Source: cyprus-mail.com
Cypriot women pursuing postgraduate studies in shipping, innovation and technology can apply for six state scholarships worth €5,000 each, following an announcement on Monday by the Gender Equality Commissioner’s Office and the Cyprus State Scholarship Foundation.
The scholarships, offering a combined €30,000, are available for the 2026-2027 academic year and have been established in memory of Dr Christiana Kouta.
According to the official announcement, the funding covers postgraduate programmes involving full-time or part-time in-person attendance, whether at universities in Cyprus or abroad.
To qualify, applicants must hold Cypriot citizenship and a university degree with a minimum grade of 6.5 out of 10, equivalent to an Upper Second-Class Honours degree of 60 per cent, a GPA of 3.0 out of 4.0, or 13 out of 20 for graduates of French universities.
Academic performance, however, will not be the only consideration.
The selection process also takes into account social circumstances, including applicants from single-parent or large families and those who have lost a parent.
Health-related factors, such as disability or serious illness, will also form part of the assessment.
The latest scholarships follow earlier efforts to encourage more women to pursue careers in shipping and technology, particularly in professions where female representation remains limited.
During a January 2025 campaign promoting women’s participation in maritime careers, Gender Equality Commissioner Josie Christodoulou highlighted the gender imbalance in the sector.
At the time, she said women represented just 20 per cent of the global maritime workforce, while only 2 per cent of seafarers were women.
The scholarship programme is among the initiatives introduced to help address these disparities by supporting women seeking further qualifications in shipping-related and technological fields.
Applications opened on October 19, with the deadline set for Monday, November 9, 2026, at 3pm.
Interested applicants can obtain the relevant forms and further information through the scholarship foundation website.
Completed applications, accompanied by all required supporting documents, must be submitted to the Cyprus State Scholarship Foundation by post, courier or email at [email protected].