American Association of University Women (AAUW) International Fellowships 2026 (Funded)

• 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 September 1, 2026, and complete it on or after April 30, 2027.
• 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.

Citizenship & Immigration Status

Fellowship recipients must be non-U.S. citizens and must not hold U.S. permanent resident status, nor be applicants for U.S. permanent residency (green card).

The following are not eligible for consideration:

• Members of the AAUW Board of Directors
• Employees of AAUW, including paid or unpaid, part-time or temporary employees, consultants, interns and contract employees
• Review Panelists
• Immediate families (i.e., spouses and dependent children) of individuals described in the points above
• Previous AAUW fellowship or grant recipients (excluding Community Action Grants or branch or local AAUW awards)

A two-year fellowship may be awarded to up to five master’s degree candidates. To be considered eligible, applicants must be: 

1. Admitted into a two-year program as first-year students by the beginning of the Fellowship Term; and 
2. Among the most highly rated applicants in their field of study. 

In addition, master’s degree candidates must meet the following conditions for award renewal. Failure to meet these requirements will result in disqualification from renewal of funding for the subsequent year of a Fellow’s academic program. 

Renewal Conditions 

• Fellows must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.5 during their initial year of studies. 

• Fellows must also complete an AAUW funding renewal form and submit an official transcript and institutional certification form, by May 30, 2027. 

• Applicants must hold an academic degree (earned in the U.S. or abroad) equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale.
• Academic excellence, as demonstrated by academic records and achievements, recognition from peers, professors, and/or institutions, and other forms of distinction
• Demonstrated commitment to 1) applying their expertise, professional skills and leadership in the context of their home countries, and 2) supporting other women and girls through service in their communities and professions
• Clear and actionable study plans, the funding of those plans, and the proposed timeline for their completion
• Fellow’s position on return to home country
• Applicants hailing from countries that have a notably low presence among AAUW award recipients (Preferred)
• Applicants pursuing their first international academic experience (Preferred)
• Applicants residing in their home country at the time of application (Preferred)

• Applicants must have earned their highest academic degree, either in the U.S. or abroad, with a minimum GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale. The degree should be equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree or higher

• Scholarly excellence, as demonstrated by academic records and achievements, recognition from peers, professors, and/or institutions, and other forms of distinction

• Research that demonstrates originality in its design and has the potential to make significant contributions to the relevant academic or professional field

• Demonstrated commitment to 1) applying their expertise, professional skills and leadership in the context of their home countries, and 2) supporting other women and girls through service in their communities, professions or fields of research

• Feasibility of the research plans, the funding of those plans and the proposed timeline for their completion

• Fellow’s position on return to home country

• Applicants hailing from countries that have a notably low presence among AAUW award recipients (Preferred)

• Applicants pursuing their first international academic experience (Preferred) 

• Applicants residing in their home country at the time of application (Preferred)

To begin your application, visit the AAUW Fellowships & Grants Application Portal to create an account or log in.

For step-by-step guidance on completing your application, refer to the Application Instructions.

In addition to a narrative application, all applicants are required to submit the following:

• Letters of Recommendation: Applicants must provide two letters of recommendation from advisors, professors, colleagues, or others who are academically or professionally familiar with the applicant, their work, professional qualifications, and academic background. Note: AAUW does not accept references from dossier services, such as Parment or Interfolio, and standardized or form-letter recommendations are discouraged.
  • Please provide a professional email address for recommenders, rather than a personal one.
  • It is the applicants’ responsibility to remind their recommender of the application deadline in order for the application to be completed on time. An application will not be considered complete until the recommendations have been submitted.
• Proof of Degree: Copy of highest degree earned to date.

  • Applicants must hold a degree equivalent to at least a U.S bachelor’s degree.

  • Applicants must upload a copy of the highest degree earned.

  • The document provided must correspond to the program and institution listed in the application and must include the applicant’s full name, the institution’s name, and the degree conferred.

  • If the original is not in English, applicants are required to submit  a certified translation.
  • Applicants with an equivalent of a bachelor’s degree (particularly if the transcript or degree certificate does not explicitly state it is a bachelor’s degree) must provide an official explanation from the academic institution or governing body or submit a credential evaluation report from services like WES or ECE that clarifies the equivalency of your qualification to a bachelor’s degree.
• Transcripts: Official transcript confirming conferral of highest degree received.
  • Applicants must upload a copy of the official academic transcript from the highest degree program received.

  • The transcript provided must correspond to the program and institution listed in the application.

