Mpower Women In Stem Scholarship 2026 | Study in United States — MPOWER Financing
Women remain underrepresented across STEM degree programs worldwide, and that gap is often sharper for international students who are also navigating financing a degree abroad without local credit history. MPOWER Financing’s Women in STEM Scholarship is built specifically to close both gaps at once, awarding funding to international and DACA women heading into science, technology, engineering, math, medicine, or education.
About the Scholarship
This is a sister program to MPOWER’s broader Global Citizen Scholarship, but narrowed specifically to female international and DACA students at MPOWER’s partner schools who are pursuing STEM, medical, or education-related degrees. It’s a cash award rather than a loan, decided through a written application rather than an interview. This sits alongside MPOWER’s broader MPOWER Global Citizen Scholarship, open to all international and DACA students regardless of field or gender, as well as other women-focused options like the Margaret McNamara US-Canada Program.
Scholarship Benefits
- A cash award of up to $5,000
- No requirement to take out an MPOWER loan to qualify
- Open regardless of your current year of study, as long as you’re enrolled in or admitted to an eligible degree
Eligibility Criteria
- You must identify as female
- You must be an international student (F-1/J-1 visa) or a DACA recipient
- You must be attending, or have been admitted to, a U.S. or Canadian school on MPOWER’s supported list
- You must be pursuing a degree in a STEM field, medicine, or education
Fields of Study Covered
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) broadly, along with medical fields and education degrees. The scholarship does not fund fields entirely outside these categories.
Required Documents
- Completed online application form
- A written essay responding to MPOWER’s current prompt
- Proof of enrollment or admission in an eligible STEM, medical, or education programme
- Confirmation of visa status or DACA status
How to Apply (Step-by-Step)
- Confirm your school is on MPOWER’s supported school list
- Register on MPOWER’s scholarship application platform
- Complete your profile with academic and visa/DACA details
- Write and submit your application essay
- Submit everything before December 31
Selection Process
Applications are judged primarily on the strength and authenticity of the written essay, together with the applicant’s clear connection to a STEM, medical, or education career path. There’s no interview round.
Tips to Improve Your Chances
- Use your essay to explain specifically why you’re drawn to your chosen STEM field, not just that you are
- Mention any hands-on project, research, or leadership experience in your field, even informal ones
- Apply well before the deadline to avoid technical issues at the last minute
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this scholarship only for engineering students?
No, it covers the full range of STEM fields plus medicine and education, not engineering alone.
Can transgender or non-binary applicants apply?
MPOWER’s published eligibility criteria specify female applicants; check MPOWER’s current application guidance directly for the most precise definition used in a given cycle.
Do I need an MPOWER loan to be eligible?
No, taking a loan from MPOWER is not a requirement to apply for or win this scholarship.
Can graduate students apply, or is it undergraduate-only?
Both undergraduate and graduate students in an eligible field at a supported school can apply.
What if my school supports MPOWER loans but isn’t on the scholarship’s school list?
You would need to confirm your specific school is listed for this scholarship, since loan eligibility and scholarship eligibility are tracked separately.