In September 2008, Maria Sharapova announced the launch of a $210,000 scholarship programme for students from Chernobyl-affected areas of Belarus. The initial period of this joint initiative of the Maria Sharapova Foundation and the United Nations Development Programme, where she serves as Goodwill Ambassador, is 8 years. The programme will enable 12 young talented people to take a full course of study at two leading universities of Belarus. Three incoming students will be awarded scholarships each year, over an initial four-year period.

Currently Belarusian State University and Belarusian State Academy of Arts have announced a competition for scholarships.

Full-time freshmen of Belarusian State Academy of Arts and full-time students of the Faculty of the Humanities of Belarusian State University majoring in design, who have suffered from the Chernobyl disaster or who have lived in the territories of Luninets, Pinsk, Stolin Districts of Brest Region, Bragin, Buda-Koshelevo, Vetka, Dobrush, Yelsk, Kalinkovichi, Kormiany, Lelchitsy, Narovlya, Rechitsa, Rogachev, Khoiniki, Chechersk Districts of Gomel Region, and Bykhov, Kostiukovichi, Krasnopolye, Slavgorod, Cherikov Districts of Mogilev Region for at least 10 years are legible to apply. An applicant should have a high average grade in his/her secondary or specialized secondary school graduation diploma. He/she should also take an active part in social, scientific and/or volunteer activities.

A $3,500 scholarship provided during the academic year supplements other stipends. Based on the results of the competition, the scholarships are awarded for the whole study period. An application with the documents attached proving the compliance with the requirements listed in the Foundation Scholarships Annex, as well as samples of creative works should be submitted to the selection committee no later than 31 August 2009.

Based on the results of the first stage (15 September 2009), the selection commission consisting of representatives of the universities, UNDP, and the Ministry of Emergencies of Belarus will make a list of 10 contenders, which will be submitted to Maria Sharapova Foundation. At the second stage (no later than 1 October 2009), the Foundation will select the scholarship winners.