Key Facts
- Status
- Check Provider for Dates
- Provider
- Field of Study
- Study Level
Eligibility Requirements
- Female student of African origin, studying at an African institution
- Enrolled in the 1st, 2nd or 3rd year of a Bachelor's degree in a STEM field
- Under 32 years of age
- Demonstrated financial need
- Track record of leadership and/or community service
- Not studying Medicine or Nursing (Pharmacy is permitted)
Documents Needed
- Two reference letters (one from a professor, one from an academic advisor or mentor)
- Scanned copy of student/school ID card
- Current, signed and sealed university transcript
- Essays on career goals, views on female education in Africa, and financial circumstances
About Waaw Foundation Scholarship
The WAAW Foundation Scholarship is run by WAAW Foundation, a Nigeria-headquartered nonprofit dedicated to advancing STEM education for African women. It is not connected to HCI Foundation, the unrelated South African trust that funds a separate, similarly-named bursary — this scholarship is specifically for female African students studying Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics.
The award is a one-time $500 grant, paid in two instalments and tied to community outreach rather than to academic results alone. It exists because, in WAAW's words, many capable young African women "dream of pursuing careers in STEM but financial barriers stand in their way," and building a visible pipeline of funded women is part of how the foundation tries to close the continent's STEM gender gap.
Funding Details
The scholarship pays a one-time $500 grant toward tuition, split into two instalments of $250. WAAW Foundation does not fund postgraduate study, second degrees, or Medicine and Nursing programmes under this award.
Where You Can Study
No fixed institution list is published. Any recognised African tertiary institution qualifies, provided the applicant's course is genuinely STEM-related and she meets the other eligibility criteria.
About WAAW Foundation
WAAW Foundation — Working to Advance STEM Education for African Women — is an international nonprofit founded in 2007 and headquartered in Abuja, Nigeria, with additional registration in the United States, Rwanda and…
View full provider profile →- Address
- Abuja, Nigeria
- Phone
- +234 909 677 4358
- inquiries@waawfoundation.org
Fields of Study & Who Can Apply
Only female students of African origin, studying in Africa, may apply. Applicants must be enrolled in the first, second or third year of a Bachelor's degree (for five-year programmes) in a STEM field, be under 32 years old, and show both financial need and a track record of leadership or community service. Medicine and Nursing students are excluded, though Pharmacy students may apply.
Application Procedure
Apply directly with the provider using the official application link below, before the closing date.
Questions about this application?
Contact WAAW Foundation directly:
Last verified:
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this the same as the HCI Foundation Bursary?
No. WAAW Foundation and HCI Foundation are two completely separate organisations that happen to both include "Foundation" in their name. WAAW is a Nigeria-based nonprofit focused on African women in STEM; HCI Foundation is the trust of a South African investment holding company.
Is there a work-back obligation?
Not in the conventional employment sense. Recipients must instead complete a minimum number of STEM community outreach activities and start or join a WAAW STEM Chapter at their institution to receive the full award.
When can I apply?
Applications open and close on a recurring annual cycle; at the time of writing the current round is closed, with the next one expected to reopen around November 2026. Check the official scholarship page for the exact opening date.