  • The transcript must include the applicant’s full name, the institution’s name, the degree conferred, and the list of courses taken, and grades received. Transcript must also include the name of coursework and grades from transfer courses, if applicable. If transcript reflect transfer courses without grades, a transcript from the institution where courses were taken is required.

  • If a transcript is not written in English, a certified translation must be provided by the applicant.

  • Applicants who studied at an institution that does not provide a transcript, or a list of courses taken, and grades received, or the degree did not require coursework, must provide an institutional letter affirming the same as well as the degree completion date.

• Copy of cumulative grade point average (CGPA) calculation on a 4.0 grading scale
  • Applicants must upload proof that the CGPA of their highest earned degree is at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale.
  • If applicants’ educational institutions do not use a 4.0 grading scale, they must provide supplemental official documentation that indicates the CGPA on a 4.0 scale based on the grades or points awarded by their academic institution. Alternatively, they may upload a CGPA equivalent calculation using a GPA/credential conversion tool, such as Scholaro’s GPA Calculator, or submit a credential evaluation report from services like WES or ECE (General with GPA), both of which should include a detailed list of all grades.
  • If the CGPA was calculated on a 4.0 scale, applicants may submit a transcript page that clearly shows this.
    
  • If applicants’ institutional transcripts do not include a CGPA, they must submit an official institutional letter confirming the CGPA and the degree completion date, a CGPA equivalent calculation using a GPA/credential conversion tool, such as Scholaro’s GPA Calculator, or a credential evaluation report from services like WES or ECE (General with GPA), both of which should include a detailed list of all grades. The original transcript should be provided along with these documents.
• Proof of English Proficiency. Applicants must upload one of the following:
  • Official report of an acceptable and valid TOEFL, IELTS or Cambridge assessment score. Scores are valid for two years. Institutional TOEFL scores and other English proficiency test scores will not be accepted.
    • Minimum acceptable scores are as follows:
      • TOEFL iBT (Internet-Based Test): 79
      • TOEFL Essentials: 8.5
      • Revised TOEFL Paper-Delivered Test: 60
      • IELTS: 6.5
      • Cambridge Assessment: 176
      • Duolingo English Test (DET): 120
  • Written statement affirming the applicant’s native language is English.
  • Academic transcript or diploma confirming one of the following:
    • Secondary diploma or undergraduate degree is from an English-speaking institution.
    • One semester of full-time study in the applicant’s discipline at an English-speaking institution.
• Proof of admission or current enrollment in a program an applicant plans to pursue
  • Upload a copy of the official admission letter that indicates the anticipated start date of the program; or
  • Upload transcripts/ course listings, or an enrollment verification letter from the college or university in which the applicant is currently enrolled, if enrolled.
• Proof of Graduate Women International Membership: If applicants plan to pursue studies or research outside of the U.S. during the fellowship year, one of the following is required:
  • Official letter from a GWI affiliate confirming the applicant’s membership;
  • Official membership certificate; or
  • Any other official documentation that confirms the applicant’s membership status.

A certified English translation is required for all materials provided in a foreign language. Translations must bear a mark of certification or official signature that the translation is true and complete.  

If the name differs from the one stated in the application, an explanation must be provided, such as a marriage certificate or a court letter of name change.

Fellowships are awarded on a competitive basis based on recommendations by AAUW’s independent review panels and funds available in a given fiscal year.  

To ensure fairness and consistency in the review process, only complete applications that meet all eligibility criteria and include all required documentation will be considered. Applications are reviewed as submitted, and it is the sole responsibility of the applicant to confirm that all materials are accurate and complete prior to submission. 

Please keep the following in mind: 

• Incomplete or incorrect applications will not be reviewed. 

• AAUW does not provide feedback on missing or incorrect materials. 

• Once submitted, applications cannot be edited or updated. 

• Additional documentation will not be accepted after the deadline. 

• Requests for deadline extensions will not be accommodated. 

Review Panels  

Applications to the International Fellowships are reviewed by panels of distinguished scholars and experts in the Arts and Humanities, Natural and Physical Sciences, and Social Sciences fields.    

Review panels meet once a year to review applications for funding. Panel funding recommendations are subject to final approval by AAUW.     

Review Process  

Prior to the International Fellowships Panel Review, AAUW’s Fellowships & Grants Team reviews applications for completeness and ensures compliance with eligibility requirements.  

Each eligible and complete application is then reviewed by a panel of reviewers, who evaluate applications based on the selection criteria outlined above.