Amazon Expands Future Engineer Initiative with 500 New Scholarships for Women in Tech

Amazon has unveiled plans to award 500 fresh scholarships in 2026 through its Future Engineer (AFE) program, a global initiative aimed at democratizing access to technology education and career pathways. The expansion brings the total number of active scholars enrolled in the program to 2,200 across India.

The scholarship scheme targets female engineering students from economically weaker sections pursuing undergraduate degrees in computer science and related disciplines. Recipients gain access to ₹2 lakh in financial assistance spread across four years, complemented by a laptop, intensive technical bootcamps, webinar sessions conducted by Amazon Women of the World, one-on-one guidance from Amazon technologists, and paid eight-week internship placements following their second year of studies.

"Every student deserves the opportunity to discover their potential. With the Amazon Future Engineer Scholarships, we're investing in the leaders who will shape the future of work—the talented, determined students in communities across India," stated Candi Castleberry, vice president of Amazon eXperiences and Upskilling. "The 2026 scholarship recipients demonstrate what's possible when we create upskilling pathways together and remove the barriers standing between young people and their dreams."

The program announcement coincided with the inaugural Together India Summit, where Amazon highlighted its broader commitment to developing talent pipelines within India's technology sector. The initiative operates under two complementary frameworks: Together at Amazon, which focuses on employee growth and skill advancement, and In This Together, designed to create career discovery opportunities for students, communities, and entrepreneurs.

Since its establishment in 2022 with 200 initial beneficiaries, the program has experienced steady growth. Annual scholarship allocations increased to 500 from 2023 onwards. Candidate selection follows a comprehensive evaluation framework incorporating academic performance, financial circumstances, and demonstrated leadership qualities.

The program's inaugural graduating class, which completed studies in 2025, achieved an 89% employment rate. Graduates have secured positions at major multinational corporations, with several joining Amazon itself. Approximately 400 scholars have completed internship stints across technical divisions at Amazon, with additional cohorts expected to commence placements as they progress through their academic programs.

Many participants represent first-generation university attendees originating from smaller metropolitan areas and rural regions. Notable graduates include Sreya Mula from Telangana, now working as a Software Development Engineer; Keerthi Sankara from Andhra Pradesh, employed as a Cloud Support Associate; and Anjali Ashtake from Nagpur, Maharashtra, currently serving as a Graduate Analyst at Deutsche Bank.

Since inception, Amazon has committed approximately ₹50 crore (roughly USD 6 million) to the AFE initiative. The Foundation for Excellence manages scholarship implementation, while NavGurukul provides specialized technical instruction to equip scholars with market-ready competencies.

Beyond the scholarship component, the program has extended its reach to 4.8 million students across more than 50,000 government educational institutions throughout India between 2021 and 2025, offering foundational computer science and artificial intelligence instruction.