American Dissertation Fellowship

The American Doctoral Fellowship is available for the following degree programs: 

• Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)  
• Doctor of Science (D.Sc./Sc.D.) 
• Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) 
• Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D./J.S.D.),  
• Doctor of Engineering (D.Eng.)  
• Doctor of Public Health (Dr.P.H.) 
• Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.) 

• Applicants must identify as a woman.
• Applicants must begin their program on or before September 30, 2027.
• Applicants must be completing their first doctoral degree.
• Applicants must be enrolled at an institution: 
  • Recognized as accredited by the US Department of Education, 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.

The following are not eligible for consideration:

• Members of the AAUW Board of Directors
• Employees of AAUW, including paid or unpaid, part-time or temporary employees, consultants, interns and contract employees
• Review Panelists
• Immediate families (i.e., spouses and dependent children) of individuals described in the points above
• Applicants for another national AAUW fellowship or grant, in the same year
• Previous national AAUW fellowship or grant recipients (excluding Community Action Grants or branch or local AAUW awards)
• Applicants cannot be working on a master’s degree during their fellowship year

American Doctoral 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.

• 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 must demonstrate financial need, including any confirmed or pending sources of financial support and identify remaining funding gaps
• 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) 
• Applicants who are parenting students (Preferred) 
• Applicants pursuing their studies at R2 institutions or at institutions with limited research resources are encouraged to apply, and institutional context will be considered as part of the holistic review process. 

To begin your application, visit the AAUW Fellowships & Grants Application Portal to create an account or log in.

For step-by-step guidance on completing your application, refer to the Application Instructions.

All applicants are required to submit the following with their application:

• Letters of Recommendation: Applicants must provide two letters of recommendation. One must be from the applicant’s dissertation advisor, and the second may be from a professor, colleague, or other who is professionally familiar with the applicant, their scholarly work, teaching, professional, and/or academic background. Recommenders are encouraged to evaluate the applicant in relation to the fellowship selection criteria and support this assessment with specific examples. 
  • Applicants who do not have a dissertation advisor at the time of application must provide a letter from their current academic or research advisor. Please provide a professional email address for their recommenders, rather than a personal one.
  • It is the applicants’ responsibility to remind their recommender of the application deadline in order for the application to be completed on time. An application will not be considered complete until the recommendations have been submitted. 
  • Applicants are encouraged to register their recommenders through your online application as early as possible in the application process. The application system will send each recommender a personalized link to submit the recommendation online. 

Note: AAUW does not accept references from dossier services, such as Parment or Interfolio, and standardized or form-letter recommendations are discouraged.

• Proof of Degree: Copy of all degrees earned to date 
  • Applicants must hold a degree equivalent to at least a U.S. bachelor’s degree.
  • Applicants must upload copies of all diplomas/degree certificates OR official transcript showing conferral of degree and date of conferral for all programs from which they have received a degree. 
  • The documents provided must correspond to the programs and institutions listed in the application and must include the applicant’s full name, the institution’s name, and the degree conferred. 
  • Applicants must submit translations for all degrees that were awarded in a language other than English. For the highest earned degree, a certified translation is required.
  • Applicants with an equivalent of a bachelor’s degree (particularly if the transcript or degree certificate does not explicitly state it is a bachelor’s degree) must provide an official explanation from the academic institution or governing body, or submit a credential evaluation report from services like WES, ECE, or any National Association of Credential Evaluation Services member that clarifies the equivalency of your qualification to a bachelor’s degree.
  • If an applicant holds two degrees at the same level, such as two bachelor’s degrees or two master’s degrees, the most recently awarded degree will be considered the highest.
• Transcripts: Official transcripts confirming conferral of all degrees received AND official current transcript. 
  • Applicants must upload copies of all official academic transcripts from all programs from which you have received a degree.
  • The transcripts provided must correspond to the programs and institutions listed in your application.
  • All transcripts must include the applicant’s full name, the institution’s name, the degree conferred, the list of courses taken, and grades received. Transcripts must also include the name of coursework and grades from transfer courses, if applicable. If transcripts reflect transfer courses without grades, a transcript from the institution where courses were taken is required. 
  • Applicants must submit translations for all degrees that were awarded in a language other than English. For the highest earned degree, a certified translation is required.
  • Applicants who studied at an institution that does not provide a transcript, or a list of courses taken, and grades received, or the degree did not require coursework, must provide an institutional letter affirming the same as well as the degree completion date.
  • If an applicant holds two degrees at the same level, such as two bachelor’s degrees or two master’s degrees, the most recently awarded degree will be considered the highest.
• Proof of admission or current enrollment in the program an applicant plans to pursue. (If applicable)
  • Students who have been admitted to their program but not yet started:
    • Upload a copy of the official admission letter that indicates the anticipated start date of the program. 
    • Upload the official deferral approval for the 2027-28 academic year along with the official admission letter, if the applicant’s college or university admission was deferred (if applicable).
  • Students who are currently enrolled in their program:
    • Upload transcripts/ course listings or an enrollment verification letter from the college or university in which the applicant is currently enrolled, if enrolled. All submitted documents must clearly state the applicant’s name and their institution’s name.
    • Upload the official deferral approval for the 2027-28 academic year along with the official admission letter, if the applicant’s college or university admission was deferred (if applicable).

