The Margaret McNamara Educational Grants (MMEG) offers educational grants for female students from developing countries. Female applicants can apply for this grant to pursue study programs at one of the available locations, such as the US-Canada Program, Trinity Washington University Program, France Program, South Africa Program, or Latin America Program, as per the details and conditions for each area under MMEG coverage. The application for the grant is currently open for the academic year 2026.

About MMEG

The Margaret McNamara Education Grants is a nonprofit, public charity founded in 1981, which awards education grants to exceptional women from developing countries every year. MMEG has supported more than 350 women from 75 countries who are inspired to improve the lives of women and children around the world.

Key Details

• Organized: Margaret McNamara Education Grants (MMEG)
• Purpose of the Grant: To assist women in pursuing their education, with the aim of improving the lives of women and children.
• Location: Different
• Deadline: January 15, 2026
• Result: April, 2026

MMEG Grants Amounts

In previous years, grants in the US-Canada program reached up to $15,000, while those in the South Africa, Latin America and Caribbean, and Trinity Washington University programs were capped at $7,000. The France program offered grants of up to $5,000. Grant amounts are subject to change based on exchange rates and fund availability.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet the following criteria to be eligible for the 2026 MMEG Grants:

• Be a self-identifying woman and at least 25 years old when the application deadline falls;
• Be a citizen of one of the nations on the MMEG Country Eligibility List (Including Afghanistan), with the exception of Trinity Washington University;
• When submitting their application, they must be registered (not just accepted) in an approved academic institution;
• After receiving the MMEG funding, intend to enroll for a full academic semester (a half-year term);
• Aspire to complete your degree no later than 2.5 years following the MMEG grant’s award;
• Not be connected to an employee, spouse, retiree, or MMEG Board member of the World Bank Group, the International Monetary Fund, or the Inter-American Development Bank.
• In addition to these criteria, applicants should meet the specific program’s criteria.

Eligible Countries:

Low-Income Economies: Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Togo, Uganda, Yemen.

Lower-Middle-Income Economies: Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Cambodia, Cameroon, Comoros, Republic of the Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Eswatini, Ghana, Guinea, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kyrgyz Republic, Lao PDR, Lebanon, Lesotho, Mauritania, Federated States of Micronesia, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, São Tomé and Principe, Senegal, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Tunisia, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Viet Nam, West Bank and Gaza, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Upper-Middle-Income Economies: Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Cabo Verde, China, Colombia, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Fiji, Gabon, Georgia, Grenada, Guatemala, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Paraguay, Peru, Samoa, Serbia, South Africa, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Thailand, Tonga, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Ukraine.

Application Required Documents

Please provide the following documents:

• Identification card with photo

1. 1. A passport if you are studying outside your home country
   2. Government/ university-issued identity card with photo and birth date.

• Most recent official university transcripts or reports
• Recent proof of official registration from the university (not acceptance letter)
• Visa page or study permit page within the current passport ( if studying outside the home country)
• 2nd page of passport with a visible photo (in case of dual citizenship).
• 2 reference letters

In some areas, you might need to provide the following materials in your application form:

• Personal story and an outline of how your studies, experiences, and future plans relate to your commitment and to the purpose of the grant
• The estimate of your financial situation
• Summary of your thesis (if available)

How to apply?

Applicants may apply online through MMEG’s application page.  & FAQ before applying.

Apply Now

For more information about the grant, please visit the MMEG Website. Applicants may address further queries to: mmeg.us.canada@gmail.com

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