AAUW International Fellowships for Study Abroad 2024-25: Dates, Eligibility, Requirements & More

The story of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) is closely tied to the progress women have made in the United States. This article is a guide to the AAUW International Fellowships program for women.

Since its founding in 1888, AAUW has been a leader in supporting women’s education. In fact, it’s one of the world’s largest funders of graduate scholarships for women. This means AAUW has invested in countless women who have gone on to make incredible contributions to our world.

AAUW has awarded over $135 million in fellowships and grants since its inception in 1888.

More than 13,000 scholars and organizations across 50 states and over 150 countries have benefited from AAUW’s support.

These numbers show AAUW’s ongoing commitment to empowering women through education.

What is an AAUW Scholarship?

The AAUW offers various types of financial aid to support women’s education. While people often refer to these as scholarships, AAUW uses the term “fellowships” and “grants”. The reward aimed at international students is officially called “International Fellowship”. So, we will use the phrases AAUW Scholarships and AAUW Fellowships, as both are commonly used by students.

Purpose of the AAUW International Fellowship

The AAUW International Fellowship aims to support women from around the world who are pursuing graduate or postgraduate studies in the United States. The purpose of this fellowship is to help women achieve their academic and professional goals. By sponsoring a big portion of their educational expenses, the fellowship empowers women to become leaders in their fields and make a positive impact in their home countries.

The fellowship is designed for women who are citizens of countries other than the USA. It is meant for those who are committed to advancing the status of women and girls in their home countries through education and professional achievements.

The fellowship amount varies. On the whole, it provides substantial financial support for tuition, living expenses, and other related costs. For the 2023-24 award year, AAUW is providing over $6 million to 285 fellows and grantees. The year before that, they supported even more – over 320 women and community projects.

In this guide, we will focus exclusively on the International Fellowships for the most part. Let’s begin with an overview:

List of AAUW scholarship for students

As we explained earlier, there is a wide range of grants and fellowships awarded by AAUW. Here is a list of all of these scholarships.

AAUW scholarship deadlines

Here is an overview of the different AAUW scholarships, with their application deadlines.

Please note that if you wish to apply for a scholarship relevant to students pursuing a higher education program in the USA, then the right scholarship for you is ‘AAUW International Fellowships’.

AAUW International Fellowship Timeline

Here is the timeline for the AAUW International Fellowship application process and important dates you need to remember:

• September 3, 2024: The application process opens. 
• November 15, 2024, by 11:59 p.m. Pacific Standard Time: This is the deadline for submitting your online application, recommendations, and supporting documents. 
• April 15, 2025: Notifications of decisions will be emailed to all applicants. AAUW does not accommodate requests for earlier notification.
• July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026: This period marks the fellowship year. If you are awarded the fellowship, this is when you will use the funds and carry out your proposed study or research.

Requirements for the AAUW Scholarship

In this section, we will focus on the key requirements that students need to understand as they apply for the AAUW International Fellowship. Here are the key points to remember.

1. When you accept an AAUW fellowship, you enter into a contract and must meet certain requirements.
2. You must sign a contract when accepting the award. This contract outlines the terms you need to follow during your fellowship year.
3. You are expected to work on your project full-time from July 1 to June 30. Partial fellowships are not available, and you cannot defer your fellowship to another year.
4. If you need to change your plans during the fellowship year, you must get approval in writing from AAUW. If you receive another award, you must promptly inform AAUW of this change in your application status.
5. You can spend up to two months traveling abroad for research related to your project. However, you need to get prior written approval from AAUW for this travel.
6. If you are a postdoctoral fellow, you cannot pursue a degree during your fellowship year.
7. Up to five International Master’s/First Professional Degree Fellowships can be renewed for a second year. During your fellowship year, you will receive information on how to apply for this competitive renewal program.
8. Stipends are paid directly to you, not to your institution.
9. Depending on your tax status and treaties, your fellowship stipend may be subject to a 14% or 30% tax, which AAUW will withhold and pay to the IRS. It is your responsibility to determine if you have a tax obligation associated with the fellowship. For specific tax questions, consult the IRS, your financial aid office, or a personal tax adviser. AAUW does not provide tax advice.
10. Securing visas and other necessary documents, and following the policies associated with them, is your responsibility.
11. By accepting an AAUW fellowship, you agree to these terms and commit to fulfilling them throughout your fellowship year.

Also Read: Scholarship to study in the USA For Indian students: How to apply

AAUW Scholarship eligibility criteria

The eligibility criteria for the AAUW International Fellowship are very stringent. To stand a chance to get this prestigious fellowship, you will need to understand all the criteria.

