The L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science programme (often referred to as UNESCO-L’Oréal Fellowships or similar) is a long-running global initiative, launched in 1998, that promotes and supports women in science. It addresses the underrepresentation of women in research (around 33% of researchers worldwide are women) by recognizing excellence and providing funding, visibility, networking, and career support.

It operates at multiple levels:

1. International Awards

  • Awards five outstanding women scientists each year one from each region: Africa and the Arab States, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and North America.
  • Alternates focus annually between Life Sciences / Environmental Sciences (even years) and Physical Sciences, Mathematics, and Computer Science (odd years).
  • Each laureate receives €100,000.
  • Nominations (not open self-applications) are typically handled by eminent scientists via the official platform. For the 2027 edition (Physical Sciences, Mathematics, and Computer Science), the nominations deadline is 30 June, with final selection in December 2026.
  • Since inception, more than 140 laureates have been recognized; several later won Nobel Prizes.

2. National and Regional Young Talents / Fellowships Programmes

These form the core “fellowships” or scholarships component and are the most common entry point for early-career researchers. Around 50 national/regional programmes operate across more than 140 countries, supporting doctoral and postdoctoral women scientists (roughly 250+ awards per year globally). Amounts, exact eligibility, and deadlines vary by country/region but typically include:

  • Funding for research (examples: €15,000–€20,000 in many European programmes; $75,000 in the US programme; local-currency equivalents elsewhere).
  • Access to networking, training, mentoring, and the global For Women in Science community.
  • Focus on life/physical sciences, engineering, technology, mathematics, computer science, and related STEM fields (social sciences and pure education research are usually excluded).

Examples of current/recent opportunities (deadlines and details change yearly always check the official site):

  • US Programme (with AAAS): Five postdoctoral awards of $75,000 each. Eligibility generally requires a conferred PhD, postdoc status (started by a specified date), US citizenship/permanent residency, US-based affiliation, and commitment to outreach supporting women/girls in STEM. Recent cycle deadline around February 2027.⁠Aaas
  • Australia & New Zealand: Fellowships (typically ~$25,000 AUD) for early-career researchers (usually ≤5 years post-PhD), plus a separate PhD mentoring scheme.
  • France and other national programmes: Mix of doctoral (€15,000) and postdoctoral (€20,000) grants; dozens awarded annually in some countries.
  • Other regions (Mexico, Caribbean, Levant, Canada, Netherlands, etc.): Local-currency fellowships or awards for postdocs or early-career researchers, with age/career-stage limits (often under 40 or within 5–10 years of PhD) and requirements to be working in the relevant country/region.

Level(s) /Field(s) of Study:

  • Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Biophysics
  • Genetics
  • Physiology
  • Neurosciences
  • Biotechnologies
  • Ecology
  • Ethology
  • Physics
  • Chemistry
  • Petroleum Engineering
  • Mathematics
  • Engineering Sciences
  • Earth and Universe Sciences
  • Information Sciences

How to Apply or Get Involved

  • Main platform: forwomeninscience.com:  use the interactive map or challenges section to find your country’s/region’s current call, eligibility rules, and application portal.
  • UNESCO pages: unesco.org/en/prizes/women-science and related national/regional programme pages.
  • Applications are usually online only; selection involves scientific peer review focused on research excellence, quality of the proposed work, and often commitment to supporting other women in science.
  • International Awards require nomination; national/regional ones are typically open applications (subject to local criteria).

The programme has supported over 4,400–5,000 women researchers to date and continues to expand efforts (including related “For Girls in Science” initiatives aimed at younger students).

For the most accurate and up-to-date information on open calls, eligibility, and deadlines for your location or career stage, visit forwomeninscience.com and filter by country/region, or check the UNESCO page linked above. Local L’Oréal subsidiaries or national science academies often co-manage the programmes and can provide additional guidance.