The WMF Empowerment Through Education Scholarships help students from developing countries pay for a first undergraduate degree or diploma at a university in their own country or region. The programme is run by the Wells Mountain Initiative (WMI), a US charity based in Bristol, Vermont, that many sites still call the Wells Mountain Foundation, and it now runs under the name WMI Scholars Program. Awards are partial, commonly quoted at up to USD 3,000 a year, and they continue for the length of your degree as long as you keep your grades up and do 100 hours of community service every year.
The application for the 2027 awards opens on 1 December 2026, and the Deadline is 1 March 2027 at 11:59 pm US Eastern time (04:59 GMT on 2 March). You must be 35 or younger on 1 August 2027, and winners are told by email on 1 August 2027. The scholarship is free to apply for, and the whole process runs through an online portal.
WMF Empowerment Through Education scholarship at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Programme name today | Wells Mountain Initiative (WMI) Scholars Program, formerly listed as the WMF Empowerment Through Education (ETE) Scholarship |
| Run by | Wells Mountain Initiative, a 501(c)(3) public charity in Bristol, Vermont, USA |
| Level | First undergraduate degree, diploma or certificate |
| Where you study | Your home country, or your home region if the programme is not available locally |
| Value | Partial; listings quote USD 300 to 3,000 a year (average around USD 1,500) |
| Covers | Tuition and fees, books and materials, accommodation and meals, transport |
| Duration | All years of your undergraduate study, renewed each year if you meet the requirements |
| Age limit | 35 or younger on 1 August 2027 |
| Service commitment | 100 hours of community service a year |
| Applications open | 1 December 2026, 12:01 am US Eastern time |
| Deadline | 1 March 2027, 11:59 pm US Eastern time |
| Results | 1 August 2027 by email, plus the WMI website and Facebook page |
Dates follow the pattern WMI used for the 2026 awards (1 December 2025 to 1 March 2026) and match the 2027 listing on HeySuccess (based on this year’s date; confirm on the official page when the call opens).
What the scholarship pays
WMI says plainly that this is not intended to be a full scholarship. It tops up money you already have. The 2026 programme page does not print an amount, so the figures below come from WMI’s earlier materials as reported by Scholars4Dev and HeySuccess:
- Range: USD 300 to USD 3,000 a year, with an average close to USD 1,500.
- Ceiling: USD 3,000 a year.
- What it can pay for: tuition and academic fees, books and course materials, accommodation and meals, and transport linked to your studies.
- How long: the award usually covers your full course, renewed each year.
Ask only for what you need. Listings repeat WMI’s advice to request the amount you genuinely require, and your expense tracker later has to match how the money was spent.
How many awards are given?
The number changes each year. Scholars4Dev quotes about 50 to 60 awards and HeySuccess quotes 20 to 40. A 2022 case study by WMI’s application platform reported 1,604 completed applications from 87 countries in one season, reviewed by 175 volunteers over five rounds, with 80 new scholars from 16 countries chosen the season before. On those figures, about one applicant in twenty was chosen.
WMF Empowerment Through Education eligibility
WMI describes its ideal candidate as a community-minded young person facing real financial barriers. To apply for the 2027 awards you must meet all of these:
- Nationality: you are a citizen of a developing country on WMI’s list (see below). Men and women may apply.
- Age: 35 or younger on 1 August 2027.
- School: you have finished secondary school, or you are in your final year, with above-average to excellent grades.
- Degree: you are applying to university or you are already in your first undergraduate degree or diploma.
- Location: you will study in your home country, or in your home region if the programme does not exist at home.
- Future plans: you intend to live and work in your home country or region after graduating.
- Service: you have done volunteer work before and you commit to 100 hours of community service every year of the scholarship.
- Need: you have some money for university but cannot attend or continue without help.
Being the first in your family to attend university is preferred but not required.
Who cannot apply
- Students planning to study in the United States, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom or Western Europe.
- Students seeking a second degree or postgraduate study.
- Family members of WMI team members and of current WMI Scholars.
- Anyone who sends the application by email. Only portal submissions count.
