AAUW International Fellowships in USA for Women (Masters/PhD/Postdoc)

AAUW International Fellowships provide money for full-time study or research in the United States. They are open to women who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents. The awards support both graduate and postgraduate work at accredited institutions.

• Host: AAUW (American Association of University Women)
• Study destination: USA
• Level: Master's, doctoral, postdoctoral
• Who can apply: women who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents
• Value: Master's/Professional Fellowship $20,000; Doctorate Fellowship $25,000
• Application opens: 17 August 2026
• Deadline: 17 September 2026, 5 p.m. ET

Accredited U.S. institutions

Master's and academic and professional doctoral degree programs in STEM disciplines. Fields include but are not limited to Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine. Study must be at accredited U.S. institutions.

Not specified

Women who are not United States citizens or permanent residents. Preference is given to women who show prior commitment to the advancement of women and girls through civic, community, or professional work.

Master's/Professional Fellowship: $20,000
Doctorate Fellowship: $25,000

Stipends are payable to fellows only and are disbursed in two equal payments at the beginning and the midpoint of the fellowship term.

To be eligible for an International Fellowship, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Applicants must be or identify as a woman.
• Applicants must be admitted or enrolled in their first master's or an academic or professional doctorate degree at the time of application. Examples of master's degrees include but are not limited to M.A., M.S., M.B.A., M.F.A., L.L.M., M.Arch. Examples of academic and professional doctorate degrees include but are not limited to D.B.A., Ed.D., J.D., M.D., or Ph.D.
• Applicants must begin their program on or before 15 September 2027, and complete it on or after 30 April 2028.
• Applicants must possess at least one academic degree (earned in the U.S. or abroad) that is equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree. While applicants may hold multiple degrees, they must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale for the highest degree earned. Applicants may apply for only one degree type (either a Master's or Doctoral program) and in a single specific field (e.g., Business, History, Physics, etc.). In the case of applicants pursuing a dual degree, they must select one of the fields.
• Applicants must pursue their study in the U.S. on a full-time basis at an institution accredited by the U.S. Department of Education.
• Applicants must reside in the U.S. or country of their research for the duration of the fellowship period.
• Applicants intending to study in another country other than their own or the U.S. must be members of Graduate Women International and pursue study at an international institution recognized as eligible to participate in U.S. federal student aid programs, as listed on the Federal Student Aid Participating Schools list. (Foreign branches of U.S. institutions are considered outside of the U.S.)
• Applicants interested in pursuing postdoctoral research are encouraged to consider AAUW's International Postdoctoral Research Fellowships.

See the full eligibility criteria at the official website (link found below) for more details.

Applications open 17 August 2026.

Applications and submission of supporting documents are done online. The application deadline for AY 2027-2028 is 17 September 2026, 5 p.m. ET.

It is important to visit the official website (link found below) to access the online application and for detailed updated information on this scholarship/fellowship.

This fellowship suits a woman who is not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and who is already admitted or enrolled in her first master's or a doctoral program in a STEM field at an accredited U.S. institution. It is also for those whose program starts by 15 September 2027 and ends on or after 30 April 2028.

If you have a strong academic record (minimum 3.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale for your highest degree) and have shown commitment to advancing women and girls through civic, community, or professional work, you are a good fit. Postdoctoral researchers should look at AAUW's separate International Postdoctoral Research Fellowships.

• Who can apply for the AAUW International Fellowships? Women who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents, who are admitted or enrolled in their first master's or a doctoral program in a STEM field at an accredited U.S. institution.
• What does the fellowship cover? It provides a stipend: $20,000 for a Master's/Professional Fellowship and $25,000 for a Doctorate Fellowship, paid in two equal installments.
• When is the deadline? The application deadline for AY 2027-2028 is 17 September 2026, 5 p.m. ET. Applications open 17 August 2026.
• How do I apply? Apply online and submit supporting documents through the official website. The link is in the Website section above.
• Can I apply for both a master's and a doctorate? No. You may apply for only one degree type and in a single specific field.
• What GPA do I need? You must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale for the highest degree you have earned.

• Read the official guidelines on the AAUW website carefully before you start your application.
• Prepare your documents early: academic transcripts, proof of admission or enrollment, and any required supporting materials.
• Check the language requirements of your chosen U.S. institution and make sure you meet them.
• Highlight your prior commitment to advancing women and girls through civic, community, or professional work, since preference is given to applicants who show this.
• Submit well before the deadline to avoid last-minute technical problems with the online system.