The P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship (IPS) gives up to US$12,500 to women from countries other than the United States and Canada who are doing a graduate degree in the USA or Canada. Unlike most scholarships on this site, the window is fixed and short: applications are accepted from 15 September to 15 December every year, so the current cycle is open right now and closes on 15 December 2026.
The award is based on need and is not meant to pay for everything. At the time of application you have to show that you also have other resources – personal or family funds, a tuition waiver, an assistantship, work, or another scholarship – to cover your estimated expenses. Awards are announced in May.
P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship 2027
Quick facts2026-27
| Scholarship from | The P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship Fund, a fund established in 1949 and run by P.E.O. International, Des Moines, Iowa, USA. The aim of the fund is to help women from other countries complete graduate study in the USA or Canada and return home. See the official IPS page. |
| Study level | Graduate study (master’s or doctoral) at an accredited college or university in the USA or Canada. Online courses, research-only programmes, internships and practical training that is not combined with formal coursework are not funded. |
| Who can apply | Women who are citizens of countries other than the United States and Canada, who are enrolled and in residence in the USA or Canada and have a full year of formal coursework left. Applicants must intend to return to their home country to use the degree. International students at Cottey College are also eligible. |
| What is covered | Up to US$12,500, decided on demonstrated need; smaller amounts may be awarded according to individual need. The award is not intended to cover all academic or personal expenses. |
| Last date to apply | 15 December 2026. Applications are accepted from 15 September to 15 December every year. |
| Official website | https://www.peointernational.org/educational-support/international-peace-scholarship-fund/ |
About the P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship Fund
The fund was established in 1949 to provide scholarships for women from other countries for graduate study in the United States or Canada. The idea behind it is that the degree taken home by an IPS recipient creates a lasting impact in her own country – the fund describes its purpose as fostering global peace through education. Since 1951 the fund has also supported international students at Cottey College who are working towards a degree.
How much is the P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship worth?
- The maximum award to a student is US$12,500.
- The scholarship is based on demonstrated need, so smaller amounts may be awarded depending on individual circumstances.
- It is not designed to cover all academic or personal expenses, and the applicant has to show other resources at the time of applying – for example personal or family funds, a tuition waiver, work, teaching assistantships, study grants or other scholarships.
P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship eligibility
The official eligibility page lists the requirements clearly. A woman is eligible for the International Peace Scholarship if she:
- is a woman outside the United States and Canada who is seeking an advanced degree from an accredited college or university in the USA or Canada;
- will return to her home country to use her education to make a positive impact;
- has a full year of formal coursework remaining and is enrolled and in residence in the USA or Canada for the entire school year – or is an international student at Cottey College.
The page also sets out who is not eligible, and these exclusions matter because they are easy to miss:
- Doctoral students who have completed coursework and are working only on a dissertation are not eligible as first-time applicants.
- A student who is a citizen or permanent resident of the United States or Canada is not eligible. Residency held for tax purposes only is permitted.
- Scholarships are not given for online courses, research, internships, or practical training that is not combined with formal coursework.
Important dates for the 2027 P.E.O. scholarship
- Applications accepted: 15 September to 15 December 2026. This is also described as the eligibility period.
- Last date to apply: 15 December 2026.
- Awards announced: in May. The fund publishes a full application calendar for the current term of study.
How to apply for the P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship
- Read the IPS Policies, Prerequisites and Procedures document and the eligibility page on peointernational.org before you start.
- Confirm that you will be enrolled and in residence in the USA or Canada with a full year of formal coursework still to go in the year for which you apply.
- Work out your budget – the application asks you to list the other resources that will meet your estimated expenses, because the award is need-based.
- Open the IPS form from the official pages and submit your application before 15 December.
- Watch for the announcement of awards in May.
P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship FAQ
Yes. The scholarship is open to women who are citizens of countries other than the United States and Canada, which includes India, provided they are enrolled in graduate study in the USA or Canada with a full year of formal coursework remaining.
The maximum award is US$12,500. It is decided on demonstrated need, so smaller amounts may be awarded, and it is not intended to cover all academic or personal expenses.
15 December 2026. Applications are accepted from 15 September to 15 December each year, and awards are announced in May.
Yes, but doctoral students who have finished their coursework and are working only on a dissertation are not eligible as first-time applicants.
No. Scholarships are not given for online courses, research, internships, or practical training that is not combined with formal coursework.
Yes. The award is based on need and the applicant has to indicate additional financial resources that are adequate to meet her estimated expenses – personal or family funds, a tuition waiver, work, assistantships, study grants or other scholarships.
Official links
Related reading: P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship Fund
IPS eligibility and application process
If you are planning graduate study abroad, these pages list more funded options: USA scholarships, scholarships for girls and post graduation scholarships.
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- UBC International Scholars Program – funding for international students in Canada
- Gates Cambridge Scholarship – full funding for postgraduate study in the UK