[American Association of University Women](https://www.aauw.org)

October 2026 (Full application deadline; projected)

$25,000 stipend for one year, paid in two installments

Supports U.S. women scholars in the final year of their first doctoral program to advance diversity and academic excellence.

--- ## Description The fellowship provides financial support to women scholars in the United States during the final year of their first doctoral program, enabling full-time focus on dissertation completion. Open to all fields, with particular encouragement for applicants in science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM), or gender studies, the program aims to foster diversity, equity, and inclusion in academia. Recipients are selected based on scholarly excellence, originality of research, commitment to advancing women and girls, and demonstrated resilience or financial need. The fellowship is intended to offset living expenses and educational costs, allowing recipients to devote themselves fully to their dissertation work. --- ## Due Dates - October 2026 (anticipated full application deadline) *All dates are projected based on the annual cycle; check the program page for updates.* --- ## Funding Amount - $25,000 stipend for a single academic year - Paid in two equal installments at the beginning and midpoint of the fellowship term - Funds may be used for tuition, fees, required books and supplies, housing, food, living expenses (including childcare) --- ## Eligibility - Must identify as a woman - Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident - Must be in the final year of the first doctoral degree (Ph.D., Ed.D., D.Sc./Sc.D., S.J.D./J.S.D., D.Eng., Dr.P.H., D.B.A.) - Doctoral program must be at an accredited U.S. institution (or eligible international institution) - Must be enrolled full-time and devote 100% effort to dissertation completion during the fellowship year - Not eligible if: - Previously received a national AAUW fellowship or grant (except Community Action Grants or local AAUW awards) - Applying for another national AAUW fellowship or grant in the same year - Employed by or related to AAUW board, staff, or review panelists - Working on a master’s degree during the fellowship year --- ## Application Process - Applications anticipated to open August 2026 via the [AAUW Fellowships & Grants Application Portal](https://aauw.fluxx.io/user_sessions/new) - Required application materials: - Two letters of recommendation (one from dissertation advisor) - Copies of all degrees and official transcripts - Proof of current enrollment or admission (if applicable) - Certified English translations for documents not in English - Statement of research and career goals, financial need, and commitment to advancing women/girls - All materials must be submitted through the online portal; incomplete applications will not be considered - Selection is competitive, based on academic merit, research originality, and holistic review --- ## Additional Information - Fellows must begin or continue their program by September 30, 2027, and defend their dissertation no earlier than April 1, 2028 - Fellowship funds may not be used for research assistants, prior debts, publication costs, or dependents’ tuition - Part-time employment is permitted if it does not interfere with dissertation progress; full-time employment is allowed only during summer - Tax liability for fellowship funds is the recipient’s responsibility --- ## External Links - [AAUW American Dissertation Fellowship Program Page](https://www.aauw.org/resources/programs/fellowships-grants/current-opportunities/american-dissertation-fellowship-program/) - [AAUW Fellowships & Grants Application Portal](https://aauw.fluxx.io/user_sessions/new) - [Application Instructions (PDF)](https://www.aauw.org/app/uploads/2025/07/Instructions-to-Create-Account-in-AAUW-Applicant-Portal.pdf) --- ## Contact Information | Purpose | Contact | |------------------------|----------------------------------------------| | General inquiries | [Contact AAUW Awards Team](mailto:awards@aauw.org) | | Phone | 202.785.7700 | | Online contact form | [AAUW Contact Page](https://www.aauw.org/contact-us/) |

American Dissertation Fellowship

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