Schlumberger Foundation Faculty for the Future 2026

Who can apply

A woman who is a citizen of a low or middle income country where women are underrepresented in STEM, on the Foundation's published country list; not eligible with dual citizenship of a developed country
Preparing for, or already pursuing, a PhD or postdoctoral research position in a STEM field; the program does not fund Master's-level study
Currently enrolled in, admitted to, or has already applied to a host university or research institute abroad, outside her home country; applications are no longer accepted from candidates who have not yet applied to a university
A proven record of teaching experience in your home country, and a commitment to return to an academic or research position in a STEM faculty, to become a STEM entrepreneur, or to contribute to STEM policy making
Holds an excellent academic record and can demonstrate leadership, active community outreach, and a track record of encouraging girls and women into STEM
Intends to return to her home country or region after her studies, with evidence of an ongoing relationship to home-country institutions; if a grantee obtains developed-country citizenship after the award is made, the grant is discontinued from that date
Schlumberger employees are not eligible to apply
For a sandwich-course arrangement, the final degree must be awarded by the host university abroad, or jointly with it; a degree awarded solely by the home-country university does not qualify

A PhD and postdoc fellowship, women only

This is a PhD and postdoctoral fellowship, not a Master’s scholarship, and it only funds women: the Foundation states plainly that Faculty for the Future does not fund Master’s-level study, and the program is explicitly restricted to female applicants from developing and emerging economies where women are underrepresented in STEM. If you hold dual citizenship that includes a developed country, you are not eligible, even if your primary citizenship qualifies, and if you gain developed-country citizenship after already holding the grant, the grant is discontinued from that date.

You need a foot in the door at a host institution before you apply

You also need to already have a foot in the door at a host institution before you apply: the Foundation no longer accepts applications from candidates who haven’t yet applied to a university or research institute abroad. Being currently enrolled, admitted, or having already submitted an application all count, and re-applicants who missed out before use the same new-applicant form, not a separate one. If your plan is a sandwich course split between home and host country, note that the final degree must come from the host university abroad, or jointly with it, not solely from your home institution.

The money is real but based on actual costs, not a flat stipend

The money is real but not unlimited: up to USD 50,000 a year for PhD study or USD 40,000 for postdoctoral research, based on actual costs rather than a flat stipend, covering tuition, bench fees, accommodation, a living allowance, initial travel, visa costs, and conference expenses. Family costs are explicitly out of scope beyond a capped child care grant, and renewal from one year to the next isn’t automatic; it depends on academic progress and a mandatory reference from your host university supervisor.

Country eligibility is HDI-based, and some fields are especially encouraged

The eligible-country list is built around the UN Human Development Index rather than region: any country with a low HDI where women are underrepresented in STEM qualifies, which is why the list spans dozens of countries across every continent. Within that, the Foundation particularly encourages applications in the fields where women are most underrepresented specifically: Physical Sciences, Engineering, Computer Science, and Mathematics. The Foundation publishes a named country list, headed “2026-2027 eligible countries” even though the call is for 2027-2028, so confirm it again when you apply. When we checked it on 19 October 2026 it included Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe, the Philippines and Indonesia, among others, but not Nigeria, Pakistan or India, so check the list before you spend time on an application. Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, and Sudan are all on the eligible list, so applicants from those countries who are considering a UK host university specifically should separately check the UK government’s current “visa brake” policy before applying, since it has refused Student visa applications made from outside the UK by nationals of those countries since 26 March 2026.

A four-round selection process, and inconsistent published numbers

Selection runs through four rounds, and competition is intense. The Foundation’s own numbers for how many applicants get funded are inconsistent across its FAQ (different answers cite different totals for the same admissions cycle), so treat the individual figures with caution and expect a genuinely selective process either way. If this route is too competitive or doesn’t quite fit, the OWSD PhD Fellowship for Women Scientists runs on a similar women-in-STEM premise, though it is currently paused pending funding.

Schlumberger Foundation Faculty for the Future