Frequently Asked Questions

No. AAUW fellows and grantees are not necessarily required to attend a program located in the United States. However, for the American Fellowships, International Fellowships, and Selected Professions Fellowships, the host institution must meet specific eligibility criteria. In general, the institution must either be: 

• 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. 

Please refer to the individual fellowship or grant program page for detailed and up-to-date eligibility requirements. 

AAUW is unable to accept or review applications submitted after the deadline. No exceptions will be made.

In general, AAUW fellowships and grants are one-time awards. This means that once you have received a fellowship or grant, you are not eligible to apply for another. For example, if you received a Selected Professions Fellowship to pursue a master’s degree, you would not be eligible to apply for another AAUW fellowship, such as the American Fellowship for doctoral studies.

Exception for International Fellows: Alumnae of the International Fellowships program may be eligible to apply for International Project Grants. These grants support community-based projects in their home countries following their fellowship year.

Be sure to check the eligibility section of each program page for specific details.

No. Once your application has been submitted, no changes can be made. Your application will be evaluated based solely on the information and supporting documents provided at the time of submission. 

Due to the high volume of applications, we are unable to provide feedback on rejected applications. 

 All applications are first reviewed by the AAUW Team to ensure they meet eligibility requirements. Eligible applications are then evaluated by a panel of experts in the applicant’s field. Top candidates are further discussed during a panel meeting to gather additional insights and determine final awardees. 

 Yes. AAUW is committed to supporting applicants who may require accommodations. If you require accommodations or additional assistance during the application process or fellowship period, please contact fellowships@aauw.org for guidance and support.

No. There is no interview process. Applications are evaluated solely based on the information and supporting documents submitted.

No. Recommendation letters must be submitted by the September 30th deadline for your application to be considered. We strongly encourage you to request your letters as early as possible. Recommenders can submit their letters even before you submit your application.

Yes. If you were awarded an AAUW fellowship or grant but had to decline, you are eligible to reapply.

An official transcript is a certified academic record issued directly by the institution a student attended. It includes a complete enrollment history, listing all courses or subjects attempted, grades earned, and any degrees or awards conferred. To be considered official, the transcript must be properly authenticated — such as through a certified electronic copy — and bear the institution’s authorized signature or seal. Transcripts marked as ‘unofficial’ will not be accepted. 

No. All required documents, including an official transcript, must be submitted with your application for it to be considered. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

No. AAUW does not provide individual feedback or notifications regarding incomplete or incorrect submissions. It is the applicant’s responsibility to carefully review and follow all application instructions to ensure their materials are complete and accurate.

If you encounter any technical issues while using the application portal, please contact us at fellowships@aauw.org.  

No. AAUW is not able to honor requests for earlier notification.

If you haven’t received your decision, it’s possible that you unsubscribed from AAUW emails. Please make sure you remain subscribed and add awards@aauw.org to your list of trusted or safe email addresses to ensure you receive all important communications.

Yes. Additional documentation may be required depending on the specific fellowship or grant program. Please note that your award is not considered final until all required materials have been submitted and reviewed. If you are selected for an award, you will receive a list of required documents and a submission deadline along with your official award letter on April 15.

Yes. AAUW awardees are required to submit two reports: one at the midpoint of the fellowship year and another at its conclusion. Report templates and submission instructions will be made available approximately one month before each due date.

No. Individual AAUW fellowships and grants are one-time awards and are not renewable. However, there is an exception for International Fellowship applicants pursuing a master’s degree: up to five top-ranked, first-year students admitted to a two-year master’s program may be selected to receive a two-year fellowship. For more details, please refer to the International Fellowships (Master’s and Doctorate Programs) page.

Unfortunately, no. AAUW awards are fixed and additional funding beyond the awarded amount is not available.

 No. AAUW allows awardees to accept the AAUW award even if they have additional sources of funding.

No. AAUW issues payments only to individuals, not educational institutions. Awardees will receive the stipend payments directly. 

 Stipends for most programs are disbursed in two equal payments, one at the start of the award year and one at the mid-point of the award year. Additional information is available on each program’s dedicated page. 

 If you need additional time to complete your research or program, you may submit a formal request for a timeline extension; however, please note that no additional funding will be provided beyond the original award amount.

 No. The AAUW award year runs from July 1 to June 30 of the following year. Award funds may only be used for expenses incurred within this official award period and cannot be applied to costs outside of these dates.

Upon completing your fellowship or grant, you will become part of AAUW’s distinguished community of alumnae. You will have the opportunity to stay engaged with AAUW by becoming a member, serving as a panelist, and/or supporting the organization as a donor. Additionally, alumnae of the International Fellowships program may be eligible to apply for International Project Grants to further their work and impact.

AAUW fellowship or grant may be considered taxable income under U.S. tax law, depending on how the funds are used. For example, amounts used for tuition and required fees may be non-taxable, while funds used for living expenses are generally considered taxable. 

AAUW does not provide tax advice and does not withhold taxes from U.S. persons. However, tax withholding may apply to recipients of the International Fellowships. For more information, please refer to the Taxes section on the International Fellowships pages. 

Fellowship or grant funds may only be used for expenses incurred during the official fellowship term. Eligible expenses include educational costs such as tuition, fees, and required course materials (e.g., books and supplies), as well as living expenses, including housing, food, healthcare, and dependent care (e.g., childcare).