Graduate Women International (GWI) - GWI International Fellowships & Grants

GWI International Fellowships & Grants

You get a one-off award of about EUR 1,000 to EUR 6,400 for doctoral (PhD) research or specialised training abroad. The exact amount depends on which award the committee assigns you. The Rose Sidgwick Fellowship pays 5,000 Swiss francs (about EUR 5,300), the UK-based Crosby Hall Fellowship pays GBP 6,000 (about EUR 6,900), and smaller recognition grants pay around EUR 1,000. Fellowships fund 8 to 12 months of work; grants fund at least 2 months. The money comes from Graduate Women International (GWI), a Geneva-based NGO that supports women in higher education worldwide. The award is not renewable, and it does not cover conference travel or family costs.

Who can apply

• Women only: The awards are open to women only.
• Degree level: You are enrolled in a PhD programme.
• Study phase: You have finished at least your first PhD year by the application deadline. First-year students and those just starting their research cannot apply.
• You go abroad: You use the award in a country other than the one where you were educated and the one where you normally live.
• Field of study: Any subject, as long as your research connects to GWI's aim of advancing education for women and girls.
• Admission secured: You are already accepted at the place where you plan to study or research before you apply.
• Nationality: All nationalities can apply.
• Fee: GWI members apply free. Non-members pay CHF 100, or CHF 50 for women from lower-income countries.

How to apply

You fill in one online form for all the awards, and the committee decides which one fits you. Applications run on a three-year cycle: the 2025 round has closed, and the next window opens in October 2027. The GWI Fellowships Committee reviews your written application. There is no interview.

How realistic are your chances?

The field is small but very selective. In 2025, 80 women from 32 countries applied and only 6 were funded. The eligibility is narrow (a woman past her first PhD year, going abroad, with a research plan tied to GWI's mission), so a well-matched applicant with a strong, feasible plan competes in a limited pool. Prepare early, since the competition runs only once every three years.