The AAUW International Fellowships support women from outside the United States who want to pursue graduate study in STEM fields. For the 2027–28 cycle, applicants must pursue their first master’s or academic/professional doctorate in a STEM discipline.
That requirement matters because some older scholarship pages describe the fellowship as a broad postgraduate opportunity for international women. The current rules are more specific.
The 2027–28 application window opened on August 17, 2026, and closed on September 17, 2026. If you missed this cycle, you can still use the current requirements to determine whether the fellowship fits your plans and prepare for a future application cycle.
What Are the AAUW International Fellowships?
The American Association of University Women (AAUW) offers International Fellowships to support women pursuing graduate study in the United States.
For the current cycle, the programme focuses on women pursuing their first master’s or academic/professional doctorate in eligible STEM fields.
The fellowship provides:
| Study level | Fellowship amount |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | $20,000 |
| Doctorate degree | $25,000 |
AAUW pays the fellowship in two equal installments during the award period.
It is important to understand what these figures mean. The fellowship provides a substantial financial award, but applicants should not automatically describe it as a full-ride scholarship. The published award is a fixed fellowship amount rather than a guarantee that AAUW will cover every tuition, accommodation, travel, insurance or living expense.
Your actual financial need will depend on the university, programme and location you choose.
UC Berkeley Mastercard Foundation Scholarship 2027 explains its participating programmes, funding and application pathway.
Who Can Apply for the AAUW International Fellowships?
The eligibility requirements go beyond simply being an international woman seeking graduate study.
For the current cycle, applicants must:
- Identify as a woman.
- Be a non-U.S. citizen.
- Not hold U.S. permanent-resident status or be applying for permanent residency.
- Be pursuing their first master’s or academic/professional doctorate.
- Pursue a degree programme that meets AAUW’s STEM requirement.
- Hold at least one degree equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree.
- Meet the minimum cumulative 3.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale requirement.
- Study full-time at an eligible U.S. institution.
You must also satisfy AAUW’s programme timing and enrollment requirements for the relevant fellowship year.
The first-degree requirement matters
AAUW’s current rules focus on applicants pursuing their first master’s or first academic/professional doctorate.
Therefore, having an interest in another graduate programme does not automatically make you eligible. Applicants should check whether their previous qualifications affect their eligibility before preparing an application.
You must also apply for one degree type and one specific field rather than treating the fellowship as general funding for any postgraduate programme.
What Counts as STEM?
The STEM requirement is one of the most important parts of the current fellowship.
AAUW does not determine eligibility simply by asking whether your research uses technology, statistics, programming or scientific methods. The degree programme itself must meet the relevant STEM classification.
This distinction matters for interdisciplinary applicants.
For example, you might conduct research involving data analysis or technology while enrolled in a programme that does not fall within an eligible STEM classification. Your research topic alone would not necessarily make the degree eligible.
Therefore, check the classification of your actual degree programme, rather than relying only on the subject of your dissertation or proposed research.
If you are still choosing between graduate programmes, this should be one of your first checks before assuming that the AAUW fellowship can support your study.
The GPA requirement
AAUW requires a minimum cumulative GPA equivalent to 3.5 on a 4.0 scale.
This is an eligibility threshold, not simply a recommended competitive score. An applicant below the stated minimum does not meet the academic requirement.
If your university uses a different grading system, do not rely solely on an online GPA converter. Follow AAUW’s instructions for documenting your academic record and determining the appropriate equivalency.
How Much Does the AAUW International Fellowship Pay?
For the current cycle, the awards are:
- $20,000 for a master’s degree
- $25,000 for a doctorate
AAUW pays the fellowship in two equal installments.
The most important point is that these are fixed fellowship amounts. Before relying on the award as your primary funding source, compare it with the total cost of your intended programme.
A $20,000 master’s award may provide substantial support, but whether it covers your full cost of study will depend on factors such as tuition, housing, location and other expenses.
This is why applicants should avoid assuming that the phrase “AAUW fully funded scholarship” means the programme will automatically cover every cost of studying in the United States.
AAUW International Fellowship 2027–28 Deadline
The application timeline for the current cycle was:
| Date | Stage |
|---|---|
| August 17, 2026 | Applications opened |
| September 17, 2026 | Application deadline |
| March 2027 | Award notifications |
| July–September 2027 | First stipend payments |
The application deadline was 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on September 17, 2026.
