Applications are open for the 2026 Amelia Earhart Fellowship of Zonta International for Women. The Amelia Earhart Fellowship was founded in 1938 in honor of the renowned Zontian pilot Amelia Earhart. Up to 30 women pursuing PhD degrees in aerospace engineering and space sciences will receive the US$10,000 Fellowship annually. Fellows can use the amount at any university or college offering accredited post-graduate courses and degrees in the mentioned fields.

Since the program’s founding in 1938, Zonta has given 1,794 Amelia Earhart Fellowships, worth more than US$12.2 million, to 1,365 women from 80 countries.

Approximately 25% of workers worldwide are women in the aerospace sector. Zonta International presents the Amelia Earhart Fellowship to give women equal access to resources and represent them in decision-making positions alongside men.

Key Details

Application Deadline: 15 November 2025 (11:59 p.m. CET)

Award Notification: 30 April 2026

Organizer: Zonta International

Target Group: Women

Eligible Countries: All

Field: Aerospace Engineering and Space Sciences

Benefits of the Amelia Earhart Fellowship

• Up to 30 women pursuing PhD degrees in aerospace engineering and space sciences will receive the US$10,000 Fellowship annually.
• Women fellows can use this amount to cover their tuition, books, fees, and living expenses, including room, board, and travel.

Notes: 

• Recipients are not permitted to defer the Fellowship.
• Fellows may accept additional grants and scholarships from other sources.

Eligibility Criteria

All applicants should meet the following criteria:

• Open to women of any nationality pursuing a Ph.D./doctoral degree in aerospace engineering or space sciences.
• Applicants must demonstrate a strong academic record in research relevant to aerospace.
• Must be enrolled full-time in a Ph.D./doctoral program and have completed at least one year or hold a master’s degree in an aerospace-related field by application submission.
• Ph.D./doctoral candidates must not graduate before April 2027.
• Post-doctoral researchers are ineligible.
• Zonta International Club members, direct members, employees, and their family members are not eligible.
• Previous Amelia Earhart Fellows cannot renew the Fellowship for a second year.

Selection Process

After reviewing the submissions, the Zonta International Amelia Earhart Fellowship Committee recommends applicants to the Zonta International Board.

Every candidate is assessed based on the standards listed in the application’s requirements section. Evaluations are not shared with applicants; all their information is kept private. All candidates will receive word on their status by the end of April.

Required Info/Documents:

Please prepare and submit these application documents:

• Study plan
• Biographical information
• Transcripts of all previous degrees with English translation
• List of prior fellowships, scholarships, or awards (if any)
• Three publication lists
• Employment history (if any)
• Essay on professional goals and academic program
• Three recommendation letters from professors
• Current enrollment verification or official statement from Zonta International

Note: All non-English documents should have English translations.

How to Apply for the Amelia Earhart Fellowship?

Applicants can submit their application online by entering the following link:

Apply Now

Read more about the Amelia Earhart Fellowship on the official website of Zonta International.

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