The L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science International Rising Talents award is unusual among the opportunities we cover, because you cannot simply fill in a form and apply. It is an international honour for women scientists at PhD or postdoctoral level, and the only way in is through a national or regional For Women in Science programme first. Each year an international committee picks 15 Rising Talents worldwide, and each one receives a €15,000 grant plus a leadership development programme. You can read the full scholarship details on our listing, but this guide focuses on how the pathway actually works and what a Pakistani researcher should check before investing time in it.
The short version: this is a recognition award for women who are already doing strong research, not a scholarship that pays for a degree. If you are looking for tuition and living costs for a PhD abroad, this is the wrong tool. If you are a woman in a PhD or postdoc with a solid research record and you want international visibility on your CV, it is worth understanding properly.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Provider | L'Oréal Foundation and UNESCO |
| Funding | Partial funding: €15,000 grant per Rising Talent, plus leadership training |
| Number of awards | 15 worldwide each year |
| Level | PhD and postdoctoral researchers |
| Fields | All STEM fields (life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, computer science, engineering) |
| Deadline | Set by national or regional For Women in Science programme cycles, so it varies by country |
| Country | Global programme coordinated from UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France |
| Official site | forwomeninscience.com |
A two-stage award, not an open call
The L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science programme has supported women scientists since 1998 through national, regional and international awards. Every year, independent national or regional juries select women scientists as "Young Talents" or fellows of their local programme. These local editions run in more than 110 countries, and many countries, including some in South Asia, run their own national version.
The International Rising Talents track sits on top of that network. Out of the hundreds of national and regional fellows selected each year, those fellows are invited to apply to an international committee. That committee then chooses 15 women whose research stands out for its excellence and impact.
This structure is the single most misunderstood thing about the award. Direct international applications outside the nomination route are not accepted. If you go to the official website looking for a "Rising Talents application form" without first being a national or regional fellow, you will not find a way in. The form only comes to you on invitation.
The Pakistan question you need to settle first
Because entry depends on a local programme, your eligibility as a Pakistani researcher depends on whether a For Women in Science national programme operates in Pakistan, or whether a regional programme covering South Asia accepts candidates from Pakistan in the year you want to apply. Availability varies by year and region. Do not assume there is a Pakistan edition running right now, and do not assume there is not.
What to do in practice:
- Check the current regional programme listings on the UNESCO For Women in Science programme page and the For Women in Science website.
- Ask your university's research office or any gender-in-STEM committee whether they track nomination deadlines for this programme.
- If you are already doing your PhD or postdoc in another country, check whether that country runs a national programme and whether it would accept you. Confirm the nationality and residency rules of that specific national edition before applying.
If no route exists for you this cycle, the honest advice is to keep checking each year rather than trying to force an application through the international stage.
What the €15,000 grant and training add up to
Each of the 15 International Rising Talents receives a €15,000 grant. This is on top of whatever support she already received at the national or regional level, so it builds on the local fellowship rather than replacing it.
The non-cash part is arguably the bigger draw:
- Recognition at a global awards ceremony.
- A dedicated leadership and career-development programme covering communication, networking and career advancement.
- Global media visibility.
- Networking with past laureates and earlier Rising Talents.
The funding is classed as partial. It is a research and career grant, not a full scholarship covering a degree, tuition or living costs for years of study. Treat it as a strong addition to your existing funding, not your main source of support.
The leadership element matters more than people expect. Research-only grants rarely train you in communication or career strategy, and women scientists are often under-supported in exactly those areas. The international visibility also carries weight later, when you apply for grants and fellowships and need reviewers to recognise your name quickly.
Eligibility in plain terms
To be considered at the international stage, you need to be:
- A woman scientist enrolled in a PhD, recently finished with one, or working in a postdoctoral research position.
- Already selected as a national or regional "Young Talent" or fellow through a local For Women in Science programme, or through an equivalent nomination process.
- Able to show a research record with excellence and potential impact in a STEM field.
There is no restriction to one discipline. Life sciences, physics, mathematics, computer science and engineering are all in scope. There is also no age restriction beyond being at the PhD or postdoc career stage, which helps women whose doctoral work started later than usual.
The national programmes may have their own extra conditions. Read the rules of the specific national or regional edition you are applying to, because that is the first gate you have to pass.
Papers you will be asked for
The documents come in two waves: first for the national or regional programme, then for the international stage if you are invited. Across both, expect to prepare:
- Your national or regional Young Talents nomination or fellowship confirmation.
- A CV and list of publications.
- A research summary or project description.
- Letters of recommendation, as required by the national programme.
- The International Rising Talents application form, which arrives only on invitation.
If you are pulling together academic records for several applications at once, our documents checklist for international scholarships is a useful companion.
The route from national fellow to Rising Talent
- Find out whether your country or region runs a For Women in Science national fellowship or Young Talents programme, using the UNESCO and L'Oréal Foundation regional listings, then apply to it.
- If the national or regional jury selects you, you become eligible to be invited to the international stage.
- When invited, submit the International Rising Talents application with your CV, research summary and recommendations.
- An international selection committee reviews the nominated candidates from around the world.
- The 15 Rising Talents are announced and honoured at the global awards ceremony.
- Recipients take part in the leadership training programme and receive their grant.
When things happen across the year
There is no single global deadline. The national and regional nomination cycles vary by country, and that is the date that really controls your chances. The international invitation and review stage typically falls in the middle to late part of the year. The announcement and awards ceremony is usually held annually, but the date varies.
Since cycles differ, confirm the exact deadline for your national or regional programme on the official portal well in advance. Timing across cycles can be tight, so applying to the national programme as early in your PhD or postdoc as eligibility allows gives you more room.
Where strong candidates lose ground
The most common mistake is treating this as something you can apply to directly. It is not, and time spent drafting an international application without a national nomination is wasted.
The second is leaning only on publication count. National juries and the international committee are looking for excellence and impact, and a clear research narrative tends to carry more weight than a long list of papers with no thread running through them. Build your case around what your research changes and why it matters.
Third, many applicants write their research summary for people in their own subfield. Write it so a general scientific audience can understand it and find it compelling. A chemist on the committee should be able to follow a computer science summary without a glossary.
Fourth, do not hide your mentorship, outreach or advocacy work. The leadership component of the programme is explicitly valued, so supervising students, running workshops, or encouraging girls into science belongs in your application alongside your core research.
Finally, keep your recommenders informed early. Recommendation requirements are set by the national programme, and letters are the piece most often delayed by other people's schedules.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply directly to the International Rising Talents programme?
No. You must first be selected through a national or regional For Women in Science fellowship or Young Talents programme. Only then can you be invited to the international stage.
Is there a national programme for Pakistan?
Availability varies by year and region. Check the current UNESCO and L'Oréal Foundation regional programme listings for South Asia before planning your application.
Which fields are eligible?
All STEM disciplines, including life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, computer science and engineering. There is no restriction to a specific field.
How much funding do winners receive?
Each of the 15 International Rising Talents receives a €15,000 grant plus leadership training. This is added to any support received at the national or regional level.
Is there an age limit?
There is no age restriction beyond being at the PhD or postdoctoral career stage. National programmes may set their own conditions, so read their rules too.
Does this pay for my PhD tuition?
No. It is a partial-funding award and recognition programme for researchers already at PhD or postdoc level, not a degree scholarship.
For current cycle information, start with the official International Rising Talents page, and keep the full scholarship page bookmarked for the key facts in one place.