AAUW’s International Fellowship 2027

No, AAUW International Fellowship is a partial-funding award, with listed coverage of $20,000 for master’s and first professional degree recipients, $25,000 for doctoral students, and $50,000 for postdoctoral students. According to Mary Oluwatosin Kaka, an AAUW fellow at Purdue University, the award provided “$20,000 covering my living expenses for the 2022/2023 academic session.” Many recipients therefore treat AAUW as major support, but not always as their only source of funding.

Fellowship is for women, including those who identify as women, who are not U.S. citizens or who hold a nonimmigrant visa in the U.S., and who plan to study full-time at an accredited U.S. institution and return to their home country afterward. Recipient stories reflect that mission. Loveth Amarachi Odozor described it as a “life-changing opportunity for women across the globe,” while explaining that the fellowship supports international students who want to build expertise in the U.S. and use it to create impact back home.

Applicants should be ready for a research proposal, two recommendation letters, proof of highest degree or current enrollment, proof of doctorate or M.F.A. degree where applicable, proof of English proficiency, and certified translations for documents not in English. The same page also notes that requirements can vary by degree, program, nationality, and other factors. In her story, Felicia Jacinta Ayambire emphasized starting early because the process involves multiple documents and recommendation letters, while Dalila Sumani highlighted the value of strong references from both previous and current universities.

Not necessarily in every case, but you should assume that English proof matters. Applicants must show English proficiency through accepted exams, transcripts, or a statement. That means the exact proof can vary. For example, Jarin Taslem Mourosi said, “I showed my transcript as proof of my English proficiency,” because she was already in a U.S. PhD program. Likewise, Felicia Jacinta Ayambire wrote, “I did not take any standardized tests, such as the GRE or TOEFL.”

The process is straightforward at a high level: access the application platform, create an account, and complete all required components. In practice, recipients suggest treating the application strategically. Kari Fuentes advises applicants to “Do the research” so their application clearly reflects the scholarship’s values, while Dalila Sumani prepared by researching eligibility, organizing documents, and building a timeline around the deadlines.

Across the recipient stories, the strongest themes are authenticity, alignment, and a clear future impact plan. Dalila Sumani said her application stood out because “it was authentic and clearly connected my past experiences to my future goals.” Loveth Amarachi Odozor put it even more simply: “I made it personal.” In her Columbia story, Ángela Sánchez explained that she showed how her professional experience directly supported her future education goals.

As early as possible. Dalila Sumani said she would start at least two months earlier next time so she would have room for drafting, feedback, and revision. Felicia Jacinta Ayambire also advised applicants to start early because of the number of documents and recommendation letters involved.