Eligible countries
The 2027 listing names about 150 countries. In short:
| Region | Eligible countries |
|---|---|
| Africa | Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, DR Congo, Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Eswatini (Swaziland), Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe |
| Asia and the Middle East | Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, East Timor, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, North Korea, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen |
| Europe and the Caucasus | Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Ukraine |
| Latin America and the Caribbean | Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Venezuela |
| Pacific | Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu |
The list in the 2027 application form is final. If your country is missing above, check the form before you rule yourself out.
Edge cases
- You want to study in a neighbouring country: this is allowed only when your programme is not available at home. Explain that clearly in your application.
- You are already in second or third year: you can still apply if this is your first undergraduate degree or diploma. Add your university transcript.
- You have not been admitted yet: you can apply while waiting, and use the fee structure published on the university website.
- You will turn 36 in July 2027: you are too old for this round, because the age test is 1 August 2027.
- You study at a polytechnic or trade school: WMI funds post-secondary diplomas and certificates as well as degrees.
Documents for the WMI application
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Secondary school transcripts | From every school you attended, with the official grading key |
| National exam results | For example WAEC/NECO, KCSE or your country’s equivalent, with the official grading key |
| University transcripts | Only if you are studying now or studied before, with the grading key |
| University fee structure | If you have not been accepted, use the fees from the university website |
| Two recommenders | Names and working email addresses; letters on official letterhead from people who know you |
| Headshot photo | Clear, recent and showing your face |
| National ID | Or another official photo ID |
| Three essays | See the next section |
Grading keys are where many applicants fall down. The 2027 listing warns that a key not issued by the school, university or examining body leads to disqualification. Ask your school for an official copy early. Documents not in English should come with official translations.
How to write the three WMI essays
For the 2026 awards, WMI asked for three essays. The prompts change between rounds (the 2025 project essay was built around a USD 1,500 budget), so read the 2027 form when it opens. The 2026 versions were:
| Essay | Length | What it asks |
|---|---|---|
| A: Personal statement | 350 to 500 words | Your background and experiences, why you are applying, why you are a strong candidate, and how the scholarship supports your long-term goals |
| B: Field of study | Up to 500 words | What drew you to your course, why it fits your strengths, how the degree will help your community, nation or region, and the impact you hope to make |
| C: Community challenge | Up to 1,000 words | If you had USD 1,000 to tackle a challenge in your community, what would you choose? Cover the root cause, why it matters to you, the link to your field, a simple spending plan and 2 to 3 ways to measure success |
What reviewers look for
- Real service: name the group, what you did, how many hours and what changed. WMI suggests keeping dates and photos of your volunteering.
- A local problem you understand: pick something you have seen first-hand, such as a borehole that keeps breaking.
- A budget that adds up: list costs in US dollars with quantities and unit prices.
- Your own words: WMI treats AI-generated text, AI outlines and uncredited ideas as plagiarism, and plagiarism makes you ineligible. Also avoid typing in capital letters, which the form forbids.
A short example opening for Essay C: “Every rainy season, the footpath to the primary school in my village floods and about 30 children stay home for days. With USD 1,000 I would build a raised stone crossing with the parents’ association.” That opening names the problem, its size and who benefits in two sentences.
For your referees, share our recommendation letter guide so they know what a strong scholarship letter includes.
How to apply: step by step
- Check the basics: nationality, age on 1 August 2027, first undergraduate degree, study at home or in your region.
- Read WMI’s guidance: the Scholars Program information sheet, the applicant FAQ and the recommendation letter guidelines linked on the portal.
- Collect documents in December: transcripts, grading keys, exam results, the fee structure, ID and a headshot. Scan each one clearly as a PDF or image.
- Create your portal account: from 1 December 2026, register on the Kaleidoscope application portal used by WMI (the 2026 programme page shows the format).
- Add your recommenders: enter two names and correct emails early so they have weeks, not days, to upload letters.
- Write and paste your essays: draft offline, check the word limits, then paste into the form.
