ScholarshipsScholarships for women in science in Africa: L'Oréal-UNESCO, WAAW, AWARD, Schlumberger, and what is really open
Programmes reserved for African women scientists, checked on 2 November 2026: level, amount, conditions, dates, those closing this week, those suspended, and general scholarships that officially prioritise women.
Founder · Compatri, the social network for diasporas
Information checked on 2 November 2026.
Scholarships for women in science in Africa exist, but there are fewer than online lists suggest, and they mostly target the doctorate and research. As of 2 November 2026, two calls close this week (AWARD on 6 November, Schlumberger on the 7th), one has just opened (WAAW, at bachelor's level), one is closed until spring (L'Oréal-UNESCO), and a frequently cited programme, OWSD's, has launched no doctoral call since 2025. On top of these come general scholarships that officially prioritise women. This guide ranks them by level, with their real status.
Scholarships reserved for women scientists, in one table
| Programme | For whom | Level | What it provides | Status on 2 November 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WAAW Foundation (in French) | African women students in Africa, under 32 | Science bachelor's, 1st or 2nd year | 500 USD, once | Open since 30 October 2026, closing date not published |
| L'Oréal-UNESCO Sub-Saharan Africa (in French) | Citizens of 49 countries, research carried out there | Doctorate (2nd year at least), postdoc | 10,000 or 15,000 euros, leadership training | 2026 edition closed; the next is not announced |
| Schlumberger Faculty for the Future (in French) | Women from low or middle income countries | Doctorate, postdoc in STEM, abroad | Study grant, amount not stated on the official page | Closes on 7 November 2026 |
| AWARD (in French) | Agricultural researchers from 6 countries | Master's and 7 years' experience | Two years of mentoring and training, no allowance | Closes on 6 November 2026 |
| OWSD, PhD fellowships | Women from science and technology lagging countries | Doctorate | - | No call since 2025 |
What these programmes have in common: they look for women who stay in or return to their region, and who draw other girls into science. Gather evidence of that commitment; it counts as much as grades.
WAAW Foundation: the only bachelor's scholarship on the list
The WAAW Foundation offers a one-time 500 USD scholarship to women students of African origin who live and study in Africa. Published conditions:
- be enrolled in the 1st or 2nd year of a bachelor's (or 3rd year of a five-year course) in a STEM field at an African university;
- pharmacy is accepted, medicine and nursing are not; master's, MBA and doctoral programmes are excluded;
- be under 32, show financial need, an excellent record and community or volunteer involvement;
- provide two reference letters (a professor at your institution, and a supervisor, adviser or mentor) and your student card; a certified transcript is requested at the second stage.
The call opened on 30 October 2026; the official page gives no closing date. Do not wait: prepare your references now with our guide to the scholarship recommendation letter. Our listing also notes the commitment to run one of the foundation's STEM clubs at your university.
L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science, Sub-Saharan Africa
This is a prize, not a study scholarship: it rewards researchers already engaged in their PhD or postdoc, without paying tuition. The 2026 edition awarded 30 doctoral grants of 10,000 euros and 8 postdoctoral grants of 15,000 euros, with training in leadership, management, negotiation and communication.
Conditions of the 2026 edition:
- be a citizen of one of the 49 Sub-Saharan African countries, South Africa included, and carry out research in one of them;
- work in formal, life, environmental or physical sciences, engineering or technology;
- doctoral candidates: be at least in the second year of the PhD, first-year students being excluded;
- postdocs: thesis defended after February 2021, with one extra year per child;
- never have received a national or regional L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science prize.
The 2026 call ran from 11 March to 15 May, with final selection on 1 August. No 2027 edition has been published yet: if the calendar repeats, it would open in spring 2027, which we will show on the listing once confirmed.
Schlumberger Faculty for the Future: doctorate or postdoc abroad
The Schlumberger Foundation funds women from low or middle income countries where women are underrepresented in science, for a doctorate or postdoc in STEM at a university or research institute abroad. What the 2027-2028 call page requires:
- dual citizenship with a developed country disqualifies the candidate;
- no master's: only doctorate and postdoc;
- be enrolled, admitted or applying at a well-ranked host institution; without a university application, the file is not accepted;
- an excellent record, teaching experience in your country and a commitment to return for an academic, research, entrepreneurial or science policy role;
- demonstrated leadership and actions encouraging young people, especially girls, into science.
The call opened on 1 September 2026 and closes on 7 November 2026. If you have not yet applied to a host university, this cycle is out of reach: aim for the next one, which on the usual rhythm opens in September 2027. The official page does not state the grant amount.
