Amelia Earhart Fellowship

Scholarship Sponsored by Zonta International

Women’s contributions are essential to advancing exploration, innovation and our understanding of the universe yet they continue to be significantly underrepresented in aerospace engineering and space sciences. For almost 90 years, Zonta International has invested in women who are pushing the boundaries of what is possible.

Established in 1938 in honor of famed aviator and Zontian Amelia Earhart, the Amelia Earhart Fellowship supports women pursuing Ph.D./doctoral degrees in aerospace engineering and space sciences. Up to 30 Fellows will receive a US$12,000 Amelia Earhart Fellowship to support their advanced studies at any university or college offering accredited post-graduate courses and degrees in these fields.

The Fellowship reflects Amelia Earhart's pioneering spirit and Zonta's commitment to ensuring that women have access to the resources and opportunities needed to advance and take their place as leaders and decision-makers in these competitive and cutting-edge fields.

Since the program's inception, Zonta has awarded 1,824 Amelia Earhart Fellowships totaling more than US$12.5 million to 1,395 women from 81 countries.

Zonta International Amelia Earhart Fellows have gone on to become astronauts, aerospace engineers, astronomers, professors, geologists, entrepreneurs, corporate leaders and even the U.S. Secretary of the Air Force. Their achievements demonstrate what becomes possible when women are given the opportunity and resources to pursue their ambitions.

Eligibility

Women of any nationality pursuing a Ph.D./doctoral degree who demonstrate a superior academic record conducting research applied to aerospace engineering or space sciences are eligible. It is imperative that students be registered in a full-time Ph.D./doctoral program and have completed at least one year of that program or have received a master’s degree in an aerospace-applied field at the time the application is submitted. Applicants must not graduate from their Ph.D. or doctoral program before April 2028. Please note that post-doctoral research programs are not eligible for the Fellowship.

Club members and individuals with direct membership with Zonta International and employees of Zonta International and Zonta Foundation for Women are not eligible to apply for the Fellowship Committee members or any member involved in the selection process should follow the Zonta International Conflict of Interest Policy in the selection of awardees.

Note that previous Amelia Earhart Fellows are not eligible to apply to renew the Fellowship for a second year. Recipients of a Zonta fellowship or award who have received a complimentary one-year supporting membership from Zonta International are eligible to apply during their complimentary membership year, provided that they are not applying for the same fellowship or scholarship they previously received from Zonta International.

Application process

The Zonta International Amelia Earhart Fellowship Committee reviews the applications and recommends recipients to the Zonta International Board. All applicants are evaluated on the criteria stated in the requirements section of the application. All details of the evaluations are kept confidential; evaluations are not disclosed to applicants. All applicants will be notified of their status by the end of April.

Deadline

The 2027 Amelia Earhart Fellowship application must be submitted in full by mid November 2026 to be considered.

Funding

Amelia Earhart Fellowships are made possible by generous contributions to the Zonta Foundation for Women Amelia Earhart Fellowship Fund.