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ScholarshipCloses 15 Jan 2027 · opens 15 Sept 2026Partially funded

Margaret McNamara Education Grants (MMEG)

Margaret McNamara Education Grants (MMEG)

Grants of up to USD 18,000 (US/Canada), 8,000 (South Africa), 9,000 (Latin America/Trinity) or 5,000 (France) for women aged 25+ from eligible developing countries incl. Ghana, already enrolled at universities in those regions and committed to helping women and children.

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Eligibility

Who can apply
Low income, Low middle income, Developing countries
Education required
Secondary completed
Age
from 25 (At least 25 years old at the time of the application deadline)
Open to
Women only
Fields
Any field of study
Language
Finalists must be prepared to be interviewed in English
Residency
Must be registered at an accredited in-person institution in the programme's region: USA/Canada, South Africa (selected universities), Latin America (13 listed universities), Trinity Washington University (USA) or France. Exclusively online programmes are ineligible.
Also required
  • National of a country on the MMEG country eligibility list (Ghana is listed under lower-middle-income economies)
  • Registered (not just accepted or enrolled) at an accredited in-person academic institution at the time of application
  • Plan to be enrolled for at least one full academic semester after the award and to graduate no later than three years after the grant
  • Demonstrated commitment to improving the lives of women and/or children in developing countries and financial need
  • Not related to World Bank Group, IMF or Inter-American Development Bank staff
  • Degree level is not restricted on the official page; grants are for continuing study, not for new admission

About this opportunity

MMEG (founded 1981) awards education grants to women from developing and middle-income countries enrolled at accredited in-person institutions in specific regions who intend to work in, or with, a developing country to improve the lives of women and/or children. Ghana is on the MMEG country eligibility list. Programmes and windows: US-Canada (up to USD 18,000; 15 Sep-15 Jan), South Africa (up to USD 8,000; 15 May-14 Sep), Latin America and Caribbean (up to USD 9,000; 1 Jun-30 Sep), Trinity Washington University (up to USD 9,000; 15 Sep-15 Jan) and France (up to USD 5,000; 15 Oct-15 Jan); deadlines 11:59 pm US Eastern.

Applicants must be self-identifying women aged 25+ at the deadline, registered (not merely accepted) at an accredited in-person institution, with at least one semester remaining and graduation within three years. No application fee; two recommendation letters.

Level
Any level
Where
United States, Canada, South Africa, France, Argentina, Mexico, Peru, Colombia, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Nicaragua
Duration
One-off grant for the coming academic year (grantee must remain enrolled at least one full semester after the award)
Difficulty
Medium · about 4 weeks to prepare

Funding

Partially funded

  • tuition
  • stipend
  • books

Up to USD 18,000 (US-Canada), USD 8,000 (South Africa), USD 9,000 (Latin America & Caribbean), USD 9,000 (Trinity Washington University) and USD 5,000 (France) towards education and living costs. No application or processing fees.

What you will need

  • Passport or national ID
  • Academic transcripts
  • Reference letters (2)
  • Essays
  • Financial documents
  • Other documents

Passport photo/birth-date page (or government/university ID), visa or study-permit page if studying abroad, most recent proof of official university registration (not an acceptance letter), most recent official transcripts and progress report, personal narrative essay, estimate of financial situation for the coming year, thesis summary if applicable, and two recommendation letters (one from a faculty member at the current university; the other from a non-family member; at least one referee must have known you for a year).

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Margaret McNamara Education Grants (MMEG) 2026 — Scholarship, Partially funded | eStudent 360