AWARD: a leadership programme, not a study scholarship
AWARD (African Women in Agricultural Research and Development) does not fund studies. Its Women in Agriculture Leadership Program trains experienced agricultural researchers for two years, online and in person: mentoring, leadership, technical strengthening. The current cohort, from an Africa-Australia partnership, targets six countries: Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Senegal. You need at least a master's in an agriculture or climate-related field, seven years' experience, and to live in Africa. The second cohort call closes on 6 November 2026 at 23:59, East Africa Time. Applications are accepted in English or French.
OWSD: a suspended programme, not one to count on
The PhD fellowships of the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World appear on many lists. Yet the official page states that there was no call in 2025 because of funding, and that any new information will be posted there. No call is announced as of 2 November 2026. Keep an eye on it, without putting it in your calendar.
General scholarships that officially prioritise women
Several programmes open to all state plainly that they favour women applicants. They often fund more broadly than the reserved programmes.
| Programme | What is officially written | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Mastercard Foundation Scholars (in French) | 71% of scholars are young women, according to the foundation | Secondary, bachelor's, master's |
| Mastercard at Makerere University (in French) | At least 70% women among scholars | Bachelor's, master's |
| Mastercard at African Leadership University (in French) | Priority for young women | Bachelor's |
| DAAD In-Country/In-Region (in French) | Women applicants encouraged | Master's, doctorate in Africa |
| Pan African University (in French) | Higher age limit for women (28 for master's, 30 for doctorate, against 25 and 28) | Master's, doctorate |
| Ibrahim Leadership Fellowships (in French) | Under 45 for women with children, instead of 40 | Professionals |
For DAAD In-Country, several master's and doctoral calls at African universities close on 12 November 2026, according to our listing: one of the few doors still open this month. Other German programmes are covered in our guide to DAAD scholarships and foundations, and the Mastercard Foundation in the Mastercard Foundation Scholars scholarship.
Which scholarship for your level
| Where you are | Programmes to look at first |
|---|---|
| Secondary school pupil or new school-leaver | Mastercard partners at bachelor's level; see scholarships for school-leavers |
| Science bachelor's under way | WAAW Foundation, Mastercard (Makerere, ALU) |
| Master's | DAAD In-Country, Pan African University, Mastercard partners |
| Doctorate | Schlumberger (abroad), L'Oréal-UNESCO (from 2nd year, in Africa), DAAD, Pan African University |
| Established researcher | L'Oréal-UNESCO postdoc, AWARD, Ibrahim Leadership Fellowships |
For an overview of full funding, start with our guide to fully funded scholarships for African students.
What makes the difference in these applications
Programmes reserved for women in science nearly all ask the same question on top of grades: what have you done for others? Schlumberger asks for action supporting girls and women in science, WAAW for community involvement and a STEM club, L'Oréal-UNESCO trains in leadership. Three practical tips:
Finally, beware of "women only" offers that ask for application fees: none of the programmes above does. See our article on scholarship scams.
Missing nothing with Compatri
Each programme cited has its listing in Compatri's scholarship directory (in French), checked against the official site. To be told about a new date, such as the opening of the 2027 L'Oréal-UNESCO edition, subscribe to scholarship alerts (in French): one email a week at most, and a last reminder ten days before a confirmed deadline. Clicking "Candidater" on a listing opens a step-by-step application tracker (in French).
African women scientists living abroad are also volunteer diaspora mentors: a connection request, with a message explaining your project, is enough to start the exchange if they accept.
Compatri awards no scholarships: only the programmes' rules are authoritative.
Official sources
Frequently asked questions
Which scholarships for women in science in Africa are open right now?
As of 2 November 2026: the WAAW Foundation bachelor's scholarship (open since 30 October, closing date not published), Schlumberger Faculty for the Future until 7 November and AWARD until 6 November. L'Oréal-UNESCO Sub-Saharan Africa is closed until the next edition, not yet announced.
How much is the L'Oréal-UNESCO prize for women in science in Africa worth?
In the 2026 Sub-Saharan Africa edition, 10,000 euros for each of the 30 doctoral candidates and 15,000 euros for each of the 8 postdocs, with training in leadership, management, negotiation and communication. You must be at least in the second year of your PhD.
Is there a scholarship for women in a science bachelor's in Africa?
Yes, the WAAW Foundation pays a one-time 500 USD scholarship to African women students under 32, in the 1st or 2nd year of a STEM bachelor's at an African university. For full funding, Mastercard Foundation partners such as Makerere or African Leadership University officially prioritise young women.
Does the Schlumberger Faculty for the Future fellowship fund a master's?
No. It only funds a doctorate or postdoc in STEM, at a university or research institute abroad, for women from low or middle income countries. You must already have applied to the host institution. The 2027-2028 call closes on 7 November 2026.
Do OWSD fellowships for women scientists still exist?
The programme exists, but the official PhD fellowship page states there was no call in 2025 because of funding, and no call is announced there as of 2 November 2026. Watch the page without counting on it this year.