The P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship (IPS) is a notable funding opportunity committed to supporting women from around the world in pursuing advanced degrees in the United States and Canada. Founded on the principles of promoting women’s education and leadership, this scholarship program can fully or partially cover the tuition and educational expenses, helping countless women achieve their academic and professional aspirations. If you’re a woman graduate student seeking financial assistance to study in North America, the P.E.O. IPS could be the stepping stone to an enriching and transformative experience.
This guide examines the scholarship’s history, eligibility, application, award coverage, and more. By the end, you’ll have a comprehensive blueprint for determining if the P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship aligns with your goals and how to structure a standout application.
Introduction to P.E.O. and Its Mission
What Is P.E.O.?
Founded in 1869, the P.E.O. Sisterhood is a philanthropic and educational organization dedicated to advancing opportunities for women. Across chapters in the United States and Canada, P.E.O. members champion multiple scholarship and grant programs. Their projects include the P.E.O. Educational Loan Fund, Program for Continuing Education, Cottey College scholarships, and the International Peace Scholarship—all designed to help women pursue academic excellence and leadership roles.
The International Peace Scholarship
Among P.E.O.’s numerous initiatives, the International Peace Scholarship (IPS) stands out for its global reach, supporting female graduate students from around the world. Operating since 1949, IPS not only provides monetary awards but also nurtures an international community of accomplished women who often go on to become thought leaders, researchers, policy drivers, and educators in their home countries.
Key Features of the IPS
- Focus on Graduate-Level Study: IPS is specifically for women enrolling in full-time graduate or postgraduate programs—leading to master’s, doctoral, or postdoctoral degrees—in accredited North American colleges or universities.
- Partial or Full Funding: Award amounts vary. IPS covers a maximum of $12,500 (as of the latest guidelines), which can fully or partly offset tuition, fees, and living expenses, depending on costs and a student’s other funding sources.
- Global Orientation: Although the scholarship extends to women from various countries, it underlines using newly acquired knowledge back home—benefiting local societies, economies, and educational systems.
- Renewable: Recipients may reapply each year for the duration of their program, up to two years, if they continue to meet eligibility criteria and demonstrate satisfactory academic progress.
Who Is Eligible?
Nationality Requirements
IPS supports women who are citizens of nations other than the U.S. or Canada. Dual citizens (including U.S. or Canadian nationality) typically do not qualify. The program aims to host a diverse community, ensuring representation from multiple continents and cultures.
Academic Requirements
- Graduate or Postgraduate Enrollment: Must be admitted or planning to enroll in a full-time master’s, doctoral, or postdoctoral program at a recognized institution in the U.S. or Canada.
- Proof of Acceptance: By the time of the application, you must either have a letter of admission or be a continuing student in good standing.
- Academic Excellence: While there is no strict GPA threshold, the scholarship is competitive, so demonstrating strong academic records, standardized scores (where relevant), and recommendations can be pivotal.
Financial Need and Other Funding
P.E.O. requires demonstrating partial need. However, they also expect the applicant to secure other funding sources (like personal savings, family support, research assistantships, or smaller grants) because the IPS alone may not fully cover all expenses. Applicants must provide a budget plan detailing total costs and all potential funding streams.
Commitment to Return Home
A key IPS philosophy is that recipients should return to their home countries after graduation. While not strictly enforced, the organization emphasizes the scholar’s pledge to use her advanced skills to uplift local communities, aligning with P.E.O.’s vision of “women helping women reach for the stars.”
How to Apply
Preliminary Application (“Eligibility Form”)
The first step is often a brief eligibility form, typically available online from September 15 to December 15. This form confirms your citizenship status, study level, and plan to attend an accredited institution in the U.S. or Canada. If approved, you’ll receive instructions to move forward with the full application.
Application Package
- Online Application: This includes biographical info, a statement of purpose, educational history, extracurricular achievements, and future goals.
- Personal Essay: Typically 500–750 words explaining your motivation for graduate study, how this scholarship will impact your career aspirations, and your commitment to advancing women’s causes or societal development back home.
- Budget Plan: A detailed outline of tuition, fees, living costs, plus any existing funds. Show clarity about how you’ll cover the remainder of costs not underwritten by IPS.
- References: Two or three recommendation letters from academic advisors, professors, or professional mentors attesting to your academic preparedness, leadership potential, and moral character.
- Admission Proof: A letter of acceptance from your intended institution if you’re a new student, or an enrollment status document if you’re continuing.
Deadlines
- Eligibility forms: Typically open mid-September, must be submitted by mid-December.
- Full application: Usually due mid-March.
- Notification: Award decisions often arrive in May or June, in time for the upcoming academic year.
Application Tips
- Start Early: Round up transcripts, test scores, references, and acceptance letters well before deadlines.
- Highlight Impact: Underscore how your research or field of study addresses real problems in your home country—like public health disparities or gender-based inequalities.
- Demonstrate Collaboration: Emphasize volunteerism, club leadership, or community outreach experiences. P.E.O. fosters women’s networks, so align your narrative with forging partnerships and giving back.
- Financial Transparency: Provide accurate cost breakdowns and evidence for other scholarships or personal resources you have. P.E.O. expects realistic budgets.
Selection Criteria
With limited annual slots, the IPS remains competitive. Committees weigh:
- Academic Merit: Stellar grades, relevant coursework, honors, and a track record of academic excellence.
- Leadership and Service: Volunteer roles, organizational leadership, community projects, or entrepreneurial ventures that reveal your social conscience.
