LGBTQ+ Scholarships around the World: With the growing support of the community from around the world, educational and financial opportunities are also widely available for the LGBTQ+ community (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning). From academic growth to empowering opportunities, LGBTQ+ scholarships are relatively common 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.
Let’s discuss the range of different scholarships for LGBTQ+ that are breaking barriers and opening doors to help LGBTQ+ students achieve their global dreams.
| 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 |
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LGBTQ+ Scholarships to Study in the US
There are multiple scholarships available for LGBTQ+ students to 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-
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 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
To support higher education of LGBTQ+ students in the UK, many universities offer LGBTQ+ scholarships. Some of these are mentioned 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
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
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 2SLGBTQ+ 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 LGBTQ+ scholarships around the world, reach out to our experts at 1800572126 to help ease your study abroad experience.
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