AAUW American Dissertation Fellowship Grant

The AAUW American Dissertation Fellowship supports women scholars in their final year of dissertation writing, providing a stipend of $25,000 to help offset expenses. Established in 1888, this fellowship encourages diversity in academia and is particularly aimed at women in STEM fields and those researching gender issues. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, with all coursework completed and engaged full-time in their dissertation work during the fellowship year.

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.
Award Details
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.

Eligibility

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

Ineligibility

The following are not eligible for consideration:Members of the AAUW Board of DirectorsEmployees of AAUW, including paid or unpaid, part-time or temporary employees, consultants, interns and contract employeesReview PanelistsImmediate families (i.e., spouses and dependent children) of individuals described in the points aboveApplicants for another national AAUW fellowship or grant, in the same yearPrevious 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 yearDissertation Fellows are not required to study in the U.S.