LGBTQ+ Scholarships: Education is a powerful tool for academic growth and empowerment. But for LGBTQ+ students, financial barriers can often limit access to higher education. But the good news is that many universities provide financial support to the marginalised. There’s a growing number of scholarships specifically designed to support your academic journey!
This blog explores scholarships for the LGBTQ+ community in many countries like the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK. These scholarships aren’t just about financial aid; they’re about celebrating diversity and supporting the aspirations of LGBTQ+ students worldwide.
| Country | Scholarships |
| United States of America | The Point Foundation Gamma Mu Foundation Rainbow Scholarship Pride Foundation Scholarship Markowski–Leach Scholarship Stonewall Foundation Scholarship Bisexual Foundation Scholarship |
| Australia and New Zealand | Monash Queer Leaders Scholarship Colin Higgins Courage Award Rainbow New Zealand Scholarship The Pinnacle Foundation Scholarship |
| United Kingdom | Jeremy Round LGBTQ+ Scholarship ROMBA Fellowship at Imperial College of London University of Edinburgh Business School Positive Action for LGBT+ MSc Scholarships |
| Canada | Imperial Sovereign Court of Wild Rose Bill 7 Award Start Proud Foundation Pride Education Network University of Alberta Michael Phair Leadership Award |
Table of contents
Also Read: Did you know that you can get an Income Tax Rebate on Education Loans? Read our blog to know about how to avail, calculate, and claim tax deductions.
LGBTQ+ Scholarships to Study in the US
Among many international scholarships to study in the US, multiple scholarships are also available for LGBTQ+ students who are planning to study abroad. Many organisations are generous enough to consider the needs and demands of students. Let’s have a look at the institutions providing scholarships for the LGBTQ+ community.
The Point Foundation
The Point Foundation Flagship Scholarships empower LGBTQ+ students who are looking forward to pursuing undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral degrees. They provide mentorship opportunities apart from financial aid, to help students develop leadership skills.
- To be eligible for the scholarship, students must intend to enrol at an accredited college or university in the United States, including Hawaii and Alaska.
- The applications are open from September to early December.
- The amount of scholarship differs every year.
Gamma Mu Foundation
The Gamma Mu Foundation grants scholarships to the LGBTQ+ community and focuses on rural and underserved populations across the United States. This scholarship is specifically for gay students planning to pursue university studies.
- You must be a citizen of the US to be eligible for this scholarship.
- You must submit the completed application between 15 March to 31 March.
- You must be a gay student under the age of 35 years.
Rainbow Scholarship
The Rainbow Scholarship is provided by the Fund for Education Abroad (FEA) in the United States. It aims to support LGBTQ+ students studying abroad by awarding financial scholarships to cover costs associated with their programs, such as tuition, fees, and travel expenses.
- It provides funding to LGBTQ+ students for undergraduate courses.
- All US citizens are eligible to apply for Rainbow Scholarships.
Pride Foundation Scholarship
The Pride Foundation offers various scholarships to LGBTQ+ students across the Pacific Northwest in the United States. These scholarships cater to students pursuing higher education, including those studying abroad. The students are awarded based on academic achievement, leadership, and community involvement.
- The scholarship amount of $3,250 to $12,000 (INR 2.6 Lakhs to INR 9.9 Lakhs) is provided.
- Applicants must be residents of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, or Washington to be eligible for the Pride Foundation Scholarship.
- You can apply your scholarship toward any of the following: tuition, student fees, on-campus room and board, study abroad programs, and books.
Markowski-Leach Scholarships
Markowski-Leach Scholarships assist in the education of LGBTQ individuals who demonstrate promise for becoming positive role models for other LGBTQ people. Scholarships are awarded to applicants whose leadership potential is evident regardless of their chosen field of study or financial need.
- All undergraduate recipients must have earned a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 in all prior college-level coursework.
- Must be enrolled full-time in undergraduate and graduate programs.
- Plan to attend one of the following universities for the academic year in which the scholarship will be awarded: San Francisco State University; Stanford University; University of California, Berkeley; UC College of the Law, San Francisco, or University of California, San Francisco.
Stonewall Foundation Scholarship
The Stonewall Foundation provides scholarships to LGBTQ+ students pursuing higher education. These scholarships aim to support students studying abroad or domestically by offering financial assistance and fostering a supportive community.
- This program provides one-year scholarships of $4,000 to several students graduating high school or already enrolled in college in any year of study.