- Submit before 1 March 2027, 11:59 pm US Eastern: the portal must show the application as submitted. Late, incomplete and emailed applications are not considered.
After you apply
- Review (March to July): volunteer reviewers score applications over several rounds, and the Scholarship Committee of WMI’s Board makes the final choice.
- Results (1 August 2027): new scholars are emailed and named on the WMI website and Facebook page. Applicants who are not chosen are told after that date.
- Payments: support covers the academic year after selection.
- Reports twice a year: academic reports (semester results, bursary or fee statement, academic calendar and a Scholar Expense Tracker with receipts) and community service reports (a summary and photos).
- Renewal: keep above-average grades and complete 100 service hours each year. WMI can stop the scholarship for poor results, dishonesty, misuse of funds or missed service.
After graduation, WMI keeps working with its scholars through training, gatherings and small community development grants.
Common mistakes
- Applying to study in the US, UK, Canada, Australia or Western Europe, which is outside the programme.
- Uploading unofficial or home-made grading keys.
- Giving a recommender’s wrong email address, so the letter never arrives.
- Treating Essay C as a funding request. WMI says the scenario is hypothetical.
- Using AI tools to draft essays.
- Waiting until late February, when the portal is busiest.
WMF scholarship compared with similar awards
| Scholarship | What it pays | Where you study | Our guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| WMF Empowerment Through Education (WMI Scholars) | Partial, commonly up to USD 3,000 a year | Home country or region | This page |
| ALCHE Mastercard Foundation Scholarship | Full tuition plus extra support | Mauritius | ALCHE Mastercard Foundation Scholarship |
| EARTH University Mastercard Foundation Scholarship | Four-year Agricultural Sciences degree funding | Costa Rica | EARTH University scholarship |
| University of Rwanda Mastercard Foundation Scholarship | Full funding for young Africans | Rwanda | University of Rwanda scholarship |
For a wider list, see our guide to scholarships for African students and our list of scholarships with no application fee.
Who should apply, and who should not
Apply if you are already doing community work, you have a university place or a realistic one at home, and a few thousand dollars a year would close the gap between what your family can pay and what the degree costs. The 100-hour service rule suits people who volunteer anyway; for them it is no extra burden.
Skip it if you want to study abroad in a Western country, if you are aiming for a master’s, or if you need every cost covered. In those cases a fully funded award such as the Mastercard Foundation programmes above is a better match.
FAQ
Is the WMF Empowerment Through Education scholarship fully funded?
No. It is a partial scholarship, commonly quoted at USD 300 to 3,000 a year, meant to sit alongside money you already have. It can pay tuition, books, housing, meals and transport.
When is the WMI scholarship deadline for 2027?
Applications open on 1 December 2026 and close on 1 March 2027 at 11:59 pm US Eastern time. Results come out on 1 August 2027.
Can I use the Wells Mountain scholarship to study abroad?
Only within your home region, and only if your programme is not offered in your own country. Study in the US, Canada, Australia, the UK or Western Europe is not allowed.
Can I apply if I am already in university?
Yes, if it is your first undergraduate degree or diploma and you are 35 or younger on 1 August 2027. Include your university transcript with its grading key.
Sources and updates
This guide draws on WMI’s 2026 Scholars Program page on its Kaleidoscope portal (eligibility, essays, documents, dates and renewal rules), the 2027 programme listing on HeySuccess (2027 dates, country list, grading key rule), WMI’s prospective scholars page at wellsmountainfoundation.org, and the Scholars4Dev and fundsforNGOs listings for award amounts. Scholars4Dev described study in “a neighbouring country” and “any developing country”; WMI’s own wording limits this to your home region when the course is not available at home. Applying is free; never pay anyone to submit for you. Last checked 25 October 2026.
I am Jude Chinecherem, a final-year MBBS student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I know what it feels like to want an education your family cannot afford. When my parents could not pay for my schooling, I had to learn how to find scholarships and work the system out on my own, with nobody to guide me. I came out the other side, and now I share everything I learned so the next student does not have to figure it out alone. This is the advice I wish someone had given me back then.
