For more than a century, the American Association of University Women (AAUW) has invested in women who refuse to let borders or barriers define their potential. Since 1917, the AAUW International Fellowships have supported thousands of women from over 150 countries as they pursue advanced degrees and return home as leaders, innovators, and change-makers. In its current form, the program focuses on STEM fields—science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and related disciplines—including medicine—offering substantial stipends to help cover the real costs of graduate study in the United States.
If you are a woman planning a master’s or doctoral program in a STEM field and intend to use your education to benefit your home country or community, this fellowship deserves serious attention. Below is a clear, practical guide to what the program offers, who qualifies, how selection works, and how to strengthen your application.
Scholarship Summary
- Host Country: United States (USA)
- Host University: Any institution accredited by the U.S. Department of Education (or eligible international institutions for certain Graduate Women International members)
- Scholarship Category: Masters Scholarships / PhD Scholarships
- Eligible Country: All countries worldwide (women who are non-U.S. citizens and non-permanent residents)
- Scholarship Benefits: Stipend of $20,000 (master’s) or $25,000 (doctorate); usable for tuition/fees, living expenses, books/supplies, dependent childcare, and limited professional travel (up to 10% of the award)
- Scholarship Deadline: September 17, 2026 (5:00 p.m. ET); applications open August 17, 2026
What Are the AAUW International Fellowships?
The AAUW International Fellowships provide financial support to women who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents for full-time graduate study in the United States. The program prioritizes STEM disciplines and seeks applicants who demonstrate academic excellence, a clear plan of study, and a commitment to advancing opportunities for women and girls.
A limited number of awards may also support study outside the applicant’s home country (and outside the U.S.) for members of Graduate Women International or for applicants from countries subject to U.S. travel bans who cannot obtain a U.S. student visa. Foreign branches of U.S. institutions are treated as outside the United States.
Award Amounts and How Funds Can Be Used
- Master’s degree: $20,000 stipend
- Doctoral degree (academic or professional): $25,000 stipend
Stipends are paid directly to the fellow in two equal installments—one at the beginning of the fellowship term and one at the midpoint. Funds may cover tuition and fees, course-required books and supplies, housing, food, other living expenses, and dependent childcare. Up to 10% of the award may be used for travel to professional meetings, conferences, or seminars.
The fellowship is a one-time award and is not renewable. It is intended to support meaningful progress during a defined fellowship year rather than to cover an entire multi-year degree.
Eligibility Requirements
To be considered, applicants must meet all of the following:
- Identify as a woman.
- Be admitted to or enrolled in their first master’s degree or first academic/professional doctoral degree in a STEM field at the time of application.
- Hold at least one academic degree equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale for the highest degree earned.
- Begin the program on or before September 15, 2027, and complete it on or after April 30, 2028.
- Pursue full-time study at a U.S. institution accredited by the U.S. Department of Education (or meet the limited exceptions for study outside the U.S.).
- Reside in the U.S. or country of study for the duration of the fellowship period.
- Be a non-U.S. citizen and not a U.S. permanent resident or applicant for permanent residency.
Previous recipients of AAUW fellowships or grants (with limited exceptions for certain local awards) and certain individuals closely connected to AAUW leadership or staff are ineligible.
STEM fields are broadly defined and include life and biological sciences, physical sciences, earth and environmental sciences, computer and data sciences, core and specialized engineering disciplines, mathematics and statistics, and certain health/medical programs (including MD, DO, DDS, PharmD, DVM, and quantitative tracks in public health or psychology). When in doubt, applicants can consult the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List, which AAUW uses as a reference.
See Also
- University of Manchester Equity and Merit Scholarship 2026 | Fully Funded Scholarship in UK
- University of British Columbia (UBC) Scholarships 2026 | Funded Scholarship in Canada
- 2026 Surf Scholarship at Keele University | Fully Funded Scholarships in UK
Selection Criteria: What Reviewers Look For
Applications are evaluated holistically. Key areas include:
- Demonstrated academic or scholarly excellence (GPA, awards, publications, presentations, research or professional accomplishments).
- A clear, feasible academic, professional, or research plan aligned with the degree program and long-term goals.
- Evidence of commitment to advancing opportunities or equity for women and girls (leadership, mentorship, advocacy, community work, or research).
- Long-term STEM career objectives and a concrete vision for how the applicant will apply expertise in service of her home country or community.
- A realistic financial plan showing how the stipend, together with other resources, will support the proposed work.
Preferential consideration may be given (when overall merit is comparable) to applicants from historically underrepresented countries among AAUW recipients, those pursuing their first academic experience outside their home country, residents of their home country at the time of application, first-generation college graduates, those from single-parent households, applicants with caregiving responsibilities, and those studying at institutions with more limited research resources.
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Application Timeline (2026–2027 Cycle)
- Applications open: August 17, 2026, 9:00 a.m. ET
- Applications close: September 17, 2026, 5:00 p.m. ET
- Award notification: March 2027
- First stipend dispersed: July–September 2027
- Fellowship term generally aligns with the academic year beginning in 2027
AAUW strictly enforces deadlines. Late materials are not accepted. Applicants are strongly encouraged to start early in the online portal.
Tips for a Competitive Application
- Confirm STEM eligibility early and gather official transcripts that clearly show the required GPA.
- Secure strong letters of recommendation that speak specifically to academic ability, leadership, and commitment to women and girls.
- Write narratives in your own authentic voice. Generative AI may be used as a supportive tool, but the substance and voice must be yours.
- Present a concrete plan for how you will use the fellowship year and how you intend to create impact after returning home.
- Prepare a clear budget that shows the funding gap the stipend will help close.
- Apply only for one degree type (master’s or doctoral) in one specific field.
Why This Fellowship Matters
Graduate study in STEM remains expensive, and women from many countries face additional financial and structural barriers. The AAUW International Fellowships reduce those barriers while reinforcing a powerful expectation: that recipients will carry their knowledge and leadership back to their communities. Over the decades, alumnae have gone on to leadership roles in government, academia, industry, research, and community organizations around the world.
For many applicants, the combination of meaningful funding, a rigorous selection process, and affiliation with a long-standing organization dedicated to women’s equity makes this one of the most respected opportunities available.
Next Steps
Visit the official AAUW International Fellowships page for the most current eligibility details, STEM field lists, application instructions, and portal access: https://www.aauw.org/resources/programs/fellowships-grants/aauw-international-fellowships/
Additional helpful resources include AAUW’s information sessions and the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List for field verification.
If you meet the core requirements and have a clear vision for using a STEM graduate degree to create impact, begin preparing your materials well before August 2026. Strong applications are built over months, not days. The AAUW International Fellowships continue a century-old tradition of investing in women who will shape the future of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine—and the communities they serve.
Start early, tell your story clearly, and submit a complete application by the September 17, 2026 deadline.
Official program details and the application portal are available on the AAUW website: https://www.aauw.org/resources/programs/fellowships-grants/aauw-international-fellowships/
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