Amazon has announced the expansion of its Amazon Future Engineer (AFE) program in India, adding 500 new scholarships exclusively for female engineering students from low-income backgrounds. This addition brings the total number of scholars supported by the program to 2,200, reinforcing Amazon's commitment to creating pathways into technology careers for underserved communities.
Scholarship Details and Benefits
Each scholarship provides financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh over four years for students pursuing B.E. or B.Tech degrees in computer science and allied fields. Beyond monetary support, recipients gain access to laptops, technical bootcamps, mentorship from Amazon engineers, and a paid eight-week internship at Amazon after their second year of study.
Program Growth and Impact
Launched in 2022 with just 200 scholars, the AFE program has scaled rapidly. The first graduating cohort in 2025 achieved an impressive 89% placement rate, with students securing roles at Amazon and other Fortune 500 companies. Many of these scholars are first-generation graduates from tier-2 and tier-3 cities, highlighting the program's reach into underserved regions.
Since its inception, Amazon has invested Rs 50 crore (approximately USD 6 million) in the AFE initiative. In partnership with the Foundation for Excellence and NavGurukul, the program has also reached 4.8 million students across 50,000 government schools, delivering computer science and artificial intelligence education.
Candi Castleberry, vice president of Amazon eXperiences and Upskilling, stated: "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."
The expansion underscores Amazon's ongoing efforts to bridge the gender gap in technology and provide equal opportunities for women from economically disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue careers in engineering and technology.
