AAUW International Fellowships (Master, Doctoral and Postdoctoral) 2023

The panel meets once a year to review applications for funding. Awards are based on the criteria outlined here. Recommendations by the panel are subject to final approval by AAUW. Fellowships are awarded on a competitive basis according to funds available in a given fiscal year.

To ensure a fair review process, AAUW does not comment on the deliberations of its award panels. AAUW does not provide evaluations of applications. No provisions exist for reconsideration of fellowship proposals. Applications and supporting documents become the sole property of AAUW and will neither be returned nor held for another year.

• Applicants residing in their home country at time of application, from developing/emerging countries, or from an underrepresented group in any region, will receive special consideration.
• Position on return to home country.
• Academic and/or professional qualifications.
• Demonstrated commitment to the advancement of women and girls in home country.
• Proposed time schedule.
• Quality and feasibility of proposed plan of study or research.
• Demonstrated evidence of prior community and/or civic service in home country.
• Applicant’s country’s need for the specialized knowledge or skill.
• Financial need.
• Motivation for graduate study or research.

International Fellowship funds are available for:

• Educational expenses.
• Living expenses.
• Dependent child care.
• Travel to professional meetings, conferences or seminars that does not exceed 10% of the fellowship total.

International Fellowship funds are not available for:

• Purchase of equipment.
• Indirect costs.
• Research assistants.
• Previous expenditures, deficits, or repayment of loans.
• Publication costs.
• Institutional (overhead) costs.
• Tuition for dependent’s education.
• Grants-in-aid for less than a full academic year or travel grants.
• Travel to or from a fellow’s home country.
• Travel to or from the fellow’s research location, if abroad (does not apply to fellows who are GWI members with AAUW approval to study or research in a country other than their own).

AAUW regards the acceptance of a fellowship as a contract requiring fulfillment of the following terms:

• All International Fellowship recipients are required to sign a contract as acceptance of the award. Retain these instructions as they will become part of the fellowship contract if the applicant is awarded a fellowship.
• An International Fellow is expected to pursue their project full time during the fellowship year (July 1–June 30). No partial fellowships are awarded. Fellowships may not be deferred.
• The International Fellowship dollar amount must be larger than any other single award or paying position (excluding tuition or fee waivers, as well as sabbatical support or support from a program that is the functional equivalent of sabbatical leave) received during the fellowship year and must be acknowledged as the major award. Acceptance of concurrent funds of a lesser amount than the AAUW award is permitted but requires prior written approval of AAUW.
• Any changes in plans for the fellowship year must have the prior written approval of AAUW. AAUW must be notified promptly of any change in the status of an application resulting from acceptance of another award.
• Fellows may spend up to two months traveling abroad for research related to their project plan with prior written approval of AAUW.
• Fellows may work up to 20 hours a week or teach one course, with prior written approval of AAUW.
• Postdoctoral fellows cannot pursue a degree during the fellowship year.
• Up to five International Master’s/First Professional Degree Fellowships are renewable for a second year. Fellows will receive application information for this competitive program during their fellowship year.
• Stipends are made payable to fellows, not to institutions.
• With some exceptions based on relevant tax statuses and treaties, the fellowship stipend is subject to a 14 or 30 percent tax. AAUW will withhold these funds for payment to the Internal Revenue Service.
• The determination of whether there is a tax obligation associated with the receipt of an AAUW award is the sole responsibility of the applicant. Specific questions regarding income tax matters should be addressed with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, the applicant’s financial aid office or a personal tax adviser. AAUW cannot provide tax advice. AAUW is a nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) public charity founded for educational purposes.

Start the application process by clicking the Apply Now button below to access the application and create an account through our vendor site. Complete all required components in the following areas.

• Start
• Background
• Proposal
• Recommendations, Documents & Review
  • Recommendations:
    • Provide three recommendations from professors or professional colleagues well acquainted with the applicant, their work, and their academic background, in striving towards scholarly pursuits. When possible, recommenders should be professors or professional colleagues in the applicant’s home country who can speak about the applicant’s qualifications and about the country’s need for the specialized skill or knowledge they plan to acquire with their proposed study or research. AAUW does not accept references from dossier services, such as Parment or Interfolio.
  • Documents:
    • Proof of highest degree: Upload transcripts** from the college or university where the highest degree (not a certificate) was obtained. Highest degree must be at least a bachelor’s degree (must be earned on or before November 15, 2022).
      • Transcripts** must include a list of courses taken and grades received.
      • If the institution does not provide a transcript or a list of courses taken and grades received or the degree did not require coursework, an official letter from the institution where the degree was received that includes the degree completion date must be uploaded.
      • Do not upload copies of additional certificates or other documents the applicant may have received during their education.
    • Proof of current enrollment (currently enrolled applicants only): Upload transcripts**/lists of courses/institution letters from the college or university in which the applicant is currently enrolled, if enrolled.
      • Transcripts must include a list of courses taken and grades received.
      • Many transcripts do not include current coursework. If fall 2022 semester grades are not available and are not on your transcript, a list of courses taken that semester must be provided by the institution’s Office of the Registrar.
      • If the institution does not provide a transcript or a list of courses taken and grades received or the degree did not require coursework, an official letter* from the institution where the degree was received that includes the degree completion date must be uploaded.
    • Proof of a doctorate or M.F.A. degree (postdoctoral applicants only): Upload any one of the following:
      • Transcript showing degree and date received (must be on or before November 15, 2022).
      • Official letter from institution where degree was received that includes the degree completion date.
      • Copy of diploma showing date degree was received (must be on or before November 15, 2022).
    • Proof of English proficiency: Upload one of the following:
      • Official report of an acceptable and valid TOEFL or IELTS score. Scores are valid for two years. Institutional TOEFL scores and other English proficiency test scores will not be accepted.
        • Minimum acceptable scores are as follows:
          • TOEFL iBT (Internet-Based Test): 79
          • TOEFL Essentials: 8.5
          • Revised TOEFL Paper-Delivered Test: 60
          • IELTS: 6.5
      • Written statement verifying the applicant’s native language is English.
      • Academic transcript or diploma confirming one of the following:
        • Secondary diploma or undergraduate degree is from an English-speaking institution.
        • One semester of full-time study in the applicant’s discipline at an English-speaking institution between November 2020 and November 2022.

*A certified English translation is required for all components provided in a foreign language. Translations must bear a mark of certification or official signature that the translation is true and complete.

**All transcripts provided must include the applicant’s full name, the school’s name, all courses, and all grades, as well as any other information requested in the application instructions.