Call for Applications: Women 4 Water – Swarovski Foundation Scholarships 2026 (MSc in Water and Sustainable Development)

Application Deadline for Academic Admission: July 1, 2026

About the Scholarships

The Swarovski Foundation, through the Women 4 Water initiative, offers three full scholarships for female applicants who have been academically admitted to the regular one-year MSc programme in Water and Sustainable Development starting in November 2026. The partnership between IHE Delft Institute for Water Education and the Swarovski Foundation was announced at World Water Week in Stockholm in 2025. This collaboration strengthens education and career opportunities for young water professionals from the Global South, while supporting wider engagement on water sustainability.

Eligibility Criteria

• The call is for female candidates only, contributing to increased gender equity and leadership in the water sector
• Eligible applicants are nationals of a low- or lower/upper middle-income country who are currently living and working in such a country, and who commit to returning to a low- or lower/upper middle-income country upon completion of the study programme to apply the knowledge and skills acquired
• Applicants must have received academic admission to the regular one-year MSc Programme in Water and Sustainable Development and must have selected the Water Resources and Ecosystem Health track as their preferred track in their application for admission
• Applicants must have indicated one of the following preferred profiles in their academic application: Environment, or Digital Innovation and Hydroinformatics

Applicants who have been granted conditional admission are not eligible for this scholarship. Applicants who have already been awarded a scholarship from another source will not be considered.

Priority Criteria

Applicants who are interested to integrate technical competencies (data analysis, modelling, and planning) with systems thinking on water, biodiversity, and sustainable development are prioritized. A strong emphasis is placed on innovation and interdisciplinary approaches.

Priority for applicants whose interest and work are related to:

• Biodiversity and innovation
• Technical skills: GIS, remote sensing, AI, environmental modelling
• Biodiversity focus: Wetlands, aquatic ecosystems, river basin ecology

Possible thesis topics include: Nature-based solutions, ecosystem restoration, biodiversity monitoring, environmental flows, climate adaptation.

Application Procedure

Step 1: All applicants who have received unconditional academic admission to the regular one-year MSc Programme in Water and Sustainable Development by July 12, 2026 and who meet the eligibility criteria will be considered in the initial selection round.

Note: Applications for academic admission received after the official application deadline of July 1, 2026 will not be considered.

Step 2: A shortlist will be drawn up of candidates who best meet the priority criteria. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to apply for the scholarship and asked to complete and submit a brief scholarship application form.

Step 3: Based on the submitted applications, a further selection will be made, and a limited number of candidates will be invited for an interview.

Step 4: Following the interviews, three candidates will be selected to receive the scholarship award.

Important Notes

• Please do not send an email to IHE Delft requesting consideration for this scholarship. All applicants will be assessed exclusively through the procedure described above, and enquiries regarding individual consideration will not receive a response.
• Applicants who have been granted conditional admission are not eligible for this scholarship.
• Applicants who have already been awarded a scholarship from another source will not be considered.

Why This Scholarship Matters

Women are significantly underrepresented in the water sector globally, particularly in leadership positions and technical roles. At the same time, water scarcity, ecosystem degradation, and climate change disproportionately affect women and girls in low- and middle-income countries, who are often responsible for water collection and management at the household level.

The Women 4 Water – Swarovski Foundation Scholarships address these gaps by:

• Providing three full scholarships for women from low- and middle-income countries
• Focusing on the intersection of water resources and ecosystem health
• Prioritizing applicants with technical skills in GIS, remote sensing, AI, and environmental modelling
• Emphasizing innovation and interdisciplinary approaches to water challenges
• Requiring a commitment to return to a low- or middle-income country to apply acquired knowledge and skills

For women water professionals from low- and middle-income countries with a background in environment or digital innovation, this scholarship offers a fully funded pathway to a world-class MSc at IHE Delft, the largest water education institution in the world.

How to Apply

If you already have received unconditional academic admission to the regular one-year MSc Programme in Water and Sustainable Development and meet the eligibility criteria, you will be considered in the initial selection round. No separate scholarship application is required at the initial stage.

Apply now: First, apply for academic admission to the MSc Programme in Water and Sustainable Development at IHE Delft.

Application Link: Click here to appy

More information about the MSc Programme and admission and application to the programme are available on the IHE Delft website.