International Fellowship
AAUW International Fellowships 2027–28
Funding opportunity for international women pursuing eligible STEM master’s or doctoral studies in the United States.
Want to study STEM at a U.S. university but need funding? The AAUW International Fellowships might be what you’re looking for. For 2027-28, master’s students get $20,000, and doctoral students get $25,000.
AAUW, the American Association of University Women, offers these awards to women who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents. You would study full-time at an accredited U.S. institution, working toward a master’s or doctoral degree in an eligible STEM discipline.
Timing matters too. The application window for 2027-28 opened on August 17, 2026, and shut on September 17, 2026, at 5:00 PM Eastern Time.
Fellowship Facts
About the AAUW International Fellowships
The American Association of University Women (AAUW) has supported international women pursuing postgraduate education for more than a century. The International Fellowships program is designed to help academically strong women develop advanced expertise and use their education and professional skills to contribute to their communities and home countries.
For the 2027–28 cycle, the fellowship is focused on eligible STEM degree programs. Applicants may pursue a first master’s degree or an academic or professional doctorate, provided the program meets AAUW’s STEM classification requirements.
Eligibility Criteria
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The program you plan to study: it has to be full-time and held at an institution accredited by the U.S. Department of Education. You should already be admitted to, or enrolled in, your first master’s or academic/professional doctoral degree in an eligible STEM discipline. The program must begin on or before September 15, 2027, and finish on or after April 30, 2028.
Your academic background: you must hold a degree equivalent to at least a U.S. bachelor’s degree, and your highest earned degree needs a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
Who you are: you must identify as a woman. You also cannot be a U.S. citizen or hold U.S. permanent resident status, and you cannot have a U.S. permanent residency application in progress.
Eligible Fields of Study
What counts as STEM here is decided by how your degree program is classified. AAUW looks at that classification, not just at the specific topic of your research.
Programs in areas like these can qualify:
- Mathematics, statistics and other quantitative disciplines
- Chemistry, physics and materials science
- Biology, biotechnology, biochemistry and other life sciences
- Environmental, earth and space sciences
- Engineering and related technical disciplines
- Computer science, data science, artificial intelligence and information technology
- STEM-based health and medical sciences that are eligible
Fellowship Benefits
- 🏆 $20,000 stipend for eligible master’s degree applicants.
- 🏆 $25,000 stipend for eligible doctoral degree applicants.
- 🏆 Fellowship funds may be used for eligible educational costs, required study materials, living expenses, housing, food and dependent care.
- 🏆 The stipend is paid to fellows in two equal payments during the fellowship term.
Required Documents
- Two letters of recommendation
- Copies of degrees and degree certificates
- Official academic transcripts
- Proof of cumulative GPA equivalent to at least 3.5/4.0
- Proof of English proficiency, where required
- Proof of admission or current enrollment in the proposed program
- Required translations for documents issued in languages other than English
How to Apply
- Start by reading the official eligibility requirements for the AAUW International Fellowships.
- Confirm that you have been admitted to, or are currently enrolled in, a STEM master’s or doctoral program that qualifies.
- Gather your documents: academic records, evidence of your GPA, proof of admission, English proficiency evidence if it applies to you, and two recommendations from professional or academic referees.
- Sign in to the AAUW Fellowships & Grants application portal, or create an account if you don’t have one.
- Fill in the online application, and make sure your recommenders send in their letters before the deadline.
- Submit your finished application by 5:00 PM ET on September 17, 2026.
Don’t miss the deadline — applications close on
September 17, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET.
Frequently Asked Questions
The amount is tied to the degree you are going for. A master’s student receives a stipend of $20,000, and a doctoral student receives $25,000.
Who is it meant for?
Women from outside the United States. That rules out U.S. citizens and anyone with U.S. permanent resident status. You also need to have been admitted to, or already be enrolled in, your first master’s or doctoral program in a STEM field.
When did applications close?
The 2027-28 cycle ended at 5:00 PM Eastern Time on September 17, 2026.
