Undergraduate and Graduate Awards

AWIS Educational Foundation Graduate and Undergraduate Awards

The AWIS Education Foundation is pleased to be able to offer scholarships to support women working to complete their education in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).

Back to College: Resources for Re-entry Students

This site offers very extensive resources devoted primarily to adult learners, though a number of the resources should also help traditional-age students. Includes a very extensive Financial Aid section.

College Answer

An extensive, searchable database of scholarships and fellowships for students from high school through graduate school. You have to register, but registration is free, as are the searches. You're asked a number of questions that are designed to pinpoint the financial aid opportunities for which you qualify. Sponsored by Sallie Mae.

Gates Millennium Scholars Program

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has made a one-billion-dollar commitment to support the college and graduate education of high-achieving, low-income African American, Hispanic American, Native American/Alaskan Native, and Asian Pacific American students in the disciplines of mathematics, science, engineering, education, and library science, where these groups are severely underrepresented.

Google Anita Borg Scholarships

To honor computer scientist Dr. Anita Borg, the search engine Google is offering $10,000 scholarships for female undergraduate or graduate students in computer science, computer engineering, or a related field during the 2008-09 academic year. See website for further information about eligibility and deadline.

Google Europe Anita Borg Memorial Scholarship

As part of its ongoing commitment to furthering Anita Borg's vision, Google is offering multiple Google Europe Anita Borg Memorial Scholarships. The scholarships, on the undergraduate and graduate level, aim to encourage women to excel in computing and technology, and become active role models and leaders. Women studying Computer Science, Computer Engineering, and closely related fields in a University in Europe are eligible to apply. See website for more details.

Grants for Individuals

The Michigan State University Library has put together this exceptionally valuable listing of scholarships and fellowships. It is arranged by Academic Level (pre-college to post-doctoral), by Population Group (including Disabled, GLBT, Minorities, Non-Traditional, Veterans, and Women), and by Subject (Sciences includes technology).

IEEE Scholarships and Awards

The IEEE offers scholarships, awards, and competitions for both graduate and undergraduate students in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, and related fields.

International Federation of University Women (IFUW) Fellowships and Grants

The IFUW offers international grants for postgraduate study and national awards for all levels of study from elementary and secondary education through postgraduate research, study, and training. These grants are open only to women; for some, you must be a member of IFUW. See website for more details.

Office of Personnel Management's Scholarships for Service: Cyber Corps

The Office of Personnel Management's Cyber Corps program offers up to two years of tuition, room, board, books, and an annual stipend for undergraduates and graduate students at selected colleges and universities who are interested in the "information assurance" field. The awards carry with them an obligation to perform a 10-week internship and to work for a U. S. Federal agency in an information assurance position for a period of up to two years. The awards are open only to U. S. citizens. More information is available at the web site.

Scholarships, Fellowships, & Postdoctoral Awards for Women

Large, well-organized site with a searchable database. In addition to a section for women, there are sections devoted to subject areas such as Computer Sciences & Engineering and sections for specific racial/ethnic groups such as African Americans, Ethnic Groups & Studies, Hispanic Americans, Minorities, Native Americans, as well as a host of other sections.

Scholarships for Women

An extensive listing from UCLA (the awards are not connected with UCLA, however).

Society of Women Engineers Scholarship Program

Annual awards open to women pursuing baccalaureate or graduate degrees in ABET-accredited engineering programs, engineering at SWE-approved schools, or computer science in CSAB-accredited programs, or ABET-accredited or SWE-approved schools. Includes information on awards targetted to reentry women.

U. S. Dept. of Homeland Security: Undergraduate Scholarships and Graduate Fellowships

Up to 100 awards "intended for students interested in pursuing the basic science and technology innovations that can be applied to the DHS mission." Areas of study include: physical, biological, social and behavioral sciences, engineering, mathematics, and computer science.

Undergraduate Scholarships

APS/IBM Research Internship for Undergraduate Women

The American Physical Society and IBM sponsor a summer research internship program to encourage undergraduate women students to pursue graduate studies in science (including computer science) and engineering. The internships carry a salary and include an additional $2500 for use during the school year. Female students with sophomore or junior standing at a US college or university at the time of application are eligible. Minimum 3.0 GPA. No citizenship restrictions.

College Scholarships.org

In addition to a scholarship for female students, College Scholarships.org also offers awards for bloggers and for students studying web design or library & information science, as well as for minority students. See the website for details.

CWIT Scholars Program

A merit scholarship opportunity from the Center for Women and Information Technology for talented undergraduates who wish to major in computer science, computer engineering, information systems, or a related program at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). The four-year awards range from $5,000 per academic year to full tuition, mandatory fees, and other expenses.

