Home / Opportunities / P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship (IPS) Fund — scholarships for international women pursuing graduate degrees in the United States and Canada (established 1949)
Multiple countries · P.E.O. International
P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship (IPS) Fund — scholarships for international women pursuing graduate degrees in the United States and Canada (established 1949)
Since 1949 the P.E.O. sisterhood has funded international women doing graduate degrees in the US and Canada — up to $12,500 based on demonstrated need, with an expectation that recipients return home and use their education for peace. The first step is a simple online eligibility form, open 15 September to 15 December each year.
Why it is notable: a 75-year-old fund that never appears in "top scholarships" listicles because it's partial funding and women-only — but for a woman already holding a US/Canada admission with a funding gap, $12,500 of grant money with no repayment is exactly the missing piece aggregators don't surface.
Funding at a glance
What it covers
Maximum USD 12,500 per student
lesser amounts awarded according to individual need. Need-based — at application time the applicant must show additional financial resources adequate to meet her estimated expenses (personal/family funds, tuition waivers, work, teaching assistantships, other scholarships). The…
This scholarship is offered for Undergraduate, Masters and PhD programs.
Who can apply
a woman outside the United States and Canada seeking an advanced degree from an accredited college or university in the US or Canada; must intend to return to her home country to use her education to make a positive impact and foster global peace; must have a FULL year of formal coursework remaining and be enrolled and in residence in the US or Canada for the entire school year. International students attending Cottey College are eligible under a separate route.
Experience
No experience required
Language Certificate
none stated by the fund itself (the admitting university's requirements apply)
Other Certificates
Degree certificates & transcripts
Age Limit
No Age Limit
Check your eligibility
Run all three quick checks before reviewing your chosen course's full entry requirements.
1
Country checker
a woman outside the United States and Canada seeking an advanced degree from an accredited college or university in the US or Canada; must intend to return to…
2
Last degree checker
Choose your highest completed qualification to see which degree level may fit.
3
Course checker
Pick a course to see whether it falls inside this scholarship's scope.
Complete all three checks
Your combined result will appear here.
Based on published eligibility — always confirm on the official page before applying.
Application essentials
Requirements
Review each requirement before you begin the application.
01
Language
none stated by the fund itself (the admitting university's requirements apply)
02
Qualification
a woman outside the United States and Canada seeking an advanced degree from an accredited college or university in the US or Canada; must intend to return to her home country to use her education to
03
Documents
per the official IPS Policies document (download link on the official eligibility page) — confirm the exact list before publishing.
Document checklist
01per the official IPS Policies document (download link on the official eligibility page) — confirm the exact list before publishing.
Application fee
No fee — completely free
No separate scholarship application fee is published; confirm on the official page.
Visa, kept concise: US F-1 or Canadian study permit via the admitting university; the in-residence requirement means maintaining full-time on-campus enrolment for the whole award year — any status change risks the award.
Application Procedure
4 steps — follow in order. Each stage prepares the next.
01
Confirm you meet the eligibility rules on
the official page (woman outside US/Canada, advanced degree, full year of coursework remaining, in-residence enrolment, return-home intent).
→
02
Submit the online Eligibility Form during the
eligibility period (15 September – 15 December). Eligibility must be established BEFORE full application materials are released to you.
→
03
Eligible applicants receive instructions and the full scholarship application
prepare confirmation of graduate admission, academic records, recommendations, a realistic budget showing educational expenses and confirmed secondary funding sources, and evidence of guaranteed return
↓
04
Submit the completed application by the deadline
applicable to your enrolment status (secondary sources report February/March 2027 cutoffs — UNVERIFIED; confirm in the official IPS Policies document before publishing).
Application milestones
15 Dec 2026
Application deadline
2026
Intake year
Ready to apply?
Continue on the official P.E.O. International platform.
15 Dec 2026 — eligibility form (verified); full-application cutoff unverified, confirm in the official IPS Policies PDF
Who can apply?
a woman outside the United States and Canada seeking an advanced degree from an accredited college or university in the US or Canada; must intend to return to her home country to use her education to make a positive impact and foster global peace; must have a FULL year of formal coursework remaining and be enrolled and in residence in the US or Canada for the entire school year. International students attending Cottey College are eligible under a separate route.
What does the scholarship cover?
Maximum USD 12,500 per student; lesser amounts awarded according to individual need. Need-based — at application time the applicant must show additional financial resources adequate to meet her estimated expenses (personal/family funds, tuition waivers, work, teaching assistantships, other scholarships). The…
Where do I apply?
Through the official application portal linked in the Official links section on this page.
Need document or attestation help?
Detailed attestation guidance stays in Opplore's standalone Guides section, not inside this scholarship page.
Multiple countries · P.E.O. International