AAUW’s International Fellowships promote education and equity for women by investing in international applicants who will pursue graduate studies in the United States in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) disciplines. The goal is to support women who will apply their expertise, professional skills, and leadership in service of their home countries and/or the communities in which they reside.
A limited number of awards are also available for study in any country other than the applicant’s own. These fellowships are designed specifically for women who are non-U.S. citizens or permanent residents, with a strong track record of academic excellence and empowering other women and girls. The program has supported international women pursuing full-time postgraduate studies in the United States since 1917. For more BS, MS,Phd, Postdoc Positions visit here.
Eligibility Criteria:
Applicants must meet all of the following requirements:
- Identify as a woman.
- Be admitted to or enrolled in their first master’s or an academic/professional doctorate degree program in a STEM discipline at the time of application.
- Begin their program on or before September 15, 2027, and complete it on or after April 30, 2028.
- Possess at least one academic degree (earned in the U.S. or abroad) equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree.
- Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale for the highest degree earned.
- Apply for only one degree type (Master’s or Doctoral) and in a single specific field.
- Pursue full-time study in the U.S. at an institution accredited by the U.S. Department of Education.
- Reside in the U.S. or the country of study for the duration of the fellowship period.
Special circumstances for study outside the U.S.:
- Applicants from countries subject to a U.S. travel ban who cannot secure a U.S. student visa, or
- Applicants who are members of Graduate Women International (GWI) and plan to study outside the U.S. and their home country.
Citizenship & Immigration Status Fellowship recipients must be non-U.S. citizens and must not hold U.S. permanent resident status or be applying for it.
Disqualifying Factors The following individuals are not eligible:
- Current members of the AAUW Board of Directors
- Current employees of AAUW (paid or unpaid, including consultants, interns, and contractors)
- Current AAUW Review Panelists
- Immediate family members (spouses and dependent children) of the above
- Previous AAUW fellowship or grant recipients (except Community Action Grants or branch/local AAUW awards)
Also Check: ETH Postdoctoral Fellowships (ETH Fellows) in Switzerland
Award Details:
- Master’s Degree: $20,000 stipend
- Doctoral Degree: $25,000 stipend
Stipends are paid in two equal installments at the beginning and midpoint of the fellowship term. Funds may be used for tuition, fees, books, supplies, housing, food, and dependent care.
Eligible STEM Fields:
International Fellowships support master’s and doctoral programs in the following STEM disciplines.
Science
Life & Biological Sciences
- Biology
- Biochemistry
- Biophysics
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
- Genetics
- Microbiology
- Immunology
- Neuroscience
- Physiology
- Developmental Biology
- Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Marine Biology
- Zoology
- Botany/Plant Biology
- Plant Sciences
- Agricultural Sciences
- Animal Sciences
- Nutrition Science
- Food Science
- Biotechnology
- Bioinformatics
- Biomedical Sciences
Physical Science
- Physics
- Applied Physics
- Astronomy
- Astrophysics
- Space Science
- Chemistry (all branches)
- Materials Science
- Materials Chemistry
Earth, Environmental & Space Sciences
- Environmental Science
- Environmental Chemistry
- Environmental Biology
- Environmental Geology
- Earth Science
- Geology
- Geophysics
- Geochemistry
- Paleontology
- Hydrology
- Atmospheric Science
- Meteorology
- Climatology
- Oceanography
- Marine Science
- Soil Science
- Forestry
- Natural Resource Science
- Sustainability Science
Health & Medical Sciences (STEM-based)
- Biomedical Science
- Biomedical Research
- Medical Laboratory Science
- Clinical Laboratory Science
- Public Health (quantitative/scientific tracks)
- Epidemiology
- Toxicology
- Pharmacology
- Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Kinesiology/Exercise Science
- Health Informatics
Technology
Computer & Information Sciences
- Computer Science
- Software Engineering
- Computer Engineering
- Data Science
- Data Analytics
- Artificial Intelligence
- Machine Learning
- Robotics
- Human-Computer Interaction
- Computational Science
- Information Technology
- Cybersecurity
- And related fields
Information & Digital Technologies
- Information Science
- Informatics
- Bioinformatics
- Health Informatics
- Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