The 2027–28 deadline has passed
If you are reading this after September 17, 2026, you cannot submit a new application for the 2027–28 cycle.
However, the opportunity may still be relevant if you are planning for a later intake. Use the current requirements to assess your eligibility and prepare your academic and supporting documents in advance.
When the next application cycle opens, check the official AAUW information again. Deadlines, eligibility rules and funding amounts can change between cycles.
What Should You Prepare Before Applying?
Do not wait for the next application window to begin preparing.
Start by organizing:
- Academic transcripts and degree information
- Evidence of your GPA
- Information about your U.S. programme and institution
- Your proposed field of study
- Recommendation materials
- Your academic and professional history
- Evidence of leadership and community involvement
- A clear explanation of your future goals
Your first task should be confirming that your programme actually satisfies the STEM requirement. There is little value in preparing a detailed application if your degree classification makes you ineligible.
What Makes an AAUW Application Strong?
Meeting the eligibility requirements is only the starting point.
A strong application should show a clear connection between your STEM background, your professional goals and the impact you intend to create.
Do not rely on broad statements about being passionate, hardworking or committed to helping your community. Use evidence from your academic work, professional experience, research or community involvement to demonstrate what you have already done and what you want to accomplish next.
Your proposed graduate programme should also fit logically into that trajectory.
A useful way to think about your application is:
What I have done → the problem I want to address → what additional training I need → how I will use it.
That progression gives the fellowship committee a clearer reason to support your proposed study.
Show the value of the degree beyond graduation
Your application should not present the U.S. degree as the final objective.
Explain how the knowledge and skills you gain will contribute to your professional work, home country or wider community.
This does not require an exaggerated leadership story. A credible connection between your experience, your proposed STEM training and your future contribution is more useful than generic claims about changing the world.
Common Reasons an Applicant May Not Qualify
Before preparing an application, check these potential problems carefully.
1. Your programme does not meet the STEM requirement
A STEM-related research topic does not automatically make a degree eligible. The degree programme itself matters.
2. Your GPA is below 3.5
The current minimum is 3.5 on a 4.0 scale.
3. You are not pursuing your first qualifying graduate degree
The fellowship focuses on an applicant’s first master’s or academic/professional doctorate.
4. You have U.S. permanent-resident status
The programme is intended for international applicants who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
5. You assume the fellowship covers every expense
The published award is $20,000 for master’s students and $25,000 for doctoral students. Compare that amount with your university’s actual cost of attendance before making financial plans.
6. You leave preparation until the deadline approaches
Academic records, recommendations and programme documentation can take time to obtain. Preparing early gives you more time to resolve problems before the application window closes.
AAUW International Fellowship Checklist
Before applying for a future cycle, confirm that:
- ☐ I identify as a woman.
- ☐ I am not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
- ☐ I am pursuing my first master’s or academic/professional doctorate.
- ☐ My degree programme meets AAUW’s current STEM requirement.
- ☐ I meet the 3.5/4.0 minimum GPA requirement.
- ☐ I hold a degree equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree.
- ☐ I have been admitted to or enrolled in an eligible U.S. institution.
- ☐ I intend to study full-time.
- ☐ I understand the fellowship amount for my degree level.
- ☐ I have checked the application dates for my intended cycle.
- ☐ I have prepared my academic and supporting documents early.
Final Takeaway
The AAUW International Fellowships remain a significant opportunity for international women pursuing graduate STEM education in the United States, but applicants should not rely on older descriptions of the programme.
For the 2027–28 cycle, the most important requirements are the STEM programme restriction, first-degree requirement, 3.5 GPA minimum and $20,000 master’s or $25,000 doctoral fellowship.
The current application deadline has passed, so prospective applicants should use these requirements to prepare for a future cycle and verify the rules again when AAUW opens the next application window.
Most importantly, establish your eligibility before building your application around the fellowship. Confirm your degree classification, check the GPA requirement, understand the actual funding available and develop a clear case for why the proposed graduate programme fits your academic and professional direction.
The strongest AAUW application is not simply from a woman who wants to study in the United States. It is from an eligible STEM applicant who can clearly explain why this graduate training matters and what she intends to do with it.
For more details, visit the official scholarship resouces:
AAUW’s official International Fellowships page
AAUW Fellowships & Grants application portal
