Master's Scholarship•USA

AAUW International Fellowships

Funding

Partial / Stipend

Program dates

TBA

AAUW International Fellowships, run by the American Association of University Women (AAUW), support women who are not United States citizens or permanent residents while they pursue full-time graduate study in the United States. For the 2027–2028 award year the program funds a first master’s or a first doctoral (academic or professional) degree, and the degree must be in a STEM discipline. The award is a one-time, non-renewable stipend covering one academic year, intended to help recipients return home and apply their expertise to advancing women and girls in their communities.

Benefits & funding

  • Stipend by level: US$20,000 for a master’s degree, US$25,000 for a doctoral degree.
  • One-time award for one academic year; not renewable. Paid to the fellow in two equal instalments.
  • Eligible uses: tuition, fees, required course materials (books and supplies), and living expenses including housing, food, and dependent care.
  • Not covered: research assistants, previous expenditures or personal-loan repayment, publication costs, institutional overhead, or tuition for dependents.

Eligibility

  • Must identify as a woman.
  • Must NOT be a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident, and must not have a green-card application pending. Open to women of any other nationality.
  • Admitted or enrolled in a first master’s or a first academic/professional doctoral degree, full-time, at a U.S. Department of Education–accredited institution.
  • The degree must be in a STEM discipline (science, technology, engineering, or mathematics).
  • Hold at least one academic degree equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale for the highest degree earned.
  • English proficiency: TOEFL iBT ≥ 79, IELTS ≥ 6.5, Duolingo English Test ≥ 120, or Cambridge ≥ 176 — waived for native English speakers or holders of a degree from an English-medium institution.
  • Must begin the program on or before September 15, 2027 and complete it on or after April 30, 2028, and reside in the U.S. or the country of study for the fellowship period.

Application process

  1. 1
    From August 17, 2026, create an account in the AAUW applicant portal.
  2. 2
    Complete the online application — study plan, transcripts, proof of English proficiency, and recommendations.
  3. 3
    Submit by September 17, 2026, 5:00pm ET; awards are announced in March 2027.

Program timeline

  1. Applications open (9:00am ET)

    Aug 17, 2026

  2. Application deadline (5:00pm ET)

    Sep 17, 2026

  3. Award decisions announced

    2027-03

  4. First stipend instalment

    2027-07 to 2027-09

  5. Second stipend instalment

    2027-12 / 2028-01

  6. Final report due

    Jul 31, 2028