Interested in Becoming a WMI Scholar?
Ideal Candidate – A student, male or female, from a country in the developing world who:
- Will be 35 years of age or younger as of August 1, 2025
- Has completed or is in the final year of secondary education, with above-average to excellent grades
- Is applying to university or is currently enrolled and taking classes towards completion of their first undergraduate degree
- Will be studying in their home country or another country in the developing world
- Plans to live and work in their own country after graduation
- Has participated in volunteer service before applying for this scholarship and is committed to volunteering within their community during their studies
- Has some funding available for their education but will not be able to go to university or continue without assistance. The WMI scholarship does not always cover the full cost of tuition and associated educational expenses. The scholarship is not intended to be a full scholarship.
Applications must be received by March 1 of each year to be considered for the following academic year. WMI Scholars are selected through an in-depth multi-step review process. The selected WMI Scholars will be emailed on August 1. Their names will also be published on WMI website homepage and the WMI Facebook page. Those who are not selected will also be notified after August 1.
Family members of WMI Staff and of WMI Scholars are not eligible to apply.
Please note: Use of uncredited ideas and content created by other persons and use of uncredited AI-generated content is plagiarism and goes against the policies and ideals of WMI. Any applicants found to have plagiarized their essays will be considered ineligible for a scholarship.
*Scholars planning to study in the United States, Canada, Australia, UK or Western Europe will not qualify for a WMI Scholarship
The following are suggestions to enhance your application:
- Record all of your service activities (dates, activities, time spent, photographs, etc.)
- Collect your secondary school transcript, national exam results and grading keys to interpret your results
- Request two letters of recommendation on official stationery from two people who know you professionally/personally and can showcase the reasons you deserve this scholarship
- Have all of your documents translated into English
The following are required elements for an application to be considered complete:
- Clear personal photo
- Essay (topic is stated on application form)
- 2025 application form
- Personal essay statement
- Two recommendation letters*
- Official transcript of grades from secondary school
- Official grading key to interpret secondary school grades**
- Official transcript of grades from tertiary studies (if applicable)
- Official grading key to interpret tertiary grades**
- Official results from your national exam
- Official grading key to interpret scores on your national exam**
**Official grading keys must be provided by the school issuing the grades or the government issuing the national exam. Grading keys that are not official will result in your application being disqualified. Contact your secondary school, university, or government for this document.
How to apply?
Due Date: 2 March 2025 at 6:59 AM
Attention Scholarship Applicants!
No matter what you may be told there are NO FEES required to submit a scholarship application to the Wells Mountain Initiative! You only need to submit a complete application through our website, by our one deadline each year of March 1.
