International Fellowships (Master’s, Professional, and Academic Doctorate Degrees)

• Applicants must be or identify as a woman.
• Applicants must be pursuing their first master’s, professional or academic doctorate degree. Examples of master’s and professional degrees include but are not limited to J.D., M.F.A., L.L.M., M.Arch., or medical degrees such as M.D., D.D.S., etc. Examples of academic doctorate degrees include but are not limited to Ph.D. or Ed.D.
• 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.
• 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 country of their studies 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. (Foreign branches of U.S. institutions are considered outside of the U.S.)
• Applicants interested in pursuing postdoctoral studies are encouraged to consider AAUW’s International Postdoctoral Research Fellowships.

Citizenship & Immigration Status

Fellowship recipients must be non-U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

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 International Fellowship recipient

• 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.
• Scholarly excellence, as demonstrated by academic records and achievements, recognition from peers, professors, and/or institutions, and other forms of distinction.
• Research or study that is original in design and will make significant contributions to the relevant 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/study plans, the funding of those plans and the proposed timeline for their completion.
• Fellow’s position on return to home country.
• Applicants pursuing their first international academic experience (preferred).
• Applicants residing in their home country at the time of application (preferred).

A two-year fellowship will be awarded to up to five master’s and/or professional degree candidates. To be considered eligible, applicants must be:

1. Admitted into a two-year program as first-year students by the beginning of the Fellowship Term; and

2. Among the most highly rated applicants in their field of study.

In addition, master’s or professional degree candidates must meet the following conditions for award renewal. Failure to meet these requirements will result in disqualification from renewal of funding for the subsequent year of a Fellow’s academic program.

Renewal Conditions

• Fellows must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.5 during their initial year of studies.
• Fellows must also complete an AAUW funding renewal form and submit an official transcript and institutional certification form, by May 30, 2026.

International Scholarship & Tuition Services (ISTS) serves as the application portal for AAUW International Fellowships. Please follow the steps below to start the application process:

1. Review the eligibility criteria to ensure you are eligible.
2. Click the Apply Now button below to access the application and create an ISTS account. If a program key is requested, please use the following program key: AAUW-IF
3. Follow the instructions provided in the Applicant Guide.

For any inquiries related to the application process or if you encounter technical issues, please contact AAUW@applyists.com or call (866) 795-4892.

Apply Now

In addition to a narrative application, all applicants are required to submit the following:

• Letters of Recommendation: Applicants must provide two letters of recommendation from advisors, professors, colleagues or others well acquainted with the applicant, their work, professional qualifications and academic background.

Note: AAUW does not accept references from dossier services, such as Parment or Interfolio, and standardized or form-letter recommendations are discouraged.

• Proof of Degree: Copy of highest degree earned to date.
• Transcripts: Copy of official transcripts confirming conferral of highest degree. The highest degree must be at least a bachelor’s degree. All transcripts must include the applicants’ full name, the school’s name, the degree conferred, and the list of courses taken, and grades received. Transcripts must also include the name of coursework and grades from transfer courses, if applicable. If transcripts reflect transfer courses without grades, a transcript from the institution where courses were taken is required. Applicants who studied at an institution that does not provide a transcript or a list of courses taken, and grades received, or the degree did not require coursework, must provide an institutional letter affirming the same as well as the degree completion date.
• Copy of GPA conversion if your grades were not calculated on a 4.0 scale.
• Proof of English Proficiency. Applicants must upload one of the following:
  • Official report of an acceptable and valid TOEFL, IELTS or Cambridge assessment 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
        • Cambridge Assessment: 176
  • Written statement affirming 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.
• Proof of Graduate Women International Membership: If applicants plan to pursue studies or research outside of the U.S. during the fellowship year, one of the following is required
  • Official letter from GWI or a GWI affiliate confirming the applicant’s membership;
  • Official membership certificate; or
  • Any other official documentation that confirms the applicant’s membership status.
• 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.

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

If the name differs from the one stated in the application, an explanation must be provided, such as a marriage certificate or a court letter of name change.

Applicants are responsible for the submission of all required documents. Incomplete applications will be considered at the discretion of AAUW.

Fellowships are awarded on a competitive basis according to funds available in a given fiscal year.

Review Panels

Applications to the International Fellowships are reviewed by panels of distinguished scholars and experts in the Natural & Physical Sciences.

Review panels meet once a year to review applications for funding. Panel funding recommendations are subject to final approval by AAUW.

Review Process

Prior to the International Fellowships Panel Review, AAUW’s Fellowships & Grants Team reviews applications for completeness and ensures compliance with eligibility requirements.

Each application is subsequently read by two panel reviewers. Reviewers assess applications based on the selection criteria described above.

