AAUW International Fellowship United States 2027-28: STEM Grad Funding
The AAUW International Fellowship supports women who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents and who study a STEM master’s or doctorate full time. The 2027-28 round closed on 17 September 2026 at 5:00 pm ET, so this deadline has passed. AAUW says applications have closed for the 2027-28 academic year, and the next round’s dates are not yet confirmed. Use this guide to prepare for the next round. The fellowship is a fixed stipend, not a full scholarship, and the official pages we checked do not say how many awards are given.
Scholarship Summary
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Organisation | AAUW (the American Association of University Women) |
| Country | United States (a limited number of awards for study in another country, for members of Graduate Women International) |
| Degree level | First master’s degree, or an academic or professional doctorate, in a STEM field |
| Funding | Partially funded: a fixed stipend. Master’s/professional fellowship: $20,000. Doctorate fellowship: $25,000. Tuition and health cover are not listed as covered. |
| Eligible nationalities | Women who are not U.S. citizens, not U.S. permanent residents, and not applying for permanent residency |
| Deadlines (2027-28 round) | Opened 17 August 2026, 9:00 am ET. Closed 17 September 2026, 5:00 pm ET. Passed. |
| Language requirement | TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge or Duolingo score, unless an exemption applies. Example: IELTS 6.5, TOEFL iBT 79. |
| Official link | https://www.aauw.org/resources/programs/fellowships-grants/aauw-international-fellowships/ |
Benefits and Funding
The amounts below come from AAUW’s fellowship listing. The “Award Details” tab was not visible in the page text we reviewed, so please confirm them on the official page before you plan your budget. Plan for tuition and living costs from other sources as well, because a fixed stipend may not cover a full year in the U.S.
What is provided
- Master’s/professional fellowship: $20,000.
- Doctorate fellowship: $25,000.
- Payment to the fellow only, in two equal payments. The official timeline shows the first stipend in July to September 2027 and the second in December 2027 or January 2028.
We call this partially funded. The pages we checked do not say that it pays tuition, fees or health insurance.
What is not covered or not stated
- Tuition and university fees.
- Health insurance.
- Costs for family members.
- Number of awards. Not stated.
Eligibility Criteria
Gender. Applicants must be or identify as a woman.
Citizenship. Fellows must be non-U.S. citizens and must not hold U.S. permanent resident status or be applying for it.
Degree. You must be admitted or enrolled in your first master’s degree or an academic or professional doctorate, in a STEM discipline. AAUW lists Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine as examples. It uses the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List to check eligibility. You may not apply if you already hold a master’s degree and are seeking the master’s fellowship.
Timing. Your program must start on or before 15 September 2027 and end on or after 30 April 2028. AAUW says it cannot make exceptions.
Academic record. You need at least one degree equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree and a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale. For doctorate applicants, this is based on the highest degree earned.
Study mode and place. You must study full time at a U.S. institution accredited by the U.S. Department of Education. Part-time study is not eligible. A limited number of awards are available for study in another country, but those applicants must be members of Graduate Women International.
Preference. Preference is given to women who show prior commitment to advancing women and girls. For master’s applications, other preferred factors include coming from a country with low representation among past recipients, a first international academic experience, living in your home country when you apply, being a first-generation graduate, and single-parent household background.
One application. You may apply for one degree type and one field only.
Not eligible. AAUW lists current board members, employees, review panelists, their immediate families, and previous AAUW fellowship or grant recipients.
Age and work experience. No age limit or work-experience rule is stated on the pages we checked.
Who should not apply. This fellowship is not suited to part-time students, non-STEM programs, U.S. citizens or permanent residents, or people who already hold a master’s degree and want the master’s award.
Required Documents
- [ ] Proof of degree: copies of all diplomas or official transcripts showing degree conferral
- [ ] Official transcripts for all degrees received
- [ ] Translations for documents not in English; the highest degree needs a certified translation
- [ ] Evidence of your cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale
- [ ] English test score or exemption evidence
- [ ] Proof of admission (official admission letter) or current enrollment
- [ ] Deferral approval, if your admission was deferred
- [ ] Recommendations, submitted by your recommenders
- [ ] Proof of Graduate Women International membership, only if you plan to study outside the U.S.
If your degree does not clearly say it is a bachelor’s, AAUW asks for an official explanation or a credential evaluation report. Not confirmed: the number of recommendations and any essay requirements. Check the live application guide.
How to Apply
- Check the next round’s dates. The 2027-28 round has closed. Watch the official AAUW page for the next announcement.
- Confirm your program is STEM. Compare it with the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List.
- Secure admission or enrollment. You must be admitted or enrolled at the time of application. You may list up to five programs, but you must attend one of them.
- Create an account in the AAUW application portal. Applications and documents are submitted online.