A certified English translation is required for all materials provided in a foreign language. Translations must bear a mark of certification or official signature that the translation is true and complete.  

If the name on any of the above documents differs from the one provided in the application, an explanation must be provided — such as a marriage certificate or a court-issued name change document.   

Applicants are responsible for the submission of all required documents. Incomplete applications will not be considered. 

Fellowships are awarded on a competitive basis based on recommendations by AAUW’s independent review panels and funds available in a given fiscal year. To ensure fairness and consistency in the review process, only complete applications that meet all eligibility criteria will be considered. It is the sole responsibility of the applicant to confirm that all materials are accurate and complete prior to submission. 

Review Panels   

Applications to the American Doctoral Fellowships are reviewed by panels of distinguished scholars and experts in the Arts and Humanities, Natural and Physical Sciences, and Social Sciences fields. Review panels meet once a year to review applications for funding. Panel funding recommendations are subject to final approval by AAUW.

Review Process   

Prior to the American Fellowships Panel Review, AAUW’s Fellowships & Grants Team reviews applications for completeness and ensures compliance with eligibility requirements. Each eligible and complete application is then reviewed by a panel of reviewers, who evaluate applications based on the selection criteria outlined above. 

Applicants selected as awardees must complete the full award acceptance process, including submission of all required materials as outlined by AAUW. Award status is not considered final until all acceptance materials have been received, reviewed, and approved.

American Doctoral Fellows are required to devote 100% of their working time and intellectual effort to the completion of their dissertation.

Applicants recommended for an award, but whose discipline or institution of study is different than envisioned at the time of application will be disqualified.

Fellowship awards may be used for tuition, fees, and course-required expenses like books and supplies, as well as housing, food, and other living expenses (including childcare). Awarded funds may not be expended on costs incurred prior to the fellowship term start date or after the fellowship term end date.

Fellows are expected to begin their programs, or continue them if already enrolled, by September 30, 2027. Fellows must complete/defend their dissertation no earlier than April 1, 2028. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate any exceptions.

Fellowship funds may be considered taxable income, depending on how they are used and the recipient’s individual circumstances. In many cases, funds used for purposes of non-tuition-related costs or living expenses are subject to taxation under U.S. tax law. 

It is the Fellow’s responsibility to understand and fulfill any tax obligations associated with their award. AAUW does not provide tax advice, issue tax forms, or report grants to the IRS. Fellows are strongly encouraged to consult a personal tax advisor or the IRS for guidance specific to their situation. 

Eligibility and Application Guidelines 

Can I still apply if I am not pursuing doctoral studies in STEM or if I do not meet one of the preferred selection criteria?  

Yes. We encourage applicants from all backgrounds who are pursuing doctoral studies in all fields to apply.  

What if I am enrolled in a joint masters and Ph.D. program and do not have proof of a completed master’s program?  

An official transcript must be submitted with the application showing completion of a bachelor’s degree or higher. Completion of a master’s degree is not required at the time of application, but completion of master’s level work will be verified during the award finalization process.  

I have applied or been admitted to several programs but have not yet decided which one to pursue. Can I list more than one program in my application?  

Yes. Applicants may list up to five programs and institutions in their application. However, please note that if you are awarded a fellowship, you must enroll in one of the programs and institutions listed in your application. If you choose to pursue a program at an institution not included in your application, you will be disqualified from receiving the fellowship. Additionally, all programs listed in the application must be for the same type of doctoral degree and field. 

Award Details 

Can I be enrolled in my doctorate program or completing my dissertation writing on a part-time basis?  

No. American Doctoral Fellows must be enrolled in their programs or working on their dissertation writing on a full-time basis.  

Can I work during my fellowship year?   

American Doctoral Fellows are expected to devote full-time effort to finalizing their dissertation. While part-time employment, either within or outside their academic institutions, is permitted, it must not interfere with steady progress toward completing the dissertation. 

Fellows may engage in full-time employment during the summer months, if it does not hinder their dissertation work. Any full-time roles must end or be reduced to part-time by September 1 of the fellowship year to ensure compliance with the fellowship’s full-time commitment to dissertation work.       

What types of expenses are considered prohibited under the American Doctoral Fellowship?

Under the American Doctoral Fellowship, certain expenses are classified as prohibited and therefore may not be covered using fellowship funds. These include:  

• Research assistants  
• Previous expenditures, deficits, or repayment of personal loans  
• Publication costs  
• Tuition for dependents’ education  
• Tuition for coursework that is in addition to credits required for maintaining full-time status while completing a dissertation