Selected Professions Fellowship Program Grant

The Selected Professions Fellowship Program, administered by the American Association of University Women (AAUW), supports women pursuing their first full-time master’s or professional degree in fields with low female participation, particularly in STEM disciplines. This initiative empowers women by providing financial assistance and fostering gender equity in higher education. Eligible applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and meet specific academic criteria to apply for the fellowship, which offers stipends disbursed throughout the term.

Higher Education & Economic Security
AAUW empowers women and girls by championing their success in higher education and pushing for bold policy solutions to create lasting change. For more than 140 years, AAUW has led the fight for gender equity in higher education and beyond. With a strong record of advocacy and action, AAUW continues to break barriers and defend the rights of women in education and the workplace.
Selected Professions Fellowships support women who are pursuing their first full-time master’s or professional degree in fields with historically low female participation, particularly in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) disciplines, at accredited U.S. institutions.
Award Details
Stipends are payable to fellows only and are disbursed in two equal payments at the beginning and the midpoint of the fellowship term.
Fields of Study
Selected Professions Fellowships are available for the master’s and professional degree programs in the following discipline areas:
Architecture: Fellowships are available for Master of Architecture (M.Arch) and Master of Science in Architecture (MS) programs only.Natural and Physical Science: Fellowships are available for Master of Science (MS) programs in a range of science disciplines, including Agriculture, Biology, Biomedical Science, Chemistry, Geology, Earth and Environmental Science, Materials Science, Physics, and Zoology.Technology: Fellowships are available for Master of Science (MS) programs in a range of technological disciplines, including Artificial Intelligence, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Data Analytics, Data Science, Information Science, Machine Learning, Robotics, and Software Engineering.Engineering: Fellowships are available for Master of Science (MS) and Master of Engineering (M.Eng) programs in a range of engineering disciplines, including Aerospace, Chemical, Civil, Electrical, Geotechnical, and Mechanical Engineering.Mathematics: Fellowships are available for Master of Science (MS) programs in a range of math disciplines, including Applied Mathematics, Applied Economics/Econometrics, Statistics, and Actuarial Science.Medicine: Fellowships are available for professional degree programs for Doctor of Medicine (MD), Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO), Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS), Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry (DMD), Doctor of Optometry (OD), Doctor of Chiropractic (DC), and Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) only.

Eligibility

Applicants must identify as a woman.
Applicants must be pursuing a full-time program at an institution:
Accredited in the United States, orAn 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 have an academic degree (earned in the U.S. or abroad) that is equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree. Applicants enrolled in a joint-degree program may apply for support if they plan to pursue full-time coursework during the entire fellowship year in one of the approved degree programs.Coursework in other fields, even if part of a joint-degree program, is not supported.Applicants must apply for a fellowship in a single specific discipline (e.g., Architecture, Natural and Physical Science, Engineering, Mathematics, or Medicine).
Applicants must not already hold a master’s or professional degree.
Applicants must begin their program on or before September 1, 2026, and complete it on or after April 30, 2027. Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.

Ineligibility

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)