Women in STEM, one of the most valuable fellowships for doctoral research abroad closes on 7 November 2026, and it was built specifically for researchers from low and middle income countries.
The Faculty for the Future Fellowship, run by the Schlumberger Foundation, supports women who are preparing for a PhD or postdoctoral research in a STEM discipline at a well ranked university or research institute abroad. Since the programme began in 2004, hundreds of women from dozens of countries have used it to complete advanced research outside their home countries and then return home to teach, research, build STEM businesses and shape public policy.
What the fellowship pays is the headline. A PhD fellow can receive up to $50,000 per year, and a postdoctoral fellow up to $40,000 per year. Grants are based on actual costs, which can include tuition and bench fees, accommodation, living expenses, travel, visa charges and conference costs, and they can be renewed each year when progress and references support renewal. An exceptional childcare grant may also be available in some cases.
Eligibility is specific, so read it carefully before you apply. You must be a woman and a citizen of an eligible low or middle income country where women are underrepresented in STEM, and you must not hold dual citizenship with a developed country. The official eligible country list includes Liberia, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Kenya, Ethiopia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, Indonesia and the Philippines, among many others. Masters studies are not funded. You must already be enrolled, admitted or have applied to a host university abroad, hold an excellent academic record, show teaching experience, and demonstrate leadership and community outreach, especially work that encourages girls and young women into STEM. For the 2027 cycle the Foundation is particularly interested in Physical Sciences, Engineering, Computer Science and Mathematics.
Applications are accepted only through the Schlumberger Foundation online system, which opened on 1 September 2026 and closes on 7 November 2026. Results are expected in early April 2027. Prepare a clear research plan, strong references, proof of your host university application, and a convincing account of how your research connects to your home country and how you will use it when you return.
Apply through the official page: https://schlumbergerfoundation.com/applications/
If you are a woman in STEM with a PhD place in view, do not let this deadline pass quietly. Follow Isaac Explains for daily scholarship and immigration updates, and visit our Book Consultation page if you want hands on help preparing a strong application.