Bisexual Foundation Scholarship Awards
While specific scholarships directly labelled as “Bisexual Foundation Scholarship Awards” might not be widely known, various LGBTQ+ organizations and foundations offer scholarships that are open and inclusive to students identifying as bisexual. These might include scholarships supporting diverse sexual orientations and gender identities, thereby indirectly benefiting bisexual students.
- Annual fund awarding up to $1,000 per award to selected graduate LGBTQ+ students is provided. This funding is to advance research on the psychology of bisexuality.
- Applicants must be currently enrolled full-time in a psychology or therapy/counselling graduate program.
Also Read: If you are planning to pursue an undergraduate course in Germany and want to take an education loan, check this blog on How To Get an Education Loan without Collateral in Germany.
LGBTQ+ Scholarships to Study in Australia and New Zealand
There are numerous scholarships available in Australia and New Zealand to support LGBTQ+ students. These scholarships are the Monash Queer Leaders Scholarships, Colin Higgins Courage Award, Rainbow New Zealand Scholarships, and many others. It is important to prepare for international scholarships smartly to avail of the benefits. Check the details below-
Monash Queer Leaders Scholarships
The Monash Queer Leaders Scholarship is awarded each year to a LGBTQ+ student in recognition of their academic success. This scholarship is aimed at acknowledging the student’s efforts in advancing Monash’s inclusive culture and supporting them in their studies.
- The scholarship is offered to LGBTQ students in Australia and New Zealand
- You must be enrolled on the undergraduate or postgraduate program at the Monash campus.
- You must achieve a minimum weightage average mark of 70 to be eligible for this scholarship.
Colin Higgins Courage Award
The Colin Higgins Youth Courage Award Scholarship is not specifically a scholarship for education but recognizes and honours LGBTQIA+. It celebrates the youth activists who have demonstrated remarkable courage, leadership, and advocacy to support LGBTQ+ filmmakers. These awards are bestowed each year to acknowledge remarkable young people who refuse to be silenced by societal norms. Amount of up to $10,000 is granted.
Rainbow New Zealand Scholarships
These scholarships aim to support LGBTQIA+ students in New Zealand pursuing tertiary education. These scholarships assist with tuition fees and offer mentorship, empowering recipients to achieve their academic goals while contributing positively to the LGBTQIA+ community.
- Only the citizens of New Zealand citizens or permanent residents can apply.
- Students must enrol in a full-time degree program at a recognized university.
The Pinnacle Foundation Scholarship
The Pinnacle Foundation scholarship in Australia is one of the best Australian scholarships that focuses on providing educational opportunities to young LGBTQIA+ individuals. It offers financial assistance, mentoring, and opportunities for personal and professional development, aiding recipients in their pursuit of higher education.
- For LGBTQ+ students who undertake full-time education at a public or private secondary school in Australia.
- It also entertains international students willing to pursue higher education abroad.
LGBTQ Scholarships to Study in the UK
Among the top scholarships to study in the UK to support higher education of LGBTQ+ students, many universities offer LGBTQ+ scholarships. Some of them are funded by the government, some by external organisations, and some of them are university-specific. Check out the same below-
Jeremy Round LGBTQ+ Scholarship
Jeremy Round scholarship is to support LGBTQ+ students in the UK. It is available to students whose annual household income is less than £25000. The scholarship is provided at the University of Hull.
- Applicants must be in their second or subsequent year of undergraduate study at the University of Hull (those in their Foundation or first year of study are not eligible to apply).
ROMBA (Reaching Out MBA) Fellowship at Imperial College of London
The ROMBA LGBTQ+ Fellowship is a joint effort between prominent business school programs and Reaching Out to develop the LGBTQ+ business leaders of tomorrow. Each Fellow receives a minimum $20,000 scholarship and access to exclusive leadership programming, including a retreat to kick off the Fellowship.
- All successful applicants to the Imperial Full-Time MBA programme are eligible to apply.
University of Edinburgh Business School Positive Action for LGBT+ MSc Scholarship
The Business School offers two LGBTQ+ scholarships to the value of £10,000 for entry into one of their taught Masters degrees. The scholarships will be awarded to applicants who are committed to making a difference in the LGBTQ+ community, especially within the business environment.
Also Read: Are you looking to apply for Education Loan for MBA without Collateral? Look no further. Check this blog to discover everything you need to know.
