Discover the Application Process that Guided 285 Fellows to Success in the Women AAUW International Fellowship Program

“If you’re in search of a reliable resource that has successfully assisted 285 individuals in securing funding for the American Association of University Women (AAUW) International Fellowship Program, which offers scholarships ranging from $20,000 to $50,000, then please follow the outlined application procedures below.

Our research indicates that this program has allocated over $135 million in fellowships and grants to more than 13,000 scholars and organizations across 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam, and 150 countries, making it one of the world’s largest scholarship initiatives for women.

Upon examining the data from the 285 past successful fellows, it’s evident that all recipients of these Fellowship Program awards met the eligibility criteria and demonstrated proficiency in English.

You might be wondering, ‘Who is eligible for this Fellowship Program?’ Well, without further ado, let’s delve into the details.

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What is the AAUW International Fellowship Program for Women all about?

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) International Fellowship Program is designed for women who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents and who aspire to pursue full-time graduate or postdoctoral studies in the United States with the intention of returning to their home country to pursue a professional career.

This program has a rich history dating back to 1917 and offers funding of $20,000 for Master’s/first professional degrees, $25,000 for Doctoral degrees, and $50,000 for Postdoctoral research.

In the words of Esther Ngumbi, a 2007-2008 International Fellow and assistant professor of entomology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, ‘AAUW paved a way for me, which is why I can now pave a way for others. For me, it’s so other women of color can say, ‘Hey, she made it despite all of the challenges.”

In the 2022-2023 academic year, the American Association of University Women (AAUW) awarded over $6 million in fellowships and grants to more than 320 women and community projects.

The AAUW International Fellowship Program plays a crucial role in alleviating the burden of student debt, which disproportionately affects women, enabling promising women to excel in various fields and emerge as leaders in business, government, academia, community activism, the arts, and sciences.

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Who Qualifies for the AAUW International Fellowship Program?

Eligibility for this program is extended to individuals who meet the following criteria:

1. Applicants must have obtained the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree by the application deadline and must have applied to their intended institutions of study by the time of application. Recipients are selected based on academic achievement and a demonstrated commitment to advancing opportunities for women and girls.
2. Applicants must be committed to returning to their home countries to assume leadership roles in fields such as business, government, academia, community activism, the arts, or scientific domains.
3. International Fellowships are not available to prior recipients of any AAUW national fellowship or grant, except for branch or local awards or Community Action Grants.
4. Individuals serving on the AAUW board of directors, committees, panels, task forces, or staff, including current interns, are not eligible to apply for AAUW’s fellowships and grants. However, individuals currently holding an award may be eligible for election or appointment to boards, committees, panels, or task forces.
5. International Fellowships are open to women, including those who identify as women, in all fields of study at accredited institutions of higher education or for postdoctoral research. AAUW will make the final determination regarding eligible institutions.
6. Unsuccessful applicants may reapply for the Fellowship Program.
7. To meet the eligibility criteria for an International Fellowship, applicants must:
   • Hold citizenship in a country other than the United States or possess a nonimmigrant visa if residing in the U.S. Applicants who are currently U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents, or dual citizens with the U.S. and another country during the fellowship year are ineligible.
   • Possess an academic degree (earned in the U.S. or abroad) equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree completed by the application deadline.Be committed to full-time engagement in their proposed academic plan during the fellowship year.
   • Intend to return to their home country to pursue a professional career upon completing their studies.
   • Demonstrate proficiency in English, confirmed by submitting one of the Required Components (see below), which includes specific English proficiency exams, transcripts from English-speaking institutions, or a written statement verifying English as the applicant’s native language. Applicants planning to take one of the accepted English proficiency exams should do so at their earliest convenience.
   • For Master’s/first professional degree and doctoral applicants, have applied to an accredited institution for the fellowship year, and must indicate the institution’s name in the International Fellowship application. While acceptance is not required at the time of application, successful applicants must provide official confirmation from the institution when submitting their award acceptance materials.
8. Note that Master’s/first professional degree fellowships are intended for programs such as J.D., M.F.A., L.L.M., M.Arch., or medical degrees (e.g., M.D., D.D.S.), while doctoral fellowships are for research-based doctorate degrees like Ph.D. or Ed.D.
9. Master’s/first professional degree and doctoral applicants must be enrolled in a U.S.-accredited institution located in the U.S. during the fellowship year.
10. A limited number of awards are available to Graduate Women International members for study or research in any country other than their own. It’s important to mention that foreign branches of U.S. institutions are considered outside of the U.S.
11. Applicants can apply for the fellowship for any year of their program but must be conducting a full year of study or research.
12. International Fellowships do not provide funding for a partial year of study or research, and programs ending prior to April of the fellowship year are not eligible.
13. Distance learning/online programs: Master’s/first professional degree and doctoral fellowships support traditional classroom-based courses of study at colleges or universities. This fellowship program does not provide funding for distance-learning or online programs or for degrees heavily dependent on distance-learning components. AAUW will make the final decisions regarding what qualifies as distance learning for these fellowships. AAUW will accept applications from applicants who are temporarily studying remotely due to COVID-19 precautions at their institution.

