🇺🇸 $20,000 AAUW Fellowship 2026: Selected Professions in STEM and Beyond
Are you a woman ready to take the lead in STEM, architecture, or medicine? The American Association of University Women (AAUW) is offering a game-changing opportunity — the Selected Professions Fellowship 2026. This highly competitive program awards $20,000 to support women pursuing full-time master’s or professional degrees in fields where women remain underrepresented.
This could be your chance to build a career in science, tech, engineering, math, architecture, or medicine — all while joining a powerful network of professional women across the United States.
What Makes This Fellowship Special?
The AAUW Selected Professions Fellowship doesn’t just provide financial support. It opens doors. With a $20,000 stipend, fellows are free to fully immerse themselves in their studies and professional growth from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027.
The award is disbursed in two installments:
- First half: July 2026
- Second half: January 2027 (after submitting a midterm report)
Beyond the money, fellows become part of a national community of women leaders committed to breaking barriers and driving innovation in traditionally male-dominated industries.
Who Can Apply?
This fellowship is exclusively for women — U.S. citizens or permanent residents — who are enrolling in full-time graduate-level programs for the 2026 academic year.
You must:
- Identify as a woman
- Hold a U.S. bachelor’s degree (or its recognized equivalent)
- Be starting or continuing a full-time eligible master’s or professional program by September 1, 2026
- Graduate on or after April 30, 2027
- Not already hold a master’s or professional degree
- Be enrolled at a U.S.-accredited institution or one recognized by federal student aid programs
📌 Joint-degree applicants are only eligible if one of the degrees is in an approved discipline and pursued full-time.
Recommended: Fulbright Foreign Student Program 2026–2027 – Multiple U.S. Embassies
Fields of Study Eligible for the Fellowship
If you’re pursuing your first advanced degree in one of the following areas, you’re eligible to apply:
- Architecture
- Engineering
- Technology
- Mathematics
- Medicine (MD or equivalent)
- Natural and Physical Sciences
Why This Fellowship Matters
The AAUW has a long-standing mission: to promote equity for women and girls through education. This fellowship supports that mission by directly investing in the academic futures of women who are shaping high-impact careers.
It not only helps cover tuition and living expenses but also provides:
- Mentorship from AAUW’s alumnae network
- Professional development opportunities
- Recognition from one of America’s oldest women’s advocacy organizations
With women still underrepresented in STEM and leadership roles, this scholarship helps level the playing field and inspire the next generation of female trailblazers.
How to Apply
Applications open August 1, 2025, and close on September 30, 2025. All application materials must be submitted through AAUW’s scholarship portal.
Application Timeline at a Glance
| Date | Activity |
|---|---|
| Aug 1, 2025 | Application opens |
| Sep 30, 2025 | Application deadline |
| Apr 15, 2026 | Award notifications |
| Jul 1, 2026 | Fellowship begins + first payment |
| Dec 15, 2026 | Interim report due |
| Jan 2027 | Second payment issued |
| Jul 31, 2027 | Final report due |
Conclusion
If you’re serious about making your mark in a STEM, architecture, or medical profession — and you’re ready to lead — the $20,000 AAUW Selected Professions Fellowship could be your launchpad.
By applying, you’re not just seeking funding. You’re claiming a seat at the table and joining a powerful network of women committed to advancing equity and excellence.
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