Amazon Expands Scholarship Initiative to Support 2,200 Women in Engineering Across India

Amazon has unveiled plans to award 500 new scholarships in 2026 as part of its Amazon Future Engineer (AFE) initiative, marking a significant expansion of its efforts to support female engineering students from economically disadvantaged families in India. The move brings the program's total number of active scholars to 2,200.

The initiative, which operates as Amazon's global computer science education platform, aims to democratize access to technology training and professional pathways. Each scholarship recipient receives ₹2 lakh in financial aid distributed over four years for students enrolled in B.E. or B.Tech programs specializing in computer science or related disciplines.

Beyond monetary support, scholars gain access to a laptop, intensive technical bootcamps, webinar series facilitated by Amazon Women of the World, personalized guidance from Amazon technical professionals, and an eight-week paid internship opportunity at Amazon beginning after their second year of study.

"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," said 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 also highlighted its broader commitment to building career pathways in technology. The Together at Amazon initiative seeks to foster employee development through skills training, workplace resources, and community participation, while In This Together focuses on connecting students, consumers, communities, and entrepreneurs with Amazon opportunities.

Growing Impact and Strong Outcomes

Since its inception in 2022 with 200 recipients, the AFE program has demonstrated consistent growth. Annual scholarship allocations increased to 500 starting in 2023. The selection process evaluates candidates on academic performance, financial circumstances, and demonstrated leadership qualities.

The program's inaugural graduating cohort in 2025 achieved an 89% employment rate, with graduates landing positions at major multinational corporations, including Amazon itself. Approximately 400 scholars have completed internships at Amazon across diverse technical functions, with additional cohorts preparing to begin internships as they progress through their studies.

A substantial portion of participants are first-generation university attendees hailing from smaller metropolitan centers and rural areas across India, underscoring the program's reach into underserved communities. Notable graduates include Sreya Mula from Telangana, now employed as a Software Development Engineer; Keerthi Sankara from Andhra Pradesh, serving as a Cloud Support Associate; and Anjali Ashtake from Nagpur, Maharashtra, currently working as a Graduate Analyst at Deutsche Bank.

Broader Educational Reach

Amazon has committed approximately ₹50 crore (roughly USD 6 million) to the AFE program since 2022, constructing a comprehensive pathway from scholarship receipt to professional employment for young women in technology fields. The Foundation for Excellence administers the scholarship component, while NavGurukul delivers technical curriculum designed to equip participants with job-ready competencies and internship preparation.

The program's scope extends well beyond scholarship recipients. Between 2021 and 2025, AFE has delivered computer science and artificial intelligence instruction to 4.8 million students attending over 50,000 government schools throughout India, significantly broadening technology education access across the nation.