Doctoral Scholarships for Women: Eligibility and Opportunities
While scholarships based on gender can be a complex topic, given laws against gender discrimination, the need for measures promoting inclusion and equality remains significant. Statistics highlight that disparities persist, emphasizing the importance of such scholarships for women pursuing doctoral studies.
The Gender Gap and the Need for Women's Scholarships
Even when comparing male and female statistics within the same job type and education level, a gender pay gap persists. Recent data indicates women earn 98 cents for every dollar earned by men in controlled statistics. The uncontrolled, or "raw," statistics reveal an even wider disparity, with women earning only 76 cents for every dollar earned by men.
Despite these challenges, women are increasingly pursuing higher education. In 2016, over 11 million females were expected to attend college, representing a larger percentage of the college student population than males. However, women may encounter unique obstacles in higher education, such as entering historically male-dominated fields like STEM or balancing family responsibilities while pursuing a degree.
Dedicated college scholarships for women can alleviate these challenges. Some scholarships cater to single parents, returning students, or those in specific subjects. Eligibility requirements vary, with professional organizations often requiring applicants to study specific subjects like business or technology. Other scholarships target non-traditional female students with financial need in a particular location, with specific residency or age thresholds.
The availability of scholarships for women pursuing Post Graduate study is highly competitive as the available PhD scholarships are few.
Read also: Applying to USF Doctoral Programs
Types of Doctoral Scholarships for Women
Many organizations offer unique college scholarships for women, providing diverse awards for female students across various disciplines. Here are some examples:
- AAUW American Fellowships: This program offers funding and resources to women pursuing doctoral degrees, based on academic merit, commitment to helping girls and women, and dissertation originality and impact. The award ranges from $8,000 to $50,000. These fellowships support women doctoral candidates completing dissertations or scholars seeking funds for postdoctoral research leave from accredited institutions. Candidates are evaluated on the basis of scholarly excellence, teaching experience, and active commitment to helping women and girls through service in their communities, professions, or fields of research.
- AAUW International Fellowships: International students pursuing graduate school in the United States can apply for this fellowship, which provides $20,000 to $50,000. Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from a U.S. college or university and plan to return to their home country after earning their master’s degree.
- AAUW Selected Professions Fellowships: This $20,000 fellowship supports women pursuing master’s degrees in fields with low female participation, such as computer science, engineering, architecture, or mathematics. Women of color may also apply for degrees in medicine, business administration, or law.
- Amelia Earhart Fellowship: Women pursuing a doctoral program in aerospace engineering or space sciences can apply for this $10,000 scholarship. Applicants must be enrolled in a full-time doctoral program or hold a master’s in an aerospace-applied field.
- AWIS Distinguished Doctoral Research Scholarship: This $10,000 scholarship funds dissertation projects that significantly contribute to the recipient’s discipline. Applicants must be predoctoral students in the life sciences, physical sciences, behavioral sciences, mathematics, or engineering and members of the Association for Women in Science (AWIS).
- Inter-American Foundation (IAF) Grassroots Development Ph.D. Scholarship: The Inter-American Foundation (IAF), established by the United States Congress, offers this program for PhD candidates from United States universities interested in conducting their dissertation research in Latin America and the Caribbean. The fellows examine how urban and rural people work to improve their lives, their methods of production and organization, and their developmental programs and policies designed to relieve their poverty. The Institute of International Education (IIE) administers IAF’s Grassroots Development Fellowship Program. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or citizens of independent Caribbean and Latin American countries (excluding Cuba), be Ph.D. candidates at a U.S. university in professions related to grassroots development issues, and be able to speak and read the language(s) required for the research.
- M. Hildred Blewett Scholarship: Made possible by a generous bequest from particle physicist M. Hildred Blewett, this scholarship enables women to return to a career in physics research after a family-related interruption.
- Faculty for the Future Program: The Schlumberger Foundation launched this program to promote more women pursuing scientific disciplines. A fellowship of USD 50,000 for PhDs and USD 40,000 for Post-doctoral study, based on the costs of studying and living, will be awarded to the selected recipients.