FinAid

Billing itself "The SmartStudent^tm Guide to Financial Aid," this site offers information and advice about scholarships, loans, other types of aid, calculating need, recognizing scams, and more. It links to the FastWeb Scholarship Search, for which you have to register (no cost).

FreSch: Free Scholarship Search

Lots of information about sources of financial aid and strategies for obtaining it. Includes a searchable database of scholarships; one search category is gender.

Microsoft Scholarships for Women and Under-Represented Minorities

To encourage students from groups currently under-represented in computer science to pursue technical degrees, Microsoft offers merit-based scholarships. More information is available at the web site.

MUST (Motivating Undergraduates in Science and Technology) Scholarship Program

All U.S. citizens who are pursuing an undergraduate degree in a STEM discipline at a college or university accredited in the United States are eligible for the MUST funding opportunity. Students of all underrepresented groups (Women, African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans and persons with disabilities) are encouraged to apply. Scholarship recipients will receive one year partial tuition (up to half of tuition and fees, not to exceed $10,000) and many other benefits. See web site for details.

National Institutes of Health Undergraduate Scholarship Program

The NIH Undergraduate Scholarship Program offers competitive scholarships to students from disadvantaged backgrounds who are committed to careers in biomedical, behavioral and social science health-related research. Awards will pay up to $20,000 for one year; recipients may reapply for additional years (not to exceed four scholarship years). More information is available at the web site.

The Jeannette Rankin Foundation Women's Education Fund

Scholarships for low-income women 35 years of age or older who, through undergraduate or vocational education, are seeking to better themselves, their families, and their communities.

Soroptimist Women's Opportunity Awards

The Soroptimist International organization offers Women's Opportunity Awards to assist women entering or re-entering the workforce in obtaining the education and skills training they need to improve their employment status. Applicants must be female heads of household who are enrolled in or have been accepted to a vocational/skills training program or an undergraduate degree program. Recipients may use their awards for any expenses related to their educational pursuits, such as tuition, books, housing, child care, and transportation.

The Student Guide

A comprehensive resource on student financial aid available from the U.S. Department of Education. Available in English and Spanish.

Talbots Women's Scholarship Fund

Need-based scholarships (five $10,000 awards and fifty $1,000 awards) for women who earned their high school diploma or GED at least ten years ago and are seeking an undergraduate degree from an accredited two- or four-year college or university or a vocational-technical school. Only students at four-year institutions are eligible for the $10,000 award.

Tau Beta Pi Engineering Scholarships

Tau Beta Pi, the engineering honor society, awards one-year scholarships of $2000 each for students majoring in engineering [including computer engineering] and entering their senior year in college.

Vanguard Women in Technology Scholarship Program

Vanguard has established a scholarship program to aid female students entering their senior year of college who are majoring in computer science, computer engineering, web design, or related technical engineering disciplines. Scholarships are offered each year for full-time study at a select accredited four-year institution of the student's choice.

Graduate and Postdoctoral Fellowships/Grants

AAUW Educational Foundation Fellowships and Grants

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) offers several kinds of fellowships: American Fellowships support women doctoral candidates completing dissertations and scholars seeking funds for postdoctoral research leave; Career Development Grants support women who hold a bachelor's degree and who are preparing to advance their careers, change careers, or re-enter the work force; International Fellowships are awarded for full-time graduate or postgraduate study or research to women who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents; and Selected Professions Fellowships are awarded to women who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents and who intend to pursue a full-time course of study during the fellowship year in designated degree programs (including a masters's degree in Computer/Information Science) where women's participation traditionally has been low.

Ethel Louise Armstrong Foundation

The Ethel Louise Armstrong Foundation offers scholarships to female graduate students with physical disabilities who are enrolled in a college or university in the United States. Scholarships range between $500 and $2,000. Deadline for applying: June 1. See the website for more detailed information.

AT&T Labs Fellowship Program

Fellowships for outstanding women and minority students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents and are pursuing Ph.D. studies in computer and communications-related fields.

Department of Energy Computational Science Graduate Fellowship

Support for up to four years of full-time Ph.D. study that must include work in computer science, mathematics, and a scientific or engineering discipline. Applicants must be either U.S. citizens or permanent resident aliens.

Elsevier New Scholars Program

The Elsevier New Scholars Program offers aid to support the efforts of the academic and research community to address the fundamental challenge of balancing childcare and family responsibilities with the demanding careers in science and technology. The program is focused on doctoral candidates and scientists in the first five years of their post-doctoral careers. Grant proposals are welcome for programs that enable scientists to attend conferences, meetings, workshops and symposia that are critical to the development of a career in science, with a particular emphasis on programs that help with childcare and other family responsibilities when attending scientific gatherings. See website for guidelines and more information.

