If you are a woman from an eligible developing or emerging economy planning to pursue a PhD or postdoctoral research in STEM, the Faculty for the Future Fellowship 2027 is a funding opportunity worth investigating carefully. Established by the Schlumberger Foundation, the program supports women pursuing advanced STEM research abroad while encouraging them to use their expertise to strengthen scientific capacity in their home countries and regions.
The 2027–2028 application cycle opens on September 1, 2026, and new applications must be submitted by November 6, 2026. Before focusing on the deadline, however, you should first determine whether the fellowship fits your country, academic stage, research plans, and long-term career direction.
Faculty for the Future Fellowship 2027 at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Program | Faculty for the Future |
| Provider | Schlumberger Foundation |
| Funding level | PhD and postdoctoral research |
| Target applicants | Women from eligible developing and emerging economies |
| Study area | STEM and related fields |
| Study location | University or research institute abroad |
| 2027 application opens | September 1, 2026 |
| Application deadline | November 6, 2026 |
| Results | Expected in early April 2027 |
| Application method | Online |
For the 2027 cycle, the Foundation is particularly seeking applications in Physical Sciences, Engineering, Computer Science and Mathematics.
What Is the Faculty for the Future Fellowship?
Faculty for the Future is the Schlumberger Foundation’s program for supporting women in STEM. Established in 2004, it supports women from developing and emerging economies pursuing PhD degrees or postdoctoral research at institutions abroad. In April 2026, the Foundation announced that the program had reached 1,000 fellows worldwide.
The fellowship is not simply intended to finance another academic qualification. The Foundation’s stated purpose is connected to strengthening STEM teaching, research and scientific capacity, particularly in places where women remain underrepresented in these fields.
That distinction matters when assessing your fit. The question is not simply, “Can I succeed in a PhD?” It is also, “What will this advanced training enable me to contribute to my home country or region?”
What Does the Faculty for the Future Fellowship Fund?
Faculty for the Future provides grants for PhD and postdoctoral research in STEM; Master’s-level studies are not eligible. The Foundation says grants can reach up to US$50,000 per year for PhD programs and US$40,000 per year for postdoctoral research. The actual grant is based on eligible expenses and the program’s funding rules rather than automatically giving every recipient the maximum amount.
Eligible expenses can include tuition and bench fees, accommodation, living expenses, medical insurance, childcare, transport, initial travel, visa charges and conference expenses. An exceptional childcare grant may also be available under specified conditions.
The initial grant duration is one academic year, and renewal is not automatic. Renewal depends on factors including academic progress, the quality of references and the Foundation’s renewal process.
For this reason, applicants should examine the actual grant conditions rather than assume that the phrase “fully funded” means every possible expense is automatically covered.
Who Is Eligible for the Faculty for the Future Fellowship?
The fellowship has specific eligibility requirements. Being a woman who wants to study STEM abroad is not enough.
You must be a woman from an eligible country
Applicants must be women who are citizens of eligible developing countries or emerging economies where women are underrepresented in STEM. The Foundation states that applicants who hold secondary citizenship from a developed country are not eligible.
You must pursue a PhD or postdoctoral research
The program funds PhD and postdoctoral research in STEM. It does not fund Master’s programs. Applicants who have already started their PhD or postdoctoral research may still apply if they meet the other requirements.
You must have a host institution abroad
Applicants must have applied to, been admitted to, or be currently enrolled in a university or research institute abroad for the program they want the fellowship to fund. The Foundation no longer accepts applications from candidates who have not yet applied to a university. Certain sandwich PhD arrangements may qualify, provided the foreign host university awards the final degree.
Applicants must find their host university and prospective host supervisor themselves. The Foundation does not maintain an accredited list of host universities, but reviewers consider the quality of the institution during selection.
What this means for applicants: Do not treat your university and research placement as paperwork to complete after making every other decision. Your research project, host institution and supervisor should form a logical fit.
You need an excellent academic record
The Foundation explicitly requires an excellent academic record. However, academic performance represents only one part of the selection process. Reviewers also consider references, research quality and relevance, the host university, commitment to teaching, commitment to returning home and potential STEM impact.
Teaching experience and a credible plan to contribute at home matter
The Foundation’s eligibility criteria require applicants to have a proven record of teaching experience in their home country and demonstrate their commitment to returning home to contribute through an academic or research position, STEM entrepreneurship, or public-sector STEM policymaking.
