In addition, up to 5 awards are available to Graduate Women International members for study in any country other than their own. International Fellowships are specifically designed for women who are non-U.S. citizens or permanent residents, with a track record of academic excellence and empowering other women and girls. The Program has been supporting international women pursuing full-time postgraduate studies in the United States.

Funding Information

• International Fellowships carry a stipend of $20,000 for a master’s degree and $25,000 for a doctorate degree.

Uses of the Funds

• Fellowship awards may be used for tuition, fees and course-required expenses like books and supplies, as well as housing, food, and other living expenses (including childcare).
• Awarded funds may not be expended on costs incurred prior to the fellowship term start date or after the fellowship term end date.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants must be or identify as a woman.
• Applicants must be admitted or enrolled in their first master’s or an academic or professional doctorate degree at the time of application. Examples of master’s degrees include but are not limited to M.A., M.S., M.B.A., M.F.A., L.L.M., M.Arch. Examples of academic and professional doctorate degrees include but are not limited to D.B.A., Ed.D., J.D., M.D., or Ph.D.
• Applicants must begin their program on or before September 1, 2026, and complete it on or after April 30, 2027.
• Applicants must possess at least one academic degree (earned in the U.S. or abroad) that is equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree. While applicants may hold multiple degrees, they must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale for the highest degree earned. Applicants may apply for only one degree type (either a Master’s or Doctoral program) and in a single specific field (e.g., Business, History, Physics, etc.). In the case of applicants pursuing a dual degree, they must select one of the fields.
• Applicants must pursue their study in the U.S. on a full-time basis at an institution accredited by the U.S. Department of Education.
• Applicants must reside in the U.S. or country of their research for the duration of the fellowship period.
• Applicants intending to study in another country other than their own or the U.S. must be members of Graduate Women International and pursue study at an international institution recognized as eligible to participate in U.S. federal student aid programs, as listed on the Federal Student Aid Participating Schools list.(Foreign branches of U.S. institutions are considered outside of the U.S.)
• Applicants interested in pursuing postdoctoral research are encouraged to consider AAUW’s International Postdoctoral Research Fellowships.
• Citizenship & Immigration Status:
  • Fellowship recipients must be non-U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
• A two-year fellowship may be awarded to up to five master’s degree candidates. To be considered eligible, applicants must be:
  • Admitted into a two-year program as first-year students by the beginning of the Fellowship Term;
  • Among the most highly rated applicants in their field of study.

Ineligibility Criteria

• The following are not eligible for consideration:
  • Members of the AAUW Board of Directors
  • Employees of AAUW, including paid or unpaid, part-time or temporary employees, consultants, interns and contract employees
  • Review Panelists
  • Immediate families (i.e., spouses and dependent children) of individuals described in the points above
  • Previous AAUW fellowship or grant recipients (excluding Community Action Grants or branch or local AAUW awards)

Selection Criteria

• Master’s Degree Applications:
  • Applicants must hold an academic degree (earned in the U.S. or abroad) equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale.
  • Academic excellence, as demonstrated by academic records and achievements, recognition from peers, professors, and/or institutions, and other forms of distinction
  • Demonstrated commitment to 1) applying their expertise, professional skills and leadership in the context of their home countries, and 2) supporting other women and girls through service in their communities and professions
  • Clear and actionable study plans, the funding of those plans, and the proposed timeline for their completion
  • Fellow’s position on return to home country
  • Applicants hailing from countries that have a notably low presence among AAUW award recipients
  • Applicants pursuing their first international academic experience
  • Applicants residing in their home country at the time of application
• Doctorate Degree Applications:
  • Applicants must have earned their highest academic degree, either in the U.S. or abroad, with a minimum GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale. The degree should be equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree or higher
  • Scholarly excellence, as demonstrated by academic records and achievements, recognition from peers, professors, and/or institutions, and other forms of distinction
  • Research that demonstrates originality in its design and has the potential to make significant contributions to the relevant academic or professional field
  • Demonstrated commitment to 1) applying their expertise, professional skills and leadership in the context of their home countries, and 2) supporting other women and girls through service in their communities, professions or fields of research
  • Feasibility of the research plans, the funding of those plans and the proposed timeline for their completion
  • Fellow’s position on return to home country
  • Applicants hailing from countries that have a notably low presence among AAUW award recipients
  • Applicants pursuing their first international academic experience
  • Applicants residing in their home country at the time of application
• Please keep the following in mind:
  • Incomplete or incorrect applications will not be reviewed.
  • AAUW does not provide feedback on missing or incorrect materials.
  • Once submitted, applications cannot be edited or updated.
  • Additional documentation will not be accepted after the deadline.
  • Requests for deadline extensions will not be accommodated.

For more information, visit AAUW Action Fund.

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