When can I apply for the WMI Scholars Program?
When can I apply for the WMI Scholars Program?
You can begin your application on December 1, 2025. The application portal will remain open for three months. All applications must be submitted by March 1, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. EST. Late applications will not be accepted.
How do I apply for the WMI Scholarship?
How do I apply for the WMI Scholarship?
Starting December 1, 2025, you can access the online scholarship application portal through our website. There you will find clear instructions on how to create an account and complete your application.
Can I email my application documents to WMI?
Can I email my application documents to WMI?
No. All applications and documents must be submitted through our online scholarship application portal. Please submit your application only once. If you submit duplicate applications, you will be disqualified.
Does my application have to be in English?
Does my application have to be in English?
Yes. All parts of your application must be in English.
If your original documents are not in English:
You must provide a verified translation into English.
You must submit both the original document and the English translation with your application.
Am I required to submit my grades?
Am I required to submit my grades?
Yes. You must submit:
An official transcript from your secondary school, and
Official transcripts from all tertiary (post-secondary) classes you have already completed.
Please make sure that:
Your transcript includes a grading key or explanation (for example, what “A”, “B”, or numerical scores mean).
If there is no grading key, your application will be disqualified.
Do not include grades from primary or junior high school.
Why are two recommendation letters required?
Why are two recommendation letters required?
You must ask two people who know you well (but are not family members or close friends) to write and submit recommendation letters on your behalf.
Their letters should:
Explain why you deserve a WMI scholarship.
Describe your qualities as a student, your potential to complete university, and your commitment to giving back to your community.
Come from people such as a teacher, religious leader, volunteer supervisor, or employer.
Be written on the recommender’s organization letterhead (if available), signed in ink, and dated.
Be no more than one year old.
You will enter your recommenders’ email addresses in the application portal. They will receive an automatic email with instructions and a link to upload their letters directly to the recommendation portal.
Recommendation letters must be submitted by March 1, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. EST. Please make sure you provide correct email addresses and follow up with your recommenders. Your application will not be complete until both letters are received.
What happens if I don’t submit all the required documents?
What happens if I don’t submit all the required documents?
Our online system will allow you to submit your application, but it cannot tell if you have uploaded the correct documents.
If you:
Upload the same document twice, or
Fail to upload all required documents,
The system may mark your application as “complete,” but during review you will be disqualified. It is your responsibility to carefully check each required document before submitting.
For what fields of study do you provide scholarships?
For what fields of study do you provide scholarships?
All fields of study are eligible. We support a wide range of academic disciplines at the bachelor’s or equivalent level.
What if I study in the UK, US, Europe, Canada, or Australia but promise to return to my country after I graduate?
What if I study in the UK, US, Europe, Canada, or Australia but promise to return to my country after I graduate?
You are not eligible for the WMI Scholarship if you plan to study at a college, polytechnic, or university in high-income countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, or countries in Western Europe.
Education in these countries is usually too expensive for our scholarship amounts to be effective. WMI scholarships are designed to cover most educational costs in developing nations, which allows us to:
Use our resources more wisely, and
Support bright students who will remain in or return to their communities to create impact.
Do I need to be accepted to a school before I apply for the scholarship?
Do I need to be accepted to a school before I apply for the scholarship?
No. You may apply before receiving your official acceptance letter. However, you will not receive scholarship funding until you are accepted into an accredited program.
If you receive your acceptance letter after you submit your application, do not email it to WMI unless we contact you and ask for it directly.
Will the scholarship cover all my expenses?
Will the scholarship cover all my expenses?
No. The WMI Scholarship is not a full scholarship.
Our scholarships range from $300 USD to $3,000 USD per year.
Only a small number of scholars receive the maximum amount.
If your total annual education costs are more than $3,000 USD and you have no other way to cover the difference, the WMI Scholarship will not be enough for you. Please do not inflate your expenses. If it appears our support will not realistically meet your needs, your application may not be competitive.
If I receive a WMI scholarship, is it guaranteed for the full length of my degree program?
If I receive a WMI scholarship, is it guaranteed for the full length of my degree program?
In most cases, yes, as long as you continue to meet all WMI requirements each year.
You must:
Maintain above-average grades.
Complete at least 100 hours of community service per year.
Submit all required reports on time.
These reports include:
An academic report (semester grades, current school ledger, current academic calendar).
A scholar expense tracker that shows how scholarship funds were spent, plus receipts.
A community service report describing your activities, with photos attached.
Continued funding is always conditional on good performance and timely reporting.
How will I know if you received my application?
How will I know if you received my application?
After you submit your application through the portal, you will automatically receive a confirmation email. This email confirms that WMI has received your application.
Will my application be reviewed?
Will my application be reviewed?
Yes. Each completed application is carefully read and scored by our review team.
Our process has several stages:
In each stage, the highest-scoring applications move forward.
In the final stage, we also aim to maintain gender balance and include a variety of fields of study and countries among our selected scholars.
What are my chances of securing a WMI Scholarship?
What are my chances of securing a WMI Scholarship?
The WMI Scholarship is highly competitive.
For example, in a recent year, we received over 1,600 complete applications and accepted 104 new WMI Scholars, an acceptance rate of about 6%.
To give yourself the best chance:
Make sure your application is complete,
Follow all instructions carefully, and
Submit before the deadline.
When is the deadline to apply, and when are awardees announced?
When is the deadline to apply, and when are awardees announced?
There is one application deadline each year:
March 1 at 11:59 p.m. EST (for the 2026 cycle: March 1, 2026).
We review all completed applications and then:
Email new scholarship recipients by August 1, and
Post the list of new WMI Scholars on our website and Facebook page on August 1.
Applicants who do not receive a scholarship will also receive an email. If you do not see an email from WMI around August 1, please check the list of new scholars on our website.