The Google Women Techmakers Scholars Program is Google's scholarship for women studying computer science, computer engineering and related technical subjects. It is run through Women Techmakers, Google's community program for women in tech, and it pairs a cash award with mentorship, a scholars' retreat and a network of past scholars. The money is partial. The community is the part most winners end up valuing.
If you are a Pakistani woman in a BS or MS program in computing, this is one of the few big-name tech scholarships you can apply to without leaving your current university. You can read the full scholarship details on our scholarship page, and this guide explains how the program works, who it suits, and where applicants usually go wrong.
A Google award that is organised by region, not by country
The first thing to understand is that there is no single global application. The program runs in several regional tracks, including Asia Pacific and Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), with North America among the others. Each track has its own scholarship amount, its own selection process and its own deadline. What they share is the core idea: financial support plus community.
Pakistani applicants typically apply under the Asia Pacific track. That word "typically" matters. Eligible countries and deadlines can change from one cycle to the next, so check which track covers Pakistan in the current cycle before you start writing essays.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Provider | Google (Women Techmakers) |
| Funding | Partial funding: a cash award toward tuition and educational expenses, amount varies by region |
| Study level | Bachelor's and Master's (currently enrolled students) |
| Fields | Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Information Technology and closely related technical fields |
| Where | Global, through regional tracks (Asia Pacific typically covers Pakistan) |
| Applications open | Typically March/April, varies by region |
| Deadline | Region-specific, check the current regional cycle |
| Official site | womentechmakers.com/scholars |
What the cash award and the retreat actually give you
Selected scholars receive a cash scholarship award toward tuition and educational expenses. The amount varies by region, and the program does not publish one fixed figure across all tracks, so do not plan your fees around a number you saw in a social media post about another region's cycle.
The award comes with more than money:
- An invitation to a scholars' retreat or summit, in person or virtual, with Google engineers and Women Techmakers leads, including networking, workshops and career guidance.
- Access to a global community and mentorship network of women in tech, which keeps running events and mentorship circles after the award.
- A potential pathway to Google internships and wider career opportunities in the tech industry.
Be realistic about that last point. The program can open doors to internships at Google and other major tech companies, but it is a pathway, not a job offer. What you get is visibility, contacts and a credible name on your CV. What you do with them is up to you.
Because this is partial funding, it will not pay for a degree abroad on its own. Think of it as support for the program you are already enrolled in, plus a professional network. If you are hunting for a fully funded master's overseas, this should sit alongside your main applications, not replace them.
The eligibility rules, and the one most applicants underrate
The source requirements are short:
- You identify as a woman.
- You are currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program in computer science, computer engineering or a closely related field.
- You have strong academic performance.
- You can show leadership or involvement in promoting diversity and inclusion in technology.
- Your country is covered by one of the regional tracks.
Note the word "currently". This is for students already in a degree program, not for someone who has an admission letter and has not started yet, and not for graduates. Software engineering and information technology students are listed as eligible fields too, so a BS IT student at a Pakistani university should not rule herself out.
The requirement people underestimate is the diversity and leadership one. Plenty of applicants have good grades. The selection committee is also looking for women who are actively doing something to bring more women and underrepresented people into tech: running a club, mentoring juniors, organising events, teaching coding. If your CV is all CGPA and no community work, this is where your application will be weak.
Is it open to Pakistani students?
Yes, in the sense that Pakistan is typically covered through the Asia Pacific track, and the program is described as open to students from South Asia through that track. Still, country lists are confirmed each cycle, so check the current Asia Pacific eligibility on the official Women Techmakers Scholars page before you apply.
Documents to have ready before the window opens
The document list is lighter than most international scholarships, which is exactly why the essays carry so much weight. You will need:
- The completed online application form.
- Academic transcripts.
- A resume or CV.
- Personal essays on your academic goals and your leadership or diversity involvement in tech.
- Proof of current enrollment.
For proof of enrollment, a letter or certificate from your university's registrar or student affairs office confirming you are an enrolled student can take time to arrange, so request it as soon as the cycle opens. Make sure your transcripts are the latest ones your university can issue. Our documents checklist for international scholarships covers general preparation such as scanning and naming files.
From picking your track to the scholars' retreat
The process runs in five stages:
- Identify the regional track that covers your country. For Pakistan this is typically Asia Pacific.
- Complete the online application with transcripts, essays and proof of enrollment before that region's deadline.
- A Google-led selection committee reviews applications for academic merit and leadership impact.
- Finalists may be contacted for additional information or interviews.
- Selected scholars are announced and invited to the scholars' retreat or summit for their region.
Applying through the wrong regional track is an easy way to waste a whole cycle. Read the track's country list before you fill in anything.
When things usually happen
Applications typically open in March/April, with timing that varies by regional track. The deadline also varies by region, so there is no single date to put in your calendar until the current cycle is announced. Selection and interviews follow in the months after the deadline, and scholars are announced and attend the retreat later in the year.
Dates for the coming cycle are unconfirmed. Start watching the official portal from early spring, because regional windows can close quickly once they open.
How to write an application that gets past the committee
The committee is judging two things: academic merit and leadership impact. Your transcript handles the first. Everything else in your application has to prove the second.
Use concrete examples in your essays. "I am passionate about women in tech" says nothing. "I started a weekly Python study circle for first-year girls in my department and kept it running for two semesters" says a lot. Name what you did, who it helped and what changed.
Include the work that you might think is too small. Organising or taking part in a coding club, a hackathon, or a women-in-tech initiative at your university all count as evidence. So does tutoring juniors or running workshops in your community.
Keep your resume focused on technical projects and measurable outcomes. A final year project, an app with real users, an open source contribution or a competition result will do more than a long list of soft skills.
A few mistakes come up again and again:
- Writing essays that repeat the CV instead of explaining your goals and your community involvement.
- Waiting until the last week and finding the regional window has already closed.
- Assuming last year's deadline, track or award amount applies this year.
- Applying after graduating, when the program requires current enrollment.
Who should skip it? If you have strong grades but no leadership or community involvement at all, you will struggle to stand out this cycle. Spend a semester building that record, then apply next year with real examples. If you are only after full tuition funding for a foreign degree, look at our scholarships guide for Pakistani students or browse all global scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
Can Pakistani women apply for the Women Techmakers Scholars Program?
Pakistan is typically covered under the Asia Pacific track. Country eligibility is confirmed each cycle, so check the current Asia Pacific track on the official site before applying.
Which degrees and fields qualify?
Bachelor's and Master's students currently enrolled in computer science, computer engineering, software engineering, information technology or a closely related technical field.
How much money do scholars receive?
Scholars receive a cash award toward tuition and educational expenses. The amount varies by regional track, so confirm the figure for your region in the current cycle.
Does the scholarship include more than money?
Yes. Scholars are invited to a retreat or summit with Google engineers and Women Techmakers leads, with mentorship, networking and workshops, and they join a global community of women in tech.
Is there an interview?
Finalists may be contacted for additional information or interviews after the Google-led committee reviews applications. Not every applicant goes through this stage.
Do I need to study abroad to apply?
No. The requirement is current enrollment in an eligible undergraduate or graduate program. Eligibility is set by the country covered by your regional track, so confirm the details for your situation on the official site.
Before you apply, check the current regional cycle on the official Women Techmakers Scholars website and keep the full Google Women Techmakers Scholars Program page bookmarked for updates.