The Working to Advance STEM Education for African Women (WAAW) Foundation is thrilled to announce its 2024/2025 undergraduate scholarship, designed to support and encourage African women to pursue degrees in STEM fields.

WAAW Foundation, a leading non-profit organization, is committed to addressing the underrepresentation of African women in STEM. Through financial aid, mentorship, and other resources, WAAW Foundation empowers African women to excel academically and contribute to solving some of the continent’s most pressing challenges through innovation and technology.

The WAAW Foundation undergraduate scholarship provides financial support to African women pursuing STEM degrees, ensuring that financial constraints do not hinder their academic and career aspirations. Beyond financial aid, scholarship recipients are granted access to a powerful network of mentors, peers, and industry professionals to further equip them for success in STEM.

This scholarship is designed to address the multifaceted challenges African women encounter in pursuing STEM degrees, such as financial constraints, limited access to mentorship, and societal expectations. By providing financial aid, mentorship, a supportive community, and other opportunities, WAAW Foundation is building female leaders in STEM, who will address the continent’s most pressing challenges through innovation and technology.

Moreover, this initiative aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 4 (Quality Education) and Goal 5 (Gender Equality), emphasizing the critical importance of education for all and the need to eliminate gender disparities in education and workforce participation.

See 2023/2024 scholarship recipients.

Scholarship Details

Eligibility:

To be eligible for the WAAW Foundation scholarship, applicants must:

  • Be female students of African origin living in Africa.
  • Have gained admission to a university or college program in a STEM or STEM-related field.
  • Be in their second year (for a four-year course) or third year (for a five-year course).
  • Demonstrate excellent academic record and financial need. Special consideration is given to underprivileged students, such as orphans or girls impacted by HIV.

Eligible Courses Include:

  • Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)-related courses
  • All fields of Engineering
  • Computer Science
  • Science & Math-related fields such as Industrial Chemistry, Environmental Sciences, Agriculture, Geography, Zoology, and Statistics
  • Medical-related courses: Pharmacy, BioMedical, Biochemistry (Note: Core medical courses like Medicine and Surgery, Nursing, Optometry, etc., are not eligible)

Ineligible Courses Include:

  • Core medical courses like Medicine and Surgery, Nursing
  • Other courses like Mass Communication, Social Sciences, Accounting, Business Administration, Economics

Please note: WAAW does not fund diploma, polytechnic, and graduate (masters, MBA, or PhD) programs, second or subsequent degrees, students older than 32 years, or non-STEM-focused courses.

Benefits:

Scholarship recipients receive an award of $500 equivalent in their country’s local currency for the 2025 academic year. Scholars also gain access to a mentorship program to guide and support their academic and professional journey and have the opportunity to connect with like-minded peers, professionals, and industry leaders.

Application Process:

Applications for the 2025 scholarship opened on 16th September and will close on 30th November. Scholarship applications are reviewed by the WAAW Foundation Scholarship Committee, and awards will be announced by next year.

The selection process is highly competitive, ensuring that only the most committed and driven candidates are awarded the scholarship. Each application is thoroughly reviewed, from the written essays that reflect on candidates’ career goals to the final interview where their vision and passion for STEM are evaluated.

How to Apply:

Stage 1: Fill out the online application form.

  • Applications submitted outside of this window will not be considered.
  • You will be required to write essays on your future career goals and how you expect the WAAW scholarship will assist in fulfilling those goals.
  • We also require two letters of recommendation if shortlisted for the scholarship.
  • Only shortlisted candidates will be required to mail current university transcripts directly to WAAW Foundation by January 2025.

Stage 2: If you are shortlisted:

  • You will be invited for a Zoom Interview.
  • You are required to submit 2 reference letters from your Head of Department and Lecturer academic mentors.
  • You are required to submit recent academic transcripts.

Stage 3: If successful at the interview:

  • You will be awarded the scholarship, contingent on submitting relevant documentation.

Note:

To increase your chances of being selected, all applicants are strongly encouraged to follow us on our social media platforms: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

At WAAW Foundation, we are committed to seeing young African women excel and achieve their dreams. If you are a young African woman, we encourage you to apply for the WAAW Foundation scholarship, and together, we can build a bright future for Africa inspired by women in STEM.

Partnerships and Sponsorships:

We are open to partners who share our vision of advancing STEM education for African women. Whether through financial sponsorship, mentorship programs, or internship opportunities, please email inquiries@waawfoundation.org for partnership and sponsorship opportunities.