- The School for Advanced Research (SAR) Fellowship: Through the generous support of the Vera R. Campbell Foundation, SAR offers fellowships to women scholars from developing countries. Applicants must be citizens of developing countries that can borrow from the World Bank and be fluent in English.
- The Educational Foundation for Women in Accounting (EFWA) Scholarship: EFWA encourages and inspires women to advance their careers in the accounting profession. Applicants must be pursuing or currently enrolled in a Ph.D. program in accounting. A scholarship ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 each will be awarded to the selected candidate for one year.
- International Fellowships: Applicants must have a minimum CGPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale. The International Master’s Degree Fellowship is specifically designed to support individuals who are pursuing their first master’s degree. The International Doctoral Degree Fellowship is specifically designed to support individuals who are pursuing their first doctoral degree. Applicants must apply to one program type in a single field. You cannot apply to both a doctorate and a master’s program simultaneously. International Doctoral and Postdoctoral Fellowships are one-time awards and are not renewable.
- P.E.O. Scholar Awards: This merit-based award provides a maximum of $25,000 to a woman in a doctoral program. To apply, you must have a bachelor’s degree, be a US or Canadian citizen, be within two years of your graduation date, and have at least one year left in your doctoral degree.
- Microsoft Research Dissertation Grant: Provides funding of up to $25,000 USD for an academic year for doctoral students who are underrepresented in the field of computing. This program supports those who self-identify as a woman, African American, Black, Hispanic, Latinx, American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and/or person with a disability.
- Charlotte W. Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellowships: These fellowships encourage original and significant study of ethical or religious values in all fields of the humanities and social sciences.
- Woodrow Wilson Dissertation Fellowship in Women’s Studies: Encourages original and significant research about women that crosses disciplinary, regional, or cultural boundaries.
Additional Scholarship Opportunities
- Named Scholarships:
- Jeannette Rankin Women's Scholarship Fund
- Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship
- Dr. Alice I. Bryan Scholarship
- Rae Lee Siporin Scholarship for Women
- Burlington Scholarship
- Woman of Substance scholarship
- ANSWER endowment
- Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation grant
- Alliance for Women in Media and the Ford Motor Company Fund scholarship
- Yale University Women's Organization scholarships
- AAUW Selected Professional Focus Professions Group Fellowships program
- ABC Humane Wildlife Control & Prevention Scholarship
- Scholarships by Organization:
- Computing Research Association for Women (CRA-W)
- Soroptimist's Live Your Dream Awards
- Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC)
- Hospitality Media Group, LLC
- Zonta International
- Yale University Women's Organization
- Hispanic Women's Corporation (HWC)
- Young Latinas Leadership Institute (YLLI)
- The American Association of University Women
- The WTS Foundation
- The Philanthropic Educational Organization, also known as The P.E.O. Foundation
- The AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics) Foundation
Eligibility Requirements and Application Tips
Eligibility requirements for women's scholarships vary. Scholarships awarded by professional organizations often require applicants to study a specific subject, such as business or technology. Other scholarships target non-traditional female students with financial need in a particular location, requiring applicants to meet specific residency or age thresholds.
To increase your chances of securing a scholarship:
- Highlight what sets you apart: Emphasize your unique background and how your goals align with the scholarship committee's values.
- Beef up your extracurriculars: Explain what you learned and how you grew from your participation in extracurricular activities.
- Apply to scholarships with more eligibility requirements: These scholarships often have fewer applicants.
- Collect stellar letters of recommendation: Provide your recommenders with an overview of the scholarship committee's values and your relevant experience.
- Wow with your essay: Paint a picture of how the scholarship would contribute to your education, community, and academic discipline.
- Turn your application in as early as possible: This demonstrates initiative and ensures your application is reviewed thoroughly.
- Apply locally and regionally: Local and regional scholarships are often less competitive than national or international ones.
Additional Scholarship Resources
Many organizations support educational advancement for women. Some examples include:
- AAUW (American Association of University Women)
- The WTS Foundation
- The Philanthropic Educational Organization (P.E.O.) Foundation
- The AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics) Foundation
Read also: Reconsidering Doctoral Qualifying Exams
Read also: Requirements for Ed.D. in Leadership
tags: #doctoral #scholarships #for #women #eligibility