A guaranteed faculty position is not required. Instead, the Foundation examines evidence of commitment to returning home and the strength of the applicant’s relationships with relevant home-country institutions.
Leadership and STEM engagement are also important
Applicants must demonstrate leadership skills, active community outreach and a track record of encouraging girls and women to pursue STEM.
These requirements show that the program looks beyond technical ability. It seeks applicants whose advanced training can contribute to wider STEM development.
Which Countries Are Eligible for Faculty for the Future 2027?
Check your country eligibility before investing significant time in an application.
The Foundation does not simply use a generic definition of a “developing country.” Instead, it evaluates eligible countries using indicators related to development, gender and education, including data from the United Nations and UNESCO. The Foundation reviews its country list annually, so eligibility can change between application cycles.
The Foundation currently publishes a country list labelled 2025–2026. Because that list does not yet represent the definitive 2027 cycle, applicants should verify their country against the Foundation’s official 2027 application information when the new application system opens.
In other words, do not assume that another organization’s classification of your country automatically makes you eligible.
Which Fields of Study Qualify?
The Faculty for the Future program supports PhD and postdoctoral research in STEM and related fields, including cross-disciplinary studies involving major STEM fields. The Foundation limits awards in the biological sciences. For the 2027 cycle, it particularly seeks applications in Physical Sciences, Engineering, Computer Science and Mathematics.
Do not reshape your research simply to make it appear to fit one of the highlighted fields. Instead, determine whether your research genuinely falls within the program’s scope, then explain its scientific relevance clearly.
Faculty for the Future PhD vs Postdoctoral Fellowship
| PhD | Postdoctoral | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Doctoral research and advanced training | Further research after a PhD |
| Maximum annual grant | Up to US$50,000 | Up to US$40,000 |
| Master’s funding | Not eligible | Not applicable |
| Host institution | University or research institute abroad | University or research institute abroad |
The important point is that Faculty for the Future is not a general postgraduate scholarship. If your immediate goal is a Master’s degree, this is not the appropriate program. If you are preparing for or already pursuing qualifying PhD or postdoctoral research, it may be relevant.
How to Apply for the Faculty for the Future Fellowship 2027
The 2027–2028 application system opens on September 1, 2026, and new applications will be accepted until November 6, 2026. Results are expected in early April 2027. Applications are submitted online.
Before the application opens, focus on three priorities.
1. Confirm your eligibility
Check your country, academic level, STEM discipline, host-institution status and the other requirements before beginning the application. The Foundation explicitly advises applicants to make sure they meet the eligibility criteria and deadline.
2. Secure the right academic placement
Because applicants are responsible for finding their host university and prospective supervisor, your academic placement should be part of your preparation. The Foundation also considers the quality of the host university during selection.
If you are still comparing institutions, our guide on how to choose the right university abroad can help you evaluate universities beyond reputation alone
3. Make the application an integrated whole
The Foundation advises applicants to ensure that all parts of the application form an integrated whole and provide a focused but well-rounded picture of their candidature.
A useful way to approach this is:
Your academic record → your research → your host institution → your career direction → your contribution at home.
This is a Studyfunded framework for thinking about your application, not a formal Foundation formula. The goal is to make the connection between these elements easy for a reviewer to understand.
What Does the Faculty for the Future Selection Committee Look For?
Meeting the eligibility requirements does not guarantee funding. The Foundation describes the competition as highly competitive and evaluates applications through multiple stages.
If you are preparing applications for several competitive scholarships, our guide to how to increase your chances of winning a scholarship covers the broader strategies that can strengthen your overall scholarship profile.
Published selection criteria include academic performance, quality of references, quality of the host university, research interest and relevance, commitment to returning home, commitment to teaching, and commitment to inspiring girls and women into STEM.
The process moves from eligibility screening to shortlist assessment, scientific review, interviews and final selection by the Foundation’s Board.
This gives applicants an important insight: the committee is evaluating a future STEM contributor, not simply a student seeking financial assistance.
Your research therefore needs a clear reason for existing. The Foundation specifically considers the scientific interest of the research proposal and its relevance to the applicant’s home country.
