AAUW 2025 International Fellowships for Master’s and Doctorate Degrees: (Deadline 30 September 2025)

AAUW’s International Fellowships promotes education and equity for women by investing in international applicants who will be pursuing postgraduate studies or research in the U.S., with the intention of applying their expertise, professional skills, and leadership in the context of their home countries. In addition, up to 5 awards are available to Graduate Women International (see the list of GWI affiliates) members for study in any country other than their own. International Fellowships are specifically designed for women who are non-U.S. citizens or permanent residents, with a track record of academic excellence and empowering other women and girls. The Program has been supporting international women pursuing full-time postgraduate studies in the United States since 1917.

About American Association of University Women (AAUW)

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International Fellowships

Application Deadline	30 Sep 2025
Value	$20,000 – $25,000
Country to study	United States
Type	Fellowship
Sponsor	American Association of University Women (AAUW)
Gender	Women

Aim and Benefits of International Fellowships

International Fellowships carry a stipend of $20,000 for a master’s degree and $25,000 for a doctorate degree. Stipends are payable to fellows only and are disbursed in two equal payments at the beginning and the midpoint of the fellowship term.

Requirements for International Fellowships Qualification

• 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.

Interview date, Process and Venue for International Fellowships

Master’s Degree Applications

• 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)

Doctorate Degree Applications

• 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)

Application Deadline

September 30, 2025

How to Apply

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