- Digital Forensics
- Computational Modeling & Simulation
Engineering
Core Engineering Disciplines
- Mechanical Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Industrial Engineering
- Systems Engineering
- Materials Engineering
- And others
Specialized & Interdisciplinary Engineering
- Biomedical Engineering
- Environmental Engineering
- Aerospace Engineering
- Nuclear Engineering
- Robotics Engineering
- Nanotechnology Engineering
- Renewable Energy Engineering
- And many more
Mathematics
Applied Mathematics
- Mathematics
- Applied Mathematics
- Computational Mathematics
- Mathematical Modeling
- Mathematical Biology
- Mathematical Physics
Statistics & Quantitative Fields
- Statistics
- Biostatistics
- Operations Research
- Actuarial Science
- Econometrics (quantitative track)
- And related fields
Also Check: FAPESP Postdoctoral Fellowship 2026 in Brazil (Fully Funded)
Selection Criteria:
For Master’s Degree Applicants
- Academic excellence and achievements
- Commitment to applying skills in home country and supporting women and girls
- Clear study plans and funding timeline
- Long-term career goals in STEM
- Preference for applicants from underrepresented countries, first-time international students, those residing in home country, single parents, and parenting students
For Doctoral Degree Applicants
- Academic and scholarly excellence, including research proposal quality
- Originality and potential impact of research
- Commitment to home country and women’s advancement
- Feasibility of study/research plans
- Same preference categories as Master’s applicants
Also Check: The American Heart Association Postdoctoral Fellowship 2027
Important Timeline (All times in ET):
- Applications Open: August 17, 2026, at 9:00 AM
- Applications Close: September 17, 2026, at 5:00 PM
- Award Notification: March 2027
- First Stipend: July – September 2027
- Mid-Year Report Due: December 2027
- Second Stipend: December 2027 / January 2028
- Final Report Due: July 31, 2028
How to Apply:
- Visit the AAUW Fellowships & Grants Application Portal to create an account or log in.
- Complete the online application and submit all required documents.
- Register recommenders early (two letters of recommendation required).
Required Application Materials:
- Two letters of recommendation
- Proof of all degrees earned (diplomas/transcripts with certified translations if needed)
- Official transcripts
- Proof of minimum 3.5 GPA on 4.0 scale
- Proof of English proficiency (TOEFL, IELTS, etc. or equivalent)
- Proof of admission or current enrollment
- Proof of GWI membership (if studying outside U.S. and not under travel ban)
Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Also Check: ISTA Fellow Postdoctoral Fellowship 2026 in Austria
Frequently Asked Questions:
I am a permanent resident of the United States and a citizen of a foreign country. Am I eligible to apply for the International Fellowship?
No. Individuals holding U.S. permanent residency status, or applicants for permanent residency, are not eligible even if they hold citizenship in another country.
My GPA is 3.49, am I eligible to apply?
No. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale based on their highest earned degree at the time of application.
Am I eligible for the International Fellowship if I haven’t received an offer of admission to a specific program?
No. Applicants must be admitted to or currently enrolled in at least one academic program at the time they apply.
I have been admitted to several programs but have not yet decided which one to pursue. Can I list more than one program in my application?
Yes. Applicants may list up to five programs and institutions, but must enroll in one of the listed options if awarded the fellowship.
I’m currently enrolled in, or plan to enroll in, a part time program. Am I eligible for the International Fellowship?
No. Only applicants enrolled in or planning to enroll in full-time programs or research are eligible.
Can I apply to both a master’s and a doctoral program at the same time, or two programs in different fields?
No. Applicants must apply to a single degree type in a single field of study.
If I deferred my college or university admission to the 2027-28 academic year, am I still eligible to apply for the International Fellowship?
Yes, provided the new program start date falls on or before September 1, 2027, and the end date is on or after April 30, 2028, along with proof of deferral approval.
Can I renew my International Fellowship?
No. AAUW International Fellowships are one-time awards and cannot be renewed.
Can you assist me in obtaining a student or research visa?
No. AAUW does not provide visa sponsorship, though award letters may support an applicant’s own visa application.
Also Check: Wang Gungwu Visiting Fellows Programme 2027
