Amazon India announced 500 new scholarships today for female engineering students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, following remarkable success with its first cohort of graduates. The inaugural Amazon Future Engineer (AFE) class achieved an impressive 80% placement rate, with graduates securing roles at Fortune 500 companies, including positions at Amazon itself. The program, which provides financial assistance, laptops, technical training, and mentorship, has already transformed the lives of young women from rural villages and small towns across India, helping them break into the traditionally male-dominated tech industry.
"Amazon is deeply committed to fostering diversity in India's tech workforce by creating pathways for talented young women who might otherwise be excluded from the country's digital revolution," says Prateek Agarwal, Amazon Future Engineer Lead, Amazon India.
"Seeing these scholars—many of whom are first-generation college graduates from tier-2 and tier-3 cities like Latur in Maharashtra and Chaibasa in Jharkhand—transform into confident tech professionals demonstrates the impact of providing equal opportunities in education and career development. Success demonstrates what happens when opportunities meet potential: exceptional talent emerges regardless of background."
What does AFE offer?
What makes AFE truly transformative is its holistic approach. Each scholar receives:
- Financial assistance of ₹2 lakh over four years
- A laptop
- Specialised technical training
- Paid internships at Amazon
- One-on-one mentorship from experienced engineers
Here’s how you can apply for AFE
Applications for the 2025-2029 academic cycle open August 18 through November 30, continuing Amazon's commitment to diversifying India's tech workforce. Applicants can visit www.amazonfutureengineer.in/scholarship to learn more about eligibility requirements and submit their application.
From farm to Fortune 500
For Sreya Mula, whose father works as a labourer in Telangana, the journey to becoming a Software Development Engineer at Amazon seemed impossible not long ago. "The AFE scholarship gave me the support and belief I needed to keep going," says Sreya, who struggled with necessities like a personal laptop during her early college years.
Similar stories echo across India's smaller towns and villages. Keerthi Sankara, daughter of farmers from Andhra Pradesh, is now preparing to join Amazon Web Services as a Cloud Support Associate. Likhitanjali Gokaraju, another first-generation learner whose father farms in Siddipet, will soon be a Software Development Engineer in Hyderabad.
Bridging the knowledge divide
For many scholars, the program bridges critical gaps between theoretical knowledge and industry demands. Hima Bindu, whose father works as an electrician in Andhra Pradesh, remembers the initial shock of adapting to Amazon's codebase during her internship. "Working on real-time projects and adapting to such high benchmarks significantly improved my technical skills," she says. Now, she's preparing to join Amazon's Hyderabad office as a Quality Assurance Engineer.
The program intentionally focuses on students from tier-2 and tier-3 cities—areas often overlooked in India's tech boom.
For Samala Keerthi, whose father runs a small kirana shop earning less than ₹25,000 monthly, her new role at Amazon represents more than just a job. "The scholarship didn't just provide financial support—it gave me confidence, mentorship, and real-world experience that transformed my career," she reflects.
AFE’s ripple effect
With 1,700 scholarships awarded across four cohorts and 385 scholars having completed internships in various technical roles, AFE's impact extends beyond individual success stories.
Akshaya Aega, who faced both financial strain and her father's health challenges during the pandemic, sees her journey as coming full circle. "I knew people believed in me, and this encouragement pushed me to stay focused," she says. Now, her goal is to mentor others from similar backgrounds.
This sentiment is shared by many AFE graduates, creating a multiplier effect for the program's impact.
The road ahead with AFE
As Amazon opens applications for 500 new scholarships for the 2025-2029 academic cycle, the program continues to evolve. Working with implementation partner Foundation for Excellence (FFE), a non-profit dedicated to empowering students from low-income backgrounds, Amazon employs a rigorous selection process that evaluates candidates based on academic merit, financial need, and leadership potential.
"What makes the Amazon Future Engineer program truly exceptional is its holistic approach to nurturing the next generation of female technology leaders," says Ram Kolavennu, Chief Executive Officer, Foundation for Excellence. "By integrating financial support, mentorship, skills development, and real-world experience at a global technology leader like Amazon, this program empowers talented young women from low-income backgrounds with transformative opportunities in technology. It's not just shaping bright engineers but technology leaders of the future."
