2025 AAUW American Dissertation Fellowship

AAUW’s proud tradition of funding women pursuing higher education is anchored in its American Fellowship – AAUW’s flagship initiative. The American Dissertation Fellowship, in particular, offsets scholars’ expenses during their final year of dissertation writing and deepens AAUW’s impact by accelerating diversity, equity, and inclusion in academia. The American Dissertation Fellowship is open to women in all fields of study, though those engaged in science, technology, engineering, and math fields, or those researching gender issues, are especially encouraged to apply. Established in 1888, AAUW American Fellowships are the oldest non-institutional source of graduate funding for women in the United States.   

Table of Content

• Summary
• Benefits
• Requirments
• Interview Process
• Application Deadline
• How To Apply

Summary

• Application DeadlineSeptember 30, 2025
• Study LevelPostdoctoral Fellowships
• SponsorAmerican Association of University Women (AAUW)
• City to studyMassachusetts
• School to studyAmerican Association of University Women (AAUW)
• Eligible CountryUnited States

Benefits

 American Dissertation Fellowships carry a stipend of $25,000. Stipends are payable to fellows only and are disbursed in two equal payments at the beginning and the midpoint of the fellowship term.

Requirements

• Applicants must identify as a woman.
• Applicants must have completed all coursework, passed all preliminary exams, have a prior-approved research proposal, or plan and be engaged in completing the final year of their dissertation writing on a full-time basis from July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027.  
• Applicants must be completing their first doctoral degree.
• Applicants must be enrolled at an institution: 
  • Accredited in the United States, or 
  • An international institution recognized as eligible to participate in U.S. federal student aid programs, as listed on the Federal Student Aid Participating Schools list. 

Citizenship & Immigration Status

Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.

Selection Process

Selection Criteria

• Scholarly excellence, as demonstrated by academic records and achievements, recognition from peers, professors, and/or institutions, and other forms of distinction
• Research that demonstrates originality in its design and has the potential to make significant contributions to the relevant academic or professional field
• Active commitment to helping women and girls through service in their communities, professions, or fields of research
• Feasibility of the research plans, the funding of those plans and the proposed timeline for their completion
• Applicants pursuing doctoral studies in science, technology, engineering, or math fields; or those researching gender issues (Preferred)
• Applicants who have demonstrated resilience in overcoming life challenges beyond their control, such as socioeconomic status, discrimination, limited academic resources or opportunities, or other adverse circumstances (Preferred) 
• Applicants who were the first in their family to attain a bachelor’s degree (Preferred) 
• Applicants who lead or hail from single parent households (Preferred) 

Application Deadline

How To Apply

For more details, visit AAUW Fellowship webpage