AAUW International Fellowships 2027–2028 | $20,000–$25,000 STEM Funding

Funding and permitted expenses

• US$20,000 for a master’s degree fellowship.
• US$25,000 for an academic or professional doctoral degree fellowship.
• The stipend is paid directly to the fellow in two equal installments, at the beginning and midpoint of the fellowship term.
• Eligible uses include tuition, academic fees, required course materials, housing, food and dependent-care expenses.

Who is eligible?

• Applicants must identify as a woman.
• Applicants must be non-U.S. citizens and may not hold U.S. permanent resident status or be applicants for U.S. permanent residency.
• Applicants must be admitted to or currently enrolled in their first master’s, academic doctorate or professional doctorate at the time of application.
• The degree must be formally classified in a STEM discipline.
• Applicants must hold at least a bachelor’s-equivalent degree and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale for their highest earned degree.
• Study must normally be full-time at a U.S. institution accredited by the U.S. Department of Education.
• The program must begin on or before 15 September 2027 and finish on or after 30 April 2028.

Eligible STEM fields

AAUW’s current list includes a broad range of science, technology, engineering, mathematics and health disciplines. Examples include agricultural sciences, biotechnology, botany/plant biology, plant sciences, ecology, food science, forestry, environmental science, computer science, data science, engineering fields, mathematics, statistics, biomedical sciences and eligible professional health degrees.

Eligibility is based on the formal classification of the degree program, not only on the applicant’s individual research topic.

English-language requirement

Applicants must provide proof of English proficiency unless they qualify through an accepted alternative. AAUW lists the following minimum standardized scores:

AAUW also accepts a written statement confirming that English is the applicant’s native language, or qualifying academic evidence from an English-speaking institution as described in the official requirements.

Required application materials

• The complete online narrative application.
• Two letters of recommendation submitted through the application system by registered recommenders.
• Copies of all earned degree certificates or acceptable official proof of degree conferral.
• Official academic transcripts for all completed degree programs.
• Proof that the cumulative GPA of the highest earned degree is at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale, including an accepted conversion or credential evaluation when necessary.
• Proof of English proficiency or an accepted alternative.
• Proof of admission to or current enrollment in the graduate program the applicant plans to pursue.
• Where applicable, proof of Graduate Women International membership for eligible study outside the United States.
• Certified English translations where required for academic documents issued in another language.

How to apply

1. Confirm that you meet AAUW’s citizenship, gender, degree-stage, STEM, GPA and study-location requirements.
2. Open the AAUW Fellowships & Grants Application Portal and create an account or sign in.
3. Select the International Fellowships application and complete all narrative sections.
4. Upload degree evidence, transcripts, GPA documentation, English-proficiency evidence and admission/enrollment proof.
5. Register two recommenders using professional email addresses and ensure both recommendations are submitted before the deadline.
6. Review the full application carefully and submit it by 17 September 2026 at 5:00 p.m. ET. AAUW states that late applications will not be accepted.

The official International Fellowships page and application guidance reviewed for this article do not list an application fee.

Important dates

Time remaining

Selection notes

AAUW’s review panels assess complete eligible applications competitively. The current criteria emphasize academic or scholarly excellence, feasibility of the proposed academic or research plan, commitment to advancing women and girls, long-term STEM career objectives and impact, and the strength and feasibility of the applicant’s financial plan.

AAUW also publishes preferential criteria that may be considered when candidates have comparable overall merit, including underrepresented-country status, first international academic experience, home-country residence, first-generation college background, caregiving responsibilities and institutional context.