town. The award is about $4,000. Women who have established an interest in helping women and children may apply for this program. Participants must demonstrate good academic performance and financial need.
• Boston University Study Abroad offers a wide array of opportunities to study or intern in other countries. The program is open to students of BU and other students as well. These study and internship programs are a wonderful way to boost a student’s resume for international positions. Both male and female students are accepted.
• cisabroad.com provides small partial scholarships for their study abroad programs in business; humanities; education; health; science, technology, engineering and mathematics; world languages; social sciences; visual and performing arts; and communication, IT, and design. Both male and female students are accepted. The program works hard to keep the cost of these programs within reasonable bounds.
• The Critical Language Scholarship Program provides overseas intensive summer instruction in languages deemed critical for the United States. These include Arabic, Azerbaijani, Bangla/Bengali, Chinese, Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Punjabi, Russian, Turkish and Urdu. The programs are fully funded. Applicants must be U.S. citizens enrolled in a degree program in the United States. Both graduate and undergraduate students are accepted. Students in all disciplines are invited to participate.
• The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi annually awards fifty grants of $1,000 each to undergraduate students wanting to study in other countries. Applicants must be attending a university with a chapter of PKP and maintain a 3.75 grade point average. The application must be accompanied by a letter of acceptance in a program of study. Both male and female students are accepted.
• Women Chefs and Restaurateurs offers several scholarships and internships, both domestic and international, each year. Deadline for applications is at the end of March or beginning of April. The scholarships are assigned to specific culinary schools.

Graduate Scholarships and Grants

• The AAUW supports graduate study abroad for women wanting to obtain a graduate degree or significantly contribute to their communities. The selection process is highly competitive. AAUW manages five programs for grants and fellowships, including their International Fellowship program. Inquiries about applications should be addressed to the Iowa City branch office, e-mail address: aayw@act.org.
• Zonta International sponsors the Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship of $1,000-$5,000 per year for undergraduate women and women working toward a master’s degree who are pursuing positions in a business-related field.
• Georgetown University Law Center offers the Leadership and Advocacy for Women in Africa (SAWA) fellowhip to participants from Africa seeking a Master of Laws degree from Georgetown that centers on international women’s rights. After completing classes, the individuals complete a post-graduation internship. They then return to work for advancement of women’s rights in their own countries.
• Society of Women Engineersprovides scholarships to academically qualified women wanting to pursue careers in engineering and computer science. These fields are typically male-dominated. SWE works to encourage talented women to enter these lucrative professions.
• The International Federation of University Women provides fellowships and grants for postgraduate studies, research or training abroad. The number of these grants is limited. For the 2012 year, IFUW will offer the Conchita Poncini Jimenez International Human Rights Fellowship. The aim is to promote gender equality and is in the amount of $20,000. The non-renewable grant will cover 8-12 months of work/study full-time or 24 months of work /study part-time
• The Critical Language Scholarship Program provides overseas intensive summer instruction in languages deemed critical for the United States. These include Arabic, Azerbaijani, Bangla/Bengali, Chinese, Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Punjabi, Russian, Turkish and Urdu. The programs are fully funded. Applicants must be U.S. citizens enrolled in a degree program in the United States. Both graduate and undergraduate students are accepted. Students in all disciplines are invited to participate.
• Boren Awards for International Study target study in places that are underrepresented and are important to U.S. interests. They include Eastern Europe, Africa, Latin America, Central Europe and Asia. The number of awards varies from year to year. These scholarships are sponsored by the National Security Education Program and focus on languages and fields of study considered important to national security. This is taken in a broad view that recognizes the importance of meeting global challenges including sustainable development, environmental issues, hunger and disease, population growth, and economic issues. Boren Scholarships will provide $10,000 per semester, up to $20,000 per year for undergraduate or graduate study. Applications for the 2013 school year must be submitted by January 31, 2013. Individual campuses set their own deadlines. Both male and female students are accepted.

Internships

Internships provide work experience that is invaluable in building a resume, particularly when the experience is gained in the individual’s chosen field of study. While some internships are unpaid, others will provide a modest stipend. This is especially important if the internship opportunity occurs abroad.

• National Geographic maintains the Glimpse Correspondents Program for young adults who will be abroad at least 10 weeks either studying or doing volunteer work. They offer a $600 stipend in exchange for writing and photography or video presentations about the location. The money comes in handy, and this is an opportunity to begin developing journalism credits. Both male and female internships are available.
• Boston University Study Abroad offers a wide array of opportunities to study or intern in other countries. The program is open to students of BU and other students as well. These study and internship programs are a wonderful way to boost a student’s resume for international positions. Both male and female students are accepted.
• Child Family Health International offers scholarships for its internship abroad program. They are partial scholarships of $1,000 toward any of the health education internships. Priority is given to people from ethnic backgrounds similar to the population to be served. Applications should be submitted online. Recipients must be able to pay the rest of their program fees, airfare and personal expenses. This can be combined with a Diversity Abroad award. This program serves both male and female participants.
• cisabroad.com provides partial funding up to 70 percent of program cost for students who want to participate in a summer internship program. The program is tailored to accommodate the career goals of the students. Countries for internships include Australia, China, Costa Rica, Ecuador, England, France, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand and Spain. This program serves both male and female participants.
• Women Chefs and Restaurateurs offers several scholarships and internships, both domestic and international, each year. Deadline for applications is at the end of March or beginning of April. The scholarships are assigned to specific culinary schools.
• The International Women’s Day Scholarship is offered jointly by Gust, an investor relations program and Astia, a nonprofit global agency whose mission is to promote the success of business ventures that are led by women. Participants will attend the Silicon Valley Entrepeneur Program and follow this with a two-month advisory plan. A team of advisors is assigned to assist a company in securing investor funding, marketing effectively, and negotiating competitively.
• The Sofya Kovalevshkaya Prize is awarded to enable young scientists and researchers from several countries to conduct research. The 2012 prize was won by two Vietnamese women who have made significant contributions to Viet Nam’s industrialization.

Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteer work also helps to build a resume. Many programs will have costs far beyond the stipend allowed to a participant, but the Global Citizen Fund for Diversity Abroad is specifically designed to assist economically disadvantaged participants.

• The LIV Fund is available to students who want to study, intern or volunteer in Latin America. Program founder David Garrett established the organization to promote positive cultural exchange. LIV operates in 21 countries: Argentina, Venezuela, Belize, Uruguay, Bolivia, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Peru, Chile, Paraguay, Columbia, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Cuba, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Ecuador, Guatemala and El Salvador. The program awards two $500 scholarships each month. This program serves both male and female participants.
• Diversity Abroad.com’s Global Citizen Fund sponsors economically disadvantage students who want to participate in a volunteer experience abroad. This program serves both male and female participants

International grants and scholarships are available to enable individuals to pursue their interests in promoting global understandings and initiatives; obtain careers that would otherwise be out of reach; and build interesting resumes that attract prospective employers. The education and experience gained from these unique programs will do much to enhance the participant’s career.