Planning to pursue a graduate degree in the United States or Canada but need financial support to make it possible? The P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship offers funding to eligible international women pursuing advanced education at accredited institutions in these countries.
The scholarship is based on demonstrated financial need and awards up to US$12,500 per student. It aims to help women gain an education they can use to make a positive difference in their home countries and contribute to international understanding and peace.
Applications for the 2027-2028 academic year are open. The first step is to submit an eligibility form by 15 December 2026. Applicants who qualify must then complete the full scholarship application within the applicable deadline.
The scholarship does not cover every academic or personal expense, so applicants must demonstrate that they have additional financial resources to meet their estimated costs.
Quick Facts
- Opportunity Type: International Graduate Scholarship
- Host Institution: P.E.O. International, through the International Peace Scholarship Fund
- Location: Accredited colleges and universities in the United States and Canada
- Duration: Depends on the graduate degree programme and the award conditions
- Age Limit: No specific age limit stated in the general eligibility criteria
- Mode: Full-time, in-person graduate study
- Gender: Women
- Admission: You can start by submitting the eligibility form before securing admission, but you need confirmation of admission to your intended graduate programme for the full scholarship application.
- Nomination: You should not assume that you need a university nomination. The process begins with the P.E.O. scholarship eligibility form, followed by an invitation to complete the full application if you qualify.
- Nationality: Women who are citizens of countries other than the United States and Canada, subject to eligibility requirements
- Minimum Degree Required: A bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification appropriate for admission to the intended graduate programme
- Work Experience: No specific minimum professional experience requirement stated
- Application Deadline: 15 December 2026
- Application Fee: No application fee
- Stipend / Salary / Financial Support: Need-based scholarship of up to US$12,500. Smaller awards may be granted according to individual financial needs.
What Is the P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship?
The P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship Fund was established to support international women’s education and encourage graduates to use their knowledge and skills to benefit their home countries.
The programme provides financial assistance to eligible women pursuing graduate degrees at accredited colleges and universities in the United States or Canada. International students attending Cottey College, a women’s college in Missouri, are also eligible under a separate route.
The scholarship is not a general award for every international student. Applicants must meet the programme’s academic, residency, financial and return-home requirements.
What Does the Scholarship Cover?
Successful applicants may receive a scholarship of up to US$12,500. The actual amount depends on the applicant’s demonstrated financial need.
The award is intended to help with education-related expenses, but it is not designed to cover all academic and personal costs.
Applicants must identify additional financial resources sufficient to meet their estimated expenses. These resources may include family or personal funds, tuition waivers, other scholarships, study grants or eligible assistantships.
Important: Do not treat the maximum award as a guaranteed amount or assume that tuition, accommodation, living expenses and travel will all be covered. Applicants must also demonstrate that round-trip or return travel expenses are guaranteed, as required by the scholarship rules. The scholarship award itself cannot be used for travel.
Who Can Apply?
The scholarship is intended for women from outside the United States and Canada who want to pursue advanced degrees in either country.
Applicants generally need to meet the following conditions:
- Be a woman who is not a citizen or permanent resident of the United States or Canada.
- Plan to pursue a graduate degree at an accredited college or university in the United States or Canada.
- Have confirmation of admission to the intended graduate programme before submitting the complete application.
- Have at least one full year of formal coursework remaining for the first scholarship.
- Be enrolled in the intended programme and reside in the United States or Canada for the entire school year.
- Demonstrate financial need and have additional resources available to meet estimated expenses.
- Commit to returning to their home country, or to a location outside the United States and Canada as applicable to their visa status, after completing their degree programme or permitted Optional Practical Training.
Doctoral students who have completed their formal coursework and are working only on their dissertations are not eligible as first-time applicants.
The scholarship does not fund online courses, research, internships or practical training that is not combined with formal coursework.
Can Indian Women Apply?
Yes. Indian women may be eligible if they meet the scholarship requirements and plan to pursue an eligible graduate degree at an accredited institution in the United States or Canada.
Applicants must still meet the financial need, admission, residency and return-home requirements. Indian nationality alone does not guarantee eligibility.
How to Apply for the P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship
The application process begins with an eligibility form. You cannot skip directly to the full scholarship application without establishing eligibility.
Step 1: Review the official eligibility rules
Read the scholarship requirements carefully and confirm that your intended graduate programme and circumstances qualify.
Step 2: Submit the eligibility form
Complete the eligibility form during the official submission period, which runs from 15 September to 15 December 2026 for the 2027-2028 term of study.
Step 3: Wait for eligibility confirmation
Applicants who establish eligibility receive instructions and access to the full scholarship application.
Step 4: Prepare your supporting documents
Prepare the required application materials, including confirmation of graduate admission, academic records where applicable, recommendations and evidence that your return travel expenses are guaranteed.
Step 5: Submit the completed application
Follow the deadline that applies to your enrolment status. The completed application must be submitted by the relevant date in February or March 2027.
Step 6: Await the award decision
Scholarship decisions for the 2027-2028 cycle are expected to be announced in May 2027. Selected students must accept their awards by 1 June 2027.
Important Deadlines for 2027-2028
Keep these dates in mind when planning your application:
- 15 December 2026: Last day to submit the eligibility form.
- 1 February 2027: Deadline for completed applications from students already enrolled in the intended graduate programme and institution.
- 15 March 2027: Deadline for completed applications from students not yet enrolled, including eligible Cottey College applicants.
- May 2027: Scholarship award notifications.
- 1 June 2027: Deadline to accept the scholarship.
Meeting the eligibility-form deadline does not automatically complete the scholarship application. Applicants must follow the subsequent instructions and submit all required materials by the applicable deadline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship fully funded?
No. The scholarship provides up to US$12,500 based on financial need, but it is not intended to cover all academic and personal expenses. Applicants must show that they have additional resources to meet their costs.
Can undergraduate students apply?
The main scholarship route is for women pursuing graduate degrees in the United States or Canada. International students attending Cottey College may qualify through a separate route.
Can I apply without an admission offer?
You can begin by establishing eligibility, but confirmation of admission to the intended graduate programme is required for the full scholarship application.
Do I have to return to my home country after graduation?
Applicants must commit to returning to their home country, or to a location outside the United States and Canada depending on their visa status, after completing their degree programme or permitted Optional Practical Training.
Is there an application fee?
No application fee is specified in the official scholarship guidance. Use the official P.E.O. website to begin the process.
When will the results be announced?
The 2027-2028 application calendar lists May 2027 for scholarship award notifications. Selected students must accept the award by 1 June 2027.
Apply Now
If you are an international woman planning graduate study in the United States or Canada, review the official rules and establish your eligibility before preparing the complete application.
Eligibility Form Deadline: 15 December 2026 | Maximum Award: US$12,500 | Need-Based Scholarship
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