The Optiver Foundation has officially opened applications for two major opportunities empowering women and underrepresented groups in STEM: the FREE STEM Fund and the Optiver Foundation Scholarship in partnership with the University of Oxford. These initiatives aim to close gender gaps in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics by offering fully funded scholarships and grants for grassroots organizations worldwide.
If you are a woman in STEM or part of an organization driving gender equality in the Global South, these programs offer a transformative chance to gain support, resources, and world-class academic or community development opportunities.
The FREE STEM Fund is designed for groups and organizations working to advance gender equity in STEM fields. Applicants must:
Be grassroots organizations, collectives, or groups of minimum 3 people
Be based in the Global South
Submit applications in English, French, Spanish, or Arabic
Have initiatives focused on closing gender gaps in science and technology
Submit a proposal outlining the impact and goals of the project
This scholarship supports women from underrepresented regions pursuing a master’s degree in STEM at Oxford. Applicants must:
Be a woman (including transgender women) from a low- or middle-income country
Apply for a one-year STEM master’s program at the University of Oxford
Not already be enrolled at Oxford or have a deferred offer
Demonstrate academic excellence, financial need, and leadership potential
Eligible programs include:
✔ Statistics
✔ Engineering Science
✔ Computer Science
✔ Physics
✔ Mathematics
✔ Chemistry
…and other related STEM fields.
Visit the official application portal: thefreestemfund.org
Prepare organizational details, project proposal, and anticipated community impact
Submit the application in one of the four accepted languages
Include a clear budget and measurable outcomes for your STEM project
Submit before the application deadline
Apply to an eligible Oxford STEM master’s degree through the Oxford Graduate Application Portal
Indicate scholarship interest when completing the program application
Once admitted, complete the Optiver Foundation Scholarship form assessing financial need and background
Await results — shortlisted candidates are contacted, and final decisions are made by May
Supports grassroots gender-equity STEM projects
Funding amount varies based on project scope, budget, and expected impact
Offers multi-regional support with a focus on sustainability and community empowerment
Full tuition fees
Fully funded living stipend
Mentoring and leadership support
Access to Optiver’s global professional network
Opportunities for continued development beyond the master’s program
This makes it one of the most comprehensive STEM scholarships available for women from low-income countries.
Application Deadline: 15 December
Oxford Graduate Program Application Deadline: Course-specific (typically December–January)
Scholarship Notification: By May
Copyright 2025 Site. All rights reserved powered by Opportunities for Women
Comments are off for this post.