- Gather your documents. Start with degrees, transcripts, GPA proof and English evidence.
- Ask your recommenders. Remind them of the deadline. An application is incomplete without recommendations.
- Submit before the deadline. AAUW strongly encourages starting early.
- Wait for results. For the last round, award notification was set for March 2027.
Tips to Strengthen Your Application
- Check STEM status early. Eligibility depends on your degree program’s classification, not your research topic.
- Document your GPA clearly. Include a calculation on a 4.0 scale and the right degree.
- Show your record of helping women and girls. The fellowship gives preference to this. Use specific civic, community or professional examples.
- Match the application to your admission. Applicants whose institution or field changes after being recommended are disqualified.
- Prepare your English evidence. Scores are valid for two years from the test date, except Cambridge scores.
- Give recommenders time. The application is not complete until their recommendations arrive.
- Mention your home-country plans if you are a doctoral applicant. Doctoral criteria include the fellow’s position on returning to the home country.
- Keep a copy of every document. Admission letters, transcripts and test reports must match the programs and institutions you list, so organise them in one folder before you open the portal.
Language Requirement
AAUW accepts official reports from TOEFL, IELTS or Cambridge assessments. Institutional TOEFL scores are not accepted. Minimum scores listed:
- TOEFL iBT: 79
- TOEFL Essentials: 8.5
- Revised TOEFL Paper-Delivered Test: 60
- IELTS: 6.5
- Cambridge Assessment: 176
- Duolingo English Test: 120
You may not need a test if you provide a written statement that English is your native language, or a transcript or diploma showing your secondary diploma or undergraduate degree is from an English-speaking institution, or one semester of full-time study in your discipline at an English-speaking institution. Check the live page for the exact wording.
Visa, Health Cover and Work Rights
AAUW has a “Visas” policy section, but its text was not available to us. Not confirmed: whether AAUW helps with visas. Read the official U.S. guidance at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/study/student-visa.html.
If your country is subject to a U.S. travel restriction, AAUW says you may be able to request a change of country of study and host institution if you cannot get the U.S. student visa. Check the official page for the rules.
Taxes. Foreign persons who carry out their project in the U.S. must submit a Form W-8BEN.
Health cover and work rights. Not confirmed. Check the official page and your university’s international office.
Career and Post-Study Options
AAUW says the fellowship is meant for women who plan to apply their skills in service of their home countries or communities. It does not promise a job or a visa. Postdoctoral researchers are pointed to a separate AAUW fellowship. Rules for working in the U.S. after study are set by the U.S. government. Not confirmed: check official immigration sources.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Applying for a non-STEM program.
- Applying with a part-time program.
- Changing the program or institution after you apply. You must attend a listed one.
- Missing the program start and end dates. There are no exceptions.
- Assuming the stipend covers tuition.
- Forgetting that recommenders must submit before the application is complete.
- Using an institutional TOEFL score.
- Paying anyone who promises to “guarantee” a fellowship.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 2027-28 round still open? No. It closed on 17 September 2026 at 5:00 pm ET.
How much is the AAUW International Fellowship? AAUW’s listing gives $20,000 for master’s/professional and $25,000 for doctorate fellowships. Confirm the amounts on the official page, because the Award Details tab was not visible to us.
Can I apply with a part-time program? No. Only full-time study or research is eligible.
Do I need a master’s degree already? No. The fellowship is for your first master’s degree or a doctorate. Applicants who already hold a master’s are not eligible for the master’s fellowship.
Can I apply for a master’s and a doctorate at the same time? No. Apply to one program type in a single field.
Do I need to have been admitted? Yes. You must be admitted to or enrolled in at least one program when you apply.
Can I apply if I got an AAUW fellowship before? AAUW lists previous fellowship or grant recipients as not eligible, excluding Community Action Grants and branch or local awards.
When did applicants hear back last round? Award notification was set for March 2027.
Scam Warning
Scholarships do not charge application or “processing” fees. The pages we checked mention no fee for the AAUW application. Not confirmed: check the portal. Use only aauw.org, and be careful with emails or messages that ask for payment, passwords or bank details.
Final Words
The AAUW International Fellowship can give a meaningful stipend to women who study STEM in the U.S. and have a record of supporting other women and girls. The 2027-28 round has closed, so use the time to confirm your STEM status, GPA, admission and recommenders before the next round opens.
Apply only through the official AAUW website.
Disclaimer
We are not the scholarship provider. Please confirm all details on the official website.
Sources
All pages were checked on 31 October 2026.
- AAUW International Fellowships (official page): https://www.aauw.org/resources/programs/fellowships-grants/aauw-international-fellowships/
- AAUW International Fellowships, program information (search extract): https://www.aauw.org/resources/programs/international-fellowships/
- U.S. student visa guidance: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/study/student-visa.htm
