Description

The International Fellowships program has been in existence since 1917, providing assistance to women pursuing full-time graduate or postdoctoral studies in the United States. This opportunity is specifically extended to non-U.S. citizens or permanent residents who have intentions of eventually returning to their home countries to establish professional careers. A limited number of awards are also designated for studying abroad, excluding the applicant's home country, for women who are members of Graduate Women International (refer to the list of GWI affiliates). The program extends support for both graduate and postgraduate studies at accredited institutions in the U.S.

Applicants must have attained educational credentials equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree by the application deadline and should have already applied to their intended study institutions by the time of application submission. The selection process prioritizes academic excellence and demonstrated dedication to promoting the interests of women and girls. Beneficiaries of the program subsequently return to their home countries, assuming leadership roles in various domains such as business, government, academia, community engagement, arts, and scientific disciplines.

Degree Level

AAUW International Fellowships for Women, Study in USA. is available to undertake Fellowship level programs at American Association of University Women.

Available Subjects

Following subject are available to study under this scholarship program.

• All Subjects

Benefits

Award Amount: 

Master’s/first professional degree: $20,000
Doctoral: $25,000
Postdoctoral: $50,000

Eligible Nationalities

This fellowship is open to internationanl female students.

Eligibility Criteria

• To be eligible for an International Fellowship, applicants must meet the following criteria:
  • Have citizenship in a country other than the U.S. or possession of a nonimmigrant visa if residing in the U.S. Women who are currently, or expect to be during the fellowship year, a U.S. citizen, U.S. permanent resident, or dual citizen with the U.S. and another country are not eligible.
  • Hold an academic degree (earned in the U.S. or abroad) equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree completed by the application deadline. 
  • Intend to devote themselves full-time to the proposed academic plan during the fellowship year.
  • Intend to return to their home country to pursue a professional career upon completion of their studies. 
  • Be proficient in English and confirm proficiency by submitting one of the Required Components (see below), which include certain English proficiency exams, transcripts from English-speaking institutions, or a written statement verifying English is the applicant’s native language. Applicants planning to take one of the accepted English proficiency exams should plan for and take the test as early as possible. Please direct questions about the tests to the test provider.
  • Master’s/first professional degree and doctoral applicants must have applied by the AAUW application deadline, to an accredited institution of study for the period of the fellowship year and must indicate the name of the institution in the International Fellowship application. While acceptance is not required at the time of application, fellows must provide official confirmation from the institution with their award acceptance materials. 
• Master’s/first professional degree fellowships are intended for master’s or professional degree-level programs such as J.D., M.F.A., L.L.M., M.Arch., or medical degrees such as M.D., D.D.S., etc. Certificates, associate degrees, and undergraduate degrees are ineligible.
• Doctoral fellowships are intended for doctorate degrees classified as research degrees, such as Ph.D. or Ed.D.
• Postdoctoral applicants must provide proof of their doctorate degree; hold a doctorate classified as a research degree (e.g., Ph.D., Ed.D., D.B.A., D.M.) or an M.F.A. by the application deadline; and indicate where they will conduct their research. 
• Master’s/first professional degree and doctoral applicants must be enrolled in a U.S.-accredited institution located in the U.S. during the fellowship year. 
• A limited number of awards are available to Graduate Women International members for study or research in any country other than their own. Note that foreign branches of U.S. institutions are considered outside of the U.S.
• Applicants can apply for the fellowship for any year of their program but must be conducting a full year of study or research. International Fellowships do not provide funding for a partial year of study or research. Programs ending prior to April of the fellowship year are not eligible.
• Distance learning/online programs: Master’s/first professional degree and doctoral fellowships support traditional classroom-based courses of study at colleges or universities. This fellowship program does not provide funding for distance-learning or online programs or for degrees heavily dependent on distance-learning components. Final decisions about what constitutes distance learning under these fellowships will be made by AAUW. AAUW will accept applications from applicants who are temporarily studying remotely due to COVID-19 precautions at their institution.

Application Procedure

To apply, click here.