LGBTQ+ Scholarships to Study in Canada
Many fully-funded scholarships in Canada provide financial support to many students across the world, including some of the most inclusive LGBTQ+ scholarships. These are granted to meritorious students based on their academic performance and recommendations by universities. Following are the scholarships for LGBTQ+ students to study in Canada-
Imperial Sovereign Court of the Wild Rose
This organisation offers scholarships to LGBTQ students in Alberta. These scholarships often support academic achievements, community involvement, and leadership within the LGBTQ community.
Bill 7 Award
Established in Ontario, this award provides financial assistance to LGBTQ students who face significant obstacles in pursuing post-secondary education due to their sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression.
To be eligible for Bill 7 Award, applicants must fulfil the following criteria-
- Applicant must be attending or accepted by a Post-Secondary Educational Institution in the Province of Ontario.
- Students must be pursuing the FIRST post-secondary program of study.
- They may identify themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, two-spirited or queer (LGBTQ)
Start Proud Scholarship
Formerly known as the Out on Bay Street Scholarship, this initiative supports LGBTQ students enrolled in Canadian colleges and universities. It aims to recognize leadership, academic excellence, and community involvement. Two awards of $2,500 each are awarded to the eligible students.
Pride Education Network
This network collaborates with schools and institutions to create safer and more inclusive environments for LGBTQ students. They might offer information on scholarships or support systems for LGBTQ individuals pursuing education. It is offered to secondary school students in British Columbia who are planning to attend an academy or college in Canada.
University of Alberta Michael Phair Leadership Award
Named after Michael Phair, an LGBTQ advocate and former Edmonton city councillor, this award recognizes students at the University of Alberta who demonstrate leadership in LGBTQ communities or initiatives. It is offered by the University of Alberta and its affiliated colleges at UG and PG levels
LGBTQ+ Scholarship Winner from India: Success Story
Image Credits: The Economic Times
Shakthi Nataraj, an anthropology PhD student at the University of California, Berkeley received a prestigious scholarship to explore the evolution of LGBTQ+ identity in India.
Shakthi was originally from Chennai, India and was awarded The Philip Brett LGBT Studies Fellowship from the esteemed California University in Berkeley. Through this fellowship, Shakthi aimed to receive financial support for research on the impact of political movements on sexual identity in Tamil Nadu.
- The university announcement revealed that Nataraj is one among three recipients of The Philip Brett LGBT Studies Fellowship. This recognition underscores the significance and potential of her research project.
- Nataraj’s research delves into the fascinating interplay between contemporary LGBTQ+ rights movements and the historical context of Tamil Nadu. She highlights that while current movements utilize the language of LGBTQ+ rights, they are also deeply rooted in the region’s rich history.
Nataraj’s scholarship win is not only a personal success but also a testament to the growing visibility and importance of LGBTQ+ studies within academia. Her research has the potential to contribute valuable insights into the evolving landscape of sexual identity in India.
FAQs on LGBTQ+ Scholarships around the World
LGBTQ stands for “lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (or “questioning”). It’s for people who aren’t heterosexual.
There are many LGBTQ+ scholarships for students in the UK like the Jeremy Round LGBTQ+ Scholarship, Reaching Out MBA Fellowship at Imperial College of London, and the University of Edinburgh Business School Positive Action for LGBT+ MSc Scholarship
NGO SPACE LGBT IQ and Queer Community provides free and confidential support over the phone and text message (SMS).
To help you with your scholarships, here are some of the top scholarships for LGBTQ+ students in Ontario, Canada- Bill 7 Award, Acts of Greatness LGBTQ Youth Community Award, Pride Education Network Diversity Scholarship, and The Imperial Sovereign Court of the Wild Rose.
Some of the LGBTQ+ Scholarships in the USA for students are the Gamma Mu Foundation, Rainbow Scholarship, The Point Foundation scholarship, and Stonewall Foundation Scholarship.
This was all about the LGBTQ+ Scholarships around the world provided to the students. These scholarships and awards are vital in promoting equality, supporting academic aspirations, and recognizing the contributions of LGBTQ individuals within the educational landscape. They often emphasize not just academic excellence but also active participation.
To know more about the education loans to study abroad, the best international bank accounts for students, forex and banking experience for global students or international money transfers, reach out to our experts at 1800572126 to help ease your study abroad experience.
Follow Us on Social Media