What is the Criteria for Selection and Application Review

• The panel convenes once a year to review applications for funding. Awards are granted based on the criteria outlined here, with panel recommendations subject to AAUW’s final approval. Fellowships are awarded competitively, depending on the available funds for a given fiscal year.
• To ensure a fair review process, AAUW does not disclose the deliberations of its award panels. Additionally, AAUW does not provide evaluations of individual applications, and there is no provision for reconsideration of fellowship proposals. All applications and supporting documents become the exclusive property of AAUW and will neither be returned nor held for consideration in another year.
• Applicants residing in their home country at the time of application, those from developing/emerging countries, or individuals from underrepresented groups in any region will receive special consideration in the selection process.
• Position on Returning to the Home Country. Academic and/or Professional Qualifications. Demonstrated Commitment to Advancing Opportunities for Women and Girls in the Home Country. Proposed Time Schedule. Quality and Feasibility of Proposed Study or Research Plan. Demonstrated Evidence of Prior Community and/or Civic Service in the Home Country. The Home Country’s Need for Specialized Knowledge or Skill. Financial Need. Motivation for Graduate Study or Research.

What Does the Women AAUW International Fellowship Program Cover?

The Women AAUW International Fellowship Program provides funds for the following:

1. Educational Expenses.
2. Living Expenses.
3. Dependent Child Care.
4. Travel to Professional Meetings,
5. Conferences, or Seminars,
6. not exceeding 10% of the fellowship’s total value.

List of American Association of University Women (AAUW) International Fellowship Program Partner Countries

1. Argentina
2. Australia
3. Austria
4. Bangladesh
5. Bolivia
6. Canada
7. Cyprus
8. Democratic Republic of Congo
9. Egypt
10. El Salvador
11. Fiji
12. France
13. Ghana
14. Great Britain
15. Hong Kong
16. Iceland
17. India
18. Ireland & Northern Ireland
19. Israel
20. Japan
21. Kenya
22. Korea
23. Lithuania
24. Mexico
25. Nepal
26. Netherlands
27. New Zealand
28. Nigeria
29. Pakistan
30. Panama
31. Paraguay
32. Russia
33. Rwanda
34. Scotland
35. Senegal
36. Sierra Leone
37. Singapore
38. Slovenia
39. South Africa
40. Spain
41. Switzerland
42. Thailand
43. Turkey
44. Uganda
45. USA
46. Zambia
47. Zimbabwe

How to Submit Applications for AAUW International Fellowship Program

Commence the application process by clicking the ‘Apply Now’ button below to access the application and create an account through our vendor site. Ensure the completion of all mandatory components in the following areas:

1. Start
2. Background
3. Proposal
4. Recommendations, Documents & Review

Recommendations:

Provide two recommendations from professors or professional colleagues who are well-acquainted with your work, academic background, and scholarly pursuits. Whenever possible, your recommenders should be professors or professional colleagues from your home country who can speak to your qualifications and the country’s need for the specialized skills or knowledge you plan to acquire through your proposed study or research. Please note that AAUW does not accept references from dossier services such as Parment or Interfolio.

Documents:

1. Proof of the highest degree: Upload transcripts from the college or university where you earned your highest degree (not a certificate). The highest degree must be at least a bachelor’s degree and must have been earned on or before the application deadline. Transcripts must include a list of courses taken and the grades received.
2. If the institution does not provide a transcript or a list of courses taken and grades received, or if the degree did not require coursework, you must upload an official letter from the institution where you earned the degree, including the degree completion date. Please refrain from uploading copies of additional certificates or documents you may have received during your education.
3. Proof of current enrollment (for currently enrolled applicants only): Upload transcripts or lists of courses, or an institutional letter from your current college or university, if you are currently enrolled. Transcripts must include a list of courses taken and grades received. Many transcripts do not include current coursework. If fall 2023 semester grades are not available on your transcript, and they are not included in the document, you must obtain a list of courses taken that semester from the institution’s Office of the Registrar. If the institution does not provide a transcript or a list of courses taken and grades received, or if the degree did not require coursework, an official letter from the institution where you earned the degree, including the degree completion date, must be uploaded.
4. Proof of a doctorate or M.F.A. degree (for postdoctoral applicants only): Upload any one of the following:
   • Transcript showing the degree and date of receipt (must be on or before the application deadline).
   • Official letter from the institution where you received the degree, including the degree completion date.
   • Copy of the diploma indicating the date on which the degree was received (must be on or before the application deadline).
5. Proof of English proficiency: Upload one of the following:
   • An official report of an acceptable and valid TOEFL, IELTS, or Cambridge assessment score. Scores are valid for two years, and institutional TOEFL scores and other English proficiency test scores will not be accepted. The 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
   • A written statement verifying that English is your native language.
   • An academic transcript or diploma confirming one of the following:
     • Your secondary diploma or undergraduate degree was earned at an English-speaking institution.
     • You completed one semester of full-time study in your discipline at an English-speaking institution between November 2021 and November 2023.
   • Please note that a certified English translation is required for all components provided in a foreign language. The translations must bear a mark of certification or an official signature attesting that the translation is accurate and complete.
6. All transcripts provided must include your full name, the name of the school, a list of all courses taken, and the grades received, in addition to any other information specified in the application instructions.

Women AAUW International Fellowship Timeline

The application period for this scholarship opens on August 1, 2023, and the deadline for submission is November 15, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. Notifications of decisions will be emailed to all applicants, with the process beginning on April 15, 2024. The Fellowship year is scheduled from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025.

Interested candidates should just follow this link to find the application instructions

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Thank you!”