$20,000 to $25,000 AAUW International Fellowship

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) has backed international women studying in the United States since 1917. Its International Fellowships pay a stipend for the 2027-28 academic year to women who are not US citizens or permanent residents and are studying for their first master's or first doctorate in a STEM field, with the aim that they use what they learn to serve their home countries or communities. A limited number of awards can be used to study in another country instead of the US.

What you get:

• $20,000 for a master's degree or $25,000 for a doctorate, paid to you rather than your university, in two equal instalments at the start and the midpoint of the fellowship year
• Spend it on tuition, fees, books and supplies, or on living costs such as housing, food and childcare
• You can hold it alongside other scholarships or funding you already have
• A place in AAUW's alumnae community of more than 13,000 past fellows and grantees

What you'll do:

• Study full-time for your first master's or first doctorate in a STEM field, normally at a US institution accredited by the US Department of Education
• Start your programme by September 15, 2027 and stay enrolled through at least April 30, 2028, living in the US or your country of study for the fellowship year
• Send AAUW a mid-year report in December 2027 and a final report by July 31, 2028

Key dates:

• Applications opened August 17, 2026, at 9:00am ET
• Applications close September 17, 2026, at 5:00pm ET (US Eastern Time)
• Award notification: March 2027
• First stipend paid July to September 2027; second in December 2027 or January 2028
• Mid-year report due December 2027; final report due July 31, 2028

More information:

• Both recommendation letters must also arrive by 5:00pm ET on September 17, 2026. AAUW does not accept late applications or late letters, with no exceptions
• There is no interview: decisions are made on the written application and documents alone
• For fellows studying in the US, AAUW withholds US tax from the stipend: 14% for F, J, M or Q visa holders (or a treaty rate), 30% otherwise
• AAUW does not sponsor visas, though your award letter can be used in a visa application
• Awards are one-time, cannot be renewed, and AAUW cannot add money beyond the fixed amount
• You may list up to five programmes in your application, but if you win you must enrol in one of them

• Women who are not US citizens, do not hold US permanent residency and have not applied for a green card
• Already admitted to, or enrolled in, your first master's degree or your first academic or professional doctorate (MD, DDS, PharmD and DVM included) at the time you apply
• The degree programme must be formally classified as STEM; AAUW uses the US DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List for borderline cases
• A degree equivalent to a US bachelor's, with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale in your highest degree
• Full-time study at an institution accredited by the US Department of Education, living in the US (or your country of study) for the fellowship year
• Study outside the US is considered only if your country is under a US travel ban and you cannot get a US student visa, or if you are a member of Graduate Women International
• Your programme must start by September 15, 2027 and end no earlier than April 30, 2028 (AAUW's own FAQ says September 1, 2027 for deferred admissions, so plan for the earlier date)
• One degree type in one field per application
• English: TOEFL iBT 79, IELTS 6.5, Duolingo 120 or an accepted equivalent, or a statement that English is your native language, or a degree or a full-time semester at an English-speaking institution
• Two letters of recommendation, degree certificates, full transcripts, proof of GPA and proof of admission or enrolment, with certified English translations for your highest degree
• Previous AAUW fellows and grantees are not eligible, except past Community Action Grant and branch or local award recipients
• No age limit is stated