- Potential for Home-Country Impact: A robust plan for utilizing your newly acquired expertise to catalyze health, education, economic, or social development once you return.
- Communication Skills: Essays and references showing strong written and interpersonal aptitude, essential for success in graduate environments.
- Fit with P.E.O. Values: The sisterhood champions collaboration, empowerment, and ethical leadership—applicants who resonate with these ideals gain traction.
Funding Coverage and Distribution
Scholarship Amount
The maximum annual scholarship is approximately $12,500 (recently). Some scholars might get less, depending on assessed need, the cost of their specific program, and other scholarships they receive. Renewal for subsequent years is possible, but contingent on academic success and ongoing need.
Permitted Uses
Funds typically cover:
- Tuition and Fees: Direct payment to the institution for academic expenses.
- Books and Research: Certain academic supplies or small research-related costs.
- Living Allowances: If the award suffices, partial coverage of housing or meal plans. Often, you’ll supplement from other sources, such as personal savings or teaching assistantships.
Renewal Conditions
IPS recipients must maintain good academic standing (often with a minimum GPA requirement) and file a renewal form with updated transcripts and financial details each year.
Life as a P.E.O. Scholar
Academic Rigor
As a graduate student in North America, you’ll likely face demanding coursework, lab assignments, or field research. Effective time management and building professor-mentor relationships are vital.
Cultural Integration
Moving to a new country may be exhilarating yet challenging. P.E.O. chapters in some areas might extend hospitality, inviting you to social gatherings or local service projects. This fosters a sense of community far from home.
Networking and Mentorship
Many scholars connect with local P.E.O. members, forging supportive relationships. Outside campus, professional organizations or departmental networks can also broaden your career horizons, lead to conference invitations, or highlight job opportunities.
Community Engagement
Given P.E.O.’s philanthropic spirit, scholars often partake in volunteer initiatives or campus clubs that empower women or address pressing social issues. Embracing these extracurricular pursuits can amplify personal growth and showcase leadership potential.
Post-Scholarship Impact
Return to Home Country
Although not legally enforced, P.E.O. International Peace Scholarships operate under an expectation that graduates re-invest their learning into their home countries. Many alumni become influential professors, healthcare specialists, NGO directors, social entrepreneurs, or government advisers—expanding educational, economic, and health opportunities.
Alumni Connections
IPS graduates may remain in contact with local P.E.O. chapters, assist prospective scholars, or collaborate on philanthropic ventures. Some alumni form robust communities supporting each other’s social impact projects or knowledge-sharing endeavors.
Continued Collaboration with P.E.O.
Outstanding alumni might be invited to speak at P.E.O. events, share success stories, or guest-mentor new scholars. This cyclical mentorship framework fosters a legacy of “women helping women,” bridging generations and geographies.
Comparisons With Other Scholarships
Women seeking graduate study in North America might compare the IPS to:
- AAUW International Fellowships: Also funds women for U.S.-based graduate programs. However, AAUW sets different eligibility rules and awarding amounts.
- Fulbright Foreign Student Program: Broader in scope, not exclusively for women, often government-linked, with cultural exchange goals. Funding can vary.
- PEO Program for Continuing Education: Another P.E.O. initiative, but typically for domestic re-entry women or different contexts.
- University-specific scholarships: Many institutions offer partial or full graduate funding, though not always exclusively for international women.
IPS stands out for its direct focus on international women’s empowerment and the supportive ethos of the P.E.O. sisterhood.
Common Pitfalls
- Late Application: Missing the eligibility form deadline disqualifies you from the full application. Stay vigilant with each step’s timeline.
- Understating Finances: If your budget or resources aren’t credible, the scholarship committee might question your ability to handle leftover costs.
- Generic Essays: The essay is crucial. Insufficient details about your background, leadership experiences, or future vision can diminish your candidacy.
- Weak Letters of Reference: References lacking depth or personal insight won’t strengthen your application. Choose recommenders who know you thoroughly.
- Poor Fit: Scholars who lack a commitment to returning to or contributing to their home nation’s development might struggle to demonstrate alignment with P.E.O.’s mission.
Conclusion: Taking the Next Step
The P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship embodies a powerful resource for women worldwide eager to access advanced education in North America. Its holistic approach—partial financial support combined with a supportive sisterhood, leadership development opportunities, and an ethos of returning home to create meaningful community impact—makes IPS uniquely transformative. If you’re a woman with a track record of academic excellence, a heart for service, and the drive to shape better futures, consider IPS for your graduate dreams.
Actionable Steps:
- Check Eligibility: Confirm you’re a woman with non–U.S./non-Canadian citizenship, seeking a graduate degree.
- Visit the P.E.O. Website: See the exact deadlines, guidelines, and typical award amounts for your intended year of enrollment.
- Secure University Admission: You must have or be pursuing admission to an accredited institution in the U.S. or Canada.
- Gather Documentation: Start transcripts, reference letters, financial statements, and test scores early.
- Draft Your Essays Thoughtfully: Showcase leadership roles, volunteer achievements, and how your research or professional goals serve your homeland.
- Submit Timely: Meet all form deadlines, from the eligibility screen to the final application.
Pursuing a master’s or doctoral education in a new cultural environment can be a life-changing experience—especially if fully aligned with your moral compass and developmental aspirations. With the P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship, women from diverse backgrounds gain not just financial resources, but the moral and organizational backing of P.E.O., forming communities and networks that transcend geographical barriers. By investing time in a strong, purpose-driven application, you could join the ranks of IPS recipients poised to lead in academia, government, nonprofit, or entrepreneurial sectors worldwide.