Likewise, your return plan should be more than a sentence saying, “I will return home and help my country.” The Foundation looks for evidence of relationships with home-country universities or other institutions and increasingly concrete steps toward returning as graduation approaches.
How to Strengthen Your Faculty for the Future Application
A strong application should not read like several unrelated answers placed into one form. Every major part should reinforce the same professional direction.
Start with the problem you want your expertise to help address. Then explain how the proposed PhD or postdoctoral research will give you the expertise needed to address it, why your chosen host institution is appropriate, and how you intend to use that expertise after returning home.
For example, saying that your research will “help STEM development in my country” is too broad. A stronger case connects the research to a specific challenge, explains the expertise you need to develop, and identifies a realistic route through which you could apply that expertise through research, teaching, entrepreneurship or policy.
The Foundation itself advises applicants to make their application an integrated whole.
Your Personal Essay and Research Proposal also deserve serious attention. The Foundation identifies poor-quality or incomplete applications, particularly weak Personal Essay and Research Proposal Statements, among common reasons applications are unsuccessful.
If you need help developing a stronger personal statement, see our guide to how to write a scholarship personal statement. You can also learn more about securing effective academic references in our guide to a scholarship recommendation letter.
The objective is not to make every sentence sound impressive. It is to make the reviewer understand, without having to guess, what makes you a strong candidate, why your research matters, why your chosen institution is appropriate, and how the investment will create value when you return home.
Common Faculty for the Future Application Mistakes to Avoid
Avoid these common weaknesses:
- Applying without confirming your eligibility, especially country eligibility.
- Treating the Personal Essay or Research Proposal as formalities.
- Making vague claims about future impact without evidence or a realistic plan.
- Choosing the host university or research project casually.
- Waiting until the deadline to prepare supporting materials.
- Assuming academic grades alone are enough to make a competitive application.
For a broader discussion of errors that can weaken scholarship applications, see our guide to common scholarship application mistakes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Faculty for the Future fund Master’s degrees?
No. The program funds PhD and postdoctoral research in STEM, not Master’s-level studies.
Can I apply if I have already started my PhD or postdoctoral research?
Yes. Applicants who have already commenced qualifying PhD or postdoctoral research abroad may apply if they satisfy the other eligibility requirements.
Is there an age limit?
The Foundation allows women of any age to apply. However, selection may take into account how many teaching years an applicant has remaining after completing her PhD or postdoctoral research.
Do I have to return to my home country?
The Foundation closely examines your commitment to returning home and contributing to your home country or region. You do not need to provide proof of a faculty position that already awaits you. However, the Foundation considers evidence of your relationships with institutions in your home country and the credibility of your plans to return.
Is the Faculty for the Future Fellowship fully funded?
It is more accurate to view Faculty for the Future as a grant-based PhD and postdoctoral funding program. The Foundation can award up to US$50,000 per year for PhD programs and US$40,000 for postdoctoral research, while the actual grant and eligible expenses depend on the Foundation’s funding rules.
Can I apply if I am already living outside my home country?
Yes. A citizen of an eligible developing or emerging country can apply while living in a developed country for study, provided she meets the other eligibility requirements. However, the Foundation does not accept applicants who hold dual citizenship that includes a developed country.
Faculty for the Future Fellowship 2027: Application Deadline and Official Portal
The 2027–2028 Faculty for the Future Fellowship application period runs from September 1, 2026, to November 6, 2026, with notification of results expected in early April 2027.
Before submitting an application, verify your country and academic eligibility against the current official requirements. Then make sure your research, host institution, career direction and plans for contributing at home form a coherent case.
When the application period opens on September 1, 2026, eligible applicants can register and submit their applications through the official Faculty for the Future Application Web Site.
Key Takeaways
The Faculty for the Future Fellowship provides specialized funding for women from eligible developing and emerging economies who pursue PhD or postdoctoral research in STEM. For the 2027–2028 cycle, applications open September 1, 2026, and close November 6, 2026.
Meeting the eligibility requirements is only the starting point. A competitive application should connect your academic record, research, host institution, teaching and leadership experience, career direction, and commitment to contributing to your home country.
So rather than asking only, “How can I get this fellowship?”, focus on building a clear case around four things: why your research matters, how your preparation qualifies you to pursue it, why your chosen institution fits your goals, and how you will use the expertise you gain to create value when you return home.