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Scholarships for Women in Tech: A Practical 2026 Guide

Scholarships for Women in Tech: A Practical 2026 Guide

July 1, 2026
5 min read

Studying tech abroad is exciting, but the cost can feel like the biggest hurdle. If you’re a woman planning a degree in computer science, data science, AI, engineering, or a related field, there are real scholarships out there built just for you. Some cover full tuition. Others open doors to mentors and global networks that are just as valuable as the money.

This guide walks you through the main scholarships for women in tech, what they actually offer, and how to apply. We’ve checked each one against official sources, so you know what’s real and what’s changed recently.

๐Ÿ“ˆ Why These Scholarships Matter

Women still make up roughly 26–28% of the global tech workforce, according to Deloitte’s 2026 estimate. That gap is exactly why so many universities, companies, and foundations run scholarships aimed at women.

Beyond covering costs, many of these programmes give you:

  • Mentorship from people already working in tech
  • A community of other women on the same path
  • Recognition that strengthens your CV and future applications

Worth knowing: None of this guarantees a scholarship or admission. But it does mean there are more doors open to you than you might think.

๐ŸŒ Global Scholarships and Programmes

These programmes are open to women worldwide, though eligibility and study destinations vary by scholarship.

Scholarship What It Actually Offers Official Source
Technovation Women Techmakers Formerly Google’s $10,000 scholarship. As of October 2025, it moved to the nonprofit Technovation, which now offers an AI leadership certificate from Oxford’s Saïd Business School and a global mentor network instead of a fixed cash award. technovation.org
Adobe Research Women-in-Technology Scholarship Historically $10,000, a year of Creative Cloud, an Adobe mentor, and an internship interview. Recent cycles suggest it may not run every year — confirm before applying. research.adobe.com
Women at Microsoft Scholarship A one-time $5,000 award for graduating high school seniors studying technology, engineering, computer science, or maths. Open to international students only if enrolling at a US school. microsoft.com
AAUW International Fellowships $20,000 for master’s or first professional degrees, $25,000 for doctoral study. Open to women who are not US citizens or permanent residents. A separate, larger postdoctoral fellowship exists too. aauw.org
AnitaB.org GHC Scholarships The Advancing Inclusion Student Scholarships and Kamala Scholars Program cover registration, travel, and accommodation for the Grace Hopper Celebration (Anaheim, 27–30 Oct 2026) — not tuition. ghc.anitab.org
SLB (Schlumberger) Faculty for the Future Fellowship Up to $50,000/year for PhD study and $40,000/year for postdoctoral study, for women from developing countries in STEM. Has funded 1,000 fellows worldwide as of April 2026. facultyforthefuture.net
Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Scholarships Over 330 scholarships worth almost $1.6 million awarded in 2025 for women in ABET-accredited engineering, technology, and computing programmes. swe.org
L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science A research award, not a study-abroad scholarship. Recognises established and early-career women researchers; the 2026 International Award gave €100,000 to senior laureates. unesco.org

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ Scholarships in India

Scholarship What It Actually Offers Official Source
Reliance Foundation Scholarships Up to โ‚น2 lakh for undergraduates and โ‚น6 lakh for postgraduates, including AI, computer science, and engineering fields. Women are explicitly encouraged to apply. scholarships.reliancefoundation.org
Pragati Scholarship (AICTE) โ‚น50,000 a year for girls in technical diploma and degree programmes, with a family income cap of โ‚น8 lakh. aicte-india.org
Google Girl Hackathon A women-only hackathon for engineering students graduating 2026–2029. Offers interviews, internships, and mentorship rather than a cash scholarship. buildyourfuture.withgoogle.com
Tata Trusts education grants There is no scholarship called the “Tata Trusts Women Engineer Scholarship.” The closest options are the Tata Housing Scholarship for civil engineering/architecture, or Tata Trusts’ broader education grants. tatatrusts.org

๐ŸŒ Scholarships in Africa

Scholarship What It Actually Offers Official Source
AIMS Women in STEM Initiative Full master’s scholarships at the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, with active encouragement for women applicants. aims-network.org
Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Over 58,000 Scholars funded so far, targeting 100,000 by 2030. Covers secondary through master’s study, with strong emphasis on young women. mastercardfdn.org
Obama Foundation Leaders: Africa A leadership development programme, not a funded scholarship and not tech-specific. Useful for leadership experience, but won’t help with tuition costs. obama.org

๐ŸŒŽ Scholarships in Latin America

Google’s scholarship for underrepresented students in computer science, the Generation Google Scholarship, includes a women’s track and a Latin America/Americas region. Award amounts vary by region and are set by Google each cycle, so check the current year’s terms before applying. Source: buildyourfuture.withgoogle.com

A word of caution: Some “LATAM women in tech” scholarships circulating online — including ones sometimes attributed to Microsoft or a joint INCAE/IDB programme — could not be confirmed through official sources. If you find a scholarship you can’t verify on the sponsor’s own website, treat it carefully before investing time in an application.

๐Ÿ’ก How to Strengthen Your Application

Whichever scholarships you go for, a few habits make a real difference:

  • Start early. Give yourself 6–12 months where possible. Strong essays and reference letters take time.
  • Show your work, not just your grades. A project, hackathon, or piece of research tells a scholarship committee more than a transcript alone.
  • Apply to more than one. Most students apply to five or more scholarships rather than relying on a single one.
  • Get the right recommenders. Choose people who can speak to your technical work and growth, not just someone senior who barely knows you.
  • Check the source directly. Deadlines, amounts, and eligibility change every year. Always confirm details on the official page before you apply.

๐Ÿ”„ What If You Don’t Get a Scholarship?

Scholarships are competitive, and not every applicant will get funding. If that happens, you still have options:

  • Education loans for STEM degrees abroad
  • Research assistantships offered by many universities
  • Part-time work, depending on your visa rules
  • University-specific grants and bursaries, often available after you’ve been admitted

๐ŸŽฏ Your Next Step

Scholarships are one part of a bigger plan. Once you know what you might qualify for, it helps to see the full picture: which universities fit your profile, and what your total costs might look like.

Find scholarships you may be eligible for, or use the Qualification Checker to see which universities and programmes could be a good fit for your grades, goals, and budget.

Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. Scholarship details are sourced from publicly available and verified third-party sources, including official websites and scholarship portals, current as of publication. NovaGrad does not guarantee the completeness, accuracy, or continued availability of any scholarship listed here. Deadlines, amounts, and eligibility criteria change often, so always check the official provider’s website before applying. NovaGrad does not fund or decide scholarships — we show you opportunities and link you to the official provider, where you apply directly. NovaGrad also does not guarantee admission, funding, or visa approval; always check official university and government websites for current requirements.

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