1. You cannot apply for an International Fellowship if you have previously received any AAUW national fellowship or grant, except for branch or local awards or Community Action Grants.
2. International Fellowships are open to women, including those who identify as women, in all fields of study at an accredited institution of higher education or, for postdoctoral fellows, research. 
3. AAUW will decide what qualifies as an eligible institution. If you have applied before but were not successful, you may reapply.
4. You must be a citizen of a country other than the USA or have a nonimmigrant visa if residing in the USA. If you are currently, or expect to be during the fellowship year, a citizen of the USA, permanent resident of the USA, or dual citizen with the USA and another country, you are not eligible. 
5. You must hold an academic degree equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree, completed by the application deadline. 
6. You must intend to devote yourself full-time to your proposed academic plan during the fellowship year. 
7. You should plan to return to your home country to pursue a professional career after completing your studies. 
8. You must be proficient in English and confirm your proficiency by submitting one of the required components, such as certain English proficiency exams, transcripts from English-speaking institutions, or a written statement verifying English as your native language. 
9. If you are applying for a master’s, first professional degree, or doctoral program, you must have applied to an accredited institution by the AAUW application deadline and indicate the name of the institution in your application. 
10. While acceptance is not required at the time of application, you must provide official confirmation from the institution with your award acceptance materials.
11. If you are applying for a master’s, first professional degree, or doctoral program, you must be enrolled in an accredited institution located in the USA during the fellowship year. A limited number of awards are available to Graduate Women International members for study or research in any country other than your own. Note that foreign branches of such institutions are considered outside of the USA.
12. You can apply for the fellowship for any year of your program, but you must be conducting a full year of study or research. International Fellowships do not provide funding for a partial year of study or research. Programs ending before April of the fellowship year are not eligible.
13. The fellowship supports traditional classroom-based courses of study at colleges or universities. It does not fund distance-learning or online programs or degrees heavily dependent on distance-learning components. 

If you satisfy all these criteria, you can go ahead and apply for the International Fellowship from AAUW.

As you can see, there are several eligibility criteria that apply to the program for which you are securing a scholarship. Therefore, you need to ensure that you find a program that is supported by this scholarship. Beyond this, there are several other criteria for selecting education programs. For that, SelectRight can be a great help.

How SelectRight Helps

SelectRight uses an AI-driven algorithm to analyze over 8 million data points from 40,000 programs across 4,000 universities worldwide. This ensures that you find a program that offers a high return on investment (ROI), has a high likelihood of admission, and is supported by scholarships and education loans.

Here’s how SelectRight works:

1. Create a Profile: Register on SelectRight and complete your profile with all necessary information about your academic background, test scores, and preferences.
2. Get Matched: The algorithm processes your details and generates a shortlist of the best-suited universities and programs for you.
3. Compare Options: Compare the shortlisted universities using advanced criteria such as alumni networks, recent placements, and faculty quality.
4. Seek Guidance: Get help from an expert advisor at any stage of your application process.
5. Connect with Stakeholders: Connect with peers, alumni, and faculty from the shortlisted universities to get your questions answered and make informed decisions.

Finding your perfect university is a significant milestone in your study abroad journey. If you are targeting Spring ’25 admissions, now is the perfect time to get your profile set up on SelectRight.

Sign up on SelectRight today and take the first step toward achieving your educational goals.

Application process for AAUW Scholarship for Indian Students in 2024

To apply for the AAUW International Fellowship, follow these steps:

1. First, visit this URL. 
2. Click on the “Apply Now” button to access the application and create an account through the vendor site. 

There are four components you need to complete in the application form: Start; Background; Proposal; Recommendations, Documents & Review. 

• Complete the form, recheck all the information, and submit it. Then, wait for a decision. 

While this process might seem straightforward, it is highly competitive. The committee uses a stringent process to decide who receives the fellowship. You will need to submit a lot of information, including the following documents:

• Proof of highest degree
• Transcripts from the college or university where the highest degree was obtained
• Official letter from the institution if transcripts are not provided
• Proof of current enrollment (if currently enrolled)
• Transcripts or lists of courses from the institution currently enrolled in
• Proof of a doctorate or M.F.A. degree (for postdoctoral applicants)
• Official report of an acceptable TOEFL, IELTS, or Cambridge assessment score
• Written statement verifying English as your native language (if applicable)
• Academic transcript or diploma from an English-speaking institution (if applicable)
• Certified English translations of all components provided in a foreign language

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