MS PhD Fellowships Available at AAUW USA for New Applicants

If you’re a woman with a vision to transform your community through advanced education, this could be the scholarship that changes everything. The American Association of University Women (AAUW) is once again opening doors for exceptional international women to pursue full-time master’s or doctoral degrees in the United States.

For over a century—since 1917—the AAUW International Fellowships have helped women from around the globe gain world-class education, build leadership skills, and return home ready to make an impact. Here’s your step-by-step, interactive guide to seizing this opportunity.

What Makes This Fellowship Special?

The AAUW International Fellowships aren’t just about tuition support—they are about empowering future leaders who will uplift other women and girls in their home countries. Whether you’re aiming to become a scientist, lawyer, educator, entrepreneur, or social innovator, this fellowship provides you with the resources to focus entirely on your studies.

AAUW Fellowship Offering Following Package

• Master’s Degree Fellowship: $20,000
• Doctoral Degree Fellowship: $25,000
  The funding is paid directly to fellows in two equal installments—once at the start of the fellowship and again midway through the academic year.

And here’s something unique: Up to 5 awards are available for members of Graduate Women International (GWI) to study outside of their own countries, not just in the U.S.

Do You Stand Eligible for this Fellowship?

Think this fellowship might be for you? Let’s break it down—if you can tick all these boxes, you’re in the running:

1. You identify as a woman and you’re not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
2. You’ve already earned a degree that’s equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s, and your GPA shines at 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
3. You’re either admitted to or enrolled in your first master’s or doctoral program at an accredited U.S. university.
4. Your program kicks off no later than September 1, 2026 and wraps up after April 30, 2027.
5. You’re ready to study full-time for the entire fellowship year and live in the U.S. (or in your research location) while you do it.
6. You can prove your English language skills with a TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge, or Duolingo score.
7. Planning to study somewhere outside the U.S.? Then you’ll need to be a Graduate Women International (GWI) member and attend an eligible institution.

If you’re nodding “yes” to all of the above, you could be exactly the kind of powerhouse woman AAUW is looking to support.

Who Stands Out in Selection?

AAUW looks for applicants who:

• Have outstanding academic records
• Show leadership and commitment to empowering women and girls
• Present a clear and achievable study or research plan
• Plan to return home and use their skills for community or national benefit
• Come from countries with low representation among past AAUW recipients (preferred)
• Are pursuing their first international academic experience (preferred).

Application Submission Dates

The application period for the 2026 AAUW International Fellowships runs from August 1, 2025, to September 30, 2025. Award notifications will be sent by April 15, 2026, and the fellowship term will last from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027. The first stipend will be disbursed between July and September 2026, followed by the second installment in January 2027. All fellows must submit their final reports by July 31, 2027.

Submit Your Application: https://www.aauw.org/resources/programs/international-fellowships/.