About the American Association of University Women (AAUW)
AAUW was founded in 1881 to advance equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, and research. One of the largest scholarship programs for women in the world, AAUW focuses on narrowing gender pay gaps, creating equal opportunities in education, and supporting local, state, and federal laws and policies that enable women’s success. For more information about AAUW and the following fellowships and grants, click here.
American Fellowships
The American Fellowship program began in 1888, a time when women were discouraged from pursuing an education. It is AAUW’s largest fellowship program and the oldest non-institutional source of graduate funding for women in the United States. American Fellowships support women scholars who are pursuing full-time study to complete dissertations, conducting postdoctoral research full-time, or preparing research for publication for eight consecutive weeks. There are three types of American Fellowship opportunities: Dissertation Fellowships, Postdoctoral Research Leave Fellowships, and Short-Term Research Publication Grants. Award amounts range from $6,000-$30,000. Applications for this fellowship are due November 1, 2020.
Career Development Grants
Career Development Grants were originally designed in 1972 to offer ‘encouragement’ funding to AAUW members seeking to renew or resume academic work credit toward career or employment advancement. Today, these grants provide funding to women who hold a bachelor’s degree and are preparing to advance or change careers or re-enter the workforce in education, health and medical sciences, or social sciences. Primary consideration is given to women of color and women pursuing their first advanced degree or credentials in non-traditional fields. Award amounts range from $2,000-$12,000. Applications for this grant are due November 15, 2020.
Community Action Grants
Community Action Grants provide funding to individuals, AAUW branches, and AAUW state organizations as well as community-based nonprofits for innovative programs that promote education and equity through projects focused on encouraging girls to select, before entering college, the physical sciences or engineering as a career. Since 1972, AAUW has provided support to hundreds of communities across the United States. Award amounts range from $3,000-$10,000. Applications for this grant are due December 1, 2020.
International Fellowships
International Fellowships are awarded for full-time study or research in the United States to women who are not US citizens or permanent residents. Applicants must have earned the equivalent of a US bachelor’s degree by the application deadline, and must have applied to their proposed institutions of study by the time of the application. Award amounts range from $18,000-$30,000. Applications for this fellowship are due November 15, 2020.
Research Publication Grants in Engineering, Medicine, and Science
Having a strong publication record is a key to receiving promotions and tenure in engineering, medicine, and science. Yet persistent gender stereotypes and bias in these fields can make it difficult for women to find the time and institutional support needed to publish their research. These grants help women overcome such barriers by funding research projects that will culminate in scholarly publications. They are open to women scholars conducting basic research in engineering, medicine, or the physical or biological sciences and who have a doctorate degree in one of those fields. The grantee must publish their research in a scholarly publication and be listed as a primary author. Award amounts range from $10,000-$35,000. Applications for this grant are due December 1, 2020.
Selected Professions Fellowships
Selected Professions Fellowships are awarded to women who intend to pursue a full-time course of study at accredited US institutions during the fellowship year in one of the designated degree programs where women’s participation has traditionally been low. These fellowships were established in 1970 with a $25,000 grant from the Max C. Fleischmann Foundation. Initially, they focused on opening doors for women in the male-dominated fields of law and medicine. However, the focus expanded over time to include science and technology, since the demand for a technologically-skilled workforce has grown without proportional representation by women. Selected Professions Fellowships are awarded for the following master’s programs: architecture, computer/information sciences, engineering, and mathematics/statistics. Fellowships in the following degree programs are restricted to women of color, who have been underrepresented in these fields: master’s in business administration, law, and doctorate in medicine. Award amounts range from $5,000-$18,000. Applications for this fellowship are due December 1, 2020.