In most instances, the fellowship stipend is subject to a tax rate of either 14 or 30 percent, depending on relevant tax statuses and treaties. AAUW withholds necessary taxes from stipends.

AAUW provides general tax guidelines to facilitate awardee compliance with United States tax law. However, AAUW strongly recommends that recipients consult a tax professional. AAUW does not provide any tax advice. Personal tax situations differ, and recipients are responsible for determining their AAUW award’s taxability in accordance with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, state laws, or in any country where they reside. Additional resources include the U.S. IRS (including the U.S. IRS Classification of Taxpayers for U.S. Tax Purposes) and Social Security Administration, as well as campus admissions, financial aid, and international student offices.

Disclaimer: These guidelines are provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial or legal advice. AAUW encourages students to seek advice from a qualified tax or financial advisor if needed.

The U.S. tax year runs from January 1 to December 31, with an annual tax filing deadline of April 15.

AAUW awardees can have one of the following tax statuses:

1. Foreign persons conducting their AAUW fellowship year in the U.S., residing inside or outside the U.S.

2. Foreign persons residing and conducting their AAUW project/fellowship outside the U.S.

3. U.S. Persons (U.S. Citizens, U.S. Permanent Residents, and U.S. Resident Aliens)

Awardees must:

• Follow the guidelines that reflect their immigration and tax status at the time of each stipend payment.
• Notify their program officer as soon as they anticipate a change in tax status.
• Submit the appropriate information upon the change of status.

1. Foreign persons conducting their AAUW fellowship year in the U.S., residing inside or outside the U.S: Foreign persons, including nonresident aliens, who are conducting their AAUW project in the U.S. during the award year must submit a Form W‐8BEN. This includes recipients who are conducting their AAUW project at a U.S. institution (e.g., pursuing research or a degree at a U.S.‐based institution), even if they are residing outside the U.S.

2. Foreign persons residing and conducting their AAUW project/fellowship outside the U.S.: Foreign persons, including nonresident aliens, who reside outside the U.S. and who are performing their AAUW project plan outside the U.S. do not need to submit a tax form.

3. U.S. Persons (U.S. Citizens, U.S. Permanent Residents, and U.S. Resident Aliens): U.S. persons, including U.S. resident aliens, must submit a Form W9. The form must include a U.S. Individual Taxpayer Identification Number or U.S. Social Security Number.

1. Foreign persons conducting their AAUW fellowship year in the U.S., residing inside or outside the U.S: The U.S. IRS requires tax filers to provide a U.S. Individual Taxpayer Identification Number or U.S. Social Security Number to file taxes. Certain recipients requesting tax exemptions must submit a tax number in their W‐8BEN. Others do not. However, as the process to obtain one of these numbers can be lengthy, AAUW strongly recommends that recipients apply for the appropriate number as soon as possible and submit it within their Form W‐8BEN.

2. Foreign persons residing and conducting their AAUW project/fellowship outside the U.S.: Foreign persons, including nonresident aliens, who reside outside the U.S. and who are performing their AAUW project plan outside the U.S. do not need to submit U.S. taxpayer identification number.

3. U.S. Persons (U.S. Citizens, U.S. Permanent Residents, and U.S. Resident Aliens): U.S. persons, including U.S. resident aliens must provide a U.S. Individual Taxpayer Identification Number or U.S. Social Security Number.

1. Foreign persons conducting their AAUW fellowship year in the U.S., residing inside or outside the U.S: Under U.S. law, fellowship awards to foreign persons conducting their fellowship year in the U.S. are taxable. AAUW is required by law to withhold the following amount to meet these tax obligations:

• 14% for recipients who have an “F,” “J,” “M,” or “Q” visa and related immigration status, or the tax withholding rate specified in any relevant tax treaties between a recipient’s home country and the U.S.
• 30% for recipients with any other immigration status or if no tax ID is provided.

2. Foreign persons residing and conducting their AAUW project/fellowship outside the U.S.: AAUW does not withhold any amount for payment of taxes.

3. U.S. Persons (U.S. Citizens, U.S. Permanent Residents, and U.S. Resident Aliens): The determination of whether there is a tax obligation associated with the receipt of an AAUW fellowship 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.

Certain countries have tax treaties with the U.S. that may exempt part or all the AAUW award from taxation or specify a unique US tax rate for citizens of that country. Please review the U.S. IRS’s U.S. Income Tax Treaties—A to Z and consult your embassy to determine if your country has a tax treaty with the US and if so, use the tax withholding rate that applies to you to appropriately record this information in your form W‐8BEN. Please note you must complete Part II of this form and submit it to AAUW. If you do not have a U.S. taxpayer identification number and are requesting an exemption, you may enter a foreign tax identifying number.