GEM: Graduate Degrees for Minorities in Engineering and Science

GEM offers graduate fellowships and internships to increase the number of American Indian, African American, Mexican American, Puerto Rican, and other Hispanic Americans pursuing graduate degrees in engineering and natural science disciplines, including computer science. Grants may be renewed for up to four years.

Fannie and John Hertz Foundation Graduate Fellowships

The Hertz Foundation supports graduate students working towards the Ph.D. in applications of the physical sciences ranging from electrical engineering to molecular biomedicine. Among the computer science fields eligible for support are Artificial Intelligence, Hardware/Systems Design, Robotics, and Advanced Computing Structures, as well as Operations Research and Computational Neuroscience. Fellowships may be used only at certain universities. Open to citizens and permanent residents of the United States.

IBM Ph.D. Fellowship Program

An annual, worldwide, competitive fellowship program for outstanding Ph.D. students in business, chemistry, computer science, electrical engineering, materials science, mathematics, mechanical engineering and physics, as well as emerging technical fields such as autonomic computing, nanotechnology, Grid computing, e-business on demand and services management, operations, research, and services science. Awards pay tuition, fees, and a stipend of US $17,500 and may be renewed for up to three years. All IBM fellows are matched with an IBM mentor. Students must be nominated by a faculty member.

L'Oréal Postdoctoral Fellowships for Women in Science/Technology

The competition offers five one-year $20,000 fellowships to women who are postdoctoral fellows in the life and physical sciences; specific fields vary from year to year. See web site for additional details and requirements (one requirement is apparently to FIND the information on this website that apparently favors glitz over content). Go to the website and click on Site Map. The click either on "For Women in Science" at the very top or scroll down to the bottom of the page, where you'll also find a section on Women in Science. L'Oréal also offers awards to women in the United Kingdom and Ireland who have a recent Ph.D. in the sciences. More information about the UK awards is available here.

Myra Sadker Doctoral Dissertation Award

These dissertation awards are designed to promote and support graduate students engaged in educational equity research. Doctoral level dissertations that explore gender bias or promote educational equity and fairness based on gender will receive top priority. Dissertations that investigate gender as it impacts other demographics (race, ethnicity, religion, class, sexual orientation, etc,) will also be considered. Awards are $2,000 for one year only. Deadline for application: December 1.

National Physical Science Consortium Graduate Fellowships

Awards for beginning graduate students--especially women and underrepresented minorities--pursuing a Ph.D. in the physical sciences or a related engineering discipline.

National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships

NSF graduate fellowships offer three years of support for advanced study in the mathematical, physical, biological, engineering, and behavioral and social sciences, including the history of science and the philosophy of science. Intended for students in the early stages of their graduate study.

Sigma Delta Epsilon/Graduate Women in Science (SDE/GWIS) Fellowship Program

Several fellowships for women in a variety of scientific fields. To be eligible, the applicant must be enrolled as a graduate student, or engaged in post-doctoral or early-stage junior faculty academic research, and demonstrate financial need for continuation or completion of their research. The major component of the research can be either applied or basic. Exact Fellowships amounts will be determined by the SDE/GWIS Fellowships Committee and will range from $1000 to $10,000. See website for more details.

Miscellaneous Information

Anita Borg Institute Awards for Women in Technology

The Anita Borg Awards for Social Impact and Technical Leadership were established to recognize outstanding leaders who embrace Anita Borg's lasting vision to change the world for women and for technology. Each of these is a $10,000 award. A third, the Denice Denton Emerging Leader award, carries a $5,000 stipend. See website for more information.

Siyanda Financial Aid Information

Siyanda, an online database of gender and development materials from around the world, has compiled an extensive listing of financial aid sources for women seeking funding for study, research, and/or training. The funding is international in scope and is not just for women in IT--it covers a very broad range of fields and levels--undergraduate, postgraduate, doctoral, and training. Some of the information is now outdated, but some may still be useful.

Systers Pass-It-On Grants Program

The Systers Online Community offers Pass-It-On Grants to honor Anita Borg's desire to create a network of women in technical fields helping one another. Pass-it-on Grants are open to any woman over 18 years old in or aspiring to be in the fields of computing. Grants are open to women in all countries and range from $500.00 to $1000.00. Applications covering a wide variety of needs and projects are encouraged, such as small grants to help with studies, job transfers or other transitions in life; projects that seek to inspire more girls and women to go into the computing field; assistance with educational fees and materials; partial funding source for larger scholarships; mentoring and other supportive groups for women in technology, and more. See the website for more details and an application. Deadline for next scheduled round is March 30, 2008.

Women in Computing Academic Resource List

A list of colleges and universities that have formal and/or informal programs for encouraging/retaining women in computer science. It is sponsored by the ACM Committee on the Status of Women. Unfortunately, the list seems to have been last updated in 1997, but even so it may prove useful.

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